1) Introduction: The Mass is a Religious Ritual and Prayer.
- A ritual is a routine that works, has meaning, significance or
relevance.
- The central liturgical prayer of the Catholic Church is the
Mass; having developed through the centuries. Reference Acts
2:42-47.
2) The word, “Liturgy” is from Latin and Greek. It
means “the work of the people.” It is a public duty
or service to worship God. There are many liturgical forms; the
Mass is one of them.
3) The word, “Mass,” comes from Latin (missa)
and means to be sent out or dismissed for the purpose of living
and spreading the Good News; the Gospel, that is, to be sent
on a mission. The phrase comes from the late form of the dismissal
at Mass: “Go
in Peace!”
4) When we celebrate the Mass, we are celebrating Jesus’ Passion,
Death and Resurrection, and Ascension, otherwise known as the Paschal
Mystery.
- It is an un-bloody Sacrifice of Jesus as He gives Himself to
us in Communion.
- It is a Sacred Banquet in which we share in the Banquet of
Heaven; receiving Jesus into our lives and join with Heaven to
glorify God.
- The word, “anamnesis” means to remember as if to
re-live. We join with Jesus and the Apostles in the Last Supper.
5) Preparation begins long before we gather in the Church building
and worship starts.
- Liturgical Year and Seasons
- Role of music.
- Lectionary, Book of Gospels and Sacramentary
- Holy Water, genuflection & other postures, silence, announcements.
6) Basic Outline of Mass:
- Introductory Rites: Entrance hymn, Sign of the Cross, Greeting & Introduction,
Penitential Rite, Gloria and Opening Prayer.
- I) LITURGY OF THE WORD (First major part of the Mass). This
includes:
First Reading (usually from the Old Testament), Responsorial
Psalm, Second Reading (from the New Testament), Gospel Acclamation
(Alelluia), Gospel Reading (from Matthew, Mark, Luke or John),
Homily, Creed, and General Intercessions.
- II) LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST (Second major
part of the Mass). This includes: Collection of money, Presentation
of the gifts of bread and wine, Preparation of the gifts, Prayer
Over the Gifts, Eucharistic Prayer (invitation, preface, acclamation,
institutional narrative, memorial acclamation, intercessions
and great amen), Lord’s
Prayer, Sign of Peace, Lamb of God, Communion, and Prayer after
Communion.
- Concluding Rites: Blessing and Dismissal.
7) Notes:
- Catholics are obligated to participate in Mass every
Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation, unless they are prevented
from doing so (because of work, illness or an illness of a family
member they are caring for, or, if they cannot get to a Church
while traveling.)
- The celebration of Mass has not ended until after the Final
Blessing and Dismissal. But all should remain in their places
until the Priest and other ministers have
processed out of the Church.
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