What is a Catholic Mass?
The Catholic Mass is the celebration of the Holy Eucharist which is the “source and summit of our Christian life” (Lumen Gentium, 11). At the Last Supper Jesus instituted the Eucharist. He changed bread and wine into His Body and Blood as an offering of salvation for all. Following His command to “Do this in memory of me” we celebrate the Eucharistic Liturgy and unite ourselves to Christ.
What Happens at Mass?
CLICK TO PRINT THE PRAYERS THAT WE SAY AT MASS.
THE HOLY MASS
Upon entering the church we bless ourselves with holy water from the baptismal font as a sign of our baptism into the life of Christ. ✠
If the Blessed Sacrament is in the tabernacle (noted by a lit Sanctuary lamp next to the tabernacle) then we kneel (genuflect) on our right knee upon entering the pew before mass. You may make a profound bow (bow at the waist) if you are unable to genuflect. We do not genuflect while in procession, such as during Holy Communion.
INTRODUCTORY RITES
ENTRANCE SONG
SIGN OF THE CROSS
Celebrant ✠ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. All Amen.
GREETING
C. The Lord be with you A. And with your spirit.
PENITENTIAL RITE
C. … let us acknowledge our sins…
A. I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore 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.
C. May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. A. Amen.
C. Lord have mercy. A. Lord have mercy.
C. Christ have mercy. A. Christ have mercy.
C. Lord have mercy. A. Lord have mercy.
C……….. A. Amen.
GLORIA
A. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. 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.
COLLECT PRAYER
C. Let us pray. …
A. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST READING
Lector The word of the Lord. A. Thanks be to God.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
A. Respond to the cantor
SECOND READING
Lector The word of the Lord. A. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
A. Alleluia!
C. The Lord be with you. A. And with your spirit.
C. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to . . .
A. ✠ Glory to you, O Lord.
C. The gospel of the Lord. A. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
HOMILY (sit)
PROFESSION OF FAITH-NICENE CREED (stand)
A. I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, bow and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. StraightenFor our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with 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. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
UNIVERSAL PRAYER (PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL)
C. …We pray to the Lord. A. Lord, hear our prayer.
C. … A. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
PREPARATION OF THE ALTAR AND THE GIFTS
C. Blessed are you, Lord, …..A. Blessed be God forever.
C. Blessed are you, Lord, …. A. Blessed be God forever.
We kneel or stand depending on diocese norms.
The people (rise) reply:
C. Pray, brethren …..
A. May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and the good of all his holy Church.
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
C……….. A. Amen.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER II
C. The Lord be with you. A. And with your spirit.
C. Lift up your hearts. A.We lift them up to the Lord.
C. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. A. It is right and just.
PREFACE
C. ….. we proclaim:
SANCTUS
A. Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts. 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.
We kneel or stand depending on diocese norms
C………..✠ TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT: FOR THIS IS MY BODY WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.
C………..✠ TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT: FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT, WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME. ……….
MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION
C. The mystery of Faith.
A. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess you Resurrection until you come again. or
A. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again. or
A. Save us, Savior of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
C. ….. for ever and ever. A. Amen.
COMMUNION RITE
LORD’S PRAYER
C. At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
A. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy 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; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
C. Deliver us, Lord, ….. our Savior, Jesus Christ.
A. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.
SIGN OF PEACE
C. ….. Peace I leave you, ..…forever and ever. A. Amen.
C. The peace of the Lord be with you always. A. And with your spirit.
C. Let us offer each other the sign of peace.
A. Turn and say Peace be with you.
BREAKING OF THE BREAD
C. …..
A. 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.
C. …..Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
A. Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
COMMUNION
All stand during Communion and process forward. Prior to receiving Holy Communion we bow as a sign of our reverence for the Body of Christ. We remain standing while all receive the Body of Christ.
C. The Body of Christ. A. Amen.
C. The Blood of Christ. A. Amen.
THANKSGIVING PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
C. Let us pray….. A. Amen.
CONCLUDING RITE
BLESSING
C. The Lord be with you. A. And with your spirit.
C. May almighty God bless you, ✠ the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. A. Amen.
DISMISSAL
C. Go in peace. A. Thanks be to God.
We genuflect and go forth glorifying God by our lives. We bless ourselves at the baptismal font. ✠
For masses at other Catholic churches in North Carolina click on Raleigh Diocese Parishes