The Holy Mass
The first precept of the Church binds
all Catholics to attend Mass on all Sundays
and days of Obligation.
This is a grave obligation on our
conscience, unless some really serious
in late. Cause prevents us. To come
wilfully, or through carelessness, when
Mass has begun, and is at least a venial sin.
To miss Mass when you cannot help it, or
when it would be very difficult for you to
attend Mass, is not a sin. So, if you were to
miss Mass because you were ill, or because
you had to stay at home to take care of a
sick person or children, or because you
were a very long way from church, or if
for some other reason, you could not go, it
would not be a sin. When you cannot go
to Mass, say the Mass prayers yourself at
home, if possible.
Those who take part in the Mass are
not mere spectators. We must offer
ourselves with the priest who offers and
with Jesus Christ, the principal offerer.
The Mass Simply Explained
At the Last Supper, Jesus gave us the
elements of a sacred rite, which we were
to do in memory of him, and which would
make his sacrificial death on the cross
present to all people in every age.
First, he preached the word of God to
his disciples, giving them the new
commandment of love. He prayed for them
and for all those who, through the, would
believe in him. He prayed for the unity of
all believers,
In the liturgy of the Mass, this is
represented by the service of the Word of
God. We listen to God’s word in the
scriptures and the homily; we express our
faith in his word, and pray in the Prayer of
the Faithful for the needs of all God’s
people,
Then he took bread and a cup of
wine. This action of Christ is represented
in the liturgy of the Mass by the rite of the
Offertory, or the presentation of the gifts.
Bread and wine are brought to the altar
and the priest takes them and blesses God
for them, for they are to become the body
of Christ that was offered for us on the
cross and his blood that was shed for us
and for all so that sins may be forgiven. In
Communion they are to become for us
“the bread of life” and “our spiritual drink”.
He said the prayer of blessing over
them. In the Mass, this is the Eucharistic
Prayer which praises and thanks God for all
his gifts, and most especially for what
Jesus achieved by his life, death, and
resurrection. The Holy Spirit is called down
upon the gifts so that they may become
Christ’s body and blood, and we may
receive them worthily and fruitfully. Then,
after the Consecration, they are offered to
God the Father for the whole world and
for the needs of the living and the dead.
He broke the bread and gave it to his
disciples; he gave them the cup to drink.
This is the rite of Communion, which gives
us the fruits of Christ’s sacrifice in a holy
meal. In receiving the body and blood of
Christ, we are united with Christ and with
one another in Christ, and we are given a
foretaste of the joy that will be ours when
we are united forever with Christ in the
glory of his heavenly kingdom.
The Order of Mass
THE INTRODUCTORY RITES
Entrance Song
The celebrant and ministers go to the altar.
Greeting
The celebrant greets all present. His
greeting proclaims the presence of the
Lord, with the community gathered.
Celebrant: In the name of the Father, and
of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
1. Cel: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
and the love of God and the fellowship of
the Holy Spirit be with you all,
All: And also with you.
_________________________
2. Cel: The grace and peace of God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
All: And also with you.
3. Cel: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
__________________________
The celebrant may briefly introduce
the Mass of the day.
THE PENITENTIAL RITE
The celebrant invites the people to call
their sins to mind and to repent of them.
He may use the following, or similar words:
Cel: My brothers and sisters, to prepare
ourselves to celebrate the sacred
mysteries, let us call to mind our sins.
A pause for silent reflection follows.
After the silence, one of the following three
forms of the penitential rite is chosen:
1. All: I confess to almighty God, and to
you, my brothers and sisters, that I have
sinned through my own fault (All strike
their breast) 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.
Cel: May Almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins, and bring us to
everlasting life.
All: Amen.
2. Cel: Lord, we have sinned against you:
Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Cel: Lord, show us your mercy and love.
All: And grant us your salvation.
Cel: May Almighty God Have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins, and bring us to
everlasting life.
All: Amen.
3. Cel: You were sent to heal the contrite:
Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Cel: You came to call sinners: Christ, have
mercy.
All: Christ, have mercy.
Cel: You plead for us at the right hand of
the Father: Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Cel: May Almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins, and bring us to
everlasting life.
