Unit I – The Catholic Mass
SEPTEMBER 1, 2010
The Eucharist gives us and the entire faith community the
strength to live out what we say we believe in the Creed.
 Through the miracle of transubstantiation, the bread
and wine become Christ for us so that when we eat
them, Christ enters us and nourishes us.
 When we share the sacrament of communion, Jesus
enters us and supports us with his life.
Our Place of Worship
 Our physical environment can affect the way we pray
and celebrate as a community
 Throughout the ages, people have built churches and
chapels to help them be aware of God’s presence
 For Catholics, our place of worship is the Church
What things have you noticed about the physical
environment of the Church
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The Church has three main divisions:
The Vestibule (the entrance) – symbolic of the
entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven
2. The Nave (the body) – visible expression of the
church where people gather to celebrate
3. The Sanctuary (the centre) – mystical centre of the
Church, where the throne of God, the table of
heaven and the altar of sacrifice are found
1.
Symbols in the Church
There are many symbols in the church that are there to
remind us of our faith
What symbols have you seen?
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Symbols in the Church
 Baptismal Font (Water)
Baptismal Font
 Located at either the entrance of the church or
beside the altar
 Reminds us that through Baptism, we enter this
community of faith and become the sisters and
brothers of Jesus
Symbols in the Church
 Cross / Crucifix
Cross / Crucifix
 Is a reminder that we gather to join ourselves in the
sacrifice of Jesus
 Reminds us that during mass, we celebrate that
Jesus gave his life so that we might have life
 Also a sign of the faith we share together
Symbols in the Church
 Altar
Altar
 The table of the Lord around which the community
gathers
 Jesus’ sacrificial death and his rising are made
present to us on this table
 Around this table, God’s people are fed
Symbols in the Church
 Lectionary
Lectionary
 A collection of readings from Scripture that have
been chosen for each Mass during the year
 Usually it is carried high in the entrance &
recessional procession as a reminder that it contains
God’s words
Lectionary
What's the difference between a Bible and a Lectionary?

A Lectionary is composed of the readings and the responsorial psalm assigned for each Mass of the year (Sundays,
weekdays, and special occasions).
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The readings are divided by the day or the theme (baptism, marriage, vocations, etc.) rather than according to the
books of the Bible
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Not all of the Bible is included in the Lectionary.
How is the Lectionary arranged?
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The Lectionary is arranged in two cycles, one for Sundays and one for weekdays
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The Sunday cycle is divided into three years, labeled A, B, and C, 2010 is Year C, etc.
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In Year A, we read mostly from the Gospel of Matthew.
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In Year B, we read the Gospel of Mark and chapter 6 of the Gospel of John.
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In Year C, we read the Gospel of Luke.
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The Gospel of John is read during the Easter season in all three years
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The weekday cycle is divided into two years, Year I and Year II.
Year I is read in odd-numbered years (2009, 2011, etc.) and Year II is used in even-numbered years (2010, 2012, etc.)
During the year, the Gospels are read semi-continuously, beginning with Mark, then moving on to Matthew and Luke.
The first reading on weekdays may be taken from the Old or the New Testament. Typically, a single book is read semicontinuously (i.e., some passages are not read) until it is finished and then a new book is started.
The year of the cycle does not change on January 1st, but on the 1st Sunday of Advent (usually late November) which is
the beginning of the liturgical year
Symbols in the Church
 Ambo
Ambo
 The place from which the word of God is proclaimed
 Visible reminder that Jesus Christ is present to us
when the Word of God is read and listened to
Symbols in the Church
 Sacramentary
Sacramentary
 Large book that contains the prayers of the Mass
 Every Sunday, Catholics around the world use the
same prayers in the celebration of the Mass
 Even though these prayers may be said in different
languages, it helps us stay united
Symbols in the Church
 Candles
Candles
 A reminder that Christ is present in our midst
 Symbolic of the fact that His light casts aside all
darkness
 Conveys the festive spirit of the Mass
Symbols in the Church
 Sacred Vessels
Sacred Vessels
 The Chalice & Paten are the cup and plate used only
for Eucharistic celebration
 Reminds us that the Body of Christ we receive is real
food for the journey & that His Blood is real drink to
strengthen us
Symbols in the Church
 Tabernacle
Tabernacle
 Where the Blessed Sacrament is kept
 Blessed Sacrament = the bread/communion hosts
that was consecrated but not eaten during the Mass
Symbols in the Church
 Sanctuary Lamp
Sanctuary Lamp
 Located beside, above or near the Tabernacle
 A candle/light remains lit all the time as a sign of the
real presence of Christ in the consecrated bread
Symbols in the Church
 Assembly
Assembly
 The people who gather to listen to the Word and
share in the Eucharist are a sign of Christ’s presence
 The arrangement of the pew/seats in the church
should help everyone to feel like participants in the
celebrations and not just spectators
"For where two or three have gathered together in
My name, I am there in their midst." Matt 18:20
Remember…
 Each item in a church has a special
purpose/meaning to express or
encourage some aspect of our faith
Symbolism in Stained Glass
 The flames of the sun could be a play on
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the word ‘Son’ to represent God’s only
son.
The cross represents Christ’s crucifixion.
The crown has six red dots which
represents God creating everything in six
days.
The crown has which could represents
perfection since God rested on the seventh
day
The olive branch is talked about in the
story of Noah is known as Gods symbol
for ending his “war” with mankind.
The four white flowers represent the
holiness of the four corners of the earth
when it was first created.
The four red flowers might represent the
four Evangelists who wrote the story of
Jesus leading up to the shedding of his
blood which is the meaning for the color
red.
Liturgy: The ritual and action of the People.
 The “theme” of every Mass is Christ’s passion, death
and resurrection.
 In planning the liturgy, we do not develop new
themes, we choose to look at different aspects of the
central mystery and the way it touches our lives.
 The liturgy is how we celebrate our faith as a
community
The common flow to every Eucharistic Liturgy is:
 Gathering
 Listening to the word of God
 Blessing
 Eating & Drinking
 Sending Forth
• Since the liturgy is “the work of the people”, our
taking part in the Mass is very important
Gathering: to gather as a community
 Opening Song: opens the celebration and leads our
thoughts to what we are celebrating
 Entrance Processions: involves those with a special
role within the celebration such as the lectors and
the priests
 Sign of the Cross/Amen: reminds us of the Trinity
that is the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit
The grace of our Lord this
Jesusgreeting
Christ and the
of God
Priest:
Greeting/Response:
canlove
take
oneand
ofthe
fellowship
the Holy(in
Spirit
be with
you all.
severalofforms
each
form,
we are reminded that
All: And also with you.
God is us and always will be)
Gathering:
Penitential
Rite: Rite: The community seeks reconciliation
Kyrie:

Penitential
Priest: As we prepare to celebrate the mystery of Christ's love, let us
withLord,
one
and
with
God
acknowledge
our
failures
and ask
Lord for
pardon
and strength.
Priest:
have
mercy.
All:theLord,
have
mercy.
or Coming
together
as God's
family,
with confidence
let us ask the Father's
Priest:
Christ,
have mercy.
All:
Christ,
have
mercy.

Gloria:
Ancient
hymn
of
praise
and
thanksgiving
forgiveness,
for have
he is full
of gentleness
and compassion.
Priest: Lord,
mercy.
All: Lord,
have mercy.
or My brothers
and sisters,
to prepare
ourselves
to celebrate
sacred
 Opening
Prayer,
Silence,
Amen:
This
is thethe
“collect”
mysteries, let us call to mind our sins.
or gathering prayer
All: I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my
words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and 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.
Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to
everlasting life.
All: Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word: to listen
 First Reading: A proclamation from the Old
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Testament
Responsorial Psalm: A psalm that reflects the spirit
of the reading. The psalm is best sung.
Second Reading: A proclamation from the letters of
the New Testament
Gospel Acclamation: We welcome the Word of God
God or other acclamation
joyfully by singing an Praise
“Alleluia”
Gospel: A proclamation from one of the Gospels as
word of God.
The Liturgy of the Word
 Homily: Is a key part of the liturgy and is necessary
for the nurturing of Christian life.
 Profession of Faith: The Creed or profession of faith
helps the people respond and agree to the Word of
God.
Prayers
of the
Faithful This is an act of the whole
 General
Intercession:
community. It offers the Lord the world, which the
community is sent to serve.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist: to give praise & thanks
of the
Preparation
of the Altar:
Presentation
Preparation
ofGifts
the/Altar
and Presentation
of the Gifts:
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have
Before
the
we
prepare
this
bread tobeginning
offer, which earth
hasEucharistic
given and humanaction,
hands have
made.
