The Catholic Passion Study Guide — The Miracle and Meaning of the Mass

Everywhere from East to West
The Catholic Passion, 179–181

The Mass is celebrated today in essentially the same way as it was celebrated by Jesus on the first Easter night.

Malachi 1:11
Luke 22:19; 24:30–32
Acts 20:7–11
Catechism, nos. 1166–1167, 1328–1332, 1345–1347

Tradition
St. Justin Martyr
Didascalia

Order of the Mass: The Liturgy of the Word

The reader goes to the lectern for the First Reading. All sit and listen. To indicate the end, the reader adds:

Verbum Domini.

Deo gratias.

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

The cantor sings or recites the Responsorial Psalm, and the people respond. When there is a second reading, it is read at the lectern as before. To indicate the end, the reader adds:

Verbum Domini.

Deo gratias.

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

The people stand for the reading of the Gospel. The priest bows before the altar and says quietly:

Munda cor meum ac labia mea, omnipotens Deus, ut sanctum Evangelium tuum digne valeam nuntiare.

Almighty God, cleanse my heart and my lips that I may worthily proclaim your gospel.

The priest goes to the lectern. He sings or says:

Dominus vobiscum.

Et cum spiritu tuo.

Lectio sancti Evangelii secundum N.

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

A reading from the holy gospel according to N.

He makes the sign of the cross on the book, and then on his forehead, lips and breast. The people sign themselves in a similar fashion and respond:

Gloria tibi, Domine.

Glory to you, Lord.

The priest proclaims the Gospel. After this, the people respond.

Laus tibi, Christe.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Then the priest kisses the book, saying quietly:

Per evangelica dicta deleantur nostra delicta.

May the words of the gospel wipe away our sins.

The priest then preaches the homily.

Sunday Mass Readings

The Table is Prepared
The Catholic Passion, 181–182

The Mass brings us into communion with the living God.

Revelation 1:13; 2:17; 4:4, 8; 5:1, 6, 8; 7:3; 8:3; 12:1–6; 13:8; 14:1; 15:7; 16; 19:4
Catechism, nos. 1348–1355

Tradition
Sign of the Cross
St. Ambrose

Music of the Mass

Credo
Orlando de Lassus, Missa Bell’ Amfitrit’ altera
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Missa Aeterna Christi Munera
J. S. Bach, Mass In B Minor
William Byrd, Mass For Four Voices
Ariel Ramírez, Misa Criolla
Esteban Salas y Castro, Misa en Sol menor (Coro Exaudi de Cuba)

Order of the Mass: Profession of Faith

The priest and the people then recite the Nicene Creed.

Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem caeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium.

Et in unum Dominum Iesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum, et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula. Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero, genitum, non factum, consubstantialem Patri: per quem omnia facta sunt. Qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de caelis.

Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est.

Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato passus et sepultus est. Et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas, et ascendit in caelum, sedet ad dexteram Patris. Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, iudicare vivos et mortuos, cuius regni non erit finis.

Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem: qui ex Patre Filioque procedit. Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur: qui locutus est per prophetas. Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam. Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum, et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven:

By the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of 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.

We believe in the Holy spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Then follow the General Intercessions (or Prayers of the Faithful). The priest presides at the prayer. With a brief introduction, he invites the people to pray; after the intentions he says the concluding prayer.

The Lord Be with Us
The Catholic Passion, 182–185

The Mass is a prayer in which we adore and glorify, give thanks, and seek God’s forgiveness and grace.

Tradition
St. Thomas Aquinas
Didache
St. Augustine

Sanctuary of Mission San Miguel Arcangel (California), 1797-1816

Order of the Mass: Liturgy of the Eucharist

The priest, standing at the altar, takes the paten with the bread and, holding it slightly raised above the altar, says quietly:

Preparation of the Altar and Gifts

Benedictus es, Domine, Deus universi, quia de tua largitate accepimus panem, quem tibi offerimus, fructum terrae et operis manuum hominum: ex quo nobis fiet panis vitae.

Benedictus Deus in saecula.

