ORDER OF

THE MASS
Structure of the Mass
Order of the Mass

It is important for each server to know the

structure of the Mass. This is not merely a
matter of knowing “what comes next”, but of
understanding the meaning of each step in the
celebration of the Divine Liturgy. The Mass
itself is a drama, an action moving steadily
forward to its supreme moments, when heaven
and earth meet in the great mystery of the altar.
The Parts of the Mass and their Meaning

There are 2 major parts in the structure of the rite

of the Mass:

LITURGY OF THE WORD

LITURGY OF THE
EUCHARIST
Order of the Mass

There are 5 parts of the mass.

Introductory Rites
Liturgy of the Word
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Communion Rite
Concluding Rite
INTRODUCTORY
RITES
FIRST PART OF THE MAS
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.
Introductory Rites

Entrance Song
opens the celebration and
accompanies the procession
of priest and servers to the
altar. It should be sung, to
deepen our unity together
and to introduce us to the
mystery of the season or
feast.
Introductory Rites

Veneration of the Altar

come after the entrance. As it is
the sign of Christ Himself,
center of the Church and of the
Eucharistic assembly, the altar
is shown reverence by 3
traditional gestures: the bow
or the customary reverence, the
kiss, the incensation (when
incense is used). The presider
greets the assembly which
reminds us that we are one, in
the power and grace of God.
Introductory Rites

Sign of the Cross

Making the sign of the cross is
a tangible way to mark
ourselves as Christ’s.
Crossing yourself or
someone else is an act
of sanctification, a physical
reminder that you/they are
set apart as holy for Christ.
By making the Sign of the
Cross, we profess our belief
in the Holy Trinity (Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit).
Introductory Rites

Greetings
After the Sign of the Cross
at the beginning of
Mass, the priest may
choose to greet the
people with the simple
and familiar greeting
“The Lord be with you”.
It also uses informal
greetings.
Introductory Rites

Penitential Rite
The Penitential Act is a
form of general
confession of
sinfulness that
normally takes place
at the beginning of
the celebration of
Mass in the Roman
Rite.
Forms of Penitential Rite
First Form

A. The “I Confess”
(Confiteor). In it we ask for
the help of God, the angels,
saints, and one another in
responding to Jesus’ offer
of fullness of life.
Forms of Penitential Rite
First Form

Nagakumpisal ako sa Diyos nga

makagagahom sa tanan ug kaninyong
mga igsoon, nga nakalapas ako ug dako
uyamot, sa hunahuna, sa pulong ug sa
buhat ug sa wala pagbuhat sa angay
buhaton. Kay akong sala,akong sala,
akong dakong sala. Busa nangamuyo
ako kang Santa Maria kanunayng ulay,
sa tanang mga anghel ug mga santos, ug
kaninyo mga igsoon aron inyo akong
iampo sa Ginoo nga atong Diyos.
Forms of Penitential Rite
Second Form

B. A brief responsory imploring God’s

mercy. The Kyrie refrain which follows
each of these first two forms, whether
sung or spoken. The Presider or the
Deacon will say a brief antiphon
followed by “Lord, have mercy”, to
which the congregation responds by
repeating the responsory.
Forms of Penitential Rite
Third Form

C. The third form of the Penitential Act

is not very common. It allows for
some variety and even creativity
(which is probably why it’s not
common). It is not to formulate
apologies or lists of our sins and
weaknesses but rather invocations
recalling Christ’s saving work on our
behalf. This form focuses on Christ’s
mercy, not on our sinfulness.
Introductory Rites

The Kyrie
A brief responsive prayer used
as the first item in the
Ordinary of the Roman
Catholic Mass or in any of
various other Christian
liturgies. A
short prayer or petition inclu
ding the phrase kyrie,
meaning "Lord, have mercy"
The Kyrie is a chant and can
be sung.
Introductory Rites

The Gloria
The Gloria in Excelsis is sung
only on Sundays,
Solemnities and other
highly festive days. It is not
sung during Advent or
Lent. It calls the most
ancient and venerable
hymn by which the Church,
gathered in the Holy Spirit,
glorifies and entreats God
the Father and the Lamb.
Introductory Rites

The Collect
This is what we
informally refer to
as the “opening
prayer”. It begins
with the priest’s
invitation: “Let us
pray.”
LITURGY OF THE
WORD
SECOND PART OF THE MAS
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. The
proclamation of the word is thus integral to
the Mass and at its very center. It is
appropriate to have a brief time of quiet
after the readings for those present to take
the word of God to heart and begin to
prepare a prayerful response to what they
have heard.
Liturgy of the Word

