214. The structure of the Mass

The structure of the Mass

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 214

Ave Maria series

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 otherswho serve in the sanctuary (altar servers, lectors, cantors, and so on).  After the greeting by the priest comes the Penitential Ritewhich may take one of three different forms and then is followed by the Kyrie.

  

Holy Communion is being distributed to the people during the All Saints Day Mass at the National Champion Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help. …..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 DAYintroduces 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 Gospelon 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 Creedor 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 Prefaceand 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 6:3and a greeting in Psalm 118:26that 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 Prayerconcludes, 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.

Church Our Lady of

213. The elements of Holy Mass

The elements of Holy Mass

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 213

Ave Maria series

213  What elements are essential to a Holy Mass?

Every Holy Mass (celebration of the Eucharist) unfolds in two main parts, the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. [1346-1347]

“Is this not the same movement as the Paschal meal of the risen Jesus with his disciples? Walking with them he explained the Scriptures to them; sitting with them at table "he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them."(compare Luke 24:13-35)¹⁷⁴   --CCC 1347…..213

In the Liturgy of the Word, we hear readings from the Old and New Testamentsand also the Gospel.  Besides that there is an opportunity for preaching and general intercessory prayers.  In the subsequent Liturgy of the Eucharist, bread and wine are offered, consecrated, and distributed to the faithful at Communion.

[1346-1347]

THE LITURGICAL CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST

The Mass of all ages

1345  As early as the second century we have the witness of St. Justin Martyrfor the basic lines of the order of the Eucharistic celebration. They have stayed the same until our own day for all the great liturgical families. St. Justin wrote to the pagan emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161) around the year 155, explaining what Christians did:

“On the day we call the day of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place.

“The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read, as much as time permits.

“When the reader has finished, he who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things.

“Then we all rise together and offer prayers* for ourselves . . .and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation.

“When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss.

“Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren.

“He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and for a considerable time he gives thanks (in Greek: eucharistian) that we have been judged worthy of these gifts.

“When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: 'Amen.'

“When he who presides has given thanks and the people have responded, those whom we call deacons give to those present the "eucharisted" bread, wine and water and take them to those who are absent.”(St. Justin, Apol. 1, 65-67:PG 6,428-429; the text before the asterisk (*) is from chap. 67)¹⁷¹–Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

1346  The liturgy of the Eucharist unfolds according to a fundamental structure which has been preserved throughout the centuries down to our own day. It displays two great parts that form a fundamental unity: 
- the gathering, the liturgy of the Word, with readings, homily and general intercessions; 
- the liturgy of the Eucharist, with the presentation of the bread and wine, the consecratory thanksgiving, and communion. --CCC

The liturgy of the Word and liturgy of the Eucharist together form "one single act of worship"; (Sacrosanctum Concilium 56)¹⁷² the Eucharistic table set for us is the table both of the Word of God and of the Body of the Lord.(compare Dei Verbum 21)¹⁷³–CCC

1347 Is this not the same movement as the Paschal meal of the risen Jesus with his disciples? Walking with them he explained the Scriptures to them; sitting with them at table "he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them." (compare Luke 24:13-35)¹⁷⁴--CCC.

JR  Breaking of the

212. The names and meanings of the Eucharistic meal.

The names and meanings of the Eucharistic meal.

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 212

Ave Maria series

212  What names are there for Jesus’ meal with us, and what do they mean?

The different names indicate the unfathomable richness of this mystery: the Holy Sacrifice, Holy Mass, the Sacrifice of the Mass—the Lord’s Supper—the Breaking of Bread—the Eucharistic assembly—the memorial of the Lord’s Passion, death, and Resurrection—the Holy and Divine Liturgy, the Sacred Mysteries—Holy Communion.  [1328-1332]

The risen Christ is recognized by the two disciples with whom He had been speaking to earlier as the three were walking together on the road to Emmaus.--Luke 24:30-32…..212

HOLY SACRIFICE, HOLY MASS, THE SACRIFICE OF THE MASS:The one sacrifice of Christ, which completes and surpasses all sacrifices, is made present in the celebration of the Eucharist.  The Church and the faithful, through their self-offering, unite themselves with Christ’s sacrifice.  The word Mass comes from the Latin dismissal, “Ite missa est”, which means “Go now, you are sent.”

