214 THE LITURGY OF THE WORD AND THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST - part 1 of 2 parts

YOUCAT Lesson 214, part 1 of 2 parts

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

214  How is the Mass structured?   [1348-1355]

Holy Mass begins with the gathering of the faithful and the entrance of the priest and the others who serve in the sanctuary (altar servers, lectors, cantors, and so on).  After the greeting by the priest comes the Penitential Rite which may take one of three different forms and then is followed by the Kyrie. 

Photo: ….. Holy Communion is being distributed to the people during the All Saints Day Mass at the Chapel Church of Our Lady of Good Help Shrine. …..214

THE KYRIE:

“Priest: Lord, have mercy!  People: Lord, have mercy!  ...   Priest: Christ, have mercy!  People: Christ, have mercy!  ...  Priest: Lord, have mercy!  People: Lord, have mercy!”

Comment:  The Kyrie eleison, an ancient cry of homage to gods and rulers, was applied very early to Christ; around the year 500, without translation, it was carried over from the Greek liturgy into the Roman and Western liturgy.

THE GLORIA:   On Sundays (outside of Advent and Lent ) and feast days, the Gloria is then sung or recited.

“ 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, 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.”

Comment:   The Gloria is a joyful song of the angels heard by the shepherds (Luke 2:14) on Christmas night .  It serves as the introduction to an ancient Christian hymn that has existed in this form since the ninth century, in which the praise of God is sung with solemnity.

THE AGNUS DEI:

“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.”

Comment:  In Exodus 12 the lamb of God (agnus Dei) is the sacrifice by which the people of Israel were freed from slavery in Egypt; John the Baptist applied this image to Jesus (John 1:29, “Behold, the Lamb of God…”).  Through Jesus, who is lead like a lamb to slaughter, we are freed from our sins and  the invocation of Christ, find peace with God.  In the Eucharistic liturgy, “Lamb of God”, begins a litany-like prayer that has been part of every Holy Mass in the Roman Rite since the seventh century.

THE PRAYER OF THE DAY introduces one or two readings from the Old and New Testament, followed by the responsorial psalm.  Before the Gospel is read, there is an Alleluia, or acclamation. 

Comment:  ALLELUIA (“Let us praise the Lord”; composed of the Hebrew halal=praise ye!, glorify!, and the divine name YHWH): This exclamation, which occurs twenty-four times in the Psalms, is used in the Mass as an acclamation greeting the Word of the Lord in the Gospel.

After the proclamation of the Gospel on Sundays and feast days, the priest or deacon gives a homily. 

Comment:  HOMILY (from Greek homilein=to exhort someone, speak to him as a peer, converse with him): Homily is another word for sermon.  Within the Eucharistic liturgy, the preacher has the task of proclaiming the Good News (Greek evangelion) and helping the faithful and encouraging them to recognize and accept the practical consequences of the Word of God that they have just heard.  During Holy Mass the homily is reserved to the priest or deacon: in other settings, Christian laity may also preach.

Then, again only on Sundays and feast days, the congregation professes its common faith in the Creed; the Nicene Creed or the Apostles Creed.  The Creed is followed by the intercessions. 

The second part of Holy Mass begins with the preparation of the gifts, which concludes with the Offertory prayer.

The high point of the Eucharistic celebration is the Eucharistic Prayer, which is introduced by the Preface and the Sanctus. 

THE SANCTUS:

“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.”

Comment:  The Sanctus is one of the most ancient parts of the Mass.  It originated in the eighth century b.c. (!) and can never be omitted.  The song is composed of the cry of the angels in Isaiah 6:3 and a greeting in Psalm 118:26 that is applied to the presence of Christ.

Now the gifts of bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ.  The Eucharistic Prayer concludes, finally, in the doxology, then the Great Amen, which together make the transition to the Lord’s Prayer.

Then comes the prayer for peace, the Agnus Dei, the breaking of the bread, and the distribution of the holy Gifts to the faithful, which often is done only under the form of the Body of Christ.

Comment:  COMMUNION (from Latin communion=fellowship): By Communion, we mean receiving the Body and Blood of Christ in the transformed (consecrated) gifts of bread and wine.  This occurs as a rule during Holy Mass, but also on certain occasions outside of Mass (for instance, when Holy Communion is brought to the sick).  Communion only under the species of bread is also a full communion with Christ.

Holy Mass ends with meditation, thanksgiving, a concluding prayer, and a blessing by the priest.