Preparation of the Altar and Gifts

Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.

Blessed be God for ever.

The priest pours wine and a little water into the chalice saying quietly:

Per huius aquae et vini mysterium eius efficiamur divinitatis consortes, qui humanitatis nostrae fieri dignatus est particeps.

By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity.

Then the priest takes the chalice and, holding it slightly raised above the altar, says quietly:

Benedictus es, Domine, Deus universi, quia de tua largitate accepimus vinum, quod tibi offerimus, Fructum vitis et operis manuum hominum, ex quo nobis fiet potus spiritalis.

Benedictus Deus in sacula.

In spiritu humilitatis et in animo contrito suscipiamur a te, Domine; et sic fiat sacrificium nostrum in conspectu tuo hodie, ut placeat tibi, Domine Deus.

Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink.

Blessed be God for ever.

Lord God, we ask you to receive us and be pleased with the sacrifice we offer you with humble and contrite hearts.

Next the priest stands at the side of the altar and washes his hands, saying quietly:

Lava me, Domine, ab iniquitate mea, et a peccato meo munda me.

Lord, wash away my iniquity; cleanse me from my sin.

Standing at the center of the altar, facing the people, he extends and then joins his hands, saying:

Orate, fratres: ut meum ac vestrum sacrificium acceptabile fiat apud Deum Patrem omnipotem.

Suscipiat Dominus sacrificium de manibus tuis ad laudem et gloriam nominis sui, ad utilitatem quoque nostram totius que Ecclesiae suae sanctae.

Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.

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 Church.

Tabernacle and altar screen of San Antonio de Padua, Cordova, New Mexico, 1832

A Miracle of Remembrance
The Catholic Passion, 190–194

The Eucharist is a new passover, the memorial of our redemption from slavery to sin and death.

Exodus 12:1–23
Matthew 26:17–19, 26–29
Mark 14:12–16, 22–25
Luke 22:7–20
1 Corinthians 5:7; 11:23–26
Catechism, nos. 199, 1339–1340, 1362–1367

In the Eucharist we receive the body and blood of Christ as true food and true drink

John 6:35, 41, 51, 54–55, 57; 20:28
Catechism, nos. 1373–1374

Tradition

Olivier Messiaen’s Livre du Saint Sacrement (The Book of the Blessed Sacrament)

Questions for Reflection

How does the Mass fulfill the prophecy of Malachi 1:11?

How is the Mass the same today as it was in the time of St. Justin Martyr?

The Last Supper,
Tintorreto, 1594

Order of the Mass: Eucharistic Prayer I (Roman Canon)

Dominus vobiscum.
Et cum spiritu tuo.

Sursum corda.
Habemus ad Dominum.

Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
Dignum et ustum est.

Preface to Eucharistic Prayer

Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere: Domine, sancte Pater, omnipotens aeterne Deus.

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Preface to Eucharistic Prayer

Father all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

At the end of the preface, the priest joins his hands and, together with the people, concludes it by singing or saying aloud:

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Music of the Mass

Sanctus-Benedictus
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Missa Nigra sum (Sanctus-Benedictus)
Cristóbal De Morales, Missa Queramus cum Pastiborus (Sanctus)
Cristóbal De Morales, Missa Queramus cum Pastiborus (Benedictus)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Grand Mass in C Minor (Benedictus)
Tomás Luis de Victoria, Ascendens Christus in altum (Sanctus)
Tomás Luis de Victoria, Ascendens Christus in altum (Benedictus)
Tomás Luis de Victoria, Dum complerentur dies Pentecostes (Sanctus-Benedictus)
John Taverner, Western Wind Mass (Sanctus-Benedictus)

They Beheld God and Ate and Drank /
Grinding the Wheat of God
The Catholic Passion, 194–199

The conversion of the bread and wine into Christ’s body and blood is brought about by God’s word and Spirit in the action of the priest who serves in persona Christi (in the person of Christ).

