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The Mass
A Brief Explanation
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The Mass has been the center of Christian life since the time of the apostles. It
is made up of two parts, the Liturgy of the Word, wherein the congregation Concluding Rite
learn of Christ, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, wherein Christ becomes
physically present and presents Himself to the Father as the sacrifice for our Greeting • V: “The Lord be with you.”
sins (see p. 6). Justin Martyr described it just as it is offered today in his First The priest and faithful exchange (2 Tim 4:22)
Apology in 110 A.D.: greetings as they return from • R: “And also with you.”
the eternal and heavenly altar.
“And on the day called of the Sun, all who live in cities or in the country gather
together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the
prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, Blessing • Priest: “May Almighty God Bless
the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good The priest performs a final you, the Father, the Son, and the
things. Then we all rise together and pray for ourselves… and for all others in Holy Spirit.”
every place, that we may be counted worthy, now that we have learned the blessing of the faithful as they
• All: “Amen.”
truth, by our works also to be found good citizens and keepers of the com- prepare to depart into the world.
(cf. Gen 28:3; Deut 14:29; Num 6:23-
mandments, so that we may be saved with an everlasting salvation. Having 27; Ps 29:11)
ended the prayers, we salute one another with a kiss. There is then brought to
the president of the brethren bread and a cup of wine mixed with water; and he
taking them, gives praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the Dismissal • V: "Go in peace to love and serve
name of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and offers thanks at considerable The priest dismisses the faithful the Lord" (cf. Deut 10:11-13;
length for our being counted worthy to receive these things at his hands. And Jdg18:6; Luke 7:50)
when he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all the people present and instructs them to go into the
world to serve the Lord. • R: Thanks be to God.
express their assent by saying Amen. And when the president has given
thanks, and all the people have expressed their assent, those who are called by
us deacons give to each of those present to partake of the bread and wine Revelation - The Mass in Heaven - Examples
mixed with water over which the thanksgiving was pronounced, and to those
who are absent they carry away a portion.”
• Lampsteads and Menorahs • 1:12, 2:5
Introductory Rites • Vestments • 1:13, 15:6, 19:13
• Penitential Rite • 2:5, 16, 21; 3:3
Sign of the Cross Matthew 28:19.
"In all our travels and movements, in • Priests • 4:4, 15:4, 11:16, 14:3, 19:4
All gathered make the sign of all our coming in and going out, in
the cross, opening the prayer of • Liturgy of the Word • 2:1-3:22, 5:1
putting on our shoes, at the bath, at the
the Mass by dedicating the table, in lighting our candles, in lying • Incense • 5:8, 8:3-4
prayer and themselves “In the down, in sitting down, whatever em- • The Altar • 6:9, 8:3, 11:1, 14:18, 16:7
name of the Father, and of the ployment occupies us, we mark our
forehead with the sign of the cross." - • Relics of Saints • 6:9
Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Tertullian, A.D. 250 Under the Altar
Greeting 3 Options: • Marriage Supper • 17, 19:9
The priest greets the people, • “The grace of the Lord Jesus of the Lamb
who respond, “and also with Christ…” - 1 Cor. 13:14
• “The grace and peace of • The Sanctus • 4:8
you,” signifying the unity of
God’s people. God…” - Ephesians 1:2 • Intercession of the Saints • 5:8, 6:9-11, 8:3-4
• “The Lord be with you.” -
2 Timothy 4:22, Matthew 28:20
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Communion Just as those who were not a member Penitential Rite • “I confess to almighty God, and
of Israel and/or circumcised were not to you my brothers and sisters,
The faithful pray to Christ for The priest invites the people to that I have sinned through my
to eat of the Passover lamb (Ex 12:43-
healing, then receive His body, 45), members of those religious recall and repent of their sins, own fault. (Jam. 5:16) In my
blood, soul, and divinity, communities with which the Catholic after which the congregation thoughts and in my words, (Jam.
entering into communion with Church is not yet fully united and confesses and/or ask the Lord’s 3:6) In what I have done and in
Christ, and joining themselves those who have not been baptized are forgiveness. what I have failed to do; (Matt.
ordinarily not admitted to Holy 25:31-46) and I ask the Blessed
to Him to become “one Mary, ever-virgin, all the angels
Communion. This is because Holy
flesh” (Gen 2:24) in the and saints, and you, my brothers
Communion is a sign of true oneness
“marriage supper of the of faith, life, and worship. It is also and sisters, to pray for me to the
Lamb” (Rev 19:9) in a far more because reception of the Eucharist by Lord our God. (1 Thes. 5:25, Rev
real and profound way than a one who does not recognize it to be 8:3-4)”
the true body of Christ may be very • “Lord Have Mercy” - (Matt
husband and wife do in their 15:22; 17:15; 20:30-31)
marriage. dangerous. As Paul explained in 1
Cor 11:28-30, “let a person examine
himself, then, and so eat of the bread
and drink of the cup. For anyone who Gloria “Glory to God in the highest, and
eats and drinks without discerning the peace to his people on earth. (Luke
body eats and drinks judgment on
In prayer, the Father and the
2:14) Lord God, heavenly King, al-
himself. That is why many of you are Son are praised. mighty God and Father, (Rev 19:6)
weak and ill, and some have died.” we worship you, we give you thanks,
(Eph. 5:20) we praise you for your
Is the Eucharist Truly the Body of Christ? glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of
Catholics do believe that the Eucharist is the true body and blood of the Father, (2 John 3, John 3:16) Lord
Christ. Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If God, Lamb of God, you take away the
anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give sin of the world: have mercy on us;
for the life of the world is my flesh." (John 6:51) Jesus was not speaking (John 1:29) You are seated at the right
symbolically. In John, Christ first tells his audience that He is the bread of hand of the Father, receive our prayer.
life that they will eat. (John 6:35-51). This bothers them, and believing that (Rom 8:34) For you alone are the
He is speaking literally, they ask, “How can this man give us his flesh to
eat?” (52) Christ does not clarify and say that He is speaking symbolically, Holy One, (Luke 4:34) You alone are
but instead switches to even stronger language, saying, “Truly truly I say to Lord, You alone are the Most High,
you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink of His blood, you Jesus Christ. With the Holy Spirit, in
have no life in you.” (53) In this and all following verses, Christ switches the glory of God the Father. (John
from the regular verb for “to eat,” ‘phago,’ and begins using the stronger, 14:26)”
more literal verb ‘trogo,’ which means “to chew or gnaw.” After this, the
audience again questions Christ’s teaching, calling it “a hard saying.” Christ
presses again, asking if His words offend them and declaring that they must
stop thinking with their fallen flesh and instead think in the spirit. (63) Opening Prayer Nehemiah 8:6; Psalm 41:13
Finally, many people leave Jesus and stop following Him (66). If Christ was
speaking symbolically, then He allowed people to walk away from Him over The priest offers a prayer to
a misunderstanding after having two chances to correct it Himself. God which concerns and illus-
This does not violate the Levitical prohibition against drinking blood, trates the theme of the Liturgy
because the Levitical law was annulled when Christ became High Priest
(Heb 7:12) More deeply, the law against drinking blood was given because for that day. All gathered re-
“the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life.” (Lev 17:11,14 spond, “Amen,” making the
God did not want men to share in the life that is within animals. He prayer their own.
does want them to share in the divine life that is within Christ.
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