THE LORD’S SUPPER:Every celebration of the Eucharist is still the one supper that Christ celebrated with his disciples and, at the same time, the anticipation of the banquet that the Lord will celebrate with the redeemed at the end of time.  We men do not make the worship service; the Lord is the one who calls us to worship God and is mysteriously present in the liturgy.

THE BREAKING OF BREAD:  “The breaking of bread” was an old Jewish ritual at meals, which Jesus employed at the Last Supper to express his gift of self “for us” (see Romans 8:32).  In the “breaking of  bread” the disciples recognized him again after the Resurrection.  The early Church called their liturgical feasts “the breaking of bread”.

EUCHARISTIC ASSEMBLY: The celebration of the Lord’s Supper is also an assembly of “thanksgiving”, in which the Church finds her visible expression.

MEMORIAL OF THE LORD’S PASSION, DEATH,  AND RESURRECTION:  In the celebration of the Eucharist, the congregation does not celebrate itself; rather it discovers and celebrates again and again the presence of Christ’s saving passage through suffering and death to life.

HOLY AND DIVINE LITURGY, SACRED MYSTERIES:  In the celebration of the Eucharist, the Church in heaven and on earth unite in one feast.  Because the Eucharistic Gifts in which Christ is present are the holiest thing in the world, we also speak about the Most Blessed Sacrament.

HOLY COMMUNION:  Because we unite ourselves with Christ at Holy Mass, and through him are united with one another, we speak about Holy Communion (communio = fellowship).

WHAT IS THIS SACRAMENT CALLED?

1328  The inexhaustible richness of this sacrament is expressed in the different names we give it. Each name evokes certain aspects of it. It is called:

Eucharist, because it is an action of thanksgiving to God. The Greek words eucharistein(compare Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24)¹⁴¹   and eulogein(compare Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22)¹⁴²   recall the Jewish blessings that proclaim - especially during a meal - God's works: creation, redemption, and sanctification. –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

1329  The Lord's Supper, because of its connection with the supper which the Lord took with his disciples on the eve of his Passion and because it anticipates the wedding feast of the Lamb in the heavenly Jerusalem.(compare 1 Corinthians 11:20; Revation 19:9)¹⁴³--CCC

The Breaking of Bread, because Jesus used this rite, part of a Jewish meal, when as master of the table he blessed and distributed the bread, (compare Matthew 14:19; Mat 15:36; Mark 8:6, 19)¹⁴⁴ above all at the Last Supper. (compare Matthew 26:26; 1 Corinthians 11:24)¹⁴⁵  It is by this action that his disciples will recognize him after his Resurrection, (compare Luke 24:13-35)¹⁴⁶  and it is this expression that the first Christians will use to designate their Eucharistic assemblies; (compare  Acts of the Apostles 2:42, 46; Acts 20:7,11)¹⁴⁷by doing so they signified that all who eat the one broken bread, Christ, enter into communion with him and form but one body in him. (compare 1 Corinthians 10:16-17)¹⁴⁸--CCC

The Eucharistic assembly(synaxis), because the Eucharist is celebrated amid the assembly of the faithful, the visible expression of the Church. (compare 1 Corinthians 11:17-34)¹⁴⁹ --CCC

1330  The memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection.

The Holy Sacrifice, because it makes present the one sacrifice of Christ the Savior and includes the Church's offering. The terms holy sacrifice of the Mass, "sacrifice of praise," spiritual sacrifice, pure and holy sacrifice arealso used,(Hebrews 13:15; compare 1 Peter 25; Psalm 116:13, 17; Malachi 1:11)¹⁵⁰ since it completes and surpasses all the sacrifices of the Old Covenant.--CCC

The Holy and Divine Liturgy, because the Church's whole liturgy finds its center and most intense expression in the celebration of this sacrament; in the same sense we also call its celebration the Sacred Mysteries. We speak of the Most Blessed Sacrament because it is the Sacrament of sacraments. The Eucharistic species reserved in the tabernacle are designated by this same name.--CCC

1331  Holy Communion, because by this sacrament we unite ourselves to Christ, who makes us sharers in his Body and Blood to form a single body. (compare 1 Corinthians 10:16-17)¹⁵¹  We also call it: the holy things(ta hagia; sancta) (Apostolic Constitutions 8,13,12:Patrologia Graeca 1,1108; Didache 9,5; 10:6:Sources Chrẻtiennes 248,176-178)¹⁵²   -the first meaning of the phrase "communion of saints" in the Apostles' Creed - the bread of angels, bread from heaven, medicine of immortality,(St. Ignatius of Antioch, Ad Eph. 20,2:Sorces Chrẻtiennes 10,76)¹⁵³  viaticum--CCC