John 6:1–15
Acts 2:46; 5:42; 20:7
1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:20, 27–31
1 Timothy 4:14
2 Timothy 1:6; 3:9
Titus 1:5–9
Revelation 3:20
Catechism, nos. 1105–1106, 1128, 1375–1381

Tradition
Discipline of the Secret
St. Justin Martyr
St. Hildegard of Bingen
St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Ignatius of Antioch
St. Tarsicius
Pope St. Damasus
St. Irenaeus

The Eucharistic Altar in Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris France

Order of the Mass: Eucharistic Prayer I (continued)

Kneel

The priest, with hands extended, says:

Te igitur, clementissime Pater, per Iesum Christum, Filium tuum, Dominum nostrum, supplices rogamus ac petimus,

We come to you, Father, with praise and thanksgiving, through Jesus Christ your Son.

He joins his hands and, making the sign of the cross over both bread and chalice, says:

uti accepta habeas et benedicas + haec dona haec munera, haec sancta sacrificia illibata,

in primis, quae tibi offerimus pro Ecclesia tua sancta catholica: quam pacificare, custodire, adunare et regere digneris toto orbe terrarum: una cum famulo tuo Pap nostro N. et Antistite nostro N. et omnibus orthodoxis atque catholicae et apostolicae fidei cultoribus.

Through him we ask you to accept and bless + these gifts we offer you in sacrifice.

We offer them for your holy catholic Church, watch over it, Lord, and guide it; grant it peace and unity throughout the world. We offer them for N. our Pope, for N. our bishop, and for all who hold and teach the catholic faith that comes to us from the apostles.

Comemoration of the Living

Memento, Domine famulorum famularumque tuarum N. et N.

Remember, Lord, your people, especially those for whom we now pray, N. et N.

He prays for them briefly with hands joined. Then, with hands extended, he continues:

et omnium circumstantium, quorum tibi fides cognita est et nota devotio, pro quibus tibi offerimus: vel qui tibi offerunt hoc sacrificium laudis, pro se suisque omnibus: pro redemtione animarum suarum, pro spe salutis et incolumitatis suae: tibique reddunt vota sua aeterno Deo, vivo et vero

Communicantes, et memoriam venerantes, in primis gloriosae semper Virginis Mariae, Genetricis Dei et Domini nostri Iesu Christi: sed et beati Ioseph, eiusdem Virginis Sponsi, et beatorum Apostolorum ac Martyrum tuorum, Petri et Pauli, Andreae, (Iacobi, Ioannis, Thomae, Iacobi, Philippi, Bartholomaei, Matthaei, Simonis et Thaddaei: Lini, Cleti, Clementis, Xysti, Cornelii, Cypriani, Laurentii, Chrysogoni, Ionnis et Pauli, Cosmae et Damiani) et omnium Sanctorum tuorum; quorum meritis precibusque concedas, ut in omnibus protectionis tuae muniamur auxilio.
(Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.)

Hanc igitur oblationem servitutis nostrae, sed et cunctae familiae tuae, quaesumus, Domine, ut placatus accipias: diesque nostros in tua pace disponas, atque ab aeterna damnatione nos eripi et in electorum tuorum iubeas grege numerari.

Quam oblationem tu, Deus, in omnibus, quaesumus, benedictam, adscriptam, ratam, rationabilem, acceptabilemquw facere digneris: ut nobis Corpus et Sanguis fiat dilectissimi Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi.

Remember all of us gathered here before you. You know how firmly we believe in you and dedicate ourselves to you. We offer you this sacrifice of praise for ourselves and those who are dear to us. We pray to you, our living and true God, for our well-being and redemption.

In union with the whole Church we honor Mary, the ever-virgin mother of Jesus Christ our Lord and God. We honor Joseph, her husband, the apostles and martyrs Peter and Paul, Andrew, (James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Jude; we honor Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian) and all the saints. May their merits and prayers grant us your constant help and protection.
(Through Christ our Lord. Amen.)

Father, accept this offering from your whole family. Grant us your peace in this life, save us from final damnation, and count us among those you have chosen.

Bless and approve our offering; make it acceptable to you, an offering in spirit and in truth. Let it become for us the body and blood of Jesus Christ, your only Son, our Lord.