All: Amen.
The Kyrie
A plea for mercy. It is not said here if it
has already been incorporated in the
penitential rite.
Cel: Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Cel: Christ, have mercy.
All: Christ, have mercy.
Cel: Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
The Gloria
It may be said or sung.
Glory to God in the highest, and peace
to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly
King, almighty God and Father, we
worship you, we give you thanks, we
praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus
Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God,
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of
the world: have mercy on us; you are
seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer. For you alone are the
Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you
alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God
the Father. Amen.
Opening Prayer
Cel: Let us pray…
At the end of the prayer, the people make
it their own by responding:
All: Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading
At the end of the reading:
R: This is the Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm
It is sung or recited and all respond.
Second Reading
At the end of the reading:
R: This is the Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation
Gospel Reading
Cel: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Cel: A reading from the Holy Gospel
according to N.
All: Glory to you, O Lord.
At the end of the Gospel:
Cel: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Homily
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in
Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He
was conceived by the power of the Holy
Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified,
died and was buried. He descended to the
dead. On the third day, He rose again. He
ascended into heaven and is seated at
the right hand of the Father. He will come
again to judge the living and the dead. I
believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic
Church, the communion of saints, the
forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the
body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the
Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of
all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in
one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of
God, eternally begotten of the Father, God
from God, Light from Light, true God from
true God, begotten, not made, one in being
with the Father. Through him all things
were made. For us men and for our
salvation, he came down from heaven, by
the power of the Holy Spirit, he was born
He of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For
your sake, he was crucified under Pontius
He, Pilate, he suffered, died and was buried.
On the third day, he rose again in fulfilment
of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to
judge the living and the dead, and his
kingdom will have no end. We believe in
the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the
Son. With the Father and the Son, he is
worshipped and glorified. He has spoken
through the Prophets. We believe in one
holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We
acknowledge one baptism for the
forgiveness of sins. We look for the
resurrection of the dead and the life of the
world to come. Amen.
THE PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL
THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
The Offertory
A hymn may be sung while the bread
and wine are brought to the altar.
If no song is sung, then the people
may make the responses to the prayer of
offering given here.
Cel: Blessed are you, Lord, God of all
creation. Through your goodness, we have
this bread to offer, which the earth has given
and human hands have made. It will
become for us the bread of life.
All: Blessed be God forever.
Cel: (quietly) By the mystery of this water
and wine, may we come to share in the
divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to
share in our humanity.
Cel: Blessed are you, Lord, God of all
creation. Through your goodness, we have
this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and
work of human hands. It will become our
spiritual drink.
All: Blessed be God forever.
Cel: (quietly) Lord God, we ask you to
receive us and be pleased with the sacrifice
we offer you with humble and contrite
hearts.
The celebrant washes his hands, saying:
Cel: Lord, wash away my iniquity; cleanse
me from my sin.
Invitation to prayer
Cel: Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice
may be acceptable to God, the almighty
Father.
emo
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.
Prayer over the Gifts
All: Amen.
THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
Cel: The Lord be with you.
nb leuthiqa
All: And also with you.
Cel: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Cel: Let us give thanks to the Lord our
God.
All: It is right to give him thanks and
praise.
PREFACE
At the end of the Preface, all sing or
say:
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.
Eucharistic Prayer I
The passages within the brackets may
be omitted if the celebrant wishes.
We come to you, Father, with praise
and thanksgiving, through Jesus Christ
your Son. Through him, we ask you to
accept and bless these gifts we offer you
in sacrifice.
For the Church
We offer them for your holy Catholic
Church, watch over it, Lord, and guide it;
grant it peace and unity throughout the
world. We offer them for N. our Pope, for N.
our bishop, and for all who hold and
teach the Catholic faith that comes to us
from the apostles.
For the living
Remember, Lord, your people,
especially those for whom we now pray,
N. and N. Remember, all of us gathered
here before you. You know how firmly we
believe in you and dedicate ourselves to
you. We offer you this sacrifice of praise
for ourselves and those who are dear to us.
We pray to you, our living and true
God, for our well-being and redemption.
