|
Basic Texts
for the Roman Catholic Eucharist
The basic structure of the
Mass has four parts: two (main parts) and two framing rites:
INTRODUCTORY
RITES
Entrance Procession:
[stand]
Entrance Chant
When the people are gathered, the Priest
approaches the altar with the ministers while the Entrance Chant is
sung.
When he has arrived at the altar, after
making a profound bow with the ministers, the Priest venerates the altar
with a kiss and, if appropriate, incenses the cross and the altar. Then,
with the ministers, he goes to the chair.
When the
Entrance Chant is concluded, the Priest and the faithful, standing, sign
themselves with the Sign of the Cross,
Greeting:
The Priest:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
The people: Amen.
The Priest:
The grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and the love of God,and the communion of the Holy
Spirit be with you all.
Or:
Grace to you and
peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Or:
The Lord be with
you.
The people:
And with your spirit.
The Priest, or
a Deacon, or another minister, may very briefly introduce the faithful
to the Mass of the day.
Penitential Rite:
Then follows the Penitential Act, to which
the Priest invites the faithful,
The Priest:
Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so
prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
A brief pause for silence follows. Then
all recite together the formula of general confession:
|
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,
And, striking their breast,
they say:
through my
fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault;
Then they continue:
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.
The Priest:
May almighty
God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to
everlasting life.
The people:
Amen.
|
Or:
The Priest invites the faithful to make
the Penitential Act:
The Priest:
Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so
prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
A brief pause for silence follows.
The Priest : Have
mercy on us, O Lord.
The people reply:
For we have sinned against you.
The Priest: Show
us, O Lord, your mercy.
The people: And
grant us your salvation.
The Priest:
May almighty God have
mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
The people: Amen.
Or:
The Priest invites the faithful to make
the Penitential Act:
The Priest:
Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so
prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
A brief pause for silence follows.
The Priest:
You were sent to heal
the contrite of heart: Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
The people: Lord,
have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
The Priest: You
came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.
The people:
Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.
The Priest: You
are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us:
Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
The
people: Lord, have
mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
The Priest: May
almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to
everlasting life.
The people: Amen.
Kyrie:
The Kyrie eleison (Lord, have mercy) invocations follow, unless they
have just occurred in a formula of the Penitential Act.
|
V: Lord, have mercy.
R:
Lord,
have mercy.
V:
Christ,
have mercy. R:
Christ, have mercy.
V: Lord, have
mercy. R:
Lord, have mercy.
|
or |
V: Kyrie, eleison.
R: Kyrie, eleison.
V:
Christe,
eleison. R:
Christe, eleison.
V:
Kyrie,
eleison. R: Kyrie, eleison. |
Gloria:
(will not be
sung during lent and advert )
Then, when it is prescribed, this hymn is
either sung or said:
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.
When this hymn is concluded,
Collect prayer
The Priest:
Let us pray.
And all pray in silence with the Priest
for a while.
Then the Priest, with hands extended,
says the Collect prayer, at the end of which the people acclaim:
The people:
Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
[sit]
First Reading:
Then the reader goes to the ambo and reads
the First Reading, while all sit and listen.
To indicate the end of the reading,
The reader:
The word of the Lord.
The people:
Thanks be to
God.
Responsorial Psalm:
The psalmist or cantor sings or says the
Psalm, with the people making the response.
Second Reading:
After this, if there is to be a Second
Reading, a reader reads it from the ambo, as above.
To indicate the end of the reading,
The reader:
The word of the Lord.
The people:
Thanks be to
God.
[stand]
Alleluia or Gospel Acclamation:
There follows the Alleluia or another chant
laid down by the rubrics, as the liturgical time requires.
Meanwhile, if incense is used, the Priest
puts some into the thurible. After this, the Deacon who is to proclaim
the Gospel, bowing profoundly before the Priest, asks for the blessing,
The Deacon says in a low voice:
Your blessing, Father.
The Priest says in a low voice:
May the Lord be in your
heart and on your lips,
that you may proclaim
his Gospel worthily and well,
in the name of
the Father and of the Son
X
and of the Holy Spirit.
The Deacon signs himself with the Sign
of the Cross and replies:
Amen.
If, however, a Deacon is not present,
the Priest, bowing before the altar, says quietly:
Cleanse my heart and my
lips, almighty God,
that I
may worthily proclaim your holy Gospel.
Gospel:
The Deacon, or the Priest, then proceeds to
the ambo, accompanied, if appropriate, by ministers with incense and
candles. There he says:
The Deacon, or the Priest:
The Lord be with you.
The people: And
with your spirit.
The Deacon, or the Priest:
A reading from the holy Gospel according to N.
and, at the same time, he makes the
Sign of the Cross on the book and on his forehead, lips, and breast.
The people: Glory
to you, O Lord.
Then the Deacon, or the Priest,
incenses the book, if incense is used, and proclaims the Gospel.