The High Altar (by Bernini) in St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, 1678

The words of the Lord in the following formulas should be spoken clearly and distinctly, as their meaning demands.

Qui, pridie quam pateretur, accepit panem in sanctas ac venerabiles manus suas,

et elevatis oculis in caelum ad te Deum Patrem suum omnipotentem, tibi gratias agens benedixit, fregit, deditque discipulis suis, dicens:

Accipite et manducate ex hoc omnes: hoc est enim Corpus meum, quod pro vobis tradetur.

Simili modo, postquam cenatum est, accipiens et hunc praeclarum calicem in sanctas ac venerabiles manus suas, item tibi grtias agens benedixit, deditque discipulis suis, dicens:

Accipite et bibite ex eo omnes:

hic est enim calix Sanguinis mei novi et aeterni testamenti, qui pro vobis et pro multis effundetur in remissionem peccatorum.

Hoc facite in meam commemorationem.

The day before he suffered, he took bread in his sacred hands

and looking up to heaven, to you, his almighty Father, he gave you thanks and praise. 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 you 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 in memory of me.

Eucharistic Altar in Chiesa Nuova (New Church), Rome, 1599

He shows the consecrated chalice to the people, places it on the corporal, and genuflects in adoration. Then he sings or says:

Mysterium fidei.

Mortem tuam annuntiamus, Domine, et tuam resurrectionem confitemur, donec venias.

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

Mosaic with the offerings of Melchizedek and Abel,
Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna, c. 527

Then with hands extended, the priest says:

Unde et memores, Domine, nos servi tui, sed et plebs tua sancta, eiusdem Christi, Filii Tui, Domini nostri, tam beatae passionis, necnon et ab inferis resurrectionis, sed et in caelos gloriosae ascensionis: offerimus praeclarae maiestati tuae de tuis donis ac datis hostiam puram, hostiam sanctam, hostiam immaculatam, Panem sanctam vitae aeternae et Calicem salutis perpetuae.

Supra quae propitio ac sereno vultu respicere digneris: et accepta habere, siculti accepta habere dignatus es munera pueri tui iusti Abel, et sacrificium Patriarchae nostri Abrahae, et quod tibi obtulit summus sacerdos tuus Melchisedech, sanctum sacrificium, immaculatam hostiam.

Supplices te rogamus, omnipotens Deus: iube haec perferri per manus sancti Angeli tui in sublime altare tuum, in conspectu divinae maiestatis tuae; ut quotquot ex hac altaris participatione sacrosanctum Filii tui Corpus et Sanguinem sumpserimus omni benedictione caelesti et gratia repleamur.

Father, we celebrate the memory of Christ, your Son. We, your people and your ministers, recall his passion, his resurrection from the dead, and his ascension into glory; and from the many gifts you have given us we offer to you, God of glory and majesty, this holy and perfect sacrifice: the bread of life and the cup of eternal salvation.

Look with favor on these offerings and accept them as once you accepted the gifts of your servant Abel, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the bread and wine offered by your priest Melchisedech.

Almighty God, we pray that your angel may take this sacrifice to your altar in heaven. Then, as we receive from this altar the sacred body and blood of your Son,
let us be filled with every grace and blessing.

Disputation of the Holy Sacrament,
Raphael, 1509

Commemoration of the Dead

With hands extended, he says:

Memento etiam, Domine, famulorum famularumque tuarum N. et N. qui nos praecesserunt cum signo fidei, et dormiunt in somno pacis.

Ipsis, domine, et omnibus in Christo quiescentibus, locum refrigerii, lucis et pacis, ut indulgeas, deprecamur.

Nobis quoque peccatoribus famulis tuis, de multitudine miserationum tuarum sperantibus, partem aliquam et societatem donare digneris cum tuis sanctis Apostolis et Martyribus: cum Ioanne, Stephano, Matthia, Barnaba, (Ignatio, Alexandro, Marcellino, Petro, Felicitate, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucia, Agnete, Caecilia, Anastasia) et omnibus Sanctis tuis:

intra quorum nos consortium, non aestimator meriti, sed veniae, quaesumus, largitor admitte.

Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

Per quem haec omnia, Domine, semper bona creas, sanctificas, vivificas, benedicis, et praestas nobis.

Remember, Lord, those who have died and have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, especialy those for whom we now pray, N. et N. May these, and all who sleep in Christ, find in your presence light, happiness, and peace.

May these, and all who sleep in Christ, find in your presence light, happiness, and peace.

For ourselves, too, we ask some share in the fellowship of your apostles and martyrs, with John the Baptist, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, (Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia) and all the saints.

Though we are sinners, we trust in your mercy and love. Do not consider what we truly deserve, but grant us your forgiveness.

Through Christ our Lord.

Through him you give us all these gifts. You fill them with life and goodness, you bless them and make them holy.

He takes the chalice and the paten with the host and, lifting them up, sings or says:

Per ipsum, et cum ipso, et in ipso, est tibi Deo Patri omnipotenti, in unitate Spiritus Sancti, omnis honor et gloria per omnia saecula saeculorum.

Amen.

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.

Amen.

Eucharistic Prayer II

Eucharistic Prayer III

Eucharistic Prayer IV

A Sign of Peace
The Catholic Passion, 200–203

Communion makes us one with Jesus Christ.

Tradition
St. Cyril of Jerusalem
Prayer After Communion
St. John of Damascus

Supper at Emmaus (Luke 24)
Marco Marziale, 1506

The Riha Paten (Showing the Communion of the Apostles), c. 577

Chalice of Benedek Suky (Hungarian),
c. 1440

Order of the Mass: Communion Rite

Lord's Prayer

Priest: Praeceptis salutaribus moniti, et divina institutione formati, audemus dicere:

Pater noster, qui es in caelis: sanctificetur nomen tuum; adveniat regnum tuum; fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo, et in terra. Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie; et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris: et ne nos inducas in tentationem; sed libera nos a malo.

Priest: Libera nos, quaesumus, Domine, ab omnibus malis, da propitius pacem in diebus nostris, ut, ope misericordiae tuae adiuti, et a peccato simus semper liberi et ab omni perturbatione securi: exspectantes beatam spem et adventum Salvatoris nostri Iesu Christi.

Doxology

Quia tuum est regnum, et potestas, et gloria in saecula.

Sign of Peace

Domine Iesu Christe, qui dixisti Apostolis tuis: Pacem relinquo vobis, pacem meam do vobis: ne respicias peccata nostra, sed fidem Ecclesiae tuae; eamque secundum voluntatem tuam paceficare et coadunare digneris, qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum.

Amen.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.

Et cum spiritu tuo.

Offerte vobis pacem.

Breaking of the Bread

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: dona nobis pacem.

Lord's Prayer

Priest: Let us pray with confidence to the Father in the words our Savior gave us.

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.

Priest: Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Doxology

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever.

Sign of Peace

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles: I leave you peace, my peace I give you. Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom, where you live for ever and ever.

Amen.

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

And also with you.

Let us offer each other a sign of peace.

Breaking of the Bread

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.

Meanwhile, the priest takes the host and breaks it over the paten. He places a small piece in the chalice, saying quitely:

Haec commixtio Corporis et Sanguinis Domini nostri Iesu Christi fiat accipientibus nobis in vitam aeternam.

Private Preparation of the Priest

Domine Iesu Christe, Fili Dei vivi, qui ex voluntate Patris, cooperante Spiritu Sancto, per mortem tuam mundum vivificasti: libera me per hoc sacrosanctum Corpus et Sanguinem tuum ab omnibus iniquitatibus meis et universis malis: et fac me tuis semper inhaerere mandatis, et a te num quam separari permittas.

or:

Perceptio Corporis et Sanguinis tui, Domine Iesu Christe, non mihi proveniat in iudicum et condemnationem: sed pro tua pietate prosit mihi ad tutamentum mentis et corporis, et ad medelam percipiendam.

May this mingling of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.