In Communion with the Saints
In union with the whole Church, we
honour Mary, the ever-virgin Mother of
Jesus Christ, our Lord and God. We honour
Joseph, her husband, the apostles, and
martyrs Peter and Paul, Andrew, (James,
John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Simon and Jude; we honour
Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius,
Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John
and Paul, Cosmas and Damian) and all
the saints. May their merits and prayers
gain us your constant help and protection.
(Through Christ our Lord. Amen.)
For the local community
Father, accept this offering from
your whole family. Grant us your peace in
this life, save us from final damnation,
and count us among those you have
chosen. (Through Christ our Lord. Amen.)
Invocation before the Consecration
Bless and approve our offering; make
it acceptable to you, an offering in spirit
and in truth. Let it become for us the
body and blood of Jesus Christ, your only
Son, our Lord. (Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.)
The Lord’s Supper
The day before he suffered, he took
bread in his sacred hands and, looking up
to heaven, to you, his almighty Father, he
gave you thanks and praise. He broke the
bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
Take this, all of you, and eat it: this
is my body which will be given up for you.
When supper was ended, he took the
cup. Again, he gave you thanks and praise.
gave the cup to his disciples, and said:
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.
Memorial acclamation
Cel: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
All:
1 Christ has died, boold
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
_____________________________
2 Dying you destroyed our death,
rising you restored our life.
Lord Jesus, come in glory.
3 When we eat this bread and drink
this cup, we proclaim your death,
Lord Jesus, until you come in
glory.
4 Lord, by your cross and
resurrection you have set us
free. You are the Saviour of the
world.
The Memorial Prayer
Father, we celebrate the memory of
Christ, your Son. We, your people and
your ministers, recall his passion, his
resurrection from the dead, and his
ascension into glory, and from the many
gifts you have given us, we offer to you,
God of glory and majesty, this holy and
perfect sacrifice: the bread of life and the
cup of eternal salvation.
For God’s acceptance of the Sacrifice
Look with favour on these offerings
and accept them as you once accepted
the gifts of your servant Abel, the sacrifice
of Abraham, our father in faith, and the
bread and wine offered by your priest
Melchisedech.
For God’s grace and blessing
Almighty God, we pray that your angel
may you take this sacrifice to your altar in
heaven. Then, as we receive from this
altar the sacred body and blood of your
Son, let us be filled with every grace and
blessing. (Through Christ our Lord. Amen.)
For the Dead
Remember, Lord, those who have died
and have gone before us, marked with the
sign of faith, especially those for whom
we now pray, N. and N. May these, and
all who sleep in Christ, find in your
presence, light, happiness, and peace.
(Through Christ our Lord. Amen.)
For the assembly
For ourselves, too, we ask some share
in the fellowship of your apostles and
martyrs, with John the Baptist, Stephen,
Matthias, Barnabas, (Ignatius, Alexander.
Marcellinus, Peter, Felicity, Perpetua,
Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia)
and all the saints. Though we are sinners,
we trust in your mercy and love. Do not
consider what we truly deserve, but grant
us your forgiveness.
Through Christ our Lord, you give us
all these gifts. You fill them with life and
goodness, you bless them and make them
holy.
Final doxology: in praise of God
Through him, with him, in him, in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour
is yours, almighty Father, forever and ever.
All: Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer II
Preface
Father, it is our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks
through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
He is the Word through whom you made
the universe, the Saviour you sent to
redeem us. By the power of the Holy Spirit
he took flesh and was born of the Virgin
Mary. For our sake, he opened his arms
on the cross; he put an end to death and
revealed the resurrection. In this, he fulfilled
your will and won for you a holy people,
And so we join the angels and the saints
in proclaiming your glory as we sing (say);
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.
Invocation of the Holy Spirit
Lord, you are holy indeed, the fountain
of all holiness. Let your Spirit come upon
these gifts to make them holy, so that
they may become for us the body and
blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
The Lord’s Supper
Before he was given up to death, a
death he freely accepted, he took bread
I gave you thanks. He broke the bread,
gave it to his disciples, and said:
Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is
my body which will be given up for you.
