140. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

The Beginning of Mass

As the priest enters the sanctuary, the people stand, out of respect for the representative of Christ. They then kneel for the beginning of Mass.

The priest places the covered chalice on the centre of the altar, having first spread the corporal. He opens the Missal. He then goes to the foot of the altar, and begins Mass by making the sign of the cross,

The people should make the sign of the cross with the priest. They should direct their intention for hearing Mass. Those who come after this point are late for Mass.

The priest says an introductory psalm, to express his trust in God, and his awareness of his own unworthiness. The prayers said at the foot of the altar symbolize the thousands of years during which man was far from God, and longing for the Redeemer.

In Masses for the dead, and from Passion Sunday to Holy Saturday exclusively, the psalm is omitted.

The Confiteor

After the psalm, the priest bows and says the Confiteor a confession of sin, as a preparation, an expression of humility before God. The Confiteor is repeated by the server in behalf of the people.

The priest then goes up the altar and kisses it in the place beneath which relics of some Saints are cemented in the altar stone. He goes to the right or epistle side, and reads the opening prayer. In solemn Masses, the altar is incensed.

The Introit

Originally the Introit was a psalm chanted by the priest and his assistants when they entered the sanctuary. Today it is reduced to a verse, the first to be read at Mass.

The Introit varies each day, as do certain other parts of the Mass, like the Collects, Epistle, Gradual, Gospel, Offertory, Secrets, Communion, and Post-communions.

The Kyrie

The priest goes to the centre and recites the Kyrie eleison alternately with the server, imploring God's mercy. The prayer is repeated nine times: three in honour of God the Father, three in honour of God the Son, and three in honour of God the Holy Ghost.

The Gloria

After the Kyrie, the Gloria is said when the Mass requires it. It is sometimes omitted, especially during the penitential seasons, and in the Masses for the dead. At the end the priest kisses the altar.

The Gloria repeats the songs of praise of the angels on Christmas night. In high Masses the most beautiful music is heard from the choir,

The Collect

The priest goes to the epistle side and reads certain prayers, called the Collect. There may be more than one Collect. These prayers are recited in honour of the saint or mystery of the day, or for the intention of the Mass. They express man's subjection to God.

At the Collect we should pray for the intention we have in hearing the Mass.

The Epistle

The Epistle or Lesson follows. It is a reading from Scripture, usually from one of St. Paul's letters. At High Mass the subdeacon sings the Epistle.

Often the Epistle is taken from the Acts of the Apostles, from Exodus, Wisdom, etc. At the end of the Epistle the server says, "Deo Gratias" (Thanks be to God).

The Gradual

Here follow the Gradual, Alleluia, Tract, and Sequence, all varying in accordance with the season of the ecclesiastical year. Tract and Sequence are not often said.

The Missal is then carried to the left or gospel side of the altar. This act symbolizes the passing of the faith from the Jews to the Gentiles

The Gospel

The Gospel is taken from one of the four Evangelists. During the reading, the people stand, out of reverence for the word of God. The priest begins the reading by crossing himself on the forehead, lips, and breast.

The people do the same, to show they believe the Gospel, will always profess it, and will ever love it. At High Mass the Deacon sings the Gospel.

The Credo

After the Gospel the priest on Sundays and holydays of obligation usually preaches a sermon. Often it is an explanation of the Gospel read. The priest goes to the middle of the altar and recites the Nicene Creed or Credo. This is not said at all Masses.

At the words, incarnatus est (And was made man), the people genuflect with the priest, in memory of Our Lord's Incarnation. The people may sit down after the Credo.

The Offertory

The Offertory begins with the Offertory prayer; then the priest uncovers the chalice.

The Offertory is the first of the three principal parts of the Mass. It represents Our Lord's preparation for His Passion, and His willingness to surrender His life. The people should unite themselves with the priest in making this offering. They should also offer themselves and all they have to God. Those who come after this point have missed Mass, and must stay to hear another.

The Offertory consists of two parts: the offering of the bread and the offering of the wine. The priest offers the bread on the paten, and the wine in the chalice.

Water is mixed with the wine because Christ did so at the Last Supper.

In offering the chalice, the priest says: "We offer unto Thee, O Lord, the chalice of salvation, beseeching Thy clemency, that it may ascend before Thy divine Majesty as a sweet savour for our salvation and for that of the whole world. Amen."

The Lavabo and Orate Fratres

After the Offertory, the priest washes his fingers, as a mark of the purity of body and soul that is required for the Holy Sacrifice. This is the Lavabo.

The priest turns towards the people, extends and joins his hands, and audibly invites them to pray, saying: "Orate fratres" (Pray, brethren). The server makes the reply for the people.

The Secret

The priest recites one or more prayers forming the Secret. They are prayers of petition, similar to the Collect.

At the end is said or sung in audible tones: "Per omnia saecula saeculorum" (forever and ever).

The Preface and Sanctus

The Preface is a prayer of thanksgiving, varying with the day and season.

The prayer ends with the Sanctus. This part is indicated by the ringing of the bell three times. The people kneel. The priest joins his hands and bows as he says the Sanctus.

The Sanctus represents the entry of Christ in Jerusalem. The people ought to unite themselves with the angels who hail with praises the coming of the Son of God, soon to descend on the altar.

The Canon of the Mass

The Canon, or most solemn part of the Mass, follows. A remembrance is made for the Church, the Holy Father, the Bishop of the place, and the faithful. The Pope and the Bishop are mentioned by their first names. The Memento, or prayer for the living, is said. This represents too the prayer of Christ for the Church at the Last Supper. The assistance of the saints is invoked.

Thus the Church militant and triumphant are united to honor God.

The priest crosses the oblation of bread and wine five times, in honor of the Five Wounds.

