"The Catholic Mass is the most sacred act of
worship in which a person can participate. At the Last Supper, Jesus
Christ, sat down with his chosen Apostles for what He knew would be
their last meal together. At that supper, Jesus does something new,
something never done before, and yet something which continues until the
end of time. Knowing more about the Mass, we can be closer to Christ and
to the miracle He left us on that
Holy Thursday night. We can come to appreciate its beauty, its
rhythm, even why many in history have faced death rather than be
deprived of the opportunity to participate in the
Mass."
This 5-week series is designed to
help all people better understand the miracle of the Mass.
Session #1
Topics Covered
1) Introduction to the
Mass
2) Preparing ourselves for
Mass
Questions for the
Week
Q:
What should I do to prepare for Mass?
A: In
a real sense the Mass begins with our preparation at home and church. If
we are truly to participate and share in the
Mass our
preparations are essential. There is spiritual preparation that can be
done ahead of time, such as reviewing the Mass readings before the Mass,
praying, examination of conscience, and participation in the sacrament
of Reconciliation.
(If a person is
not in the "state of grace," then participation in the sacrament of
Reconciliation is necessary before receiving the Eucharist. One does
not have to be in the "state of grace" to attend Mass.)
There are also temporal preparation activities, such as fasting at least
one hour prior to Mass, determining proper and modest attire, and proper
reverential behavior for the Mass. These preparations set a tone and
aid in not distracting your fellow parishioners.
We should
arrive at the church five or ten minutes before mass. We should bless
ourselves with holy water at the entrance of the church.
(We do so to
recall our entrance into the Kingdom of God at Baptism and our entrance
now into the Kingdom of God as we journey into the
Mass. )
We can take time to light a candle and visit the statues of special
saints. Before entering the pew and after leaving it, we should
genuflect towards the Tabernacle, to give honor to our Lord
("To me every
knee shall bend." (Isa. 45:23) and, "for it is written: 'As I live, says
the Lord, every knee shall bend before me'" (Rom. 14:11)).
During this time we should also adore our Lord in the Tabernacle, we
should reflect on the meaning of the Mass and we should make known our
special intentions for the Mass. These customs instill in us and our
children the awareness that in the Kingdom of God , we are surrounded by
an invisible host of saints and angels.
Q:
(#11)
How should I approach the Mass?
A:
As faithful Catholics, our devotion to the Mass is based
on faith, and we practice devotion with our will, which is guided by our
mind as it grasps the truth of the
Mass.
As we grasp the truth of the Mass and cooperate with God's grace to
believe these truths with our mind and choose to be reverent with our
will, then we can please God by our active participation in the
Mass with faith and
devotion. Any error we might have concerning the truth of the Mass will
lessen our ability to receive its supernatural fruits. This is why it
is so important to learn about the Mass.
Q:
(#14)
Is it true that the more I participate in
Mass, the more
grace I will receive for myself and for others?
A:
Yes, the more we participate in
Mass with faith and
devotion, the more grace we receive. Every Mass is a source of
countless graces that are so needed today. For this reason, daily Mass
is strongly encouraged. St. Leonard
said that, except for daily
Mass on the
thousands of altars around the world, the human race would long ago have
been destroyed because of its sins. This can be said even more so in
our day, with its crisis of faith and escalation of sin. A Mass well
participated in can change the world and greatly help other persons and
the souls in Purgatory.
Q:
(#15)
Why do we have to go to
Mass on Sundays (and Holy Days of Obligation)?
A:
Sunday is a holyday because Jesus made it holy by His
resurrection from the dead on
Easter Sunday, the
Holy Spirit made it holy by descending from Heaven on the apostolic
Church on Pentecost Sunday. From the beginning of the Church, Sunday
has been designated "The Lord's Day" (Rev. 1:10). By her authority, the
Church has made every Sunday a day of obligation; and she has designated
a few other days of the year, which are of special liturgical
importance, as Holy Days of Obligation. Attending mass on Sundays and
Holy Days of Obligation is a grave obligation unless there is a serious
reason for being unable to attend (which does not include vacation -
when a Catholic church is accessible).
Optional
Home Study
1) Review Questions #1-#46
(from 101 Questions
About the Catholic Mass).
Answer as many questions
as you can and note others you would like answered.
2) Read pages 1-15 in the
booklet, "Mass Appeal"
3) Spiritual 'Food
for Thought '- Do I view Mass as an obligation or a
commitment?
What is the difference?
What are other obligations/commitments in your life?
How much time do you
devote to other commitments/obligations? From which
commitments/obligations
do you receive the most? How does attending Mass rank
among your
commitments/obligations?
