The Scriptural Mass
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Nearly everything we say at mass has its roots in Sacred Scripture. This guide will
help you if anyone you know is in doubt about that. Catholics quote scripture all the
time, and their actions are deeply scriptural. After all, scripture flowed out of the early
Church. The Church came first, the New Testament and the canon of scripture second.
Let’s take a look at the ordinary of the Mass:
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Entrance Antiphons usually come from the psalms;
e.g. Psalm 24:1-3 is used as the antiphon for 1st Sunday of Advent.
The Sign of the Cross is the ancient baptismal sign of the Faith, the words ‘In the
name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit’ comes from Matt 28:19.
P: “all the people say Amen” 1 Chron 25:36
Greeting
C: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 1:2)
C: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the
Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor 13:13)
C: The Lord be with you
P: And with your spirit (Ruth 2:4, 2 Tm 4:22)
PENITENTIAL RITE
Confiteor: The striking of the breast mirrors the action of the publican in Lk 18:13
I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned (Jas. 5:16),
in my thoughts and in my words (Rom. 12:16),
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do(Jas 3:6),
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints (Rev 8:4),
and you, my brothers and sisters (1 Thess 5:25),
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
Form B
C: Have mercy on us O God
P: For we have sinned against you (Psalm 123:3)
C: Show us, O Lord, your mercy.
P: And grant us your salvation (Psalm 87:5)
Form C
C; You were sent to heal the contrite of heart (Lk 4:18)
P: Lord have mercy (Ps 41:4, Lk 18:13)
C: You came to call sinners (Mt 9-13)
P: Christ have mercy (1 Tim 1:2)
C: You are seated at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:33) to intercede for us (Heb
7:25)
P: Lord have mercy.
Absolution
C: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to
everlasting life. (1 John 1:9)
Gloria
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will (Luke 2:14).
We praise you (Ps 150),
we bless you (Ps 101:1),
we adore you (Rev. 22:9),
we glorify you(Ps 34:3),
we give you thanks for your great glory (1 Chron 29:13, Rev 11:17),
Lord God(Gen 2:7), heavenly King (1 Timothy 1:17),
O God, almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son(Jn 1:18, 2 Jn:3),
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world (John 1:29),
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 (Rom 8:34,acts 2:33),
have mercy on us.
For you alone are the Holy One(Is 40:25),
you alone are the Lord(Nehemiah 9:6, Deut 6:4),
you alone are the Most High (Lk 1:32),
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:26),
in the glory of God the Father (Phil 2:11).
Amen.
The priest invites the faithful to pray with the words ‘Let us pray’ after which the
Collect is said (Acts 2:42)
The Liturgy of the Word:
An Old Testament reading (1 Tim 4:13)
A Psalm (Ps 96, Acts 16:25)
A New Testament reading (1 Thes 5:27)
R: The word of the Lord
P: Thanks be to God (2 Cor 9:15)
The Homily follows (2 Tim 4:1-2)
Creed
I believe in one God (1 Tim 2:5),
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth (Gen 14:19),
of all things visible and invisible (Cor 1:16).
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God (LK1:35),
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 (Heb 1:3);
through him all things were made (Jn 1:2-3).
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven(Jn 3:13),
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary(Mt 1:18),
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate(Jn 19:16),
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures(1 Cor 15:3-4).
He ascended into heaven (Lk 24:51)
and is seated at the right hand of the Father (Cor 3:1).
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim 4:1)
and his kingdom will have no end (Lk 1:33).
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life (Acts 2:17),
who proceeds from the Father and the Son (Jn 14:16),
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets(1 Peter 1:10-11).
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church (Rom 2:5).
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38)
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.(Rom 6:5) Amen.
The Bidding prayers follow – Eph 6:8
Offerings are brought forward (Mal 3:10)
Offertory
C: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have
received the bread/wine we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands
(Eccl. 3:13) it will become for us the bread of life (Jn 6:35).
P: Blessed be God forever (Ps 68:36).