The people should recollect themselves in preparation for the consecration.

The Consecration

The Consecration is the principal part of the Mass. The words of Christ Himself are spoken over the bread and wine, the same words He used when He instituted the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper.

By them the bread and wine are changed into the living Body and Blood of the Son of God. The bell is rung.

After adoring, the priest elevates first the Host, then the chalice, for the people to adore. The Elevation commemorates the lifting up of Our Lord on the Cross, when on Calvary He gave up his life in sacrifice.

At the Elevation, the people should look upon the Host and chalice and say, "My Lord and my God," then bow their heads and adore. Everyone should be perfectly silent, to welcome and honour with devotion the coming of the King of Kings.

Immediately after the consecration, we should make to God the Father an act of offering of His Divine Son. We have a worthy gift to offer to God, Christ Himself.

The Commemoration of the Dead

For the souls in Purgatory, the priest then prays, remaining silent while he pleads for certain special souls. Then follows a prayer for those present, beginning with the words audibly said, "Nobis quoque peccatoribus" (To us also, sinners).

The Pater Noster

The priest recites the Pater Noster (Our Father), the prayer taught by Christ Himself. In high Masses, the people stand at the Pater Noster. Then the Priest, breaking the Host in two, puts a small particle of It into the chalice, while he says a prayer.

This breaking symbolizes the death of Christ.

The Agnus Dei

The Agnus Dei is then said, the priest striking his breast three times in sign of humility and penance: "Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us."

At High Masses the Kiss of Peace is given.

The Communion

After several prayers of preparation, the sanctuary bell is rung, and the priest gives himself Communion. He receives the Body of Christ, saying: "The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul unto life everlasting. Amen." The priest meditates, then uncovers the chalice, genuflects, and says: "What shall I render to the Lord for all that He has rendered unto me? I will take the chalice of salvation" etc. He then receives the Precious Blood, saying, "The Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul unto life everlasting. Amen".

The Communion is the third principal part of Mass, and ends the actual sacrifice. It represents the burial of Christ.

If there are any to receive Communion, the server says the Confiteor in their name. Those who do not communicate should make a spiritual communion. If there are no communicants, the people may sit down after the priest's Communion.

Communion of the People

The priest absolves and blesses the people. He takes the ciborium and elevates a small Host in the sight of all, saying, "Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him Who taketh away the sins of the world!" He repeats three times the prayer of the centurion to Christ, "Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof; say but the word, and my soul shall be healed." He makes the sign of the cross with the Host over each communicant, and says to him: ''May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve thy soul unto life everlasting. Amen."

After administering Holy Communion to the people, the priest returns to the altar.

The priest takes the Ablution; that is, he drinks wine and water that are poured into the chalice.

The priest dries the inside of the chalice; folding the corporal, he places it on the chalice as at the beginning of Mass.

The Postcommunion

Going to the Epistle side, the priest reads the Communion prayer, termed thus because in early days, it was sung by the choir while the people received Holy Communion.

At the centre again, the priest turns to the people and says, " Dominus vobiscum " (The Lord be with you), being answered by the server, " Et cum spiritu tuo " (And with thy spirit).

Once more at the Epistle side, the priest reads the Post communion prayers, petitions to God read or sung like the Collects. At the middle, he faces the people and once more says: " Dominus vobiscum."

These greetings are in commemoration of Christ's two appearances to the Apostles immediately after His resurrection.

The Blessing

The priest turns to the people and says: "Ite, Missa est" (Go, the Mass is ended).

These words of dismissal represent Christ's Ascension, when He sent His Apostles forth to evangelize the world. These words are varied for different occasions. If the Gloria has not been said, the words used here are: " Benedicamus Domino " (Let us bless the Lord) In Masses for the dead the words are: " Requiescant in pace " (May they rest in peace). In Easter week, the words alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, are added.

But even with the priest's formal words of dismissal, the people must not leave; the Mass is not yet ended. There is a short prayer to the Blessed Trinity, offering devotion and homage.

Then the priest kisses the altar, extends, raises, and joins his hands, bows his head, and gives the people the blessing, saying, "May almighty God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, bless you."

The people kneel and make the sign of the cross as the priest blesses them. A bishop makes three signs of the cross when he blesses at Mass.

At Masses for the dead there is no blessing, to show that the Church does not have the same jurisdiction over the dead as over the living.

The Last Gospel

The priest turns to the left side to read the Last Gospel, which is taken from the opening words of the Gospel of St. John. The people stand and make three signs of the cross with the priest, on the forehead, lips, and breast. They genuflect with the priest at the words: "And the Word was made Flesh," in honour of Christ's Incarnation. Sometimes another Gospel is read instead. The Last Gospel represents the propagation of the word of God throughout the world after the descent of the Holy Ghost. At the end of the Last Gospel, the people kneel. Mass is ended with the words: " Deo gratias (Thanks be to God).

A votive Mass is one said in honor of some particular mystery or saint, on a day not set apart by the Church for the commemoration of that mystery or saint.

Prayers after Mass

Thus in one-half hour, the time required for an ordinary low Mass, the principal events of Our Lord's life are represented, as well as the chief doctrines of His Church.

In the course of the Mass, the celebrant observes not less than 500 ceremonies, such as bowing, striking the breast, and making the sign of the cross. These ceremonies aim not only to give honor to God, but also to impress upon the faithful the sublimity of the Holy Sacrifice.

After most low Masses, the priest kneels at the foot of the altar and recites some prescribed prayers with the people.

All should make the proper responses. No one should leave before the priest. Everybody should stand when the priest leaves the sanctuary.

No requiem Mass is permitted on great feasts, for our private sorrows must not take precedence over the joy that should reign over the whole Church on such days.