The Catholic Mass consists of four main parts: the Gathering Rites, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and the Concluding Rite. The Liturgy of the Word focuses on scripture readings and a homily, while the Liturgy of the Eucharist centers around the consecration of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ and receiving communion. Through the Mass, Catholics commemorate Jesus' last supper and sacrifice on the cross, and are nourished spiritually to go forth and serve.

1. The Catholic Mass
Topic Starter-
•
MAHIMA

2. Learning objective:
•
To know about Mass, and how it is linked to God.

3. Learning Outcome:
•
To be able to know what is Mass.

4. Mass is Based On Jesus’ Last Supper

5. IMPORTANT
VOCABULARY!
An ordained minister in the Catholic Church
who has the authority to oversee the celebration of
certain sacraments (including the Eucharist)
•Priest:
•Rite:
A religious ritual
A group of people who are assembled
for religious worship
•Congregation:
•Liturgy:
The official ritual worship of the Church

6. Parts of the Mass
There are two main parts of the Mass:
The Liturgy of the Word
The part of the Mass when we read
Scripture
The Liturgy of the Eucharist
The part of the Mass when we receive the
body and blood of Christ.

7. Parts of the Mass
These two main parts are framed by two other rites:
The Gathering Rites
The Concluding Rite

8. Parts of the Mass
•
Which means that there are 4 parts altogether:
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G
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1
Liturgy of
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2
Liturgy of the
Eucharist
3
Co
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4
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9. The GATHERING Rites
Entrance Procession: The priest enters the Church from the
back, reverencing the altar (everyone bows; the priest kisses
the altar). The Congregation stands and remains standing
throughout the gathering rites.
Greeting (the priest says a few words)
Penitential Rite
Sometimes we say the Confiteor (“I confess to Almighty
God…”)
We always say the Kyrie (“Lord, have mercy”)

10. After the Gloria (which is a hymn of praise to God)
the Priest leads the congregation in an Opening
Prayer by saying, “Let us pray…”
This is followed by a brief period of silence,
followed by an Opening Prayer recited by the
Priest (this prayer is different at every Mass).
After the Opening Prayer, everybody sits.
The Opening Prayer leads us directly into the first
MAJOR part of the Mass…the Liturgy of the Word.

11. IMPORTANT
VOCABULARY!
Testament: Also called the Hebrew Scriptures.
The stories of the Jewish people (remember, Jesus was
Jewish, and so these stories are very important for
Christians as well).
•Old
Poetic prayers that are part of the Old
Testament.
•Psalms:
Testament: The Christian Scriptures, including
stories about Jesus’ life, the letters of St. Paul, etc.
•New
The stories about Jesus’ life, death and
resurrection that are part of the New Testament.
•Gospel:

12. Liturgy of the Word
During a typical Sunday Mass there are 3 readings.
The first reading comes from the Old Testament.
Reflects the continuity between Israel and Jesus,
who came to fulfill the promises made by God to
Israel.
Following the first reading, there is a Responsorial
Psalm, typically set to music.

13. Liturgy of the Word
The second reading is from the New Testament.
Usually from one of the epistles (letters) in the
New Testament.
Response to both the first and second readings:
“Thanks be to God”
After the second reading, we STAND and sing “Alleluia!”
It heralds (or welcomes) the Gospel reading, which
comes next.

14. Alleluia!
“Alleluia” means “Praise the Lord!”
During the Alleluia, the Priest raises the Gospel. This
introduces the most important part of the Liturgy of
the Word.
During Lent, we never say “Alleluia,” because it is an
exclamation of praise to the Risen Lord.

15. The Gospel Reading
PRIEST: “The Lord be with you”
RESPONSE: “And also with you.”
PRIEST: “A reading from the Holy Gospel according to…”
RESPONSE: (While making the sign of the cross on your
forehead, lips and heart) “Glory to you, Oh Lord”
READING by the PRIEST
PRIEST: “The Gospel of the Lord”
RESPONSE: “Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ”

16. Profession of Faith
Following the Homily, the congregation stands and
recites the Nicene Creed.
“We believe in one God…”
The Nicene Creed summarizes everything that the
Church has taught for the past 2,000 years.

17. General Intercessions
From the chair, the priest invites the people to pray.
LECTOR: “…let us pray to the Lord.”
RESPONSE: “Lord, hear our prayer.”
Repeated after each prayer petition.

18. IMPORTANT
VOCABULARY!
The place of sacrifice, as well as the table from
which Christians are fed. It is the central focus of the
Liturgy of the Eucharist.
•Altar:

19. Liturgy of the Eucharist
The second major part of the Mass.
The Liturgy of the Word focuses on Scripture, but the
Liturgy of the Eucharist focuses on the altar.