C: 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.(Ps 82:1)
C: Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty
Father. (Heb 12:28)
Preface
C: The Lord be with you
P: And with your spirit (Ruth 2:4, 2 Tm 4:22)
C: Lift up your hearts.
P: We lift them up to the Lord. (Lam 3:41)
C: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. (Col 3:17)
P: It is right and just. (Col 1:3)
P: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory (Is
6:3, Rev 4:8). Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the
Lord. Hosanna in the highest (Mk 11:9-10).
A Eucharistic Prayer (I-IV) follows, EP I is used here:
To you, therefore, most merciful Father, we make humble prayer and petition through
Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord (Eph 5:20): that you accept and bless these gifts,
these offerings, these holy and unblemished sacrifices (2 Macc 1:26), which we offer
you firstly for your holy catholic Church. Be pleased to grant her peace, to guard,
unite(Jn12:21) and govern her throughout the whole world, together with your servant
Benedict our Pope and Declan our Bishop, and all those who, holding to the truth,
hand on the catholic and apostolic faith (Acts 2:42). Remember, Lord, your servants
N. and N. and all gathered here, whose faith and devotion are known to you. For
them, we offer you this sacrifice of praise (Heb 13:15)or they offer it for themselves
and all who are dear to them: for the redemption of their souls(Ps 106:4), in hope of
health and well-being, and paying their homage to you, the eternal God, living and
true. In communion with those whose memory we venerate, especially the glorious
ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ, and blessed Joseph, her
Spouse, your blessed Apostles and Martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, and all your
Saints(Lk 16:9, 1 Cor 12:12); we ask that through their merits and prayers (Rev 5:8),
in all things we may be defended by your protecting help (Ps 82).
Therefore, Lord, we pray: graciously accept this oblation of our service, that of your
whole family; order our days in your peace, and command that we be delivered from
eternal damnation and counted among the flock of those you have chosen.
Be pleased, O God, we pray, to bless, acknowledge, and approve this offering in
every respect; make it spiritual and acceptable (Jn. 4:24), so that it may become for us
the Body and Blood of your most beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
On the day before he was to suffer, he took bread in his holy and venerable hands, and
with eyes raised to heaven to you, O God, his almighty Father, giving you thanks, he
said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT, FOR THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH
WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU (Mt. 26:26-28).
In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took this precious chalice in his holy and
venerable hands, and once more giving you thanks, he said the blessing and gave the
chalice to his disciples, saying:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT, FOR THIS IS THE
CHALICE OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL
COVENANT, WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR MANY
FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME. (1 Cor
11:24-25)
C: The mystery of Faith (1 Tim 3:16)
P: When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until
you come again. (1 Cor 11:26)
Or, P: We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you
come again. (1 Cor 16:22)
or, P: Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set
us free. (cf. Matt 8:25; Luke 4:42; Rom 8:21)
C: Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the blessed Passion,
the Resurrection from the dead, and the glorious Ascension into heaven of Christ,
your Son, our Lord, we, your servants and your holy people, offer to your glorious
majesty from the gifts that you have given us, this pure victim,
this holy victim, this spotless victim, the holy Bread of eternal life and the Chalice of
everlasting salvation (1 Peter 1:18-21). Be pleased to look upon these offerings with a
serene and kindly countenance, and to accept them, as once you were pleased to
accept the gifts of your servant Abel the just (Gen 4:4), the sacrifice of Abraham, our
father in faith(Gen 22:12), and the offering of your high priest Melchizedek(Gen
14:18), a holy sacrifice, a spotless victim.
In humble prayer we ask you, almighty God: command that these gifts be borne by
the hands of your holy Angel to your altar on high in the sight of your divine
majesty(Rev 8:3-4), so that all of us, who through this participation at the altar
receive the most holy Body and Blood of your Son, may be filled with every grace
and heavenly blessing (Eph 1:3).
