Oremus

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OREMUS

Latin for "Let us pray." In the Roman rite it is commonly used by the officiating minister to invite the attention of the faithful to certain prayers of the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours (e.g., the Collect, the Lord's Prayer), and other liturgical functions. Ordinarily in the Roman rite, the prayer of the officiating minister follows immediately upon the Oremus; and this rule is prescribed by the earlier Roman ordinals, such as the Ordo Romanus I (ed. M. Andrieu, no.53). Traditionally on Good Friday, the celebrant adds to the Oremus a clause specifying the intention for which he invites prayer. The Oremus was followed by Flectamus genua (Let us kneel) and a period of silent prayer. Levate (Rise) was then pronounced, and the celebrant recited his prayer in the name of all.

Bibliography: j. a. jungmann, The Mass of the Roman Rite, tr. f. brunner, 2 v. (New York 195155) 1:366370. a. fortescue, The Mass (New York 1912) 247248.

[e. j. gratsch/eds.]