Alb Alb

The Mass

By Steven G.

5-28-04

THE MASS

(WHAT HAPPENS AT MASS AND WHY)

The MASS as we know it is a highly developed celebration, making present not only the Physical Person of Jesus, but also the accumulated experience of the Catholic Church as His Body. Hence, the MASS is both spiritual and historical. Each of us is part of that spirit and history.

Each separate action of MASS is explained under its proper name, with commentary explaining the purpose and origin of each part.

INTROIT or Entrance Hymn: Since the priest and the other ministers are representatives of Christ and His angels ministering to His church, the congregation joins in song to welcome them, preparing for the Liturgy to follow.

BLESSING: All prayer should be offered in the name of the Holy Trinity and this is so of Mass. The sign of the cross is our profession of faith in the Holy Trinity.

GREETING: The priest gives a friendly introduction to the celebration by inviting God to help us offer this memorial sacrifice with conscious devotion. The theme of the particular celebration may be set forth at this time.

PENITENTIAL RITE: We accuse ourselves of our own sins, offenses and omissions. Calling them to mind at this point helps to remind us that we need to make progress in our spiritual and moral lives; we realize that Christ is present to us and through Mass will offer us the help we need to measure up to His example if we are sincerely sorry for our sins and seek amendment of life. This Rite should remind us of the necessity of examining our consciences frequently and celebrating the Sacrament of Penance regularly.

KYRIE or Lord, Have Mercy: This is one of the oldest portions of the Roman Rite Mass. It is retained in its original Greek in the Latin Mass. This is a prayer of petition for God’s mercy and for His attention to our needs of the spirit.

GLORIA or Glory to God: This is one of two very famous, significant hymns written by St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, in the fifth century. The Gloria is based on the words spoken to shepherds by angels at the birth of Jesus, as recorded by St. Luke; the major part of the hymn is “doxology” (Greek: “hymn of praise”) to the Holy Trinity and Lordship of Jesus.

COLLECT or Opening Prayer: This sets the theme of Mass by expressing the intention for which Mass is offered. You should add a personal intention to that of the priest at this time. This is the reason, or “intent”, for being present and offering Mass.

READING FROM SCRIPTURE: As found in the “Lectionary” are usually around a particular them. God speaks to us through His inspired word in the Bible: God Himself is present throughout His spoken word of Holy Scripture. This is why the first half of Mass is called Liturgy of the Word. The important action on the part of the congregation here is to LISTEN. Following along with the Lector by reading the Missalette is only for the hard-of-hearing!

OLD TESTAMENT READINGS: Are the record of God’s presence in the history of Israel. These are often difficult to understand, especially when they concern persons or events or modes of thought which may be 2,000 years old or older; yet God continues to speak through His inspired word, regardless of the times. Though written long ago, their message is very much meant for us.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Is a re-enactment of the Service of worship held in the Temple of Jerusalem. A soloist, or “cantor” would sing the verses of a hymn or psalm, and the congregation would respond intermittently with a verse of their own, call an “antiphon”. The Responsorial Psalm may be drawn from the 150 Psalms found in that Book of the Bible, or from hymns found in other Biblical books.

NEW TESTAMENT READINGS: Are the record of persons who either knew Jesus personally, or were among the very first members of the Church. The oldest of these writings are the “epistles” or letters of the various Apostles. These letters contained teachings of Christianity destined for the early Christian communities around the Mediterranean Sea. They express some of the basic and unchanging truths of Faith as these early authors understood them.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: This expresses our joy for we are about to hear the ‘Good News’ of Jesus Christ proclaimed to us. The text of the acclamation is usually preceded and followed by ‘Alleluia’ and should be sung.

GOSPEL READING: Is always taken from one of the books of the Bible, written by, or ascribed to, one of the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. The four “Gospels” are teachings of Jesus as recorded from the recollections and faith of persons who knew Jesus or the Apostles personally. Gospels are NOT biographies of Jesus. Gospels were written to increase the understanding and faith of people who were already members of the Church. There is always a reading from one of the Gospels at every Mass.

HOMILY or Sermon: Is part of the Liturgy of the Word because it is the explanation or interpretation of the message(s) in the Readings. The Homily is directed to YOU.

CREED OR PROFESSION OF FAITH: The word “Creed” comes from the Latin “credo” or “I believe”. This outline of the truths of Faith was written at Constantinople and is based upon the outline of fundamental facts of the Faith selected by the bishops who gathered at the town of Nicaea for the First Ecumenical Council in 325 A.D.

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS: Usually six in number, are requests we make of God the Father to fulfill our needs or grant His blessings. They should call to mind the needs of the Whole Church, not just our private or particular needs. The Celebrant concludes with a collect, asking God to grant our requests made on behalf of the whole Church. The General Intercessions conclude the LITURGY OF THE WORD.

PREPARATION OF GIFTS: Begins the “Liturgy of the Eucharist” and includes actions which are of ancient origin, going back to the earliest days of the Church’s celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

OFFERTORY PROCESSION: In the earliest days, this was the time when people from the marketplace and farms surrounding the local church would bring fresh baked bread and homemade wine for the priest to offer at Mass. Today, bread and wine are carried in procession as signs of the good things we have received from God.

OFFERTORY PRAYER: In this we ask God the Father to accept not only our bread and wine, but also our own works and prayers. The words of offering are styled on the prayers of the ancient Jewish Passover supper ritual.

LAVABO OR HANDWASHING: Is also an ancient ritual of Mass. In the earliest times, after the priest had received the gifts of bread and wine from the people, he also received baskets of fruit, grain, vegetables and even poultry and sheep which were given to feed the poor. After the priest accepted all these groceries, his hands were understandably soiled. It was at this time that deacons would bring basin, pitcher and towel to cleanse the priest’s hands before continuing the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Today, this act symbolizes our being cleansed of earthly cares and the Priest being cleansed of distraction from ministry.

