A History Of The Mass And Its Ceremonies In The Eastern And Western Church -Rev John O'Brien A.M.

WHERE THE CANON ANCIENTLY BEGAN

That the Canon formerly included the Preface, just as it does to-day in the Oriental Church, we have the most indubitable proofs. In the Sacramentary of Pope Gelasius, for instance, it is thus introduced. “Incipit canon actionis; Sursum corda; habemus ad Dominuni,” etc. (Le Brun, Explicat. de la Messe, ii. p. 111, note).