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Sanctus is the Latin word for holy, and is the name of an important hymn of Christian liturgy.

In Western Christianity, the Sanctus is sung (or said) at the heart of the eucharistic prayer, the prayer of consecration of the bread and wine. In this setting, the Sanctus immediately follows the preface of the eucharistic prayer. The preface, which alters according to the season, usually concludes with words describing the praise of the worshippers joining with the praise of the angels. The Latin text reads:

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus,

"Holy, holy, holy,"

Dominus Deus Sabaoth;

"Lord God of Hosts;"

pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua.

"Heaven and earth are full of your glory."

Osanna in excelsis.

"Hosanna in the highest".

The text is adapted from Isaiah 6:3, which describes the prophet Isaiah's vision of the throne of God surrounded by six-winged, ministering seraphim. A similar representation may be found in Revelation 4:8. In Jewish liturgy, the aforementioned verse from Isaiah is uttered by the congregation during Kedusha, a prayer said during the cantor's repetition of the Amidah (18 Benedictions).

Although the Sanctus is traditionally set to plainchant, many composers have set it to more complex music. It constitutes a mandatory part of any mass setting. In the eucharistic prayer, the Sanctus is usually followed immediately by the Benedictus.

Sanctus is also the title of a particular traditional hymn in Wales, the words of which can be seen below. Next year (2007) the song will yet again make it to the screen in an S4C series Codi Canu, as an attempt is made to bring traditional four-part harmony choral singing back to the Welsh rugby terraces.

The following Benedictus (from the Latin for "blessed") is also usually sung. Its text is taken from Matthew 21.9

Benedictus, qui venit in nomine Domini.

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."

Osanna in excelsis.

"Hosanna in the highest".

Note that the Sanctus should not be confused with the Trisagion.

In traditional practice, worshippers bow their heads during the opening "Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus", and make the Sign of the Cross at the word "Benedictus". This practice has all but disappeared in Roman Catholicism since Vatican II, but is still quite common in Anglicanism.

Modern English Version

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

Traditional English Version

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts:

Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.

Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High.

Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

Traditional Welsh Version (as used on S4C's Codi Canu)

Glân geriwbiaid a seraffiaid,

Ffyrdd o gylch yr orsedd fry,

Mewn olynol seiniau dibaid,

Canant fawl eu Harglwydd cu:

Cytgan

"Llawn yw'r nefoedd o'th ogoniant,

Llawn yw'r ddaear dir a môr,

Rhodded iti fythol foliant,

Sanctaidd, Sanctaidd, Sanctaidd Iôr"

Gyda'r seraff gôr i fyny,

Gyda'r Eglwys lân i lawr,

Uno wnawn fel hyn i ganu

Anthem clod ein Harglwydd mawr:

Hebrew (From the Kedusha)

Kadosh Kadosh Kadosh Adonai Tz'vaot

Melo Kol Haaretz Kevodo.

• Article at Catholic Encyclopedia

v • d • e  Gregorian chants of the Roman Mass
Ordinary: Proper: Accentus:		Kyrie | Gloria | Credo | Sanctus | Agnus Dei | Ite missa est or Benedicamus Domino Introit | Gradual | Alleluia or Tract | Sequence | Offertory | Communion Collect | Epistle | Gospel | Secret | Preface | Canon | Postcommunion