Mass101

[paligan]

I have attended Mass for 6 weeks now and I feel a bit out of place. Is it alright for me to kneel before entering the pew. to use the prayer bench, and show the sign of the cross? Should I wait untill after RCIA

[maltmom]

Welcome!

You are allowed to participate as much as you feel comfortable. The only thing you are not allowed is take communion until you finish RCIA and join the Church. If you haven't done so already make an appointment to meet with the Priest or Deacon.

[thomc1980]

Maltmom hit the nail right on the head. Feel free to take part in the Mass. You only need wait on Communion. I love my Church and enjoy participating as much as possible when im there. Cannot wait until I can get started on my RCIA.

[Neofight]

Originally Posted by paligan

I have attended Mass for 6 weeks now and I feel a bit out of place. Is it alright for me to kneel before entering the pew. to use the prayer bench, and show the sign of the cross? Should I wait untill after RCIA

Genuflection (bowing, almost to a kneel), and kneeling in prayer, are all signs of reverence and respect, and not copyrighted by the Catholic Church, so by all means feel free! The sign of the cross? Well the sign of the cross is a prayer, where we are calling on the help of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Pray it, and all prayers as often as you are moved!

Good luck on your journey!

Peace and all Good Things!

[paligan]

Originally Posted by Neofight

Genuflection (bowing, almost to a kneel), and kneeling in prayer, are all signs of reverence and respect, and not copyrighted by the Catholic Church, so by all means feel free! The sign of the cross? Well the sign of the cross is a prayer, where we are calling on the help of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Pray it, and all prayers as often as you are moved!

Good luck on your journey!

Peace and all Good Things!

[beth40n2]

Here is the order of the Mass. (The new version starting Advent 2011)

http://catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/Mass.htm

[beth40n2]

Scripture in the order of the mass

Nearly everything we say at mass has its roots in Sacred Scripture. This guide will help you if anyone you know is in doubt about that. Catholics quote scripture all the time, and their actions are deeply scriptural. After all, scripture flowed out of the early Church. The Church came first, the New Testament and the canon of scripture second.

Greeting

Priest: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 28:19)
People: Amen (1 Chr 16:36)
Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor 13:13)
People: And with your spirit. St. Paul said it in Gal. 6:18, Phil. 4:23 and 2 Tim. 4:22. The new response acknowledges that through ordination and the Holy Spirit the priest represents Christ in sacred duties. We address the priest’s spirit, the deepest part of his being, where he has been ordained to lead us in the liturgy.


Liturgy of the Word

Penitential Rite

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, (Rom. 12:16) in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, (Jas 3:6) through my fault, (Jas. 5:16) 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, (1 Thess 5:25) 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. (1 John 1:9)
People: Amen (1 Chr 16:36)
All: Lord have mercy. (Tb 8:4) Christ have mercy. (1 Tim 1:2) Lord have mercy.

[beth40n2]

Scripture in the Mass (con't)
Gloria

All: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. (Luke 2:14)
We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks (Eph. 5:20)
for your great glory, (Rev 7:12)
Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. (Rev 19:6)
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, (Jn. 1:12, 1 Jn. 3:1)
Lord God, Lamb of God,
Son of the Father, (2 John 3)
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us; (John 1:29)
you take away the sins of the world, (John 1:29)
receive our prayer,
you are seated at the right hand
of the Father, (Rom 8:34)
have mercy on us.
For you alone are the Holy One, (Luke 4:34)
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, (Luke 1:32)
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. (John 14:26)
[The Liturgy of the Word consists of four readings from Scripture: the first is typically from the Old Testament, the second a psalm, followed by a reading from one of the epistles. Finally, the Gospel is proclaimed during which the people stand out of respect for the Word. The chosen readings change daily.]

