The Catholic Mass

What is the Mass?

The mass is the most special prayer offered in the Catholic faith.

We are obeying the last command of Jesus Christ at the last supper when he said “Do this in memory of me”.

Catholics all over the world celebrate the same mass in every country around the world.

The gospel we hear and the communion we share is to change our hearts. We are then sent back out into the world to live out the good news of Jesus.

The Mass takes about 1 hour. At a Catholic mass, people who attend are

expected to come prepared to be involved. People who want to get something out of

mass must be prepared to put something into it. participate in the prayers, listen to God’s story and

instruction, apply God’s word to our personal life, share in praise and song, and bring ourselves and our suffering & good works as offering.

How did the Mass start?

The mass is nearly 2000 years old. The Mass meal is an escape to freedom. It

gives power to overcome weakness and sin.

Holy Water: to remember baptismGenuflect: kneeling towards the tabernacle

(the house of Jesus)

Five Parts of Mass

Part 1 - Introduction

Priest greets us—sign of the CrossPenitential Act—Asking for God’s mercy for

our sinsGloria—Hymn of praisePriest gathers our prayers

Liturgy of the Word

1st reading: Old Testament Responsorial Psalm: Book of Psalms (May be sung or read) 2nd reading: New Testament Gospel: Gospel of Matthew/Mark/Luke/John

We stand & make a cross on our forehead, lips and heart –may God’s word be on our mind, lips when we speak and in our hearts

Homily: The priest explains the Scriptures and applies it to our lives.

Creed – Our profession of faith (Apostles or Nicene Creed). We are agreeing as a community to our beliefs & the word

of God Intercessions (Prayers of the faithful): Includes the whole

community Needs of the church Public and salvation of the world Those oppressed Local community

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Highest part of the mass Re-enactment of the last supper

Preparation of the altar Presentation of the gifts (bread and wine) Priest washes his hands and this cleanses him of sins Water and wine are mixed: symbol of Jesus and His people

uniting Eucharistic Prayer

Sanctus (Holy, Holy)—moment of unity for the whole Church of God

Last Supper Narrative: This is my body… This is where bread and wine change into the body and

blood of Christ. This special moment is called the miracle of transubstantiation.

Mystery of Faith: People proclaim their faith “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again”

Invitation to Communion

• Lord’s Prayer (Our Father) • Sign of peace• Lamb of God (Breaking the Bread)• Physically receive the body of Christ

Dismissal

• Blessing—Amen• Announcements• Dismissal—Thanks be to God• Go to love and serve the Lord—be

better people

Colours of the Liturgical Year

White – Joy, purity, innocence, and victory (Feast day of Mary, Easter, and Christmas)

Red – Blood, fire, Holy Spirit, and sacrifice of the martyrs (Pentecost and Feast of the Martyrs)

Purple – Sorrow, fasting, and preparation (Advent and Lent)

Green – Ordinary (ordered) time

Vocabulary

Mass – dismissal (from Latin word “missa”)Eucharist – thanksgivingApostle – sent (on a mission)Gospel – good newsIncarnation – God being born as a person

Other Names for Mass

The Breaking of BreadThe Lord’s SupperThe Holy Sacrifice

Catholic Rituals & Symbolic

Candles—sign of truth and goodnessKneeling—sign of adoration to the Blessed

Sacrament (Jesus truly present in the Eucharist)

Sign of the cross—Started in the 4th century. Reminds us of Jesus’ crucifixion. Shows us loving God with our heart, soul, mind and strength.

Amen—So be it. Alleluia—Praise the LordHosanna—Please save usIncense—used to purify and symbolizes prayer.

A rising to God.

Alpha and Omega—Greek for “beginning” and “end”. God is the first and the last.

Chi & Rho - The Greek letters chi and rho (resembling an "X" and a "P") used to indicate Christ since these letters are the first two letters of the word "Christ" in Greek.

Iota is the first letter of Iesous (Ιησους), Greek for Jesus. Chi is the first letter of Christos (Χριστóς), Greek for "anointed". Theta is the first letter of Theou (Θεοῦ), genitive case of Θεóς "God". Upsilon is the first letter of Huios (Υἱός), Greek for Son. Sigma is the first letter of Soter (Σωτήρ), Greek for Savior.