First Reading
On Sundays, the first
reading is from the Old
Testament and is
coordinated thematically
with that day’s Gospel. On
the other hand, on
weekdays, the first
reading is from the New
Testament some weeks
and from the Old
Testament other weeks. 
Liturgy of the Word

Responsorial Psalm

Antiphonal psalm that is

sung or read before
the Gospel at Mass.
Normally the psalm is
taken from the
lectionary and has
some bearing on the
particular text from
Scripture.
Liturgy of the Word

Second Reading
The Second Reading,
during the Sundays of
Ordinary Time, comes
from passages from a
single book of the New
Testament proclaimed
Sunday-by-Sunday in
biblical order. On
weekdays there is no
second reading.
Liturgy of the Word

Gospel Acclamation
It is a celebration of the
arrive of Jesus Christ into
our midst by means of his
word proclaimed by the
Deacon or Priest. The rite
instruction goes on to
note that the acclamation
is a creedal statement – a
statement of faith in Jesus.
Liturgy of the Word

Gospel
The highest point of
the Liturgy of the
Word. Gospel tells
the life, ministry,
and preaching of
Christ, it receives
several special
signs of honor and
reverence.
Liturgy of the Word

Homily
Homily comes from the
Greek word for
“explanation.” Must
listen attentively about
how the Scripture
readings can be put
into practice in our
daily lives, and how
God wants to tell us
something every time
his Word is proclaimed.
Liturgy of the Word

The Creed
Every Sunday, we confess
the creed. Either Apostle’s
Creed or Nicene Creed. It
proclaims that we believe
in one God who created
the universe, that we are
not an accident brought
about by chance, that God
has a divine plan, that
good and evil truly exist
and we can know them.
Apostle’s Creed & Nicene Creed

Apostle’s Creed Nicene Creed

Apostles' Creed is the Nicene Creed is a
ancient baptismal statement of faith
creed of the Church dating from the
in Rome. fourth century.

If baptismal promises are renewed, from a formula based

on the Apostles' Creed, this takes the place of the Creed.
Liturgy of the Word

Prayer of the Faithful

It is the concluding part of
the Liturgy of the Word.
The gathered assembly
intercedes with God on
behalf of the Church, the
world, and themselves,
entrusting their needs to
the faithful and loving
God.
LITURGY OF THE
EUCHARIST
THIRD PART OF THE MASS
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.
Liturgy of the Eucharist

The Offertory
During the Offertory Song
the faithful usually
express their participation
by making an offering,
bringing forward bread
and wine for the
celebration of the
Eucharist and perhaps
other gifts to relieve the
needs of the Church and
of the poor.
Liturgy of the Eucharist

Eucharistic Prayer
It is the heart of the Liturgy
of the Eucharist. In this
prayer, the celebrant acts
in the person of Christ as
head of his body, the
Church. He gathers not
only the bread and the
wine, but the substance of
our lives and joins them to
Christ's perfect sacrifice,
offering them to the Father.
Eucharistic Prayer

The main elements of which

the Eucharistic Prayer consists
may be distinguished from
one another in this way:
(GIRM, 79)
Eucharistic Prayer
1. The Thanksgiving

The thanksgiving (expressed
especially in the Preface), in which
the Priest, in the name of the whole
of the holy people, glorifies God the
Father and gives thanks to him for
the whole work of salvation or for
some particular aspect of it,
according to the varying day,
festivity, or time of year.
Eucharistic Prayer
2. The Acclamation

The acclamation, by which the

whole congregation, joining with
the heavenly powers, sings
the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy).
This acclamation, which
constitutes part of the Eucharistic
Prayer itself, is pronounced by
all the people with the Priest.
Eucharistic Prayer
3. The Epiclesis

The epiclesis, in which, by means of

particular invocations, the Church
implores the power of the Holy Spirit
that the gifts offered by human
hands be consecrated, that is,
become Christ's Body and Blood, and
that the unblemished sacrificial
Victim to be consumed in Communion
may be for the salvation of those
who will partake of it.
Eucharistic Prayer
4. The Institution Narrative and Consecration

The Institution narrative and

Consecration, by which, by means of the
words and actions of Christ, that
Sacrifice is effected which Christ himself
instituted during the Last Supper, when
he offered his Body and Blood under the
species of bread and wine, gave them to
the Apostles to eat and drink, and
leaving with the latter the command to
perpetuate this same mystery.
Eucharistic Prayer
5. The Anamnesis

