Shortest Composite Proper

The variable chants, lessons and orations that comprise the Proper of the Mass vary widely in length; out of curiosity, I have assembled the shortest of each of them, taken from the Roman Missal of 1962 (in the case of the chants, this involved counting the notes of each) into a shortest composite proper, illustrative of the minimum required – which in the case of the chants and lessons, amounts to about a verse of Scripture each (two, for the Introit and Tract), and as for the prayers, a similar word-length applies:

NB Procession before Rogation Mass [used as an Introit in the Ordinary Form]

[44 notes, excl. psalm verse & Gloria Patri; 18 words; 21+23=44 syllables; 114 characters (no spaces): all statistics excl. Gloria Patri]

Ps. 43, 26

Exsurge, Domine, adjuva nos, et libera nos propter nomen tuum.

Ps. ibid., 2 Deus, auribus nostris audivimus, patres nostri annuntiaverunt nobis.

V. Gloria Patri.

Shortest Introit: SS Marius, Martha, Audifax & Abachum, Martyrs (19 Jan.) 

[57 notes excl. Ps. verse & Gloria Patri; one verse, plus Ps. verse, etc.; 26+32=58 syllables, 11+14=25 words, 136 characters (no spaces): all statistics excl. Gloria Patri]

Introitus Ps. 67, 4

Justi epulentur, et exsultent in conspectu Dei, et delectentur in lætitia. 

Ps. ibid., 2 Exsurgat Deus, et dissipentur inimici ejus: et fugiant qui oderunt eum, a facie ejus.

V. Gloria Patri.

NB Shortest Collect in the Breviary: “Absolution” [in form, a Collect] of First Nocturn of Matins

[10 words, 25 syllables, 62 characters (no spaces); excl. Qui...]

Exáudi, Dómine Jesu Christe, preces servórum tuórum, et miserére nobis: Qui...

Shortest Collect in the Missal: 17th Sunday after Pentecost 

[15 words, 37 syllables (same as shortest Epistle), 82 characters (no spaces); excl. Per...]

Oratio.

Da, quæsumus, Domine, populo tuo diabolica vitare contagia: et te solum Deum pura mente sectari. Per... 

Shortest Epistle: Daily Requiem Mass 

[one verse; 30 words, 70 syllables, 166 characters (no spaces)]

Lectio libri Apocalypsis beati Joannis Apostoli. 

Apoc. 14, 13 

In diebus illis: Audivi vocem de cælo, dicentem mihi: Scribe: Beati mortui, qui in Domino moriuntur. Amodo jam dicit Spiritus, ut requiescant a laboribus suis: opera enim illorum sequuntur illos.

Shortest Gradual: Common of a Virgin & Martyr, 1st Mass 

[62 + 93 = 155 notes; one verse; 13 words, 37 syllables, 81 characters (no spaces)]

Graduale Ps. 44, 8

Dilexisti justitiam, et odisti iniquitatem. 

V. Propterea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, oleo lætitiæ.

Shortest Tract: Lenten Ember Saturday; Easter Vigil; Pentecost Vigil; Whit Saturday; September Ember Saturday 

[112 + 138 = 250 notes; 22 words; 54 syllables; 130 characters (no spaces)]

Tractus Ps. 116, 1-2

Laudate Dominum, omnes gentes: et collaudate eum, omnes populi. 

V. Quoniam confirmata est super nos misericordia ejus: et veritas Domini manet in æternum.

Shortest Alleluia: Queenship B.V.M. (31st May), 2nd Alleluia

[35 + 58 = 93 notes (excl. any repeat of the All.); 6 words, 10 syllables, 25 characters (no spaces), excl. All.]

Alleluja.

V. Nunc cum eo regnas in æternum. 

Alleluja.

2nd-Shortest Alleluia: Whit Saturday, 2nd Alleluia

[30+66 = 96 notes (excl. any repeat of the All.); one verse; 4 words, also 10 syllables, also 25 characters (no spaces), excl. All.]

Alleluja. 

V. Job 26, 13 Spiritus ejus ornavit cælos. 

Shortest Gospel: Circumcision (1st January); Holy Name of Jesus

[one verse; 25 words, 57 syllables, 143 characters (no spaces)]

Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam.

Luc. 2, 21

In illo tempore: Postquam consummati sunt dies octo, ut circumcideretur Puer: vocatum est nomen ejus Jesus, quod vocatum est ab Angelo priusquam in utero conciperetur.

Shortest Offertory: St Stanislaus Kostka (13th November, PAL)

[88 notes; one verse; 10 words, 24 syllables, 54 characters (no spaces)]

Offertorium Ps. 42, 4

Introibo ad altare Dei: ad Deum, qui lætificat juventutem meam.

Shortest Secret: First Sunday after Epiphany; Sexagesima Sunday; Monday after the 4th Sunday in Lent 

[9 words, 24 syllables, 57 characters (no spaces); excl. Per...]

Secreta.

Oblatum tibi, Domine, sacrificium vivificet nos semper et muniat. Per...

Shortest Communion: 7th Sunday after Pentecost

[one verse; 43 notes; 7 words, 17 syllables, 38 characters (no spaces)]

Communio Ps. 30, 3

Inclina aurem tuam, accelera, ut eripias me.

Shortest Postcommunion: St John before the Latin Gate (6th May, PAL)

[9 words, 24 syllables, 61 characters (no spaces); excl. Per...]

Postcommunio. 

Refecti, Domine, pane cælesti: ad vitam, quæsumus, nutriamur æternam. Per...

Shortest Oratio super populum: Lenten Ember Friday

[11 words, 26 syllables, 64 characters (no spaces); excl. Per...]

Oratio.

Exaudi nos, misericors Deus: et mentibus nostris gratiæ tuæ lumen ostende. Per...

Proper of the Dormition Divine Liturgy

While I was in attendance at a Byzantine Rite Liturgy to-day for the feast of the Assumption, I didn't have to hand the Propers of the feast; for interest's sake, here they are:

Antiphons

Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Saviour, save us!

O Son of God, wondrous in Thy saints; save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia!

Troparion

In giving birth, you preserved your virginity! In falling asleep you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos! You were translated to life, O Mother of Life, and by your prayers you deliver our souls from death!

Kontakion

Neither the tomb, nor death, could hold the Theotokos, who is constant in prayer and our firm hope in her intercessions. For being the Mother of Life, she was translated to life by the One who dwelt in her virginal womb!

Prokeimenon (St Luke i, 46b-48)

My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour!

For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

Alleluia Verses (Psalm 131:8,11b)

Arise and go to Thy rest: Thou and the Ark of Thy might!

The Lord swore Truth to David from which He will not turn back!

Megalynarion

Seeing the dormition of the Most Pure One, the Angels were filled with awe at how the Virgin went from earth to heaven.

The limits of nature are overcome in you, O Pure Virgin: for birthgiving remains virginal and life is united to death! A virgin after childbearing and alive after death! You ever save your inheritance, O Theotokos!

Communion (Psalm 115:4)

I will receive the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord!