Transcript Unit I – The Catholic Mass

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.
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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 baptism
 Genuflect: kneeling towards the tabernacle (the
house of Jesus)
Five Parts of Mass
Part 1 - Introduction
 Priest greets us—sign of the Cross
 Penitential Act—Asking for God’s mercy for our sins
 Gloria—Hymn of praise
 Priest gathers our prayers
Liturgy of the Word
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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”
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Invitation to Communion
Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)
• Sign of peace
• Lamb of God (Breaking the
Bread)
• Physically receive the body of
Christ
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Dismissal
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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 – thanksgiving
 Apostle – sent (on a mission)
 Gospel – good news
 Incarnation – God being born as a person
Other Names for Mass
 The Breaking of Bread
 The Lord’s Supper
 The Holy Sacrifice
Catholic Rituals & Symbolic
 Candles—sign of truth and goodness
 Kneeling—sign of adoration to the Blessed Sacrament
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(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 Lord
Hosanna—Please save us
Incense—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.