1332  Holy Mass (Missa),because the liturgy in which the mystery of salvation is accomplished concludes with the sending forth (missio)of the faithful, so that they may fulfill God's will in their daily lives. –CCC

JR  The breaking of bread

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 4, 2018

“The second is this:  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Mark 12:34 –Paul Haring photo

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 4, 2018

Lectionary: 152

Reading 1   DEUTERONOMY 6:2-6

Moses spoke to the people, saying: "Fear the LORD, your God,and keep, throughout the days of your lives,all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you,and thus have long life.  Hear then, Israel, and be careful to observe them,that you may grow and prosper the more,in keeping with the promise of the LORD, the God of your fathers,to give you a land flowing with milk and honey.
"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! 
Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength. 
Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today."

Responsorial Psalm   PSALM 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51

R. (2) I love you, Lord, my strength.

I love you, O LORD, my strength,
O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.

R. I love you, Lord, my strength.

My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,
and I am safe from my enemies.

R. I love you, Lord, my strength.

The LORD lives! And blessed be my rock!
Extolled be God my savior.
You who gave great victories to your king
and showed kindness to your anointed.

R. I love you, Lord, my strength.

Reading 2   HEBREWS 7:23-28

Brothers and sisters:  The levitical priests were manybecause they were prevented by death from remaining in office,but Jesus, because he remains forever,has a priesthood that does not pass away.
Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them.
It was fitting that we should have such a high priest:  holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners,
higher than the heavens.  He has no need, as did the high priests,to offer sacrifice day after day,first for his own sins and then for those of the people;he did that once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests,but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law,appoints a son,who has been made perfect forever.

Alleluia   JOHN 14:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord;
and my father will love him and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel   MARK 12:28B-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,"Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus replied, "The first is this:

Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, 
with all your mind,

and with all your strength.

The second is this:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

There is no other commandment greater than these." The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher. You are right in saying,'He is One and there is no other than he.'  And 'to love him with all your heart,with all your understanding,with all your strength,and to love your neighbor as yourself'is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."  And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,he said to him,
"You are not far from the kingdom of God." And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

People  Prayer a Woman prays

211. The Eucharist is the heart of the Christian communion.

The Eucharist is the heart of the Christian communion.

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 211

Ave Maria series

211  How important is the Eucharist for the Church?

The celebration of the Eucharist is the heart of the Christian communion.  In it the Church becomes Church. [1325]

The Institution of the Eucharist by Nicolas Poussin.…..211

We are not Church because we get along well, or because we happen to end up in the same parish community, but rather because in the Eucharist we receive the Body of Christ and are increasingly being transformed into the Body of Christ.  126, 217

“Not to go to communion is like someone dying of thirst beside a spring.”  St. John Vianney (1786-1859, Cure of Ars)

[1325]

 THE EUCHARIST - SOURCE AND SUMMIT OF ECCLESIAL LIFE

1325 "The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being. It is the culmination both of God's action sanctifying the world in Christ and of the worship men offer to Christ and through him to the Father in the Holy Spirit."(Congregation of Rites, instruction, Eucharisticum mysterium, 6)¹³⁸–Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

JT  Church Nicolas Poussin

210. The institution of the Eucharist

The institution of the Eucharist

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic ChurchLesson 210

Ave Maria series

210  How did Christ institute the Eucharist?

“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also the chalice, after supper, saying, ‘This chalice is the new covenant in my blood.  Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me’”  (1 Corinthians 11:23-25).

Institution of the Eucharist illustration from the Catholic Picture Bible, Catholic Book Publishing Corporation NY.…..210

This (the above,) the oldest account of the events in the Upper Room at the Last Supper, is by the apostle Paul, who was not an eyewitness himself, but rather wrote down what was being preserved as a holy mystery by the young Christian community and was being celebrated in the liturgy.  99

“It was as though I heard a voice from on high: I am the food of the strong; eat then of me and grow. But you will not transform me into yourself like food for the body, but rather you will be transformed into me.” St. Augustine (354-430 at the time of his conversion)

JP  Last Supper  Institution