Session #2
Topics Covered
1) Follow up on Preparing Ourselves for
Mass
2) Introductory Rites
Questions for the Week
Q:
What and how do we venerate in the Church?
A: We
show veneration in many ways to include, bowing, genuflecting, kneeling,
kissing, falling prostrate, and incensing. To what or whom we show
veneration differs. When we enter the Church, we should look for the
Tabernacle, which holds Our Lord's Sacred Body. We show veneration by
facing the Tabernacle and genuflecting (or bowing if one is not able to
genuflect). Genuflecting is kneeling on one's right knee. When we
approach the altar, a proper sign of veneration is to bow. The priest
kisses the altar as a sign of veneration to Christ (which the altar
symbolizes). When the Sacred Body of Christ is exposed (during the
Consecration, or in the Benediction, or in Adoration of the Blessed
Sacrament), a proper sign of veneration is to kneel. Other ways we
show veneration is by kissing the crucifix on
Good Friday (during Veneration of the Cross). Another sign of
veneration is to fall prostrate, as is commonly done on Good Friday
service by the priests. Incense is used especially during the Easter
season to venerate the altar and crucifix.
Q:
(#41)
Why does Mass begin with a prayer of repentance for sin?
A:
We gather as the holy people of God. So, we begin by acknowledging our
sinfulness and asking God's forgiveness so that nothing will keep us
from union with Him. With proper participation, Mass forgives our
venial sins; but we must still participate in the Sacrament of Penance
to receive absolution for forgiveness of mortal sins.
Q:
(# 44)
What languages are found in the Mass?
A: Since
the renewal of the Church's liturgy at
Vatican II (1960's), the Mass of the Roman (Latin) Rite is most
often prayed in the language of the local people, called the vernacular
language. In the United States , this is in English, while it is German
in
Germany and Italian in Italy . In some places, the whole Mass is
prayed in Latin, as was the custom before
Vatican II since the time of the Church Fathers, when Latin was,
in fact, the vernacular language. The Latin Mass may be celebrated in
the older form of the traditional Tridentine Mass (from the Council of
Trent) or in the renewed typical edition of the Novus Ordo (from
the time of
Vatican II and Pope Paul VI) form of the Mass. And one prayer of
the Mass is often prayed in Greek, which was a common language used in
the time of Christ. The is the Kyrie Eleison, or "Lord have
mercy" prayer.
Q:
(#45)
Is it important to praise God in the
Mass, and if so, when does this occur?
A: Yes.
The whole Mass is a continuous praise of God. But there is also a
special hymn of praise called the Gloria ("Glory to God in the
highest, and peace to His people on earth"). This is an ancient hymn of
the Church, in which the congregation praises the Triune God – Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit. The Gloria is said or sung on Sunday's and other
solemn feasts outside of Advent and
Lent.
Optional Home Study
1) Review Questions #47-#55 (from
101 Questions About the Catholic Mass).
Answer as many questions as you can and note others you would
like answered.
2) Read pages 15-17 in the booklet, "Mass
Appeal"
3)
Spiritual 'Food for Thought
'- What do I get out of Mass? What do I put into it? Do I pray and
sing out loud at Mass? How often do I examine my conscience and ask God
for forgiveness of my sins? Do I receive the Sacrament of
Reconciliation (Penance) at least once a year to fulfill my obligation?
Am I willing to make more of an effort to receive this sacrament more
often, so that I may receive the sacramental graces to help me to avoid
sin? How do I thank God for His mercy?
Session #3
Topics Covered
1) Follow up to Introductory Rites
a)
Entrance
b)
Sign of the Cross & Greeting
c)
Penitential Rite
d)
Kyrie Eleison/Lord Have Mercy
e)
Gloria
f)
Collect/Opening Prayer
2) Liturgy of The Word
Questions for the Week
Q:
(#48)
What biblical readings are said at Mass?
A: Sunday
Mass includes two readings (the first excerpted from the Old Testament,
except during Easter, and the second usually from a New Testament book
or letter) and the Gospel while daily Mass usually has one reading and
the Gospel. A responsorial psalm is said or sung in between the
readings. All these readings show the continuity of the work of
salvation from the Old Testament through the writings of the apostles,
highlighted by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The responsorial psalm, with
its chanting and singing of the psalms, dates back to the Jewish liturgy
before the time of Christ.
Q:
Who is able to proclaim the Gospel reading during Mass?
A:
The ordained minister, the bishop, priest, or deacon, proclaims the
Gospel from the ambo/pulpit. There is only one exception when others
are allowed to proclaim the Gospel during Mass and that is when the
narrative of the Passion is being read by multiple readers (on Palm
Sunday). God Himself speaks to us through the Bible readings.
