As a people, we express our acceptance of God’s message in the scripture and Homily. We summarize our faith by proclaiming a Creed handed down from the early Church (From two Councils of the Church: Nicea, 325 and Constantinople, 381). This Nicean Creed is recited or sung on special feasts as well as on every Sunday.
Prayer of the Faithful: Stand
We pray for the Church, the people of the world and their governments, and for special intentions announced by the Lector.
Offertory:
In preparation for the Liturgy of the Eucharist gifts are brought to the Altar, and the people have an opportunity to again give God their hearts. Here we also take up a collection – the people share their treasure to support the works of the parish.
First we bring the bread and wine, which, at the Consecration, the priest will change into the Body and Blood of Christ.The money collected is used to pay the expenses of the parish and for its programs. The priest offers all these gifts to God, and then says to us:
“Pray brethren, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.”
We reply: 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.
(Remember that the Mass is a re-enactment of the Last Supper and of Calvary. Jesus offered His sufferings on the Cross for our salvation.)
The Preface: Kneel
This is the immediate introduction to the most solemn part of the Mass. Often the Preface is specific in its theme – focusing on the idea of the day’s celebration. At the conclusion we say:
“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,”
The Eucharistic Prayer:
The Eucharistic Prayer is a prayer of thanksgiving, adoration, petition, and contrition. This is the center and high point of the entire celebration. (Several Eucharistic Prayers are available in the Sacramentary).
In the Eucharistic Prayer the priest calls down the Holy Spirit. He then uses the words of Jesus as he acts in the person of Christ.“Take this, all of you, and eat it: This is my Body which will be given up for you.” “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.”
The changing of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, by these words, is called Transubstantiation. At the end of the Eucharistic prayer we express our union with Christ in His Sacrifice by saying or singing the Great Amen.
Communion Rite: Stand
The Lord’s Prayer: The Our Father is the prayer that Jesus taught us.
Breaking of the Bread: This rite is a sign that in sharing in the one bread of life which is Christ, we who are many are made into one body.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world have mercy on us.
Communion: Kneel
The Priest and other ministers receive our Lord.
Those who are prepared go to the altar to receive Our Lord
We receive Jesus. God comes to nourish us and deepen our love. How wonderfull!!!
Welcome Jesus, taking some time to thank Him and to talk with Him.
Concluding Rite:
After communion, the priest says a prayer. He then blesses us in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. There is a recessional Hymn.
