Introductory Rites – Acts of prayer and penitence prepare us to meet Christ as he comes in Word and Sacrament.
- Entrance Antiphon – if it is not sung, all or some of the people recite it. Procession. Usually from the back of the church down the center aisle. Usual participants: cross-bearer, other servers, lector, concelebrants, deacon, priest or bishop.
- Greeting. (Three forms) When the priest comes to the altar, he makes the customary reverence, with the ministers and kisses the altar. Then, with the ministers, he goes to his seat. After the entrance song, all make the sign of the cross.
- Blessing and Sprinkling Holy Water. The rite of blessing and sprinkling holy water may be celebrated in all churches and chapels at all Sunday Masses celebrated on Sunday or Saturday evening.
- Penitential Rite. (Omitted when the rite of blessing and sprinkling holy water has taken place penitential rite is omitted.
- Kyrie (Lord have mercy.) Unless included in the penitential rite, the Kyrie is sung or said by all, with alternating parts for the choir or cantor and for the people.
- Gloria. As the Church assembled in the Spirit, we praise and pray to the Father and the Lamb. The Gloria is said or sung on all Sundays outside of Lent and Advent, and on great feasts.
- Opening prayer. The priest invites us to pray silently for a moment and then, in our name, expresses the theme of the day’s celebration and petitions God the Father through the mediation of Christ in the Holy Spirit.
Liturgy of the Word – The proclamation of God’s Word is always centered on Christ, present through his Word. Old Testament writings prepare for him; New Testament books speak of him directly. All of scripture calls us to believe once more and to follow. After the reading we reflect upon God’s words and respond to them.
First Reading. Read by lector,[1] usually from the Old Testament.
- Responsorial Psalm. Usually led by the cantor (song leader) but may be recited. It is never omitted.
- Second Reading. Also read by the lector. On most weekdays, there is no second reading.
- Gospel Acclamation. Jesus speaks to us in the gospel. We rise now out of respect and prepare for his message with the Alleluia. The people repeat the alleluia after the cantor’s alleluia and then after the verse.
- Gospel. The reading is taken from one of the four Gospels and is read by a priest or deacon, never by a layperson.
- Homily. God’s word is spoken again in the homily. The Holy Spirit speaking through the lips of the preacher explains and applies today’s biblical readings to the needs of the congregation. He calls us to respond to Christ through the life we lead.
- Profession of Faith. As a people, we express our acceptance of God’s message in the scriptures and homily. We summarize our faith by proclaiming a creed handed down from the early Church. All join in the recitation of the Nicene Creed on Sundays and certain feast days. The Apostles Creed is recited in celebrations of Masses with children.
- General Intercessions. As a priestly people we unite with one another to pray for the day’s needs in the Church and in the world. This is also called the Prayer of the Faithful.
Liturgy of the Eucharist – Made ready by reflection on God’s Word, we enter now into the Eucharistic sacrifice itself, the Lord’s Supper. We celebrate the memorial, which the Lord instituted at his Last Supper. We are God’s new people, the redeemed brothers and sisters of Christ, gathered by him around his altar.
- Preparation of the Gifts. The bread and wine for the Eucharist, along with our gifts for the Church and the poor, are gathered and brought to the altar. We prepare our hearts by song or in silence as the Lord’s table is being set. Also called the Offertory. Usually the cross-bearer leads the people bearing the gifts to the altar. Servers prepare the altar and light the candles on each side, then accompany the priest to receive the gifts.
- Eucharistic Prayer. We begin the eucharistic service of praise and thanksgiving, the center of the entire celebration, the central prayer of worship. We lift our hearts to God, and offer praise and thanks as the priest addresses this prayer to the Father through Jesus Christ. Together we join Christ in his sacrifice, celebrating his memorial in the holy meal and acknowledging with him the wonderful works of God in our lives. There are four optional Eucharistic prayers.
- Communion Rite. To prepare the paschal meal, to welcome the Lord, we pray for forgiveness and exchange a sign of peace (optional). Before eating Christ’s Body and drinking his Blood, we must be one with him and with our brothers and sisters in the Church. The Communion Rite begins with the Lord’s Prayer and ends with the Prayer after Communion.
Concluding Rite – We have heard God’s word and eaten the body of Christ. Now it is time for us to leave, to do good works, to praise and bless the Lord in our daily lives.
- Brief announcements may be made here.
- Greetings and Blessing. Various.
Dismissal. The priest dismisses the congregation by saying: “Go in peace”; The Mass is ended, go in peace”; or “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord”. The ministers leave in procession, departing the altar area in the order in which they entered.
[1] The ministries of acolyte and lector are not ordained ministries, unlike the deaconate, the priesthood and the episcopacy.
In Ministeria Quaedam of 1972, Pope Paul VI reformed what were known as “minor orders,” conserving only the ministries of lector and acolyte. Normally seminarians are officially instituted into these ministries in the process leading to their ordination.
The Code of Canon Law states that only qualified men may be lectors or acolytes:
Can. 230 §1 Lay men whose age and talents meet the requirements prescribed by decree of the Episcopal Conference, can be given the stable ministry of lector and of acolyte, through the prescribed liturgical rite. This conferral of ministry does not, however, give them a right to sustenance or remuneration from the Church.
§2 Lay people can receive a temporary assignment to the role of lector in liturgical actions (which is why women currently read at Masses all over the world). Likewise, all lay people can exercise the roles of commentator, cantor or other such, in accordance with the law (Italics mine).
§3 Where the needs of the Church require and ministers are not available, lay people, even though they are not lectors or acolytes, can supply certain of their functions, that is, exercise the ministry of the word, preside over liturgical prayers, confer baptism and distribute Holy Communion, in accordance with the provisions of the law.
(Note: At the conclusion of the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God , October 2008, the suggestion to open the formal ministry of lector to women was presented to Pope Benedict XVI by the assembled bishops).