| Instructions of the Mass |
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| What is the Mass? "At the Last Supper , on the night when He was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharist sacrifice of His body and blood. He did this in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the centuries until He should come again, and so to entrust to His beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of His Death and Resurrrection; a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet in which Christ is eaten, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us" (Vatican II: Sacred Liturgy, no.47) |
| the Mass is: *1 the true sacrafice of the New Covenant, in which a victim is offered (Jesus Christ) in union with Him, as a gift of love and obedience to the Father. *2 A sacred meal and spiritual banquet *3 A Paschal meal, a passover meal of Jesus from this world to the Father. *4 a communitarian meal : gathering of Jesus and His people, The Church and His Mystical Body to carry out divine worship. |
| Introductory RITES Acts of Prayer and penitence prepare us to meet Christ thorugh the coming of the word, and Sacrament. Entrance Procession: A procession of ministers to the sancuary while a song is being sung, and a Scripture reading is read. Greeting : Spoken as a welcome home Penitential Rite asking for His forgiveness and receiving absolution for our sins. Gloria: the Church assembled in the Spirit we praise and pray to the Father and the Lamb. Opening Prayer Silent thought followed by the priest saying something about this Mass. Liturgy of the Word proclamation of God's Word is always centered on Christ, present in the Word. Old Testaments readings about Him coming, New Testament readings about His Life, death and time thereafter. Homily: tTHE HOLY spirit is speaking through the words of the priest or deacon applicable to the day's readings. |
| Profession of Faith Liturgy of the Eucharist Made ready for reflection on God's word. we enter now into the eucharistic sacrafice itself, the Supper of the Lord. 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 the table. We are here to bless God and to receive the gift of Jesus' body and blood so that our faith and life may be transformed. Preparation of the Gifts The bread and wine for the Eucharist, with our gifts for the Church and the poor, are gathered and brough to the altar. We prepare our hearts by song or in silence as the Lord's table is being set. 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 other praise and thanks as the priest addresses this prayer to the Father through Jesus Christ. Communion Rite To prepare for the paschal meal, to welcome the Lord, we pray for forgiveness and exchange a sign of peace. Before eating Christ's body and blood, we must be one with Him. 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. |
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