20. Preparation of the Altar
The gifts of bread and wine are placed at the back of the
church before the service.
Collection basket is passed around; sign of support for
the ministry of the church.
In procession, people bring the gifts (bread and wine)
forward to the priest. This is called the offertory
procession.
This act echoes offerings of early church, when people
would bring the bread and wine (and other stuff) they
made in preparation for the Lord’s Supper.

21. 1. TAKEN
2. BLESSED
3. BROKEN
4. GIVEN
Priest accepting the gifts of the
community that are brought forth

22. IMPORTANT
VOCABULARY!
A small plate,
usually made out of silver or
gold, used to hold Body of
Christ (the consecrated
bread).
•Paten:
A standing cup,
usually made out of silver or
gold, used to hold the Blood
of Christ (the consecrated
wine).
•Chalice:

23. Preparation of the Gifts
Priest pours the wine into the chalice, and adds a few drops of
water, symbolizing the union of the humanity and divinity of
Christ.
When he receives the gifts, the priest recites prayers based on
those used during the Jewish Passover meal.
The priest lifts the paten of bread above the altar.
PRIEST: “Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, through
your goodness…”
The priest does the same thing with the chalice of wine.

24. Eucharistic Prayer
After washing his hands the priest invites the community
to prepare for the Eucharist with him.
o
The Preface Dialogue (“…Lift up your hearts…”)
The Sanctus (Holy, holy, holy) The community prays the
prayer to Christ from the Book of Revelation
The priest then chooses one of several Eucharistic
Prayers to recount the story of the Last Supper

25. The Consecration
During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the priest is acting in
persona Christi (as the person of Christ).
At the moment of the consecration, the priest is Jesus.
The priest takes the paten and says, “This is my body…”
Then he elevates the host for the congregation to see, and
genuflects in front of the altar.
He takes the chalice and says, “This is the cup of My Blood”

26. Eucharist as the presence of God
When the bread and wine are consecrated by the
priest, they are transformed into Jesus’ body and
blood.
Therefore, this is THE MOST SACRED part of the
Mass.
This transformation is called Transubstantiation.
The Eucharist is the most personal encounter with
God.

27. 1. TAKEN
Priest accepting the gifts of the
community that are brought forth
2. BLESSED
The consecration of the bread
and wine during the Eucharistic
Prayer
3. BROKEN
4. GIVEN

28. After the Consecration
The community recites together the Memorial Acclamation
(“Christ has died…” is the most common)
Prayers for the entire Church, now joined together as one
through the Eucharist, are spoken.
The Eucharistic Prayer ends with a Doxology (“Through
him, with him, in him…)
Community responds with a Great Amen (“I believe!”)

29. Communion Rite
The Communion Rite opens in the model of Jesus
with the Lord’s Prayer.
While holding hands, we either sing or recite the
Lord’s Prayer (“Our Father…”).
The Lord’s Prayer is followed by the Sign of Peace.
Sign of peace was once used to resolve conflicts with a
neighbor before receiving the Eucharist

30. Breaking of the Bread
The priest breaks the bread and prepares the
Eucharist for the Communion procession.
Congregation recites the Agnus Dei or “Lamb of
God,” recalling the Passover sacrifice of a lamb to
save the life of God’s people
Priest holds up consecrated bread and wine to the
congregation, who publically declares its
unworthiness to receive it (“Lord, I am not
worthy…)

31. 1. TAKEN
Priest accepting the gifts of the
community that are brought forth
2. BLESSED
The consecration of the bread
and wine during the Eucharistic
Prayer
3. BROKEN
The breaking of the bread by the
priest, following the sign of peace
4. GIVEN

32. The Communion Procession
Priest or Extraordinary Minister: “The Body of
Christ”
RESPONSE: “Amen”
Saying “Amen” is another way of saying “Yes, I
believe that this is truly the Body of Christ.”
After receiving Holy Communion, we go back to the
pew, kneel (or sit) and pray silently for a few minutes,
or sing the Communion song

33. 1. TAKEN
Priest accepting the gifts of the
community that are brought forth
2. BLESSED
The consecration of the bread
and wine during the Eucharistic
Prayer
3. BROKEN
The breaking of the bread by the
priest, following the sign of peace
4. GIVEN
The Communion Procession

34. Who May Receive Communion?
Who should not receive Communion?
Non-Catholics
Catholics who have not fasted prior to
Communion
Catholics who haven’t made their First
Confession and First Communion.

35. Bread and Wine
Bread and Wine are the two species of Eucharist
Usually everyone takes the bread
The wine is optional
Wine was once reserved for those celebrating and helping
Wine is sometimes not offered for practical reasons
Some parishes allow you to dip host in wine

36. Concluding Rite and Dismissal
After a closing prayer, the priest blesses and
dismisses the people
The name “Mass” comes from the Latin Ite, missa est
(roughly translated as “Go, you are sent forth”), the
priest’s final words
“Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord
and one another”
The Community united by Eucharist is called to be a
community OUTSIDE of the Mass.