The Gallican Liturgy

Great diversity evidently existed in the liturgies used in southern Gaul. Lack of documentation, however, makes it difficult to reconstruct some parts of the liturgy. By the ninth century, the Gallican liturgy had become fused with the Roman rite. The spread of Roman influence is clearly shown by early Gallican sources. Properly speaking, the Gallican rite refers exclusively to the liturgical tradition which emerged in the southern part of Gaul at the beginning of the sixth century, and which remained in use throughout the province until it was replaced (fused) with the Roman rite under the Carolingians (late eighthninth centuries). The study of the Gallican rite is hampered by the sparsity of its liturgical books, and some major elements of the liturgy remain completely deprived of any documentation. There are euchological texts for the celebration of the Eucharist and for the administration of the sacraments (Missale Gothicum, Missale Bobbiense, Missale Francorum, and several Mas…