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The Gallican Rite

© Michelle Powell-Smith

Recent articles have discussed the early history of the Christian liturgy, as well as the Antiochene liturgy. This week's article will focus on the Gallican rite, which was used in Gaul from very early times until the middle or end of the eighth century. The Celtic Rite and Spanish Rite are both very similar to the Gallican Rite, and will be discussed in a later article.

Our earliest evidence for the Gallican Rite dates to the fifth century; however, even that evidence is minimal and sketchy at best. There are essentially three basic theories regarding the development of the Gallican Rite, only two of which are still current: the Ephesine, the Roman, and the Ambrosian.

The Ephesine theory puts forth that the Gallican Rite came into France from (not surprisingly) Ephesus, brought by St. Irenaeus and St. Pothinus. This theory traces the liturgy all the way back to St. John the Divine, and appears to have been evident by the Synod of Whitby in 664. The Ephesine theory has been wholly discounted by modern scholars. The Gallican Rite is too complex to trace its origins back to the second century.

The Ambrosian theory places the origin of the Gallican Rite in Milan. According to the Ambrosian theory, the Gallican Rite is derived from Eastern sources, brought to Milan by Auxentius, a Cappadocian and fourth century Bishop of Milan.

Finally, the Roman theory defines the Gallican Rite as a variant of the Roman Rite. This theory is largely based on the common elements shared by Western liturgical rites, including daily or weekly variances in the actions or words of the priest conducting the Mass. Elements that the Ambrosian theorists define as Eastern are considered archaisms by the Roman theorists.

Gaul was, through most of this period, in a state of liturgical flux. There was little consistency in the Rites or rituals of the church. During the course of the eighth century, the Gallican Rite became more and more Romanized, and was eventually absorbed entirely by the Roman Rite.

The Gallican Rite, or what we can successfully recreate of it, consisted of the Entrance and singing of an Antiphona, the Canticles, drawn largely from Greek sources, and including the Kyrie Eleison, Old Testament and Gospel readings, the Litany and subsequent dismissal of the Catechumens, followed by the Great Entrance (the entrance of the bread and wine and preparation for the communion service), a series of prayers, the kiss of Peace, another series of prayers, the Communion and finally, the dismissal of the congregation.