ORATE or PRAY, Brethren: Is the invitation to the congregation to pray that the gifts may be an acceptable offering to the Father and to pray with reverence and devotion.

COLLECT or PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS: Is the formal prayer of the priest that God the Father will accept us, along with our gifts, in the name of Jesus and for the intention with which the Mass is offered.

INTRODUCTORY DIALOGUE: Is comprised of three invitations and responses which are of ancient origin. The first is a prayer for God’s grace; the second calls us to rise from ordinary and mundane preoccupations to the great joy of sharing this Eucharistic mystery; and third is a reminder that the memorial sacrifice being offered is offered first and foremost as a prayer of THANKSGIVING.

PREFACE PRAYER: Is the expression of our Faith in the truths and mysteries of religion. There are many Preface prayers composed to emphasize the mystery of salvation which the day commemorates and the Mass celebrates.

SANCTUS or Holy, Holy, Holy: The Byzantine Liturgy calls this acclamation the “Trisagion” or “thrice holy”. This is the song of the Cherubim around God’s throne as recorded in the visions of the Prophet Ezekiel and St. John, as well as the praise given to Jesus as he triumphantly entered Jerusalem the week of his crucifixion.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER: Is the central action of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. At a specific time, the Priest extends his hands over the bread and wine, invoking the Holy Spirit and asking divine power to make the gifts the Body and Blood of Christ. The words of INSTITUTION follow and are those spoken by Jesus Himself over bread and wine at the Last Supper. We conclude our participation in the Sacrifice of Christ with the GREAT AMEN, a sign of our absolute confidence in God’s ability to make Himself present to us in the Flesh and Blood of His Son under the forms of bread and wine.

THE LORD’S PRAYER: This is the prayer Jesus Himself taught His Apostles. It is a perfect prayer because it praises and adores God, encourages us to share in God’s work of redemption, petitions for daily food in the Bread of Holy Eucharist, supports a sense of atonement and mercy and expresses confidence that temptation and sin can be overcome with God’s help.

ACCLAMATION: “For the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory…” is a doxology commonly added at the end of the Lord’s Prayer. It is thought by many to be of Protestant origin. It is really an ancient way of concluding prayer.

RITE OF PEACE: In the early centuries of the Church, when the celebration of the Holy Eucharist was developing, all members of a congregation would at this point grasp one another at the fore-arms, bend forward and kiss one another on the left cheek. This demonstrated the seriousness of the command of Jesus to “love one another”. In our society, a simple handshake should be a sign of mutual respect and trust.

FRACTION: Occurs when the priest breaks the Host into two parts and drops a small fragment into the chalice. This commemorates the brutality of crucifixion and demonstrates the unity of the Body and Blood of Christ; both Body and Blood are received even if only under one form. The priest then quietly confesses his own faith in the presence of Christ before receiving Communion.

AGNES DEI OR LAMB OF GOD: This is the great acclamation of Recognition. We see the sign of bread and wine and recognize Jesus present under this appearance in much the same way as did John the Baptist when he pointed out Jesus to his disciples saying, “There is the Lamb of God, Who Takes Away the Sins of the World!” The elevation shows forth the Body and Blood of Christ, the Lamb of God.

COMMUNION: Is the act of receiving the Holy Eucharist. We are urged to show some sign of reverence before receiving the Eucharist. The minister of the Eucharist says to each person approaching, as the Host is held for the worshipper to see: “The Body of Christ”. The worshipper responds, “Amen” as a confession of faith that the Flesh and Blood of Christ is truly present. The communicant then returns to his/her place to reflect and pray. This act of reverence is most important since Communion unites us not only with Christ Jesus, but through Him, with every other Believer on earth, in purgatory, and in Heaven. It is bad practice to leave the celebration immediately after Communion, before the celebration concludes.

ABLUTIONS OR WASHINGS: Are the reverent consumption by the Priest of particles of the Host which remain, as well as remaining drops of the Precious Blood. The chalice and paten and other vessels are cleaned with water (and wine) and dried.

COMMUNION RELECTION: Is the special time when the congregation, as individuals and as a group, reflects in prayers of adoration and thanksgiving upon Whom they have received in Communion. This reflection may be silent or communal, often through a hymn. It is a time of profound prayer and is the time for recognizing that for this cause does the Church insist on the celebration of the Sunday Eucharist by all the Faithful. Receiving the Eucharist should move us to firmer resolve in stamping out sin in our lives and to make ourselves more lovable in the eyes of others by more closely imitating Christ.

COLLECT or CONCLUDING PRAYER: Is a formal prayer of thanksgiving addressed to God the Father expressing our gratitude for the gift of his Son in the Eucharist.

BLESSING: At the end of the Mass may be simple or solemn. Anyone who is baptized can confer a blessing. It is the role of the Priest to confer the blessing at Mass because he has been chosen and consecrated from among the Baptized by the Bishop to preside at the celebration of Holy Eucharist. A blessing is the specific commendation of someone or something to God’s special care and attention. As the congregation prepares to leave the celebration, the Priest commends them to God’s special care and attention. The congregation acknowledges each petition with an “Amen”.

DISMISSAL: Means to go, it is time to leave. This is the final word from the Priest who gives a reminder that we must prove our love of God by doing the work of God each day.

HYMNS & HYMNODY: We sing in order to fulfill the need for genuine and complete participation in the Liturgy. Singing should be as significant a part of celebration now as it was in the early Church.

**This information has graciously been provided by Deacon J. David Seal for use in this presentation.

May-7-04