Q: In the Collection of Masses of the BVM, there are 50 Prefaces.
#1-46 coincide with the 46 Mass Propers included in the collection. That leaves Prefaces #47-50.
47 is BVM I, 48 is BVM II, 49 is Immaculate Conception, and 50 is Assumption.
Why are they included in this collection, given that the other 46 Masses have an assigned Preface?
Thanks!
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A: I’m not sure exactly why, but probably from an abundance of exuberance. The Latin typical edition has only the 46 Prefaces. The other four were added to the first English translation for the United States in 1992, and they reappear in the present edition from 2012.
The last paragraph (no. 43) of the General Introduction permits conferences of bishops to add an appendix of previously approved formularies. I suspect that this is to account for special local formularies unique to a conference, allowing these to be included in this collection for the sake of dignity.
The US conference, though, just added four previously approved prefaces from the Missal, not from any local repertoire. They probably should have included the complete formularies, not just the prefaces, or they could have omitted these prefaces because they would usually not be used apart from the other elements of the pertinent Mass, easily accessible in the Missal. Furthermore, these four prefaces do not appear in an appendix, which the General Introduction envisioned, but apparently did not matter much in 1992.
So, my hunch is that in 1992 someone decided to add prefaces that enjoyed special affection in the United States. And in 2012 the conference was so anxious to get the book reprinted with the revised preface dialogue and complete Order of Mass that it just changed what needed to be changed without reviewing the original decision.
So, an abundance of exuberance for Marian texts probably overshadowed a closer reading of no. 43.
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