Introduction
When
people say that the Mass is unscriptural and that Catholics are committing an
abomination, I simply laugh. I laugh because it is not only wrong but even that
statement does not anticipate the kind of response that any knowledgeable
Catholic would give.
To
put it nicely, the Mass is the only place where we read more passages at a
time! Call you best prayer warrior, ask Him (or her) to pray for 24 hours and
quote as many scripture passages as they can possibly remember and they still
wouldn’t have quoted more passages than a simple Catholic who “casually” goes
for Mass on a weekday. The following is a simple structure of the Mass and the
scriptural references to what the priest and the congregation says.
Mass
INTRODUCTORY
RITES
The
Entrance procession occasioned by the Ringing of the Bell (Exod 28:33-35)
Sign
of the Cross:
“In
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matt
28:19; cf. John 14:13-14; Acts 2:21)
Liturgical
Greeting:
“The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the
Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Cor 13:14)
“Grace
to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:2; Eph
1:2)
“The
Lord be with you.” (2 Tim 4:22; cf. Matt 1:23; 28:20)
People’s
Response:
“And
with your spirit” (cf. Gal 6:18; 2 Tim 4:22)
Rite
of Blessing and Sprinkling Holy Water (see Ezek 36:25; cf. Num 8:7a)
Penitential
Act:
Intro:
“Let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred
mysteries.” (cf. Ps 51:5)
“I
confess to almighty God…” (cf. Lev 5:5; Neh 1:5-9; Dan 9:3-19; James 5:16)
“Have
mercy on us, O Lord. / For we have sinned against you. / Show us, O Lord, your
mercy. / And grant us your salvation.” (Ps 41:4)
“Lord,
Have Mercy” (Matt 15:22; 17:15; 20:30-31; cf. Ps 123:3)
Gloria:
“Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will” (Luke 2:14;
cf. Rev 4:11; 5:11-14)
“We
praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you…” (Cf. Ps 148:13)
“Lord
Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son” (cf. Ps 2:7; John 1:14)
“Lord
God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world…” (cf.
John 1:29)
Prayers
concluded by “Amen” (Neh 8:6; Ps 41:13;
Rom 16:27; Heb 13:20-21; Rev 7:16)
LITURGY
OF THE WORD
Introductory/Concluding
Dialogues
“A
reading from the book/letter of…”
“The
Word of the Lord” (1 Peter 1:25) – “Thanks be to God” (Rom 6:17; 2 Cor 9:15)
Acclamations
before the Gospel:
“Alleluia”
(many Psalms, esp. Ps 146-150; Rev
19:1-6)
“Praise
to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!” (cf. Ps 24:7-10; 1 Thess
2:12; 2 Tim 4:18)
“Praise
and honour to you, Lord Jesus Christ!” (cf. Dan 4:34, 37; 1 Peter 1:7)
“Glory
and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!” (cf. Phil 1:11)
“A
reading from the holy Gospel according to…” – “Glory to you, O Lord”
“The
Gospel of the Lord” (Rom 16:25; Mark 1:1) – “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ”
Profession
of Faith
“I
believe…” (Mark 9:24; John 11:27; cf. John 14:1; 1 John 5:10)
General
Intercessions:
“We
pray to the Lord” (Exod 8:29-30; 10:17-18; Jer 42:2-4; Acts 8:22-24)
“Lord,
hear our prayer” (2 Kings 20:2-5; Isa 38:2-5)
“Hail
Mary” (Lk 1:28,42)
LITURGY
OF THE EUCHARIST
Preparation
of the Gifts
“Blessed
are you, Lord God of all creation…” (cf. 1 Chron 29:10; Ps 72:18-19; 119:10;
Luke 1:68)
“Blessed
be God forever. ” (cf. Gen 14:20; Ps 66:20; 68:35)
Eucharistic
Acclamations
“Holy,
Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts…” (Isa 6:3;
Rev 4:8)
“Blessed
is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” (Ps 118:26; Mark 11:9; Matt 21:9;
Luke 19:38; John 12:13)
“Hosanna
in the highest” (Mark 11:10; Matt 21:9; cf. Luke 19:38)
Words
of Institution: (see Mark 14:22-24; Matt 26:26-28; cf. Luke 22:17-20; 1 Cor
11:23-25)
“Take
this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body, which will be given up
for you” (a combination of Mark 14:22; Matt 26:26; Luke 22:19; 1 Cor 11:24)
“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.” (a combination of Mark 14:24; Matt
26:27b-28; cf. Luke 22:17, 20; 1 Cor 11:25)
“Do
this in remembrance of me” (only Luke 22:19; 1 Cor 11:24a, 25b)
Memorial
Acclamations
1st
Acclamation: “We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection
until you come again.” (cf. 1 Cor 16:22)
2nd
Acclamation: “When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your
Death, O Lord, until you come again.” (cf. 1 Cor 11:26)
3rd
Acclamation: “Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection
you have set us free.” (cf. Matt 8:25; Luke 4:42; Rom 8:21).
Lord’s
Prayer
“Our
Father in heaven…” (Matt 6:9-13; cf. Luke 11:2-4; Mark 14:36; Gal 4:6)
Embolism:
“Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil… as we await the blessed hope and
the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13)
Doxology:
“For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours…”
(found
only in some biblical manuscripts after Matt 6:13; cf. Rev 4:11; 11:15; 1 Chron
29:11)
Greeting
of Peace
“Lord
Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles, ‘I leave you peace, my peace I give
you'” (John 14:27)
“The
peace of the Lord be with you always.” (cf. John 16:33; 20:19, 21, 26)
Breaking
of the Bread:
“Lamb
of God, you take away the sins of the world…” (cf. John 1:29, 36; Rev 5:6-13;
22:1-3)
Preparation
before Communion
“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.” (John 1:29, 36; Rev 19:9)
“Lord,
I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and
my soul shall be healed.” (Matt 8:8; cf. Luke 7:1-10)
Concluding
Rite
Final
Blessing (cf. Gen 28:3; Deut 14:29; v 6:23-27; Ps 29:11)
Dismissal:
“Go
forth, the Mass is ended.”
“Go
and announce the Gospel of the Lord.” (cf. Mark 16:15)
“Go
in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.” (cf. Ps 115:1; 1 Cor 10:31; 2
Thess 1:12)
“Go
in peace.” (cf. Exod 4:18; Deut 10:11-13; Judg 18:6; 1 Sam 1:17; Mark 5:34;
Luke 7:50; 8:48)
Conclusion
Many people either take the Mass for granted or
condemn it outright from ignorance. If we take greater interest in knowing the
truth, promoting it and cherishing it, we will treasure the Mass as God’s
greatest gift to humanity. In the Mass God gives us Himself . Cherishing it, we
will treasure the Mass as God’s greatest gift to humanity. In the Mass God
gives us Himself.
