The Order of Mass The Introductory Rites The Introductory Rites help the faithful, come together as one, establish communion and prepare themselves to listen to the Word of God and to celebrate the Eucharist worthily. All stand. The Priest approaches the altar with the Have mercy on us, O Lord. ministers and venerates it while the Entrance Song is sung. For we have sinned against you. Sign of the Cross Show us, O Lord, your mercy. All make the Sign of the Cross as the Priest says: And grant us your salvation. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. You were sent to heal Amen. the contrite of heart: Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison. Greeting Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, You came to call sinners: and the communion of the Holy Spirit Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison. Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison. be with you all. Or: Grace to you and peace You are seated at the right hand from God our Father of the Father to intercede for us: and the Lord Jesus Christ. Or: Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison. The Lord be with you. Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison. And with your spirit. The absolution by the Priest follows: May almighty God have mercy on us, Penitential Act forgive us our sins, The Priest invites the faithful to the Penitential Act. and bring us to everlasting life. Then one of the Penitential Acts follows: Amen. I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, The Kyrie, eleison (Lord, have mercy) may follow. that I have greatly sinned, Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison. in my thoughts and in my words, Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison. in what I have done Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison. and in what I have failed to do, Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison. And, striking their breast, they say: Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison. through my fault, through my fault, Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison. through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary The Gloria When indicated this hymn is either sung or said: ever-Virgin, Glory to God in the highest, all the Angels and Saints, and on earth peace to people and you, my brothers and sisters, of good will. to pray for me to the Lord our God. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, For you alone are the Holy One, we glorify you, you alone are the Lord, we give you thanks you alone are the Most High, for your great glory, Jesus Christ, Lord God, heavenly King, with the Holy Spirit, O God, almighty Father. in the glory of God the Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Amen. Lord God, Lamb of God, The Collect Son of the Father, When this hymn is concluded, the Priest, says: you take away the sins of the world, Let us pray. have mercy on us; And all pray in silence with the Priest for a while. Then the Priest says the Collect prayer, at the end of you take away the sins of the world, which the people acclaim: receive our prayer; Amen. you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. The Liturgy of the Word By hearing the word proclaimed in worship, the faithful again enter into the unending dialogue between God and the covenant people, a dialogue sealed in the sharing of the Eucharistic food and drink. First Reading all sit The Homily all sit To indicate the end of the reading, the reader acclaims: At the end of the Homily it is appropriate for there to be The word of the Lord. a brief silence for recollection. Thanks be to God. The Apostles’ Creed all stand On Sundays and Solemnities, the Profession of Faith Psalm or Creed will follow. During Lent and Easter Time, After the First Reading the psalmist or cantor sings or especially, the Apostles’ Creed may be used. says the Psalm, with the people making the response. I believe in God, Second Reading the Father almighty, On Sundays and certain other days there is a second Creator of heaven and earth, reading. It concludes with the same response as above. and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, Gospel our Lord, The assembly stands to sing the Gospel Acclamation to At the words that follow, up to and including the Virgin welcome the Gospel. They remain standing in honour of Mary, all bow. the Gospel reading, the high point of the Liturgy of the Word. who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, The Lord be with you. born of the Virgin Mary, And with your spirit. suffered under Pontius Pilate, A reading from the holy Gospel was crucified, died and was buried; according to N. he descended into hell; Glory to you, O Lord. on the third day he rose again from the dead; At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims: he ascended into heaven, The Gospel of the Lord. and is seated at the right hand Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge The Prayer of the Faithful the living and the dead. After each intention there is a pause while the faithful pray. I believe in the Holy Spirit, Lord, in your mercy. the holy catholic Church, Hear our prayer. the communion of saints, The Priest concludes the Prayer with a collect. the forgiveness of sins, When the Liturgy of the Word has been completed, the the resurrection of the body, people sit. and life everlasting. Amen. The Liturgy of the Eucharist For Catholics, the Eucharist is the source and summit of the whole Christian life. It is the vital centre of all that the Church is and does, because at its heart is the real presence of the crucified, risen and glorified Lord, continuing and making available his saving work among us. During the Offertory Song the gifts of bread and wine The Priest concludes the Preface with the people, singing are brought in procession. The Priest offers the prayers Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. of blessing quietly at the altar. If the priest says the prayers aloud the assembly’s acclamation each time is Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Blessed be God for ever. Hosanna in the highest. The Priest completes additional personal preparatory Blessed is he who comes in the name rites, and the people rise as he says: of the Lord. Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters), Hosanna in the highest. that my sacrifice and yours The Priest continues with the Eucharistic Prayer. may be acceptable to God, After the words of Consecration the priest says: the almighty Father. The mystery of faith. May the Lord accept the sacrifice We proclaim your Death, O Lord, at your hands and profess your Resurrection for the praise and glory of his name, until you come again. Or: for our good When we eat this Bread and the good of all his holy Church. and drink this Cup, Then the Priest says the Prayer over the Offerings, at the we proclaim your Death, O Lord, end of which the people acclaim: until you come again. Or: Amen. Save us, Saviour of the world, The Eucharistic Prayer for by your Cross and Resurrection The Lord be with you. you have set us free. And with your spirit. At the conclusion of the prayer the Priest takes the Lift up your hearts. chalice and the paten with the host and, raising both, he says: We lift them up to the Lord. Through him, and with him, and in him, Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. O God, almighty Father, It is right and just. in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours, for ever and ever. Amen. The Communion Rite Breaking of the Bread The Lord’s Prayer all stand Lamb of God, you take away the sins At the Saviour’s command of the world, have mercy on us. and formed by divine teaching, Lamb of God, you take away the sins we dare to say: of the world, have mercy on us. Our Father, who art in heaven, Lamb of God, you take away the sins hallowed be thy name; of the world, grant us peace. thy kingdom come, Invitation to Communion all kneel thy will be done After his private prayers of preparation the Priest genuflects, takes the host and, holding it slightly raised on earth as it is in heaven. above the paten or above the chalice says aloud: Give us this day our daily bread, Behold the Lamb of God, and forgive us our trespasses, behold him who takes away as we forgive those who trespass the sins of the world. against us; Blessed are those called and lead us not into temptation, to the supper of the Lamb. but deliver us from evil. Lord, I am not worthy Deliver us, Lord… that you should enter under my roof, and the coming of our Saviour, but only say the word Jesus Christ. and my soul shall be healed. For the kingdom, Communion the power and the glory are yours The communicants come forward in reverent procession, and make a preparatory act of reverence by now and for ever. bowing their head in honour of Christ’s presence in the Lord Jesus Christ… Sacrament.