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What is Mass?

Mass is a a special Catholic celebration.

Another word for Mass is Eucharist, which means to give thanks.

At Mass, Catholics give thanks to God for all he has given them.

A Catholic Mass lasts about 40 minutes.

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Where Does Mass Take Place?

Mass is usually celebrated in the church. Most towns, villages and cities in Ireland have several Catholic churches.

However, priests can celebrate a Mass anywhere at all. They often celebrate Masses in hospitals and nursing homes for people who cannot attend a church due to illness or disability.

Masses can even be celebrated in buildings such as schools. This often happens for a special occasion, such as a graduation or when a new school building opens.

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What Happens �At Mass?

People gather in the church and sit in the seats, called pews.

Once the priest is ready, a bell is rung. This means that Mass is starting. The congregation (the people at the Mass) stand up. The priest, with the people who will help him say the Mass walk towards the altar.

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priest

congregation

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The Beginning of Mass

When the priest arrives at the altar, he bows and kisses the altar.

Once the Entrance Song is over, the priest invites the congregation to make the sign of the cross:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The people reply: Amen

altar

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The priest then says:

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

The people respond: Amen

The priest then tells the people about the Mass.

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The Penitential Act

The next part of the Mass is Penitential Act, when the people tell God they are sorry for the things they have done wrong.

The people reply: Amen

The priest says:

Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. A brief pause for silence follows. Then all recite together the formula of general confession: 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, And, striking their breast, they say: through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; Then they continue: 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. The absolution by the Priest follows: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

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What Happens Next?

The priest prays another prayer called the The Kyrie eleison. This is where he asks God to forgive us for things we have done wrong.

The priest says the first phrase, and the people respond

Priest: Lord, have mercy. People respond: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Christ, have mercy. People respond: Christ, have mercy.

Priest: Lord, have mercy. People respond: Lord, have mercy.

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The Liturgy of the Word

During the next part of Mass, there are two readings, The First Reading and The Second Reading. �A reader stands at the pulpit and reads. The readings are taken from the Bible.

When the reader is finished reading, he/she says:

The Word of the Lord.

The congregation says: Thanks be to God.

pulpit

The Psalm then takes place. These are like short poems, that the reader reads, and after every verse, the people �in the church answer with �a response.

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The Gospel

The song Alleluia is sung.

The priest says the following:

Cleanse my heart and my lips, almighty God, that I may worthily proclaim your holy Gospel.

Then he says: The Lord be with you.

The people reply: And with your spirit.

The priest and the people make a cross on their foreheads, their lips and their hearts.

The people acclaim: Glory to you, O Lord.

The priest then reads the Gospel, which is a reading from the Bible. The people stand while the priest reads.

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What Happens Next?

The priest then says a homily, which is a speech. The people listen to the priest. The priest normally explains what the Gospel was about and how we can use the moral of the story in our lives.

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The Creed

After the homily, the priest and the people say the Creed.

This is a prayer where people declare what they believe in.

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, 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; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, At the words that follow up to and including and became man, all bow. and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen

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The Liturgy of the Eucharist

The congregation bring up bread and wine to the altar. Sometimes other gifts are brought up to the altar too.

It is at this time that people might put some money into a basket. This money is collected for the priest or for charities.

The priests prays and thanks God for the bread and wine.

The priest then says the Eucharist Prayer, which is a very special prayer.

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The Eucharistic Prayer

The priest asks God to accept the bread and wine we are offering him.

He also asks Mary and the saints to help us.

As part of the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest repeats what Jesus said at the Last Supper. �He asks God to bless the bread wine and make them the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

Sometimes, the priest might sing parts of the Eucharistic Prayer.

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The priest and the congregation pray the Our Father.

Then the priest prays to God to bring us peace.

Afterwards, the congregation shake hands with one another, as a sign of peace.

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Holy Communion

The people at Mass, who want to receive Holy Communion, walk to the top of the church. They line up, or sometimes people kneel at the altar.

The priest gives out Holy Communion by putting it into people's’ hands. Sometimes a person called a Eucharistic Minister helps the priest to distribute the Communion.

The people go back to their seats and say some prayers.

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