This week we continue our series called The MASS Explained.
When someone wants to show you their affection and friendship, they invite you to their home. There are two important things which occur next: conversation and a meal. In the celebration of the Mass, it is Jesus who invites us to participate in his friendship, during which we also encounter these two important moments: conversation, which is when Jesus speaks to us through his Word and we respond with our prayers; and a meal, when Jesus offers us the Eucharistic banquet giving us his Body and Blood.
The MASS Explained #1
What is the "Mass"?
The Mass, or celebration of the Eucharist, is the principal liturgical action in the Roman Catholic Church. The word "Mass" comes from the Latin word, missa meaning "mission" or "sending" because the liturgy is to send forth the faithful to bring forth the Good News and to be His sacramental presence in the world.
In this celebration, established by the Lord Jesus at the Last Supper on the night before He died for us, we participate in the mystery of salvation by remembering the sacrificial death and resurrection of the Lord.
In order to personally prepare for Mass, a quiet time for reflection and prayer is needed. Arriving at church early helps us to focus on the upcoming celebration. This quiet, prayerful time relaxes and calms us. Distractions are removed from our minds, opening space to be able to hear Jesus speaking to us.
The MASS Explained #2
We often get so distracted by external thoughts when we go to Mass that we fail to see the great reality of what is really happening right before our eyes. St. John Vianney said, "If we really understood the Mass we would die of joy."
While most of us are familiar with the term "Mass," there are many different ways to refer to the same thing. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), in paragraphs 1328 - 1332, refers to many different names for the Mass. For Catholics, attending Mass on Sunday (or Saturday evening vigil Mass) is not optional. It is an obligation. "The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice" (CCC para. 2181). In going to Mass on Sunday, we follow the Third Commandment to keep holy the Sabbath.
The Mass has its beginnings at the Last Supper. You can read the accounts in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. To this day, the priest echoes the words of Jesus at every Mass. In Acts 2:42, the very first Christians "devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread, and to the prayers." Here we see the two major parts of the Mass: the Liturgy of the Word—the teaching of the apostles, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist—the breaking of the bread. It is further structured in four specific parts: Introductory Rite, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of the Eucharist, and Concluding Rite.
The MASS Explained #3
Now that we've entered the church and reminded ourselves of the gift of our Baptism, we are ready to enter the pews for worship. To honor the true presence of Jesus Christ in the tabernacle, we genuflect (touch our right knee to the floor) or bow deeply in a spirit of prayer and as a sign of adoration of the Lord. Since the focus is on the altar, you will notice that at other times during the Mass, the priest and ministers bow as they cross the sanctuary.
The Introductory Rite - Part 1
Setting the tone and theme of the Mass, the Introductory Rite unifies the diverse members of the faithful into ONE community of faith. Here is where we are prepared for worship and invited to enter into the mystery of the liturgy.
- Entrance Procession:
The celebrant and other ministers enter in procession as the congregation sings an opening hymn or the entrance antiphon is recited.
- Veneration of the Altar:
The priest kisses the altar, a symbol of Christ at the heart of the assembly, as a sign of reverence/veneration.
- Sign of the Cross:
The Mass begins by all making the Sign of the Cross which is both a true blessing from God and a true commitment from us to follow the Lord. The celebrant extends a greeting to the people in words taken from Scripture. (St. Paul's epistles in the beginning.)
The MASS Explained #4
The Introductory Rite - Part 2
- Greeting:
The celebrant greets us in words from our Christian tradition such as "The Lord be with you," to which we respond, "And with your spirit."
- Penitential Rite:
We are called to pause, recall our sins, and place our trust in God's abiding mercy. The Act of Penitence includes the Kyrie Eleison, a Greek phrase meaning, "Lord, have mercy," recalling God's merciful actions (Mk 10:47).
- Glory to God:
On all Sundays, except during Advent and Lent, the Gloria is recited or sung. This hymn of praise, echoing the song of the angels at the birth of Christ and acknowledging God's greatness, infuses us with an attitude of gratitude and thanksgiving. "Glory to God in the Highest!"
- Collect:
The Opening Prayer (Collect) gives the context for the celebration. This prayer literally "collects" the prayers of all gathered into one prayer led by the priest. It ends with us responding "Amen" in affirmation.
In conclusion, the Introductory Rites that precede the Liturgy of the Word, namely, the Entrance, the Greeting, the Penitential Act, the Kyrie, the Gloria, and Collect, have the character of a beginning, an introduction, and a preparation. The purpose is to ensure that we come together as one, establish communion, and dispose ourselves properly to listen to the Word of God and to celebrate the Eucharist worthily.
