The Order of Mass

The Introductory Rites

The Introductory Rites help the faithful, come together as one, establish communion and prepare
themselves properly to listen to the Word of God and to celebrate the Eucharist worthily.

All stand. The Priest approaches the altar with the Have mercy on us, O Lord.
ministers and venerates it.
For we have sinned against you.
Sign of the Cross Show us, O Lord, your mercy.
All make the Sign of the Cross as the Priest says.
And grant us your salvation.
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. You were sent to heal the contrite
Amen. of heart:
Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
Greeting Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God, You came to call sinners:
and the communion of the Holy Spirit Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.
be with you all. Or: Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.
Grace to you and peace You are seated at the right hand
from God our Father of the Father to intercede for us:
and the Lord Jesus Christ. Or: Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit. The absolution by the Priest follows:
May almighty God have mercy on us,
Penitential Act forgive us our sins,
The Priest invites the faithful to the Penitential Act.
Then one of the Penitential Acts follows:
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
I confess to almighty God The Kyrie, eleison (Lord, have mercy) may follow.
and to you, my brothers and sisters, Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
that I have greatly sinned, Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.
and in what I have failed to do, Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.
And, striking their breast, they say: Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
through my fault, through my fault, Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary The Collect
ever-Virgin, Let us pray.
And all pray in silence with the Priest for a while.
all the Angels and Saints, Then the Priest says the Collect prayer, at the end of
and you, my brothers and sisters, which the people acclaim:
to pray for me to the Lord our God. Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
By hearing the word proclaimed in worship, the faithful again enter into the unending dialogue between
God and the covenant people, a dialogue sealed in the sharing of the Eucharistic food and drink.

First Reading  all sit The Homily all sit

To indicate the end of the reading, the reader acclaims: At the end of the Homily it is appropriate for there to be
The word of the Lord. a brief silence for recollection.

Thanks be to God. The Prayer of the Faithful

After each intention there is a pause while the faithful
Psalm pray.
After the First Reading the psalmist or cantor sings or Lord, in your mercy.
says the Psalm, with the people making the response.
Hear our prayer.
Gospel The Priest concludes the Prayer with a collect.
The assembly stands to sing the Gospel Acclamation to When the Liturgy of the Word has been completed, the
welcome the Gospel. They remain standing in honour of people sit.
the Gospel reading, the high point of the Liturgy of the
Word
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
A reading from the holy Gospel
according to N.
Glory to you, O Lord.
At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest,
acclaims:
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist

For Catholics, the Eucharist is the source and summit of the whole Christian life. It is the vital centre of all
that the Church is and does, because at its heart is the real presence of the crucified, risen and glorified
Lord, continuing and making available his saving work among us.
During the Offertory Song the gifts of bread and wine May the Lord accept the sacrifice
are brought in procession. The Priest offers the prayers
of blessing quietly at the altar. If the priest says the at your hands
prayers aloud the assembly’s acclamation each time is for the praise and glory of his name,
Blessed be God for ever. for our good
The Priest completes additional personal preparatory and the good of all his holy Church.
rites, and the people rise as he says: Then the Priest says the Prayer over the Offerings, at the
Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters), end of which the people acclaim:
that my sacrifice and yours Amen.
may be acceptable to God,
the almighty Father.
The Eucharistic Prayer The Communion Rite
The Lord be with you. The Lord’s Prayer all stand
And with your spirit. At the Saviour’s command
Lift up your hearts. and formed by divine teaching,
We lift them up to the Lord. we dare to say:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. hallowed be thy name;
It is right and just. thy kingdom come,
The Priest concludes the Preface with the people,
singing
thy will be done
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. on earth as it is in heaven.
Heaven and earth are full Give us this day our daily bread,
of your glory. and forgive us our trespasses,
Hosanna in the highest. as we forgive those
Blessed is he who comes in the name who trespass against us;
of the Lord. and lead us not into temptation,
Hosanna in the highest. but deliver us from evil.
The Priest continues with the Eucharistic Prayer. Deliver us, Lord, we pray,
After the words of Consecration the priest says: from every evil…
The mystery of faith. and the coming of our Saviour,
We proclaim your Death, O Lord, Jesus Christ.
and profess your Resurrection For the kingdom,
until you come again. Or: the power and the glory are yours
When we eat this Bread now and for ever.
and drink this Cup, Lord Jesus Christ,
we proclaim your Death, O Lord, who said to your Apostles…
until you come again. Or: Who live and reign for ever and ever.
Save us, Saviour of the world, Amen.
for by your Cross and Resurrection The peace of the Lord
you have set us free. be with you always.
At the conclusion of the prayer the Priest takes the And with your spirit.
chalice and the paten with the host and, raising both,
he says: Let us offer each other
Through him, and with him, and in the sign of peace.
All offer one another the customary sign of peace.
him,
O God, almighty Father, Breaking of the Bread
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, Lamb of God, you take away the sins
all glory and honour is yours, of the world, have mercy on us.
for ever and ever. Lamb of God, you take away the sins
Amen. of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins
of the world, grant us peace.
Invitation to Communion all kneel Communion
After his private prayers of preparation the Priest The communicants come forward in reverent
genuflects, takes the host and, holding it slightly raised procession, and make a preparatory act of reverence by
above the paten or above the chalice says aloud: bowing their head in honour of Christ’s presence in the
Behold the Lamb of God, Sacrament.

behold him who takes away The Body (Blood) of Christ.

the sins of the world. Amen.
Blessed are those called After the distribution of Communion, if appropriate, a
sacred silence may be observed for a while, or a psalm
to the supper of the Lamb. or other canticle of praise or a hymn may be sung.
Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under my roof, Prayer after Communion all stand
but only say the word Let us pray.
and my soul shall be healed. All pray in silence. Then the Priest says the Prayer after
Communion, at the end of which the people acclaim:
Amen.

The Concluding Rites

The Concluding Rites send the people forth to put into effect in their lives what they have received.

Blessing Dismissal
The Lord be with you. Then the Deacon, or the Priest says:

And with your spirit. Go forth, the Mass is ended. Or:

Go and announce
May almighty God bless you,
the Gospel of the Lord. Or:
the Father, and the Son,
and the Holy Spirit. Go in peace, glorifying the Lord
Amen. by your life. Or:
Go in peace.
Thanks be to God.

Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Liturgy
Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved. Office
Compilation & layout © 2011 Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
www.missal.org.uk MCWL
ENGLAND
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