Liturgy

Liturgy of the Word
1. Introductory rites: The Mass begins with the
priest and people making the Sign of the Cross.
A procession of, at minimum, the priest into the
sanctuary. The priest and anyone who
accompanies him represents the congregation,
and their journey symbolizes the Christian
journey through life to the heavenly courts. This
is followed by a greeting.
2. The Act of Penitence: Then the priest invites
those present to take part in the Act of
Penitence, which, after a brief pause for silence,
the entire community carries out through a

formula of general confession. The rite
concludes with the priest's absolution, which,
however, lacks the efficacy of the Sacrament of
Penance.
3. The Gloria: It is a very ancient and venerable
hymn in which the Church, gathered together in
the Holy Spirit, glorifies and entreats God the
Father and the Lamb.

4. The Biblical Readings: The reading of the
Gospel is the high point of the Liturgy of the
Word. It teaches that great reverence is to be
shown to it by setting it off from the other
readings with special marks of honor: whether
the minister appointed to proclaim it prepares
himself by a blessing or prayer; or the faithful,
standing as they listen to it being read, through
their acclamations acknowledge and confess
Christ present and speaking to them; or the very
marks of reverence are given to the Book of the
Gospels. After the first reading comes the
responsorial Psalm, which is an integral part of
the Liturgy of the Word and holds great liturgical
and pastoral importance because it fosters
meditation on the word of God. After the
reading that immediately precedes the Gospel,
the Alleluia or another chant indicated by the
rubrics is sung, as required by the liturgical
season.
5. The homily: It is part of the Liturgy and is
strongly recommended, for it is necessary for
the nurturing of the Christian life. It should be
an exposition of some aspect of the readings
from Sacred Scripture or of another text from
the Ordinary or the Proper of the Mass of the
day and should take into account both the
mystery being celebrated and the particular
needs of the listeners.

6. The Credo and prayers of the faithful:
Before the second part of the Mass begins,
however, the congregation first rises to make our
profession of faith. The Credo, literally “I believe,”
is a summation of Catholic belief. Each word is
weighted with meaning and was the subject of
much theological wrestling in the first three
centuries after Christ. The Creed most commonly
recited today is the Nicene Creed. The Credo is
followed by the prayers of the faithful or the
general intercessions of the Mass.
Liturgy of the Eucharist

1. The offertory: Every sacrifice requires an
offering, and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is
no exception. On Sundays, at the beginning of
the Liturgy of the Eucharist, there is a
collection, with the congregation placing our
offerings in a basket. Today, those offerings

take
2. Preparation of the gifts: While the collection
is taken up, the priest prepares the altar.
When all is ready, he elevates first the bread,
then the wine, pronouncing a blessing over
each. Importantly, before pronouncing the
blessing over the wine, the priest mixes into it
a small amount of water. He does this in
continuation of the custom, where wine was
diluted before it was drunk, and as a symbol
of the blood and water from God. Next, the
priest washes his hands, following St. Paul’s
advice when praying, men should lift “holy” or
“clean” hands.he form of cash or check.

3. Preface and the Sanctus: The preface
continues with a short prayer. Like the
opening dialogue, it focuses the congregation
on the importance of what is about to take
place and invites us to enter into the Mass
even more completely. Then, with the
reminder that we are praying “with the angels
and saints".
4. The Eucharistic Prayer: After the Sanctus,
the congregation kneels, assuming a posture
of reverence in preparation for the central
act of the Mass. Now the center and summit
of the entire celebration begin: namely, the
Eucharistic Prayer, that is, the prayer of
thanksgiving and sanctification. The
Eucharistic Prayer demands that all listen to
it with reverence and in silence. Finally, each

concludes with a closing doxology, the Great
Amen. “Amen” is a Hebrew word that in this
context means “truly” or “yes,” and conveys
the congregation’s agreement with the
entirety of the Eucharistic Prayer, as well as a
“yes” to Christ, elevated on the altar.

5. The Lord’s Prayer: In the Lord's Prayer, a
petition is made for daily food, which for
Christians means preeminently the
eucharistic bread, and also for purification
from sin, so that what is holy may be given to
those who are holy.

6. The Rite of Peace: The Church asks for
peace and unity for herself and for the whole

human family, and the faithful express to
each other their ecclesial communion and
mutual charity before communicating in the
Sacrament.
7. The Agnus Dei and Domine, Non Sum
Dignus: That is exactly what the
congregation does as the Agnus Dei or “Lamb
of God” prayer is uttered. Three times, using
a formula of prayer introduced into the Mass
by the seventh-century Syrian pope, St.
Sergius, we implore Christ, the Lamb of God,
for mercy.
8. Holy Communion: The priest prepares
himself by a prayer, and said quietly, that he
may fruitfully receive Christ's Body and
Blood. The faithful do the same, praying
silently. The priest next shows the faithful the
Eucharistic Bread, holding it above the paten
or above the chalice, and invites them to the
banquet of Christ. Along with the faithful, he
then makes an act of humility using the
prescribed words taken from the Gospels.
When the distribution of Communion is
finished, as circumstances suggest, the priest
and faithful spend some time praying
privately.

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Liturgy of the Word

1. Introductory rites: The Mass begins with the

priest and people making the Sign of the Cross.

A procession of, at minimum, the priest into the

sanctuary. The priest and anyone who

accompanies him represents the congregation,

and their journey symbolizes the Christian

journey through life to the heavenly courts. This

those present to take part in the Act of

Penitence, which, after a brief pause for silence,

the entire community carries out through a

concludes with the priest's absolution, which,

however, lacks the efficacy of the Sacrament of

hymn in which the Church, gathered together in

the Holy Spirit, glorifies and entreats God the

Father and the Lamb.

Gospel is the high point of the Liturgy of the

Word. It teaches that great reverence is to be

shown to it by setting it off from the other

readings with special marks of honor: whether

the minister appointed to proclaim it prepares

himself by a blessing or prayer; or the faithful,

standing as they listen to it being read, through

their acclamations acknowledge and confess

Christ present and speaking to them; or the very

marks of reverence are given to the Book of the

Gospels. After the first reading comes the

responsorial Psalm, which is an integral part of

the Liturgy of the Word and holds great liturgical

and pastoral importance because it fosters

meditation on the word of God. After the

reading that immediately precedes the Gospel,

the Alleluia or another chant indicated by the

rubrics is sung, as required by the liturgical

strongly recommended, for it is necessary for

the nurturing of the Christian life. It should be

an exposition of some aspect of the readings

from Sacred Scripture or of another text from

the Ordinary or the Proper of the Mass of the

day and should take into account both the

mystery being celebrated and the particular

needs of the listeners.

however, the congregation first rises to make our

profession of faith. The Credo, literally “I believe,”

is a summation of Catholic belief. Each word is

weighted with meaning and was the subject of

much theological wrestling in the first three

centuries after Christ. The Creed most commonly

recited today is the Nicene Creed. The Credo is

followed by the prayers of the faithful or the

general intercessions of the Mass.

Liturgy of the Eucharist

1. The offertory: Every sacrifice requires an

offering, and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is

no exception. On Sundays, at the beginning of

the Liturgy of the Eucharist, there is a

collection, with the congregation placing our

offerings in a basket. Today, those offerings

is taken up, the priest prepares the altar.

When all is ready, he elevates first the bread,