Lesson Nineteen - The Mass

Text by Pat Austin, St. Patrick's Cathedral RCIA Instructor

The word Mass comes from the Latin phrase said at the end of Mass - Go - the Mass is ended - "Ite Missa Est." Early Christians used the name "Giving of Thanks" and "Breaking of the Bread" referring to the Mass.

The Mass is a Sacrifice. The Mass is a Sacrament.

A Sacrifice - had only one meaning. It was used to refer to the action by which a gift was offered to God. Two Latin words, sacra - holy, facere - to do or make - something was made holy by being taken from human ownership and human use and offered to God by a symbolic act of giving.

From the beginning of time mankind has felt the need to offer gifts to God. History tells us that all peoples/tribes offered some kind of sacrifice, even human, to God/gods. The worship of God/gods incorporated a sacrifice into the ceremony. The sacrifice was offered for a group. A priest always offered the sacrifice.

• From Adam to Moses - Patriarchal age - sacrifice offered by the patriarch of the tribe (family).
• From Moses to Jesus - Mosaic age - God specified the kinds of sacrifice and established a hereditary priesthood through Aaron and his male descendants.
• From Jesus to the end of time - Christian Age - Jesus is the sacrifice - the Perfect Sacrifice. He is the gift acceptable to God. Before Jesus, all sacrifices were lacking in pleasing God, no matter how perfect, now, God is the gift to God, totally pleasing to God.

A sacrifice included -- an altar, a priest, a victim which underwent a radical change, and a ceremonial meal involving the victim (sometimes).

In the Mass, Jesus is the victim on the altar of the Cross, the Eternal Sacrifice. The Mass is a continuation, a prolongation through time -- of the once-for-all death of Jesus on the cross. The Eucharist is the ceremonial banquet involving the victim.

This is The Mass -- the unbloody sacrifice of Calvary. "At Mass, time and distance are annihilated in a mystical sense; you and I stand beneath the cross as the Son of God offers himself in sacrifice for us."

• The Last Supper, The First Mass, pointed forward to Calvary and was spiritually/mysteriously united with it.
• Every Mass is pointing back to Calvary and is spiritually/mysteriously united with it.

It is through the Mass that we adore, thank, offer reparation for our sins, and petition God. These are the four ends of prayer. Therefore the Mass is the greatest, most perfect prayer that we can partake in.

Graces are given to us through the Mass. These are called "fruits" of the Mass. There are three kinds of Graces:

• GENERAL -- for those present, Church, Pope, all living/dead, everyone. How much Grace? How effective? -- It depends on the individual - their intention, way of life, etc. God knows one's worthiness and applies these graces.
• SPECIAL -- Mass for a particular person -- can be two-fold: asking God for graces, benefits for this person or atonement for their sins if deceased.
• PERSONAL -- for the priest.

For the Old Testament the sacrifice was the Passover.

For the New Testament the sacrifice is Calvary.

• Calvary is the Eternal Covenant - The Christian Passover - the passing over from the death of sin to life eternal for all mankind.
• The Jewish Passover -- the victim was a lamb, the lamb was slain and the blood put over a door.
• The Christian Passover -- the victim was the Lamb of God, Jesus. The Lamb, Jesus, was slain (crucified). The shedding of His blood which led to His death brought the forgiveness of sins for all. By His death and Resurrection we are free from the slavery of sin and now can gain eternal life.

The Mass as it is offered today has had great development in the ceremonial part. Think of the first Mass, which was the Last Supper. Think of it as a precious gem, a perfect, flawless jewel. Any precious jewel needs an appropriate setting to enhance its beauty. The Church through the centuries has given us the appropriate setting.

The Mass is divided into two parts:

• The Liturgy of the Word -- We worship God through praying and hearing His word. We speak to God, God speaks to us!
• The Liturgy of the Eucharist -- We worship God by offering a perfect sacrifice - Jesus - God's Son in atonement for sin and receive in return Jesus the sacrifice. We give to God and God gives to us.

Liturgy of the Word:

• Recall our sinfulness and ask forgiveness
• Prayer for intention/theme of the Mass for that day
• Three readings from scripture
• Gospel
• Homily
• Creed
• Prayer/Petition of the Faithful -- General Intercessions. This part of the Mass is referred to as the Mass of the Catechumen

Liturgy of the Eucharist:

• Preparation/offering of the gifts: The priest washes his hands - symbolic.
• Preface - Prayer praising/thanking God followed by the Holy, Holy.
• Canon - the most solemn/sacred part of the Mass, the Canon of the Mass begins with the Eucharistic Prayer and ends with The Great Amen. The Canon of the Mass includes the Consecration.
  • Eucharistic Prayer:
    Choice of the Eucharistic Prayer is by the priest. Most choose from the four most commonly known, but there are others that can be used.
    
    First: We come to you Father, with Praise and Thanksgiving.
    Second: Lord, you are Holy indeed, the fountain of all holiness.
    Third: Father, you are Holy indeed and all creation rightly gives you praise.
    Fourth: Father, we acknowledge your greatness. All your actions show your wisdom and love.
    
    The Eucharistic Prayer includes the Consecration of the Bread and Wine into the Body/Blood of Jesus.
    
    This is my Body which will be given up for you. 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.
    
    There is no Mass without the Consecration.
    
    The Consecration is followed by our Acclamation -- There are four different Acclamations to choose from ...
    
    
    1. "Christ has died ... " to be used with the first Eucharistic prayer.
    2. "Dying you destroyed our death ... " to be used with the second Eucharistic prayer.
    3. "When we eat this bread ..." to be used with the third Eucharistic prayer.
    4. "Lord, by your cross and resurrection ..." to be used with the fourth Eucharistic prayer.
    
    The priest has the option of choosing which acclamation to say.

The Mass continues with the second part of the Eucharistic prayer which ends with the priest saying or singing the Doxology -- Through Him ... for ever and ever. Our response is: Amen. This ends the Canon of the Mass.

COMMUNION:

• Begins with the Our Father
• Followed by the sign of peace
• We acknowledge the mystery (Eucharist) with Lamb of God ...
• We acknowledge our unworthiness, "Lord I am not worthy ..."
• We receive the Eucharist - Holy Communion. Definitely spend some time in meditation. Do not look around to see who is receiving, who is in church or what they are wearing.

The Priest says the prayer after Communion.

Concluding/dismissal -- the Blessing

A pontifical mass is said by a bishop. Same mass with some added ceremony such as the use of incense, choir responses, big hat, etc.

Many words have changed over time but the word priest has always kept its meaning. A Catholic priest but a Protestant minister. The Protestant religions do not have sacrifice.