Advent · Introit · Latin
The Rorate Mass 2026
“Rorate caeli desuper,” the opening words of Isaiah 45:8 in the Latin Vulgate, is the entrance chant of several of the last Advent Masses before Christmas in the traditional (1962) Roman Missal. In 2026 it is sung on Wednesday, December 16 (Ember Wednesday) and Sunday, December 20 (the Fourth Sunday of Advent), among other days.
The Introit in Latin
The antiphon is then repeated. Latin text: the 1962 Roman Missal, as transcribed by the Divinum Officium project.
The Scripture in English
The Introit is built from two verses. The Latin follows the Vulgate; the World English Bible translates from the Hebrew, so its wording differs (see the questions below).
When it is sung in Advent 2026
From the 1962 calendar (1960 rubrics). On saints' days in this week, such as St Thomas the Apostle on December 21, that day's own Mass is said instead.
| Date | Day | Latin title |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, December 16 | Ember Wednesday of Advent | Feria IV Quattuor Temporum in Adventu |
| Sunday, December 20 | Fourth Sunday of Advent | Dominica IV Adventus |
| Tuesday, December 22 | Tuesday of the fourth week of Advent | Feria III infra Hebdomadam IV Adventus |
| Wednesday, December 23 | Wednesday of the fourth week of Advent | Feria IV infra Hebdomadam IV Adventus |
Rorate questions
What does “Rorate caeli” mean?
They are the first words of Isaiah 45:8 in the Latin Vulgate. In the World English Bible the verse begins “Rain, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness.” The Vulgate reads the verse as a prophecy of Christ: the clouds rain down “the Just One” (iustum) and the earth brings forth “a Saviour” (Salvatorem).
Why is it called a Rorate Mass?
A Mass takes its popular name from the first word of its entrance chant, the Introit — the way Gaudete Sunday and Laetare Sunday get theirs. Rorate is the Introit of these Advent Masses.
When is the Rorate introit sung in 2026?
In the 1962 Roman Missal it opens the Mass of Ember Wednesday of Advent (Wednesday, December 16), the Fourth Sunday of Advent (Sunday, December 20) and some of the weekdays after it. The full list for 2026 is in the table on this page.
Is there an English translation of the Introit here?
Not of the chant itself: we only publish translations with a named public-domain source, and we have not yet found one we can name for this text. The English shown is the World English Bible (public domain) for the two Scripture verses the Introit is taken from.
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