Q:
What gesture is done prior to hearing the gospel proclaimed and what
purpose does it serve?
A: With
our thumb, we trace a small sign of the cross on our forehead, on our
lips, and over our heart. We do this as a sign of God's presence within
us – "in my mind, on my lips and in my heart."
Q:
(#52-53)
What is a homily? When is a homily and who is permitted to give it?
A: A
homily is a sermon preached after the readings and the Gospel. God
Himself speaks to us through the Word. The homily interprets and
relates the Bible passages and applies them to
present Christian living. The homily gives the faithful present a
better understanding and commentary on the proclaimed Word. A homily is
given in the middle of the Mass after the Gospel. It must be given
during Masses on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, and is
strongly recommended on weekdays, especially in Advent and Lent. Only a
bishop, priest, or deacon may preach a homily.
Q:
(#54)
What is the Profession of Faith?
A: At
Mass after the Homily, the faithful stand and recite the Profession of
Faith, which is the Nicene/Apostles Creed. By it, the faithful profess
their faith in God and give assent to His Word. The Creed is a summary
of the central dogmas of our Faith and is the heart of what we believe
and profess. The Creed comes from the Latin word, Credo, which
means, "I believe." So, it should not just be recited but prayed
from the heart. We profess the Creed aloud and together because our
Faith and Church is one, holy catholic, and apostolic (marks of our
Church). We profess what we together believe and we affirm our
adherence to all the truths of our Faith.
Q:
(#55)
What is the Prayer of the Faithful?
A: In
the Prayer of the Faithful, the assembly stands to pray, in a common
priesthood shared by all the baptized, for the concerns of the Church
and the salvation of the whole world. Intercessory prayer is a very
powerful and beneficial way to intercede for all humanity. As we lift
up to God those in need, including ourselves, He hears and responds for
the good of those for whom we pray. He is our Heavenly Father Who takes
care of His children. Jesus says: "Ask and you shall receive"
and "Where two or more are gathered in My Name and in prayer, I am
there with you." Together, as the local Church, we gather in prayer
united with the universal Church in Christ. We pray for the needs of
the Church, the world, civil authorities, those in need and the local
community, including those who are sick and have recently passed away,
and for the salvation of the world.
Optional Home Study
1) Review Questions #56-#71 (from 101 Questions About the
Catholic Mass).
Answer as many questions as you can and note others you would
like answered.
2) Read pages 17-22 in the booklet, "Mass Appeal" and
pages 1-23 in the booklet, "Understanding the Mass."
3) Spiritual 'Food for Thought '- How can I better
prepare and focus on the readings at Mass? Do I fully realize that
living the liturgical calendar helps me have my mind and heart united as
brothers and sisters throughout the world? Have I ever thanked a priest
for a homily I found helpful? When was the last time I studied what
each article of the Creed contains? Do I realize that, by praying for
the needs of my community, I renew my commitment to serve others, and to
be God's agent of change in my world?
Topics Covered
1) Follow up to the Liturgy of The Word
2)
Liturgy of the Eucharist (Preparation of the Gifts to the
Consecration)
Questions for the Week
Q:
(#56) What is the
Liturgy of the Eucharist?
A: The
Liturgy of the Eucharist is the most significant part of the
Mass. Christ Himself instituted it at the Last Supper so He could be
continuously present in His Church until the end of time. The
Liturgy of the Eucharist includes the preparation of gifts, where
the bread and wine with water are brought to the altar; the Eucharistic
prayer giving thanks to God for the whole work of salvation and the
consecration whereby the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of
Christ; and the breaking of the one bread in preparation for the
faithful receiving the Lord's Body and Blood, just as the apostles
received It at the Last Supper from Jesus' own Hands.
Q:
(#58) What are the two cloth pieces on the altar for?
A:
The altar servers prepare the altar by placing the corporal and
purificator on the altar. The corporal is a square piece of linen used
as an undercover for the sacred vessels used in the consecration so as
to collect any particles or drops of the consecrated Host or Wine that
may fall onto the altar. the purificator is used to dry the sacred
vessels at the end of Communion when they are purified. These cloth
pieces are washed in a special way in the sacrarium due to their use as
sacred clothes with the Eucharistic species.
Q:
(#65) What happens to the bread and wine
on the altar as the priest prays over them during the Consecration?
A: Through
the priest's words of consecration, the bread and wine are changed into
the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ - called transubstantiation. They
still look the same. But the whole substance of the bread becomes the
Substance of the Body and Blood of Jesus and the whole substance of the
wine changes into the Substance of His Body and Blood. Jesus is present
really, truly and substantially, in His Body, Blood, Soul, and
Divinity! This is a great mystery that we cannot fully understand
except by theological faith. St. Theodore of Mopsueta reminds us, "The
Lord did not say: 'This is a symbol of my Body, and this is a symbol of
my Blood' but: 'this is my Body and my Blood'......for by the prayer of
thanksgiving and the words spoken over them, they have been changed into
Flesh and Blood."