A Sermon on the readings follows.
(2 Tim 4:1-2)

Profession of Faith

All I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, (Gen 14:19)
of all things visible and invisible. (Col. 1:16)
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God, (Jn. 1:12, 1 Jn. 3:1)
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father; (Heb 1:3)
through him all things were made. (John 1:2-3)
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven, (John 3:13)
and by the Holy Spirit
was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, (Jn. 1:14),
and became man.
For our sake
he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, (John 19:16)
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures. (1 Cor 15:3-4)
He ascended into heaven (Luke 24:51) and is seated
at the right hand of the Father. (Luke 24:51)
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim 4:1)
and his kingdom will have no end. (Luke 1:33)
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord,
the giver of life, (Acts 2:17) who proceeds
from the Father and the Son, (John 14:16)
who with the Father and the Son
is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets. (1 Peter 1:10-11)
And one, holy, catholic
and apostolic Church. (Rom 12:5)
I confess one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38)
and I look forward to the resurrection
of the dead and the life of the world to come. (Rom 6:5) Amen.
Liturgy of the Eucharist
[The gifts are brought to the altar. These include the bread and wine and the offering collected from the people.] (Malachi 3:10)
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, (Eccl. 3:13) it will become for us the bread of life. (John 6:35)
All: Blessed be God for ever. (Ps 68:36)
Priest: 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. (Luke 22:17-18)
All: Blessed be God for ever. (Ps 68:36)
Priest: Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters), that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father. (Heb. 12:28)
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. (Ps 50:23)
Prayer over the Offerings:
[The priest sings or says this prayer, which is different for each Mass. At the end, the people sing or say in response:]
All: Amen.
Preface Dialogue:
Priest: The Lord be with you. All: And with your spirit. (2 Cor 13:13)
Priest: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up to the Lord. (Lam 3:41)
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God. (Col 3:17) All: It is right and just.

Sanctus:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory. (Is 6:3)
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. (Mark 11:9-10)
[kneel]
Mystery of Faith (Memorial Acclamation):
Priest: The mystery of faith:
All: A – We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
or B – When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again.
or C – Save us, Savior of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection, you have set us free.
Doxology and Great Amen:
Priest: Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, for ever and ever.
All: Amen! [may be sung more than once]
Eucharistic prayer

[There are four of these, based on ancient prayers of the Church. Eucharistic Prayer Two follows as an example:]

Priest: Lord, you are holy indeed, the fountain of all holiness. (2 Macc. 14:36) Let your spirit come upon these gifts (water and wine) to make them holy, so that they may become the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Before he was given up to death, (Phil 2:8) a death he freely accepted, (John 10:17-18) he took bread and 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 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 is memory of me. (Mark 14:22-25) Let us proclaim the mystery of faith.

All: Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life, Lord Jesus, come in glory. (Heb 2:14-15)

Priest: In memory of his death and resurrection, we offer you, Father, this life-giving bread, this saving cup. (John 6:51) 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. (1 Cor.10:17) Lord, remember your Church throughout the world; make us grow in love together with our Pope and our bishop, and all the clergy. 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. (2 Macc 12:45-46) 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 though your Son, Jesus Christ. (2 Thes 1:4-5) Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.
All: Amen. (Rom 11:36)

Communion Rite

The Lord's Prayer:

All: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matt 6:9-13) (Luke 11:1-4)
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 forever. Amen

Priest: Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles, Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, (John 14:27) 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.
All: Amen.
Priest: The Peace of the Lord be with you always. (John 20:19)
All: And with your spirit. (2 Cor 13:13)
Deacon or Priest: Let us offer each other a sign of peace.
Final Blessing:
Option A: Simple Form
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit. (2 Cor 13:13)
Priest: May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son,
+ and the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen. Option B: Solemn Blessing
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit. (2 Cor 13:13)
Deacon or Priest: Bow down for the blessing.
[One or more invocations may be spoken, and the people usually respond "Amen" to each one. The following conclusion is always used.]
Priest: And may the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit,
come down on you and remain with you forever.
All: Amen. Option C: Prayer over the People
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit. (2 Cor 13:13)
Deacon or Priest: Bow down for the blessing.
[The priest may choose from several options, depending on the occasion or the special need. The following conclusion is always used.]
Priest: And may the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit,
come down on you and remain with you forever.
All: Amen.
Dismissal:
Deacon (or Priest): Go forth, the Mass is ended.
or Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.
or Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
or Go in peace.
All: Thanks be to God!

[houseofsaul]

Some of the wording has changed. It will be a challenge to break habit of saying also with you and instead say also with your spirit.

Will keep me me on my toes and keep me from just saying the responses second nature.