The anamnesis, by which the

Church, fulfilling the command
that she received from Christ the
Lord through the Apostles,
celebrates the memorial of Christ,
recalling especially his blessed
Passion, glorious Resurrection,
and Ascension into heaven.
Eucharistic Prayer
6. The Oblation

The oblation, by which, in this very

memorial, the Church, in particular that
gathered here and now, offers the
unblemished sacrificial Victim in the Holy
Spirit to the Father. The Church's intention,
indeed, is that the faithful not only offer this
unblemished sacrificial Victim but also learn
to offer their very selves, and so day by
day to be brought, through the mediation
of Christ, into unity with God and with each
other, so that God may at last be all in all.
Eucharistic Prayer
7. The Intercession

The intercessions, by which
expression is given to the fact that
the Eucharist is celebrated in
communion with the whole Church,
of both heaven and of earth, and
that the oblation is made for her and
for all her members, living and dead,
who are called to participate in the
redemption and salvation purchased
by the Body and Blood of Christ.
Eucharistic Prayer
8. The Concluding Doxology

The concluding doxology, by
which the glorification of God
is expressed and which is
affirmed and concluded by
the people's
acclamation "Amen."
COMMUNION
RITE
FOURTH PART OF THE MAS
Communion Rite

The Lord’s Prayer

Jesus taught this prayer to
his disciples when they
asked how to pray (cf. Mt
6:9-13, Lk 11:2-4). In this
prayer, the people join their
voices to pray for the
coming of God's kingdom
and to ask God to provide
for our needs, forgive our
sins, and bring us to the joy
of heaven.
Communion Rite

Rite of Peace
The celebrant prays that
the peace of Christ will
fill our hearts, our
families, our Church, our
communities, and our
world. As a sign of
hope, the people
extend to those around
them a sign of peace.
Communion Rite

The Fraction Rite

The celebrant breaks the
consecrated bread as the people
sing the Agnus Dei or "Lamb of
God." John the Baptist proclaimed
Jesus as "the Lamb of God who
takes away the sin of the world"
(Jn 1:29). The action of breaking
the bread recalls the actions of
Jesus at the Last Supper, when he
broke the bread before giving it
to his disciples. One of the earliest
names for the Eucharistic
celebration is the breaking of the
bread (Lk 24:35; Acts 2:42, 46).
Communion Rite

Holy Communion
It is the most
important religious
service in the
Christian church, in
which people share
bread and wine as a
symbol of the Last
Supper and the
death of Christ.
Communion Rite

Prayer after
Communion
A prayer that
asks benefits of
the Eucharist will
remain active in
our daily lives.
CONCLUDING
RITE
LAST PART OF THE MAS
Concluding Rite

The brief Concluding Rite sends the

people forth to put into effect in their
daily lives the Mystery of Christ’s
Death and Resurrection and the
unity in Christ which they have
celebrated. Their mission is to
witness to Christ in the world and to
bring the Gospel to the poor.
Concluding Rite

Announcements
Announcements
may be made if
necessary.
Concluding Rite

Blessing
The celebrant then blesses the
people assembled.
Sometimes, the blessing is
very simple. On special days,
the blessing may be more
extensive. In every case, the
blessing is always trinitarian:
“May almighty God bless
you, the Father, and the Son,
and the Holy Spirit.” It is in
the triune God and in the sign
of the cross that we find our
blessing.
Concluding Rite

Dismissal
Last part of the Mass.
The liturgy does not
simply come to an
end. Those
assembled are sent
forth to bring the
fruits of the Eucharist
to the world.
 SUMMARY ON WHEN TO

STAND, SIT, AND

KNEEL AT
MASS
Introductory Rite

Introductory Rites Stand

Sign of the Cross Stand
Greeting Stand
Introduction Stand
Kyrie Stand
Gloria Stand
The Collect Stand
Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Sit

Responsorial Psalm Sit
Second Reading Sit
Gospel Acclamation Stand
Gospel Reading Stand
Homily Sit
Profession of Faith Stand
Prayers of the Faithful Stand
Liturgy of the Eucharist

The Offertory Sit

Eucharistic Prayer
Preface Stand
Eucharistic Prayer Kneel
or
Stand
Communion Rite

Lord’s Prayer Stand

Rite of Peace Stand
Fraction Rite Kneel or Stand
Holy Communion Stand
Prayer after Communion Stand
Concluding Rite

Announcements Sit
Blessings Stand
Dismissal Stand