Remember also, Lord, your servants who have gone before us with the sign of faith
and rest in the sleep of peace(1 Thess 4:13). Grant them, O Lord, we pray, and all
who sleep in Christ, a place of refreshment, light and peace (Eccles 12:7).
To us, also, your servants, who, though sinners, hope in your abundant mercies,
graciously grant some share and fellowship with your holy Apostles and Martyrs:
with John the Baptist, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, and all your Saints; admit us, we
beseech you, into their company, not weighing our merits,
but granting us your pardon, through Christ our Lord(Col 1:12.) Through whom you
continue to make all these good things(Philemon 1:6), O Lord; you sanctify them, fill
them with life, bless them, and bestow them upon us(Ps 104:27,28).
The following Eucharistic prayers find their expressions in the following Scripture
passages:
Eucharistic Prayer II (cf. 2 Macc. 14:36; Phil. 2:8; Jn. 10:17-18; Mk. 14:22-25; Heb.
2:14-15; Jn. 6:51; 1 Cor. 10:17; 2 Macc. 12:45-46; 2 Thess. 1:4-5)
Eucharistic Prayer III (cf. Tob. 8:5; Jn. 1:3; Ps. 113:3; Lk. 22:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:26;
Mk. 13:33; 2 Cor. 5:19; Eph. 4:3; Eph. 5: 25-27; Jn. 17:22, 23; Col. 1:4-5)
Eucharist Prayer IV (cf. Gen. 1:26; Is. 55:6; 55:3; Gal. 4:4-5; Heb. 4:15; Lk. 4:18; 1
Cor. 15:54-57; Jn. 14:16; Heb. 9:15; Jn. 13:1; 1 Cor. 11:23-25; Jn. 4:42; 1 Pet. 3:18,
19; Eph. 1:19-20; Mt. 25:31; 1 Cor. 12:12, 27; Acts 10:35; Rom. 8:20-21)
Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the
Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours, for ever and ever(Rom 11:36).
P: Amen
Communion Rite
C: At the Saviour’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
P: 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. (Matt 6:9-13)
C: 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 (Jn 17:15) and safe from
all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
P: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.
C: Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give
you (Jn 14:27); look not on our sins (Ps 51:9), but on the faith of your Church, and
graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will(Jn 17:20-23). Who
live and reign for ever and ever (Ex 15:18). P:Amen
C: The peace of the Lord be with you always(Jn 20:19).
P: And with your spirit
P: 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 (cf. Jn. 1:29).
C: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world (Jn
1:29) Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9).
P: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed (Mt 8:8).
Dismissal
C: The Lord be with you
P: And with your spirit (Ruth 2:4)
[C: Blessed be the name of the Lord
P: Now and forever (Dan 20:20).
C: Our help is in the name of the Lord
P: Who made heaven and earth(Ps 124:8)]
C: May almighty God bless you (Gen 28:3, Lk 24:51)), the Father and the Son and
the Holy Spirit (Mt 28:9)
P: Amen
C: Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord (Mk 16:15)
P: Thanks be to God (2 Cor. 9:15)
A final word
Whilst this document shows where the words of the Mass correspond to the words of
Sacred Scripture, this is just scratching at the surface. The mass is prefigured
throughout the Old Testament from the lamb of sacrifice provided by God to
Abraham (Gen 22:13) to the offering of Melchizedek (Gen 14:18-20) to the Passover
meal (Ex 12:1-28). Even in the New Testament we can see the Eucharistic sacrifice
foreshadowed in the feeding of the 5000 (Jn 6:1-14), the breaking of the bread in
Emmaus (Lk 24:12-35) and the book of Revelation contains many allusions to the
heavenly liturgical action. Don’t just attend Holy Mass, pray Holy Mass!
Acknowledgments:
Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International
Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.
Adapted from the resource produced by Catechetics Online and modified to conform
to the new translation of the Mass, cross referenced to http://catholicresources.org/Bible/Biblical-Mass-Texts.htm and
http://www.catholicbible101.com/scriptureinthemass.htm
Thanks to the Holy Ghost RCIA Group, Yeovil.