When supper was ended, he took the
cup. Again, he gave you thanks and praise,
gave the cup to his disciples, and said:
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.
Memorial acclamation
Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
All: 1 Christ has died, Christ is risen,
doud Christ will come again.
__________________________
2 Dying you destroyed our death,
rising you restored our life. Lord
Jesus, come in glory.
3 When we eat this bread and drink
this cup, we proclaim your death,
Lord Jesus, until you come in glory.
4 Lord, by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free.
You are the Saviour of the world.
The Memorial Prayer
In memory of his death and resurrection, we offer you, Father, this life.
giving bread, this saving cup. We thank
you for counting us worthy to stand in
your presence and serve you. May all of
us who share in the body and blood of
Christ be brought together in unity by the
Holy Spirit.
For the Church
Lord, remember your Church
throughout the world, make us grow in
love, together with N. our Pope, N. our
bishop, and all the clergy.
For the Dead
Remember our brothers and sisters
who have gone to their rest in the hope of
rising again; bring them and all the
departed into the light of your presence.
In Masses for the Dead, the following
may be added:
Remember N., whom you have called
from this life. In baptism, he[she] died with
Christ: may he[she] also share his
resurrection.
In Communion with the Saints
Have mercy on us all; make us worthy
to share eternal life with Mary, the Virgin
Mother of God, with the apostles, and with
all the saints who have done your will
throughout the ages. May we praise you
in union with them, and give you glory
through your Son, Jesus Christ.
Final doxology: in praise of God
Through him, with him, in him, in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour
is yours, almighty Father, forever and
ever.
All: Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer III
Praise to the Father
Father, you are holy indeed, and all
creation rightly gives you praise. All life,
all holiness comes from you through your
Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, by the working
of the Holy Spirit. From age to age, you
gather a people to yourself, so that from
east to west, a perfect offering may be
made to the glory of your name.
And so, Father, we bring you these
gifts. We ask you to make them holy by
the power of your Spirit, that they may
become the body and blood of your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ, at whose command
we celebrate this Eucharist.
The Lord’s Supper
On the night he was betrayed, he took
bread and gave you thanks and praise. He
broke the bread, gave it to his disciples,
and said:
Take this, all of you, and eat it: this
is my body which will be given up for you.
When supper was ended, he took the
cup. Again, he gave you thanks and praise,
gave the cup to his disciples, and said:
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.
Memorial acclamation
Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
All: 1 Christ has died, Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
___________________________
2 Dying, you destroyed our death,
rising, you restored our life. Lord
Jesus, come in glory.
3 When we eat this bread and drink
this cup, we proclaim your death,
Lord Jesus, until you come in glory.
4 Lord, by your cross and
resurrection, you have set us free.
You are the Saviour of the world.
The Memorial Prayer
Father, calling to mind the death your
Son endured for our salvation, his glorious
resurrection and ascension into heaven,
and ready to greet him when he comes
again, we offer you in thanksgiving this
holy and living sacrifice. Look with favour
on your Church’s offering, and see the
Victim whose death has reconciled us to
yourself.
Invocation of the Holy Spirit
Grant that we, who are nourished by
his body and blood, may be filled with his
Holy Spirit, and become one body, one
spirit in Christ.
In Communion with the Saints
May he make us an everlasting gift to
you and enable us to share in the
inheritance of your saints, with Mary, the
virgin Mother of God; with the apostles,
the martyrs, (Saint N., the saint of the
day or patron saint) And all your saints,
on whose constant intercession we rely
for help.
For the Church
Lord, may this sacrifice, which has
made our peace with you, and advance the
peace and salvation of all the world.
Strengthen in faith and love, your pilgrim
Church on earth; your servant, Pope N.,
our bishop N., and all the bishops, with
the clergy and the entire people,e your Son
has gained for you. Father, hear the
prayers of the family you have gathered
here before you. In mercy and love unite
all your children wherever they may be.
For the Dead
Welcome into your kingdom, our
departed brothers and sisters, and all who
have left this world in your friendship. We
hope to enjoy forever the vision of your
glory, through Christ our Lord, from whom
all good things come.
