What does missa mean?
A missa is the Eucharistic service of the Roman Catholic Church, known more commonly in English as the Mass. Its name comes from the Latin missa, which was used in the early church for the Eucharistic celebration and ultimately became the liturgical formula through which the service was traditionally introduced. In modern English, missa is chiefly encountered in Catholic, liturgical, and historical contexts; most worshippers simply say Mass. The term refers to the complete act of Christian worship centered on the consecration and reception of the Eucharist, rather than to the bread and wine alone. In its clearest traditional use, it distinguishes the Latin form of the service from vernacular forms. Although the word may sound formal or archaic to non-Catholic speakers, it remains an accurate traditional name for the service and conveys the continuity of Catholic worship with its early Latin and Roman traditions.
nounThe Eucharistic service in the Roman Catholic Church, especially when referred to by its Latin name. In Catholic contexts, it is the principal form of public worship centered on the consecration of the Eucharist.
- The Eucharistic service of the Roman Catholic Church, called the Mass in English and commonly identified by this Latin name in Catholic or historical contexts.
"The bishop concelebrated the missa with a full congregation on Sunday morning."
"Parishioners began arriving early for the missa."
"An account of the missa describes the congregation's response to the Latin prayers."
The plural is used when referring to multiple celebrations of the service.
"The two missas were celebrated in Latin and in the vernacular."
The word missa preserves the name of the ancient Roman Mass, while quietly preserving its most familiar setting: a Latin-liturgical celebration.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of missa
The English word comes from Late Latin missa, the name for the Eucharistic service. Latin missa is commonly explained as deriving from missio, a sending or dismissal, and ultimately from mittere, meaning to send; in liturgical use, the word came to designate the dismissal associated with the service. Related English forms include Mass, from the same Latin liturgical tradition, and mission, which belongs to the same Latin root mittere. The related word missal denotes a book containing the liturgical texts and order of the Mass.
Related word forms
How missa is actually used
In English, missa is principally associated with Catholic worship and formal or historical discussion. It is less common in ordinary Catholic speech than the English term Mass, though it is readily understood in that religious context.
Easily confused with missa
A missa is a Catholic Eucharistic service, whereas a mesa is a flat-topped or gently sloping landform.