Mass

Why is Mass important?

 Mass Begins with the sign of the cross.

- This means we are calling God’s name. This goes back to ancient biblical
practices. Examples of people who have called on God’s name is Moses,
Abraham and even the Psalms. All throughout scripture people are calling the
name of God.
- We call on him in worship, we are inviting him into our lives.
- Jesus said in Matthew 18:20 when people gather in my name there I am in
their midst.
 The mass has 4 Parts
4 parts
1: Introductory Rites – includes the Opening Prayer
2: Penitential Rite and the Gloria.
3: Liturgy of the Word – includes the Readings, Gospel, Homily and Prayers of the
Faithful. We hear god's word speaking to us through the scriptures.
4: Liturgy of the Eucharist – includes the Eucharist Prayer, the Our Father and Holy
Communion. This is where the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood
of christ and we receive him in holy communion.
 Introductory Rite; Penitential Rite and the Gloria Part 1&2

“The lord be with you!” “And with your spirit!”

What does this mean? We are addressing the priest. It's like saying be the priest we need you to be
for us. We know there is only one priest Jesus Christ but may he work through you to perform
these sacred mysteries.
We sing the Gloria. “Glory to god, glory to god, glory to god and the highest and on earth peace on
earth peace to people of good will….” This is what the angels sang on christmas.
The lectors read the scriptures and the gospel.
We hear the homily by the father. This is where he explains god's word and message he wants us to
hear today.
So during this first part of mass we prepare our hearts for the moment that God comes down upon
our altars in the appearance of bread and wine.
Liturgy of the word and the eucharist parts 3 & 4
Here is where we confess. Not only do we confess in private confession with the
father but also here in Mass.

- Sins in our thoughts, in our word, and what we've done, and what we fail to do.
- Angry, impatient, anxious, Gossip, do we tear down people?, Are we just?, Are we praying? What
is the good that we fail to do? Are we giving our best self to god and the people in our lives? etc.

The confiteor - powerful prayer for the examination of conscience. Not only can this
be used in mass but also within our lives and consider how we fall short from giving
the best of ourselves to god and the people of our lives.

“Through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault”

Continued…..
We say it three times because it helps us approach god with great humility and truly sorrowful hearts.

There is collection of money, this is to help pay for church costs and to help out people like catholic charities.

THE EUCHARIST- this is the REAL presence of God.

“This is my body” “This is my blood” “Which will be given up for you, do this in memory of me”

All of John Chapter 6 Talk about this - “who ever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will
raise him on the last day”.

This is a sacrament that allows us to be intimate with god. This allows us to become a part of god. We become
one with Jesus.