In Masses for the dead, the following
may be said:
Remember N. In baptism, he (she)
died with Christ: may he (she) also share
his resurrection, when Christ will raise our
mortal bodies and make them like his
own in glory. Welcome into your kingdom
our departed brothers and sisters, and all
who have left this world in your friendship.
There we hope to share in your glory when
every tear will be wiped away. On that
day we shall see you, our God, as you are.
We shall become like you and praise you
for ever through Christ our Lord, from
whom all good things come.
Final doxology: in praise of God
Through him, with him, in him, in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour
is yours, almighty Father, forever and ever.
All: Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer IV
Preface
Father in heaven, it is right that we
should give you thanks and glory: you
alone are God, living and true. Through all
eternity, you live in unapproachable light.
Source of life and goodness, you have
created all things to fill your creatures
with every blessing and lead all to the
joyful vision of your light. Countless hosts
of angels stand before you to do your will;
they look upon your splendour and praise
you, night and day. United with them,
and in the name of every creature under
heaven, we too praise your glory as we
sing (say):
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.
Praise to the Father
Father, we acknowledge your
greatness: all your actions show your
wisdom and love. You formed man in
your own likeness and set him over the
whole world to serve you, his creator, and
to rule over all creatures. Even when he
yo disobeyed you and lost your friendship
you did not abandon him to the power of
death, but helped all men to seek and find
you, again and again, you offered a
Covenant to man, and through the prophets
taught him to hope for salvation. Father,
you so loved the world that in the fullness
of the time you sent your only Son to be our
Saviour, He was conceived through the
power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the
Virgin Mary, a man like us in all things but
sin. To the poor, he proclaimed the good
news of salvation, to prisoners, freedom,
and to those in sorrow, joy. In fulfilment of
your will, he gave himself up to death; but
by rising from the dead, he destroyed death
and restored life. And that we might live
no longer for ourselves but for him, he
sent the Holy Spirit from you, Father, as
his first gift to those who believe, to
complete his work on earth and bring us
the fullness of grace.
Invocation of the Holy Spirit
Father, may this Holy Spirit sanctify
These offerings. Let them become the body
and the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord as we
celebrate the great mystery which he left
us as an everlasting covenant.
The Lord’s Supper
He always loved those who were his
own in the world. When the time came for
him to be glorified by you, his heavenly
Father, he showed the depth of his love.
While they were at supper, he took bread,
said the blessing, broke the bread, and
gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take this, all of you, and eat it: this
is my body which will be given up for you.
In the same way, he took the cup,
filled with wine. He gave you thanks, and
giving the cup to his disciples, said:
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.
Memorial acclamation
Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
All: 1 Christ has died, Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
2 Dying you destroyed our death,
rising you restored our life. Lord
Jesus, come in glory.
3 When we eat this bread and drink
this cup, we proclaim your death,
Lord Jesus, until you come in glory.
4 Lord, by your cross and
resurrection, you have set us free.
You are the Saviour of the world.
The Memorial Prayer
Father, we now memorial of our redemption. We recall
Christ’s death, his descent among the
dead, his resurrection, and his ascension
to your right hand; and, looking forward to
his coming in glory, we offer you his body
and blood, the acceptable sacrifice which
brings salvation to the whole world.
For the Church
Lord, look upon this sacrifice which
you have given to your Church, and by
your Holy Spirit, gather all who share this
bread and wine into the one body of Christ,
a living sacrifice of praise.
Lord, remember those for whom we
offer this sacrifice, especially N. our Pope,
N. our bishop, and bishops and clergy
everywhere. Remember those who take
part in this offering, those here present
and all your people, and all who seek you
with a sincere heart.
For the Dead
Remember those who have died in
the peace of Christ and all the dead whose
faith is known to you alone.
In Communion with the Saints
Father, in your mercy, grant also to us,
your children, to enter into our heavenly
inheritance in the company of the Virgin
Mary, the Mother of God, and your apostles
and saints. Then, in your kingdom, freed
from the corruption of sin and death, we
shall sing your glory with every creature
through Christ our Lord, through whom
you give us everything that is good.
Final doxology: in praise of God
Through him, with him, in him, in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour
is yours, almighty Father, forever and
ever.
All: Amen.
