The Order of Mass
Introductory Rites
An entrance may be sing or said as the preist approaches the altar. Then everyone makes the sign of cross:
Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
The priest greets the people in one of the following ways:
Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
People: And also with you.
or:
Priest: The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
People: Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
or And also with you.
or:
Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
The priest briefly introduces the Mass of the day.
Penitential Rite
The priest invites the people to repentance in these or similar words:
[A] Priest: My brothers and sisters,
to prepare ourselves to celebrate
the sacred mysteries,
let us call to mind our sins.
After a brief silence, all say:
All: I confess to almighty God,
and to you. my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned through my own fault
All strike their breast
In my thoughts and in my words,
In what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;
and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
People: Amen.
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy, Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy, Lord have mercy.
or [B]
Priest: My brothers and sisters,
to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries,
let us call to mind our sins.
After a breif silence, the celebrant says:
Priest: Lord, we have sinned against you:
Lord, have mercy.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Lord, show us your mercy and love.
People: And grant us your salvation.
Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
People: Amen.
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy, Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy, Lord have mercy.
or [C]
Priest: My brothers and sisters,
to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries,
let us call to mind our sins.
After a breif silence the priest says the following, or uses similar words. The people's response, however, remains the same.
Priest: You were sent to heal the contrite:
Lord, have mercy.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: You came to call sinners:
Christ, have mercy.
People: Christ, have mercy.
Priest: You plead for us at the right hand of the Father:
Lord, have mercy.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
People: Amen.
The Gloria
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father;
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
OPENING PRAYER
The priest than says or sings:
Let us pray.
Priest and people pray for a while in silence.
Then the priest says or sings the opening prayer to which people respond:
Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Two or three Readings from Scripture now follow.
At the end of the first reading the reader says:
This is the word of the Lord.
The people reply:
Thanks be to God.
The responsorial psalm is then read or sung with the people responding.
After the second reading (if there is one) the reader says:
This is the word of the Lord.
The people reply:
Thanks be to God.
Then follows the Gospe Acclamation.
Before reading the gospel, the priest says:
Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Priest: A reading from the holy gospel according to...
People: Glory to you, Lord.
At the end of the gospel the priest says:
Priest: This is the gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Homily
In one way or another the lesson of the readings is meant to sink into us. This can be helped by a homily (a few words on the meanings and message).
Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty
maker of heaven and earth,
off all that is seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
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.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
he was born of the Virgin
Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceedes from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified,
he has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The priest introduces the Bidding Prayer or the Prayer of the Faithful. The Church suggests we offer prayers of petition - individual, family, local or worldwide needs. At the end of each petition the faithful are invited to pray for that intention then the reader says:
Lord, hear us.
And the people reply:
Lord, graciously hear us.
or other suitable response. After the intentions the priest says the concluding prayer.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Preparing the Altar and the Gifts
Whilst the altar is prepared some members of the congregation take gifts (bread, wine and water as well as the offering of the faithful) in processionto the altar. A hymn may be sung during the procession. If no hymn is being sung, the priest may say the following blessing aloud:
Priest: Blessed are you Lord, God of all creation.
Through your goodness we have this bread to offer,
which earth has given and human hands have made.
It will become for us the bread of life.
People: Blessed be God for ever.
While the priest pours water into the wine he says this prayer quietly:
Priest: By the mistery of this water and wine we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity.
The priest then says:
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.
People: Blessed be God for ever.
The priest says quietly:
Priest: Lord, God we ask you to receive us and be pleased with the sacrifice we offer you with humble and contrite hearts.
The priest washes his hands, saying quietly:
Priest: Lord, wash away my inquity' cleanse ne from my sin.
Then he says aloud:
Priest: Pray, brethren, that my sacrifise and yours
may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
People: May the Lord accept the sacrifise at your hands
for the praise and glory of his name,
for our good, and the good of all his Church.
The priest then extends his hands and sings or says the prayer over the gifts, and at the end the people respond:
Amen.
The Eucharistic Prayer
The priest calls the whole congregation to attend with greater devotion to the Church's great Prayer of praise and thanksgiving; which is about to proclaim.
Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And alsoe with you.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It's right to give him thanks and praise.
Then begins the preface - a prayer of thanks and praise, changing with the season or feast.
At the end everyone says or sings:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Eucharistic Prayer 2
Lord, you are holy indeed,
the fountain of all holiness.
Let your Spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy,
so that they may become for us
the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Before he was given up to death,
a death he freely accepted,
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 you 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 CONVENANT.
IT WILL BE SHED FOR YOU AND FOR ALL
SO THAT SINS MAY BE FORGIVEN
DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.
Let us proclaim the mystery of faith.
1. Christ has died,
Christ has risen,
Christ will come again.
2. Dying you destroyed our death,
rising you restored our life.
Lord Jesus come in glory.
3. When we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus,
until you come in glory.
4. Lord, by your cross and resurection
you have set us free.
You are the Saviour of the world.
In memory of his death and resurection,
we offer you, Father, this life-giving bread, this saving cup.
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.
Lord, remember your Church throughout the world:
make us grow in love,
together with N. our Pope,
N. 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.
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
through your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through him,
with him,
in him,
in the unity if the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honour is yours,
almighty Father,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Communion Rite
We say the great prayer of Jesus together as one family in Christ.
The priest uses these or similar words to introduce the prayer.
Let us pray with confidence to the Father in the words our Saviour gave us:
Our Father, who are in heaven,
hallowed be the 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.
Ande lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Priest: Deliver us, Lord, from every evil,
and grant us peace in our day.
In your mercy keep us free from sin
and protect us from all anxiety
as we wait in joyful hope
for the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
People: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.
Priest: Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles:
I leave you peace, my peace I give you.
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 for ever and ever.
People: Amen.
Priest: The Peace of the Lord be with you always.
People: And also with you.
Then the priest may add:
Let us offer each other the sign of peace.
Priest: May this mingling of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.
People: 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.
Then priest says quietly one of the following prayers:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, by the will of the Father and the work of the Holy Spirit your death brought life to world. By your holy body and blood free me from all my sins and from evil. Keep me faithful tou your teaching, and never let me be parted from you.
or:
Lord Jesus Christ, with faith in your love and mercy I eat your body and drink your blood. Let it not bring me condemnation, but health in mind and body.
He then says aloud:
Priest: This is the Lamb of God
who takes away the sins of world.
Happy are those who are called to this supper.
People: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word and I shall be healed.
While the priest receives communion, the communiom antiphon may be sung, or said.
We become ever more closely one with Christ and with each other by sharing the breaking of bread, receiving together the body and blood of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion. Each of us should do everything possible t receive communion at every Mass we share. The communicant responds: Amen to the preist's words: "The body of Christ".
After the communion the priest says quietly:
Lord, may I receive these gifts in purity of heart, May they bring me healing and strength, now nad for ever.
A hymn or song of praise may be sung or a period of silence may follow.
The priest than says or sings:
Let us pray...
Then he says or sings the prayer after communion and the people reply:
Amen.
Concluding Rite
Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Then the priest blesses the people.
Priest: May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
On certain occasion he may use a more solemn blessing or prayer over the people.
The priest dismisses the people with on of the following:
Priest: The Mass is ended, go in peace.
People: Thanks be to God.
or
Priest: Go in the peace of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God.
or
Priest: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