Optional Home Study
1) Review Questions #72-#101 (from 101 Questions About the
Catholic Mass).
Answer as many questions as you can and note others you would
like answered.
2) Read pages 22-27 in the booklet, "Mass Appeal" and
pages 24-31 in the booklet, “Understanding the Mass.”
3) Spiritual 'Food for Thought '- Where are my thoughts
during the Eucharistic Prayers, especially during the Consecration? In
what ways can I show/have more devotion to Our Lord and the Sacrifice
that He made for Me? After I receive Our Lord into my body, what more
can I do deepen my devotion to Him? How can I pray more devoutly
to thank Him for the miracle of The Eucharist and the privilege in being
able to receive Him?
Session #5
Topics Covered
1) Liturgy
of the Eucharist and Concluding Rites (Consecration to End of
Mass)
Questions for the Week
Q: (#66)
Why does the priest raise the Host and Chalice after the
Consecration?
A: The
Host and Chalice are raised to the people for the purpose of
adoration. The faithful may make an act of adoration by saying
silently, "My Lord and my God" at this moment. The Host
and Chalice are usually held aloft for a few seconds so that people
have time to make an act of adoration. This is a very important
moment in the
Mass, when Christ is now truly present in the Eucharist on
the altar. Our prayers are powerful during this moment as well.
Sometimes, bells are rung to indicate the moment of the elevation.
Q:
(#69) Can we see and taste the
changes of the bread and wine when they become the Body and Blood of
Christ?
A:
No.
St. Thomas Aquinas explained that everything is made up of "substance"
and "accident." Substance is the core of the item, what
makes it be that particular things an nothing else. Accidents are
the qualities of a particular thing. So, for example, the substance
of a stone is the essence that makes this particular object a stone
as distinct from being a piece of wood. It is often intangible. An
accident, on the other hand, is a tangible quality that can vary.
This particular stone looks blue and feels cold. "Blue"
and "cold" are accidents. At the Consecration, the
substance of the bread and wine changes to the Body and Blood of
Jesus. The accidents of the bread and wine remain the same. In
other words, it still looks like bread, it tastes like bread, it
feels like bread, but it isn't bread any longer.
Q: (#72)
When we say the Our Father, why do Catholics
say it in two separated parts at Mass?
A: Jesus
gave the Our Father Prayer to us. It is based on the two
versions in the Gospels of Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4.
Matthew's version is most commonly used. The Lord's Prayer
is sometimes concluded with the doxology (For the
kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever).
The doxology is not found in the original texts of the Bible. It is
first found in the Didache (circa 70 A.D.), which is The
Teaching of the Apostles. Catholics do not end the Our Father
with the doxology, but separate it in the Mass, recognizing that the
two prayers are distinct. Protestants and Eastern Christians often
attach the doxology to the Our Father. The Lord's
Prayer is "truly the summary of the whole gospel."
Q. (#74) What is the
Sign of Peace and how should we share it?
A. The exchange if a sign of peace
is a demonstration of your desire to be reconciled with your
neighbor, whoever they are, before going to the altar to receive the
Lord in Communion. It is should be extended only to those closest
to you and in a somber manner. A simple handshake is most common,
although sometimes, family members will exchange a kiss on the
cheek. Sts. Peter and Paul speak about the holy kiss as a sign of
reverence in the Bible (Rom. 16:16, 1 Cor. 16-20, 2 Cor. 13:12, 1
Thess. 5-26, 1 Peter 5:14). At this point in the Mass, each of the
faithful turns to his neighbor, saying, "Peace be with you."
with the response, "And also with you." It is
only at this time during the Mass that a sign of peace
is exchanged. It isn't appropriate to extend a sign of peace to
people who are in line preparing to receive Communion, as the focus
should be on receiving the Eucharist at this time in the Mass. At
times, the priest may omit individual exchanges of peace.
Q. (#79) Who may
receive Holy Communion?
A. The persons who may receive Holy Communion are
those who are baptized and in full communion with the
Catholic Church, who have received the First Holy Communion
and are in the state of grace. They must not have eaten for at
least an hour before receiving Holy Communion (including chewing
gum,
coffee, tea, soda, and candy; but not including medicine and
water). It has become customary in some places for those not
receiving Communion to come forward while crossing their arms as
they approach the minister of Communion, so as to receive a blessing
instead of the Eucharist. If a person is conscious of having
committed a mortal sin, he must go to Confession before receiving
Communion.