At the end of the Gospel,
The Deacon, or the Priest:
The Gospel of the Lord.
The people:
Praise to you, Lord
Jesus Christ.
Then he kisses the book, saying
quietly:
Through the words of
the Gospel may our sins be wiped away.
[sit]
Homily:
Then follows
the Homily, which is to be preached by a Priest or Deacon on all Sundays
and Holydays of Obligation; on other days, it is recommended.
[stand]
Profession of Faith:
At the end of the Homily, the Symbol or
Profession of Faith or Creed, when prescribed, is either sung or said:
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,
At the words that follow up to and
including and became man, all bow.
"and
by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man."
For 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.
or
Instead of the Niceno-Constantinopolitan
Creed, especially during Lent and Easter Time, the baptismal Symbol
of the Roman Church, known as the Apostles’ Creed, may be used.
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and
earth,
and in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord,
At the words that follow, up to and
including the Virgin Mary, all bow.
who was conceived "by
the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin
Mary",
suffered under Pontius
Pilate,
was crucified, died and
was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he
rose again from the dead;
he ascended into
heaven,
and is seated at the
right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come
to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy
Spirit,
the holy catholic
Church,
the communion of
saints,
the forgiveness of
sins,
the resurrection of the
body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
Prayer of the
Faithful / General Intercessions:
Then follows the Universal Prayer, that is,
the Prayer of the Faithful or Bidding Prayers.
The Lector: Let us pray to the Lord.
The People: Lord, hear our prayer.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Presentation of
the Gifts / Preparation of the Altar:
[sit]
Offertory Chant
When all this has been done, the Offertory
Chant begins. Meanwhile, the ministers place the corporal, the
purificator, the chalice, the pall, and the Missal on the altar.
It is desirable that the faithful express
their participation by making an offering, bringing forward bread and
wine for the celebration of the Eucharist and perhaps other gifts to
relieve the needs of the Church and of the poor.
The Priest, standing at the altar, takes
the paten with the bread and holds it slightly raised above the altar
with both hands, saying in a low voice:
Blessed are you, Lord
God of all creation,
for through your
goodness we have received
the bread we offer you:
fruit of the earth and
work of human hands,
it will become for us
the bread of life.
Then he places the paten with the bread
on the corporal.
If, however, the Offertory Chant is not
sung, the Priest may speak these words aloud; at the end, the people
may acclaim:
Blessed be God for ever.
The Deacon, or the Priest, pours wine
and a little water into the chalice, saying quietly:
By the mystery of this
water and wine
may we come to share in
the divinity of Christ
who humbled himself to
share in our humanity.
The Priest then takes the chalice and
holds it slightly raised above the altar with both hands, saying in
a low voice:
Blessed are you, Lord
God of all creation,
for through your
goodness we have received
the wine we offer you:
fruit of the vine and
work of human hands,
it will become our
spiritual drink.
Then he places the chalice on the
corporal.
If, however, the Offertory Chant is not
sung, the Priest may speak these words aloud; at the end, the people
may acclaim:
Blessed
be God for ever.
After this, the Priest, bowing
profoundly, says quietly:
With humble spirit and
contrite heart
may we be accepted by
you, O Lord,
and may our sacrifice
in your sight this day
be pleasing to you,
Lord God.
If appropriate, he also incenses the
offerings, the cross, and the altar. A Deacon or other minister then
incenses the Priest and the people.
Then the Priest, standing at the side
of the altar, washes his hands, saying quietly:
Wash me, O Lord, from
my iniquity
and cleanse me from my
sin.
[stand]
Standing at the middle of the altar, facing
the people, extending and then joining his hands,
The Priest:
Pray, brethren
(brothers and sisters), that my sacrifice and yours may be
acceptable to God,
the almighty Father.
The people:
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 Offerings
Then the Priest, with hands extended, says
the Prayer over the Offerings, at the end.
The people:
Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer:
Then the Priest begins the Eucharistic
Prayer.
The Priest:
The Lord be with you.
The people:
And with your spirit.
The Priest:
Lift up your hearts.
The people:
We lift them up to the Lord.
The Priest:
Let us give thanks to
the Lord our God.
The people:
It is right and just.
The Preface
The Priest, with hands extended,
continues the Preface.
At the end of the Preface he joins his
hands and concludes the Preface with the people, singing or saying
aloud:
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.
[kneel]
For acceptance of
the offering
The Consecration:
The Lord's Supper
Proclaim the
mystery of faith
The Priest:
The mystery of faith.
The people:
We proclaim your Death,
O Lord,
and profess your
Resurrection
until you come again.
Or:
When we eat this Bread
and drink this Cup,
we proclaim your Death,
O Lord,
until you come again.
Or:
Save us, Savior of the
world,
for by your Cross and
Resurrection
you have set us free.
Memorial of the
Paschal Mystery and offering
Doxology and Great Amen:
He takes the chalice and the paten with
the host and, raising both,
The Priest:
Through him, with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.
