The parts of the Mass

The Mass has two great parts: the Liturgy of the Word, where God speaks to us in the readings, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, where the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus, and we receive him in Communion. Before them come the Introductory Rites, which gather us, and at the end the Concluding Rite, which sends us out. In its essentials, this is how Christians have celebrated since the first centuries.

Introductory Rites

1. Entrance and greeting

   While we sing, the priest comes to the altar and kisses it. Everyone makes the Sign of the Cross, and he greets the people: the Lord is with his people gathered together.

2. Penitential Act

   In a moment of silence we admit that we are sinners and ask God for his mercy. It usually ends with the Lord, have mercy (the Kyrie).

3. Gloria

   A very old hymn of praise to God that begins with the song of the angels at Bethlehem. It is sung or said on Sundays outside Advent and Lent, and on feasts.

4. Collect

   The priest invites us to pray, we keep a moment of silence, and he gathers into one prayer what the Church asks for that day. We all answer Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

1. First Reading

   Usually from the Old Testament (in the Easter season, from the Acts of the Apostles). We listen seated: it is God who speaks to us.

2. Responsorial Psalm

   A psalm from the Bible, sung or read, with a short response that everyone repeats between the verses.

3. Second Reading

   On Sundays and solemnities, from a letter of the apostles, such as Saint Paul’s.

4. Gospel Acclamation and Gospel

   We stand and sing the Alleluia (in Lent, another acclamation) to welcome Jesus, who speaks to us in the Gospel. A priest or deacon reads it.

5. Homily

   The priest or deacon explains the readings and how to live them this week.

6. Profession of Faith (the Creed)

   On Sundays and solemnities, we all say together what the Church believes, in the Nicene Creed or the Apostles’ Creed.

7. Universal Prayer (Prayer of the Faithful)

   We pray for the Church, for the world, for those who suffer and for our community.

Liturgy of the Eucharist

1. Preparation of the Gifts (the Offertory)

   The bread and wine are brought to the altar, along with the collection for the Church and the poor. With them, we offer God our lives.

2. Eucharistic Prayer

   The heart of the Mass. It begins with the Preface and the Holy, Holy, Holy. The priest asks the Father to send the Holy Spirit, and with the words of Jesus at the Last Supper the bread and wine become his Body and Blood. It ends with everyone’s great Amen.

3. The Lord’s Prayer

   Together we pray the prayer Jesus taught us, to get ready for Communion.

4. Sign of Peace

   We ask for peace for the Church and the world, and wish it to the people near us with a simple greeting.

5. Lamb of God (the Breaking of the Bread)

   The priest breaks the consecrated Host, as Jesus broke the bread at the Last Supper, while the Lamb of God is sung.

6. Communion

   Those who are prepared receive Jesus in the Eucharist. Children who haven’t made their First Communion yet can come along with their parents and pray in their hearts. Afterwards there is a moment of silence and the Prayer after Communion.

Concluding Rite

1. Blessing and dismissal

   After any announcements, the priest blesses us and sends us out to live at home what we have celebrated. The word Mass comes from that dismissal in Latin.

This is the Sunday Mass. On weekdays there is one reading before the Gospel, the Gloria is said only on feasts, and the Creed only on solemnities. The Word and the Eucharist belong together: they are one celebration, not two.

To read more, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1332, 1345, 1346, 1348, 1355.

The feast that goes with this topic

The Thursday after Trinity Sunday (in many countries, the following Sunday)Corpus Christi

In the app, the lesson “Work and rest: God’s seventh day” in Unit 3 goes with this topic.