It will
become
for us the bread of life.
the table.
All: Blessed be God for ever.
Priest:
TheBlessed
Eucharistic
Prayer:
There
are
nineyour
different
are you, Lord,
God of all
creation.
Through
goodness we have
this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our
Eucharistic Prayers.
spiritual drink.
4 universal
Eucharistic
All: 
Blessed
be God
for ever. Prayers (the Roman Canon and 3 others)
3 Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with Children
[Offertory & Procession]
 2 Eucharistic Prayers for Masses of Reconciliation

Priest: Pray, my brothers and sisters, that our sacrifice
may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
All: 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 Church.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist: Structure
 Preface Dialogue:
Priest: The Lord be with you. All: And also with you.
Priest: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God. All: It is right to give
him thanks and praise.
 Preface (giving praise and thanks to God )
 Holy, Holy (the "Sanctus"):
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
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.
 Epiclesis (calling upon the Holy Spirit):
The Liturgy of the Eucharist: Structure
 Institution Narrative (recalling the words and actions of Jesus at the
Last Supper):
Priest: Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will
be given up for you.
Priest: Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of
my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will
be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this
in memory of me.
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Memorial Acclamation:
Priest: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
All: A - Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
or B - Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our
life. Lord Jesus, come in glory.
or C - When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim
your death, Lord Jesus, until you come in glory.
or D - Lord, by your cross and resurrection, you have set us
free. You are the Savior of the World.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist: Structure
 Doxology and Great Amen:
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.
All: Amen. [may be sung more than once]
Communion Rite: to receive the body & blood
Lord'sof
Prayer:
Peace:
Sign
Lord’s
Prayer, Rite of Peace: Before we break bread
Priest: Let us pray with confidence to the Father in the words our Savior gave us.
Priest: Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles: I leave you peace, my
or Jesus taught
us to
call and
God our
Father,of
and so wesame
have the courage
to say:
together
and
eat
drink
and
cup,
peace
I give you.
Look
not on our
sins, butthe
on the faith loaf
of your
Church,
or Let us ask our Father to forgive our sins and to bring us to forgive those who sin
we
express
unityand
with
another.
and
grant
unityone
of your
kingdom where you live for ever
against
us. us the peace
andorever.
us pray for the coming of the kingdom as Jesus taught us.
All:Let
Lamb
ofof
God,
take away
the sins
of the
world: of
have
mercy
All:
Breaking
theyouBread:
This
is key
action
the
Father….
All: Our
Amen.
on us.
celebration;
we
eatbe
from
the
one
bread
withon
isus.
Priest:
The Peace of
theall
Lord
with you
always.
Lamb
of
God,
you
take
away
the
sins
of
the
world:
have
mercy
Priest:
Deliver
us, with
Lord, from
every evil, and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy
All:
And
also
you.
Christ.
Lamb
of from
God,sin
you
take
away
of theas
world:
grant
us peace.
keep
us free
and
protect
us the
fromsins
all anxiety
we wait
in joyful
hope for the
Deacon
or
Priest:
Let
us
offer
each
other
a
sign
of
peace.
coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Priest:isThis
isLamb
the Lamb
ofGod…Lord,
God who takes Iaway
the
sins
of the
All:
This
not
Worthy:
For thethe
kingdom,
theof
power,
and the glory am
are yours,
now and forever.
world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.
Priest
and people prepare themselves to receive
All: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the
Christ’s
blood.
word andbody
I shalland
be healed.
 Communion: We receive the body and blood of Christ.
Dismissal Rite: to dismiss or go forth
Simple
SolemnForm
Blessing The final can be given in a simple or
 Blessing/Amen:
Priest: May almighty God bless you,
Priest: Bow your heads and pray for God's blessing…..
athe
more
complex
form.
Father,
and the Son,
and the Holy Spirit.
All:
Amen
All:
Amen.
Priest:
May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the
Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Priest: Go in the
peace of be
Christ.
 Dismissal/
Thanks
to God: The liturgy always
or The Masswith
is ended,
in peace.
concludes
thegoTrinitarian
blessing.
or Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God!
 Closing Song: The closing song & procession remind
us that we are sent out into the world to share the
Good News we have received.