Mass

Introduction

The term Mass comes from the Latin word missa meaning dismissal.  The final words of the Mass in Latin are "Ite missa est" (Go, you are sent forth).  One purpose of Mass is for us to get from God the strength we need from his body and blood for the upcoming week so we can change the world for the better.  Somewhere around the 4th to 7th century there used to be two "dismissals", one for the catechumens who were dismissed after the liturgy of the word and the second after the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  Since one word or phrase is not enough to express the reality of the Mass you may hear it called different things, Eucharist, The Lord's Supper, Liturgy, Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Sacred Mysteries, Divine Liturgy, etc.  In scripture it is called "breaking of bread" (Acts 2:42).  Today you might hear Eucharist emphasized more, the Catechism defines it as:  "Eucharist, because it is an action of thanksgiving to God. The Greek words eucharistein and eulogein recall the Jewish blessings that proclaim - especially during a meal - God's works: creation, redemption, and sanctification." (CCC 1328)

I suggest reading the Pope's document on the Mass, Dies Domini (On Keeping the Lord's Day Holy) for a real in depth look at what Sunday is and the place of the Mass in it. I also recommend reading the Vatican II document on the liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium (The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy) and the section in the Catechism on the Eucharist.  I found a good place here for the text of the Mass with scriptural references.  Paragraph 1345 in the Catechism has a testimony of the early Mass from St Justin Martyr.  So you can see that, in essence, The Mass hasn't changed in nearly 2000 years, Jesus told his apostles to "Do this in memory of me" and we have done it ever since.  There have been changes to reflect the time and culture, Sacrosanctum Concilium #21 states "the liturgy is made up of immutable elements divinely instituted, and of elements subject to change."  There are two basic rites in the Catholic Church, the Latin or Roman Rite (which is what I will be explaining and the most common) and the Eastern Rite.  When some of the Churches that broke away from Rome in 1054 decided to return to full communion, they were allowed to keep their Liturgy.

There are two basic parts of the Mass, Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Mass is full of symbolism, there is something happening that words really can't express.  Symbols, images, and gestures express spiritual realities through physical means. Even our bodily postures mean something, we aren't just bodies or just spirits so we need to pray with our whole being, body and spirit. Even the priests vestments are rich in symbolism here is an explanation of them.

Holy Water - Blessing yourself with holy water when entering church reminds us of our baptism

Sign of the cross - The sign of the cross is made by putting the right hand to the forehead, then on the breast, and then to the left and right shoulders, saying, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen."  The sign of the cross shows that we are Christians and profess our belief in the chief mysteries of our religion. The sign of the cross is a profession of faith in the chief mysteries of our religion because it expresses the mysteries of the Unity and Trinity of God and of the Incarnation and death of our Lord. The words, "In the name," express the Unity of God; the words that follow, "of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," express the mystery of the Trinity. The sign of the cross expresses the mystery of the Incarnation by reminding us that the Son of God, having become man, suffered death on the cross.

As you are walking to your pew you, if Jesus is present in the tabernacle, you should genuflect before entering the pew, if not you make a profound bow (bow from the waist) to the altar.

The structure of the Mass can be explained like a big letter "M". First we up go to God, then God comes to us with the Scripture readings, then we offer ourselves up with Jesus to the Father, then Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist.

A. Introductory Rites

1. Entrance Procession - announces the theme of the Mass and prepares us to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
2. Greeting - The liturgical way of saying hello.  The priest offers us the grace, peace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ. We say "And also with you"
3. Penitential Rite - We silently look at our lives over the past week and confess our minor (venial) faults and failings, where we have not loved enough or failed to love at all, and ask for forgiveness from God and from our brothers and sisters.  All sin is public, there are no private sins, all sin hurts the Body of Christ and all of humanity. When we sin we hurt God and our neighbor. We ask all of heaven and earth to pray for us. It ends with the Kyrie, begging Jesus to have mercy on us.
4. Glory to God - The Gloria recalls the words of the angels to the shepherds on the first Christmas. God gives his mercy, he sent his only Son, incarnate for us. We Praise and thank God for such a wonderful gift!
5. Opening Prayer - This is different every Mass. It is written for that particular day's celebration. It prepares us to hear God's word in the scripture readings.

