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How to Take Part in the Mass
A Resource Provided by the Christchurch Diocese Catholic Mission
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Introduction
The Mass begins with a short ceremony of being reconciled with the Lord and with each other for any shortcomings. This is followed by the Liturgy of the Word, during which prayers are offered, the Gospel is proclaimed along with other readings from Scripture, and the Gospel message is preached. After this the gifts of bread and wine are prepared and brought to the altar. The Eucharistic prayer that follows unites us in a special way with the sacrifice Jesus made in dying on the Cross. The gifts, which have now become the real presence of Jesus under the appearances of bread and wine, are shared with the faithful in the Communion part of the Mass. Finally the priest sends the people out with a blessing, to take the good news to others.
From beginning to end the Catholic Mass is one long scriptural meditation and prayer. Here we provides an outline of the Mass, summarising its form and structure, along with Bible verses to help you follow the thread of direct quotes and subtle references for yourself.
The Order of the Mass
[It begins:]{STAND}
Priest: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matt 28:19)
People: Amen. (1 Chr 16:36)
Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor 13:13)
People: And also with you.
Penitential Rite
All: I confess to almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault. (Jas 5:16) In my thoughts and in my words, (Rom. 12:16) In what I have done and in what I have failed to do; (Jas 3:6) and I ask the Blessed Mary, ever-virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. (1 Thess 5:25, Rev 8:3-4)
Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. (1 John 1:9)
People: Amen (1 Chr 16:36)
All: Lord have mercy (Ps 123:3); Christ have mercy (1 Tim 1:2); Lord have mercy.
Gloria
All: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. (Luke 2:14) Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, (Rev 19:6) we worship you, (Rev. 22:9) we give you thanks, (Eph. 5:20) we praise you for your glory. (Rev 7:12) Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, (2 John 3) Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us. (John 1:29) You are seated at the right hand of the Father, receive our prayer. (Rom 8:34) For you alone are the Holy One, (Luke 4:34) You alone are Lord, You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ. (Luke 1:32) with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. (John 14:26) Amen.
The Opening Prayer
Priest: Let us pray… [We listen to the prayer, which concludes with an ending such as…]
We ask you this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
People: Amen. {SIT}
The Liturgy of the Word
[The Liturgy of the Word consists of four readings from Scripture: the first is typically from the Old Testament, the second a psalm, followed by a reading from one of the epistles. Finally, the Gospel is proclaimed. The chosen readings change daily.]
At the end of the first reading:
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
[There then follows a Psalm in which we recite the response after each stanza of the Psalm.]
At the end of the second reading:
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God. {STAND}
[Before the Gospel we say an Acclamation. Then...]
Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Priest: A reading from the holy gospel according to N.
People: Glory to you, Lord.
[All make the Sign of the Cross over their forehead, mouth and heart, to symbolise our desire that the Word of the Lord be always in our minds, on our lips, and in our hearts.]
At the end of the Gospel:
Priest: This is the gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. {SIT}
[A Sermon on the readings follows.](2 Tim 4:1-2)
{STAND}
Profession of Faith [this is the Nicene Creed, from 325AD]
All: We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, (Gen 14:19) of all that is seen and unseen. (Col 1:16)
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, (Luke 1:35) eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, begotten not made, of one being with the Father. (Heb 1:3)
Through him all things were made. (John 1:2-3)
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: (John 3:13) by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate of the virgin Mary, (Matt 1:18) and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, (John 19:16) he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. (1 Cor 15:3-4) He ascended into heaven (Luke 24:51) and is seated at the right hand of the Father. (Col 3:1) He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim 4:1) and his kingdom will have no end. (Luke 1:33)
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life, (Acts 2:17) who proceeds from the Father and the Son. (John 14:16) With the Father and Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. (1 Peter 1:10-11)
We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. (Rom 12:5) We acknowledge one baptism (Eph 4:5) for the forgiveness of sins. (Acts 2:38) We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. (Rom 6:5) Amen.
Prayers of the Faithful
[We listen to several prayers, and after each one we respond:]
People: Lord, hear our prayer.
{SIT}
The Liturgy of the Eucharist
[The gifts are brought to the altar. These include the bread and wine and the offering collected from the people.] (Mal 3:10)
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation (2 Chr 2:12). Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. (Eccl. 3:13) It will become for us the bread of life. (John 6:35)
People: Blessed be God forever. (Ps 68:36)
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink. (Luke 22:17-18)
People: Blessed be God forever. (Ps 68:36)
Priest: Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father. (Heb 12:28)
People: May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his Church. (Ps 50:23)
Eucharistic Prayers {STAND}
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord. (Lam 3:41)
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord Our God. (Col 3:17)
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise. (Col 1:3)
Preface [The priest introduces the Eucharistic prayer]
Sanctus
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. (Is 6:3)
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. (Mark 11:9-10)
Eucharistic Prayer {KNEEL}
[There are several forms of the Eucharistic Prayer, each based on ancient prayers of the Church. Only one is used at each Mass. Eucharistic Prayer Two follows as an example:]
Priest: Lord, you are holy indeed, the fountain of all holiness. (2 Macc. 14:36) Let your spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy, so that they may become the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 10:16) Before he was given up to death, (Phil 2:8) a death he freely accepted, (John 10:17-18) he took bread and gave you thanks. He broke the bread , gave it to his disciples, and said: Take this all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you. When supper was ended, he took the cup. Again he gave thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples, and said: Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this is memory of me. (Mark 14:22-25)
Let us proclaim the mystery of faith.
All: Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life, Lord Jesus, come in glory. (Heb 2:14-15)
Priest: In memory of his death and resurrection, we offer you, Father, this life-giving bread, this saving cup. (John 6:51) We thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you. May all of us who share in the body and blood of Christ be brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor.10:17)
Lord, remember your Church throughout the world; make us grow in love together with our Pope and our bishop, and all the clergy. Remember our brothers and sisters who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again: bring them and all the departed into the light of your presence. (2 Macc 12:45-46)
Have mercy on us all; make us worthy to share eternal life with Mary, the virgin Mother of God, with the apostles and with all the saints who have done your will throughout the ages. May we praise you in union with them, and give you glory though your Son, Jesus Christ. (2 Thes 1:4-5)
Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.
All: Amen. (Rom 11:36) {STAND}
The Lord's Prayer
All: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matt 6:9-13)
Priest: Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our saviour, Jesus Christ. (John 17:15)
All: For the kingdom the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen (1 Chr 29:10-11)
Priest: Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles; I leave you peace, my peace I give to you. (John 14:27) Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom where you live forever and ever.
Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always! (John 20:19)
People: And also with you!
[The priest then directs the people to exchange a sign, such as a handshake or a kiss, or a word of God's peace to one another.]
Breaking of the Bread
All: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace. (John 1:29)
Communion
Priest: This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper. (Rev 19:9)
People: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed. (Matt 8:8)
[Communion is distributed to the faithful at the altar by the priest and lay ministers.]
Dismissal {STAND}
Priest: May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Luke 24:51) Go in peace (Luke 7:50) to love and serve the Lord. (2 Chr 35:3)
[During the blessing the people make the Sign of the Cross, the traditional sign of the baptised and a public affirmation of their belief in the power of God.]
People: Thanks be to God. (2 Cor 9:15)
The Scriptural references in this document are largely based on Just What is the Mass Anyway?, an article by Larry Nolte available at