to whom GOD’s love entrusts me here, ever this day be at my side GUARDIAN ANGEL PRAYER Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom GOD’s love entrusts me here, ever this day be at my side to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

The Catholic Mass

What is the Mass? The mass is the most special prayer offered in the Catholic faith. We are obeying the last command of Jesus Christ at the last supper when he said “Do this in memory of me”. Catholics all over the world celebrate the same mass in every country around the world. The gospel we hear and the communion we share is to change our hearts. We are then sent back out into the world to live out the good news of Jesus.

The Mass takes about 1 hour. At a Catholic mass, people who attend are expected to come prepared to be involved. People who want to get something out of mass must be prepared to put something into it. participate in the prayers, listen to God’s story and instruction, apply God’s word to our personal life, share in praise and song, and bring ourselves and our suffering & good works as offering.

How did the Mass start? The mass is nearly 2000 years old. The Mass meal is an escape to freedom. It gives power to overcome weakness and sin. Holy Water: to remember baptism Genuflect: kneeling towards the tabernacle (the house of Jesus)

Five Parts of Mass

Introduction Priest greets us—sign of the Cross Penitential Act—Asking for God’s mercy for our sins Gloria—Hymn of praise Priest gathers our prayers

The Introductory Rites Priest : In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Priest : The Lord be with you. All: And with your spirit.

A brief pause for silence follows. Priest: Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. A brief pause for silence follows.

Penitential Act All: I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do.

during the next two lines: We strike our breast during the next two lines: through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore 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.

Priest : May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. All: Amen. Priest : Lord, have mercy. All: Lord have mercy. Priest : Christ, have mercy. All: Christ have mercy.

GLORIA ALL: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, Almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; You take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; You are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. 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.

Liturgy of the Word 1st reading: Old Testament Responsorial Psalm: Book of Psalms (May be sung or read) 2nd reading: New Testament Gospel: Gospel of Matthew/Mark/Luke/John We stand for the words of Jesus & make a cross on our forehead, lips and heart –may God’s word be on our mind, lips when we speak and in our hearts Homily: The priest explains the Scriptures and applies it to our lives. Creed – Our profession of faith (Apostles or Nicene Creed). We are agreeing as a community to our beliefs & the word of God Intercessions (Prayers of the faithful): Includes the whole community Needs of the church Public and salvation of the world Those oppressed Local community

Liturgy of the Word Reader: A reading from… ALL: Thanks be to God.

The Response for the Psalm is: Please stand after the psalm is finished.

Priest Proclaims the Gospel Priest : The Lord be with you. All : And with your spirit. Priest: “A reading from the holy gospel, according to . . . .” All: Glory to you Lord. After the reading Priest: The Gospel of the Lord. All: Praise to you, lord jesus christ.

Please be seated during the homily. Please stand for the Prayer of the Faithful: Prayers for the Church, the world and our community. Priest: “Let us pray.” Please sit “after” the prayers have concluded. Music may be played while the altar is prepared.

Liturgy of the Eucharist Highest part of the mass Re-enactment of the last supper Preparation of the altar Presentation of the gifts (bread and wine) Priest washes his hands and this cleanses him of sins Water and wine are mixed: symbol of Jesus and His people uniting Eucharistic Prayer Sanctus (Holy, Holy)—moment of unity for the whole Church of God Last Supper Narrative: This is my body… This is where bread and wine change into the body and blood of Christ. This special moment is called the miracle of transubstantiation. Mystery of Faith: People proclaim their faith “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again”

Liturgy of the Eucharist Presentation of the Gifts Priest: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life. Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands it will become our spiritual drink.

Washing of Hands Priest: With humble spirit and contrite heart may we be accepted by you, O Lord, and may our sacrifice in your sight this day be pleasing to you, Lord God. Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Bread is broken & mixed in Wine Priest: Pray brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father. 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 holy Church.

Priest: The Lord be with you. All: And with your spirit. Priest: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up to the Lord. Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All: It is right and just.

Sanctus Priest: And so, with the Angels and all the Saints we declare your glory, as with one voice we acclaim: ALL: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Eucharistic Prayer PRIEST: At the time he was betrayed and entered willingly into his Passion, he took bread and, giving thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body which will be given up for you. In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice and, once more giving thanks, he gave it to his disciples, saying: Take this, all of you, and drink from it: for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.

Mystery of Faith Priest: The mystery of faith. ALL: We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.

Doxology PRIEST : Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours, for ever and ever. ALL : Amen.

Invitation to Communion Lord’s Prayer (Our Father) Sign of peace Lamb of God (Breaking the Bread) Ecce Agnus Dei– this is a prayer of humility and hope. Physically receive the body of Christ

The Communion Rite Priest: At the Saviour’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say: ALL: Our Father, who art in heaven . . . Priest : Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. ALL: For the Kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever.

Sign of Peace Priest: Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles, Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. Who live and reign for ever and ever. The peace of the Lord be with you always. All: And with your spirit. Priest: Let us offer each other the sign of peace.

Lamb of God ALL: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

Ecce Agnus Dei Priest: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the lamb. All: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

Dismissal Blessing—Amen Announcements Dismissal—Thanks be to God Go to love and serve the Lord—be better people

Concluding Rites Blessing Priest : The Lord be with you. ALL: And with your Spirit. Priest : May almighty . . . Priest : Go in peace. ALL: Thanks be to God.

Colours of the Liturgical Year White – Joy, purity, innocence, and victory (Feast day of Mary, Easter, and Christmas) Red – Blood, fire, Holy Spirit, and sacrifice of the martyrs (Pentecost and Feast of the Martyrs) Purple – Sorrow, fasting, and preparation (Advent and Lent) Green – Ordinary (ordered) time

Vocabulary Mass – dismissal (from Latin word “missa”) Eucharist – thanksgiving Apostle – sent (on a mission) Gospel – good news Incarnation – God being born as a person

Other Names for Mass The Breaking of Bread The Lord’s Supper The Holy Sacrifice

Catholic Rituals & Symbolic Candles—sign of truth and goodness Kneeling—sign of adoration to the Blessed Sacrament (Jesus truly present in the Eucharist) Sign of the cross—Started in the 4th century. Reminds us of Jesus’ crucifixion. Shows us loving God with our heart, soul, mind and strength. Amen—So be it. Alleluia—Praise the Lord Hosanna—Please save us Incense—used to purify and symbolizes prayer. A rising to God.

Alpha and Omega—Greek for “beginning” and “end” Alpha and Omega—Greek for “beginning” and “end”. God is the first and the last. Chi & Rho - The Greek letters chi and rho (resembling an "X" and a "P") used to indicate Christ since these letters are the first two letters of the word "Christ" in Greek. Iota is the first letter of Iesous (Ιησους), Greek for Jesus. Chi is the first letter of Christos (Χριστóς), Greek for "anointed". Theta is the first letter of Theou (Θεοῦ), genitive case of Θεóς "God". Upsilon is the first letter of Huios (Υἱός), Greek for Son. Sigma is the first letter of Soter (Σωτήρ), Greek for Savior.