The people: Amen.
Communion Rite
[stand]
Lord's
Prayer:
After the chalice and paten have been set
down, the Priest, with hands joined,
The Priest: At
the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
He extends his hands and, together with the
people, continues:
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.
The Priest:
Deliver us, Lord, we
pray, from every evil,
graciously grant peace
in our days,
that, by the help of
your mercy,
we may be always free
from sin
and safe from all
distress,
as we await the blessed
hope
and the coming of our
Savior, Jesus Christ.
The people:For
the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever.
The Priest:
Lord Jesus Christ,
who said to your
Apostles:
Peace I leave you, my
peace I give you;
look not on our sins,
but on the faith of
your Church,
and graciously grant
her peace and unity
in accordance with your
will.
Who live and reign for
ever and ever.
The people:
Amen.
The Priest:
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
The people:
And with your spirit.
Sign of Peace:
The Deacon, or the Priest:
Let us offer each other
the sign of peace.
And all offer one another a sign, in
keeping with local customs, that expresses peace, communion, and
charity. The Priest gives the sign of peace to a Deacon or minister.
Then he takes the host, breaks it over the
paten, and places a small piece in the chalice, saying quietly:
May this mingling of
the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christbring eternal life to us
who receive it.
Meanwhile the following is sung or
said:
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.
[kneel]
Then the Priest, with hands joined,
says quietly:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son
of the living God,
who, by the will of the
Father
and the work of the
Holy Spirit,
through your Death gave
life to the world,
free me by this, your
most holy Body and Blood,
from all my sins and
from every evil;
keep me always faithful
to your commandments,
and never let me be
parted from you.
Or:
May the receiving of
your Body and Blood,
Lord Jesus Christ,
not bring me to
judgment and condemnation,
but through your loving
mercy
be for me protection in
mind and body
and a healing remedy.
Communion:
The Priest genuflects, takes the host and,
holding it slightly raised above the paten or above the chalice, while
facing the people, says aloud:
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.
And together with the people he adds
once:
Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter
under my roof,
but only say the word
and my soul shall be
healed.
The Priest, facing the altar, says
quietly:
May the Body of Christ
keep me safe for
eternal life.
And he reverently consumes the Body of
Christ.
Then he takes the chalice and says
quietly:
May the Blood of Christ
keep me safe for
eternal life.
And he reverently consumes the Blood of
Christ.
[stand]
Receiving communion
After this, he takes the paten or ciborium
and approaches the communicants. The Priest raises a host slightly and
shows it to each of the communicants, saying:
Communion
Minister: The body of Christ.
Communicant:
Amen.
[sit]
Communion Chant:
While the Priest is receiving the Body of
Christ, the Communion Chant begins.
When the distribution of Communion is over,
the Priest or a Deacon or an acolyte purifies the paten over the chalice
and also the chalice itself.
While he carries out the purification,
the Priest says quietly:
What has passed our
lips as food, O Lord,
may we possess in
purity of heart,
that what has been
given to us in time
may be our healing for
eternity.
Song of Praise or Period of Silence :
Then the Priest may return to the chair. If
appropriate, a sacred silence may be observed for a while, or a psalm or
other canticle of praise or a hymn may be sung.
[stand]
Prayer after Communion:
Then, standing at the altar or at the chair and facing the people, with
hands joined,
The Priest:
Let us pray.
All pray in silence with the Priest for
a while, unless silence has just been observed. Then the Priest,
with hands extended, says the Prayer after Communion, at the end of
which the people acclaim:
The people: Amen.
[Announcements, etc. (if any
[sit])]:
If they are necessary, any brief announcements to the people follow
here.
THE CONCLUDING RITE
[stand]
Then the dismissal takes place. The Priest,
facing the people and extending his hands,
The Priest:
The Lord be with you.
The people:
And with your spirit.
The Priest blesses the people, saying:
|
Option A:
Simple Form
The Priest:
May almighty
God bless you,
the
Father, and the Son,
X
and the Holy Spirit.
The people:
Amen.
|
Option B: Solemn Blessing
The Priest:
Bow your heads and pray for
God's blessing.
[One or more
invocations may be spoken, and the people usually respond "Amen"
to each one. The following conclusion is always used.]
The Priest:May
almighty God bless you,
the
Father, and the Son,
X
and the Holy Spirit.
The people:
Amen.
|
Dismissal:
The Priest:
Go forth, the Mass is
ended.
Or:
Go and announce the
Gospel of the Lord.
Or:
Go in peace, glorifying
the Lord by your life.
Or:
Go in peace.
The people:
Thanks be to God.
Then the Priest venerates the altar as
usual with a kiss, as at the beginning. After making a profound bow with
the ministers, he withdraws.
If any liturgical action follows
immediately, the rites of dismissal are omitted.
[Recessional and
Closing hymn]:
|