B. Liturgy of the Word

1. First Reading, Responsorial Psalm, Second Reading, Gospel - This is where God speaks to us. Let us be attentive! This is where we sit but not to relax, we should be sitting at the edge of our seats so to speak, God is speaking! The first reading is a passage usually from the Old Testament. The second reading is a passage usually from the New Testament letters. Then the Gospel is from Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. The gospel holds a special place because they are Jesus own words and we stand out of respect. 
2. Homily - The priest explains the reading to us and helps us to see how we can apply the Gospel message to our daily lives.
3. Creed - We profess our faith in the words formulated at the councils of Nicaea and Constantinople in the years 325-381. This is our Faith. Think about what the words mean, do you understand what you are saying? If not maybe that is an invitation for you to grow in your faith.
4. Prayer of the Faithful - This is where we intercede for others. We pray for the church and the world and each other. There usually is a spot at the end where we each can personally, silently, pray for our own private intentions.

Offertory - This is kind of the bridge between the Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist. This is where we can really begin to offer ourselves to the Father through Jesus. Our gifts of bread and wine and money are brought to the altar to be sacrificed. The word sacrifice come from two Latin words which mean "to make sacred" or "to make holy". In days past and even still today in poorer countries, we used to offer food, chickens, eggs, etc.  But we are a monetary society, so our offering is money. We offer in thanksgiving our abundance.  It seems appropriate since what follows, is the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Eucharist means thanksgiving. As the gifts go up to the altar I imagine myself (spiritually) going up there to offer my life once again to God. I thank him for all the gifts he has given me. Then the priest prays over the gifts, "that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father." The translation from the Latin may be a bit misleading, another translation could be "that this my sacrifice and yours...". There are two different sacrifices about to happen, Jesus' ultimate, once for all sacrifice will be made present sacramentally, and our sacrifice united to his.

C. Liturgy of the Eucharist

1. Preparation of the Gifts - Our gifts of bread and wine are prepared. The priest puts a little water in the wine. The water symbolizes our human nature and the wine, the Divine nature. The priests "secret" prayer as he does this says it all, I think: "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." We get ready to renew our covenantal relationship with God.
2. Eucharistic Prayer - The most important part of the Mass. Where the bread and wine become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus. I suggest reading Eucharistic Prayer number one for an excellent catechesis of what is actually happening, the words used explain it well. When the priest says "Lift up your hearts", we should do it while we answer "We lift them up to the Lord". We are called to actually, really participate in the Mass. That means with our heart. Then there is a preface that is not in most books since there are so many options that the priest has to choose from. But it always ends by calling us to pray the Sanctus: Holy, Holy, Holy! along with the heavenly hosts. This is where heaven meets earth. Liturgy is celebrated by the Whole Christ,  the Body of Christ united with it's Head. The Body of Christ includes the saints in heaven and the poor souls in purgatory and the baptized here on earth. 
3. Great Amen - We assent to what has just happened with I believe! So be it! Amen!
4. The Lord’s Prayer - We pray the prayer Jesus taught us to pray.
5. Greeting of Peace - We share the peace of Christ with each other.
6. Breaking of the Bread - We sing the Angus Dei, The Lamb of God. The priest holds up Jesus in the Eucharist and says "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world" which are the words cried out by John the Baptist in the Gospel of John. Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world is physically present before us. Then before Communion we recall that we are not worthy to receive Him, but ask that he say the word and we will be healed. This is a paraphrase of the Gospel story of the Roman centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant and Jesus wants to go to his house but the centurion says, "Lord I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed." And the servant is healed. 
7. Communion - This is the most intimate time in the Mass, when we receive Jesus. We renew our Covenant with Him. By receiving worthily we are strengthened to overcome our daily struggles. If we are sorry for them our venial sins are forgiven. This is where we unite our humanity with His Divinity and we are made more like Him. Normally the food we eat becomes us, but by eating this food we become more like Him. I like to think of the marriage analogy. When the partners unite they become one. By eating the Eucharist we become one with Jesus.

D. Concluding Rites

1. Closing Prayer -  Our celebration closes with a prayer that the Eucharist strengthen us.
2. Final Blessing - We are blessed since we are ready to be sent.
3. Dismissal - We are sent out into the world to help redeem the world.