Private Preparation of the Priest

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, by the will of the Father and the work of the Holy Spirit your death brought life to the world. By your holy body and blood free me from all my sins, and from every evil. Keep me faithful to your teaching, and never let me be parted from you.

or:

Lord Jesus Christ, with faith in your love and mercy I eat your body and drink your blood. Let it not bring me condemnation, but health in mind and body.

Music of the Mass

Pater Nostra (Our Father)
Alberto Grau
Igor Stravinsky
Franz Liszt
Costanzo Festa
Dave Brubeck

Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)
Samuel Barber
Giovanni Animuccia, Missa Victimae Paschali Laudes
William Byrd, Mass for Five Voices

Order of the Mass: Communion

The priest genuflects. Taking the host, he raises it slightly over the paten and, facing the people, says aloud:

Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccata mundi. Beati qui ad cenam Agni vocati sunt.

This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.

He adds, with the people:

Domine, non sum dignus ut intres sub tectum meum: sed tantum dic verbo, et sanabitur anima mea.

Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word, and I shall be healed.

Facing the altar, the priest says quietly:

Corpus Christi custodiat me in vitam aeternam.

May the body of Christ bring me to everlasting life.

He reverently consumes the body of Christ. Then he takes the chalice and says quietly:

Sanguis Christi custodiat me in vitam aeternam.

May the blood of Christ bring me to everlasting life.

He reverently drinks the blood of Christ. After this he takes the paten or other vessel and goes to the communicants. The priest or other minister distributing the eucharistic bread takes a host for each communicant, raises it a little, and shows it, saying:

Corpus Christi.
Amen.

Sanguis Christi.
Amen.

The body of Christ.
Amen.

The blood of Christ.
Amen.

Communion Song

The vessels are cleansed by the priest, deacon, acolyte or other lawfully instituted minister after the communion or after Mass, if possible at the side table. Meanwhile he says quietly:

Quod ore sumpsimus, Domine, pura mente capiamus, et de munere temporali fiat nobis remedium sempiternum.

Lord, may I receive these gifts in purity of heart. May they bring me healing and strength, now and for ever.

Music of the Mass
Of Thy Mystical Supper (Alexis Lvov)
Ave Verum Corpus (Wolfgang Mozart)
Pange Lingua (Anton Bruckner)
Adoro Te (Olivier Messiaen)
O Sacrament Most Holy

This early 14th-century pyx (a vessel in which the eucharistic host is kept) was a gift from the Cistercian nun Margarete Pfrumborn to her nunnery in Lichtental, near Baden-Baden. She is therefore shown on the front in the company of the Magi adoring the Virgin and Child. On the right is St. Bernard of Clairvaux, founder of the Cistercian order.

Period of Silence or Song of Praise

Then the priest may return to the chair. A period of silence may now be observed, or a psalm or song of praise may be sung.

Prayer After Communion (Proper)

Then, standing at the chair or at the altar, the priest sings or says:

Oremus.

Let us pray.

Order of the Mass: Concluding Rite

The rite of dismissal takes place. Facing the people, the priest extends his hands and sings or says:

Dominus vobiscum.
Et cum spiritu tuo.

Benedicat vos omnipotens Deus, Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus.
Amen.

Ite, missa est.
Deo gratias.

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

The Mass is ended, go in peace.
Thanks be to God.

Questions for Reflection

What does it mean that Christ gives us his body and blood as true food and true drink?

Explain the biblical basis of the Church’s belief in Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist. Refer specifically to Jesus’ words in John 6.

Explain how the bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ.

What is the “discipline of the secret”?

Until Time Is No More
The Catholic Passion, 203–204

The Catholic lives from Mass to Mass, awaiting the day when the Lord will come again in glory.

Olivier Messiaen's Quatuor pour la fin du temps (Quartet for the End of Time) *

First Movement: Liturgie de cristal (Liturgy of Crystal)
Eighth and Final Movement: Louange à l'Immortalité de Jésus (Praise to the immortality of Jesus)

Multiplication of the Bread and Fish
(Prefiguration of the Eucharist),
From Catacomb of St. Callixtus (Rome), 3rd c.