Origin and History of Advent
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The exact time when the season of Advent came to be celebrated is not precisely known. The earliest evidence shows that the celebration of Advent was established within the later part of the 4th century. There are homilies from the 5th century that discuss the preparation of our Lord’s coming in a general sense, but do not give reference to an official liturgical season. A Synod held in 590 established that Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from November 11th until the Nativity would be offered according to the Lenten rite. This and other traditions show that the period of time now established as the Advent season was more penitential than the liturgical season as we know it today.
A collection of homilies from Pope St. Gregory the Great (who was pope from 590-604) included a sermon for the second Sunday of Advent, and by 650 Spain was celebrating the Sundays (five at the time) of Advent. Therefore, the liturgical season was most likely established around the later part of the 6th century and first half of the 7th century. For the next couple of centuries, Advent was celebrated for five Sundays, until Pope Gregory VII, who was pope from 1073-85, reduced the number to four Sundays.
During this liturgical season, the Gloria is omitted because Advent is a penitential season of the Church, just like Lent. Even though the Church sings Alleluia during Advent, the Church gives us this penitential season to call us to the same conversion that St. John the Baptist called the Jews as they awaited the arrival of the Messiah. Because the Gloria is a prayer of joy, it is suppressed during Advent and is not heard until the vigil Mass of Christmas Eve.
A collection of homilies from Pope St. Gregory the Great (who was pope from 590-604) included a sermon for the second Sunday of Advent, and by 650 Spain was celebrating the Sundays (five at the time) of Advent. Therefore, the liturgical season was most likely established around the later part of the 6th century and first half of the 7th century. For the next couple of centuries, Advent was celebrated for five Sundays, until Pope Gregory VII, who was pope from 1073-85, reduced the number to four Sundays.
During this liturgical season, the Gloria is omitted because Advent is a penitential season of the Church, just like Lent. Even though the Church sings Alleluia during Advent, the Church gives us this penitential season to call us to the same conversion that St. John the Baptist called the Jews as they awaited the arrival of the Messiah. Because the Gloria is a prayer of joy, it is suppressed during Advent and is not heard until the vigil Mass of Christmas Eve.
Advent Today
As mentioned, the early Advent season was mainly penitential, close to the theme of the Lenten season. Today a penitential theme still exists, but it is not as intense as in 7th century. Also, today, it is blended with the theme of prayerful, spiritual preparation for the second and final coming of the Lord, as well as the joyful preparation for the annual festive remembrance of the Incarnation and Christ's birth.
The Liturgy
The Mass is highly structured, with four sections: the Introductory Rites, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and the Concluding Rites.
The Liturgy of the Word is composed of readings from the Old Testament and the New Testament, and a Gospel Reading from the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John; the recitation of the Church's main profession of faith, the Nicene Creed, by the entire community; prayers for the people; and the homily.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist is the core of the Mass and the heart of Catholic belief. Monetary gifts of the faithful and the sacrificial gifts of the bread and wine are brought to the altar; the priest and the participants speak a series of formal prayers, including a recitation of the Lord's Prayer; people exchange a sign of peace among themselves; and the entire community watches the transformation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, which believers then receive into their own bodies. This transformation from the simple elements of bread and wine into the physical presence of the divine is called transubstantiation and is a point of mystery and wonder for Catholics.
For centuries, the Mass was celebrated almost always in Latin with little to no variation based on local culture. Following the reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960's, the Church opened the Mass to be celebrated in the languages of the people (vernacular) and encouraged more participation by believers. The Church has charged its adherents around the world with creating Masses that reflect their own cultures and heritages while still retaining the central doctrinal and symbolic elements. This is one of the wonders of the Church: that on any given day a Catholic can attend Mass in any area of the world and find the same ritual being performed: the same scriptures will be read, the same order will be preserved, the same creed will be spoken, and the same Eucharist will be celebrated. This is the basis of connecting Catholics all around the world to each other.
Roman Catholic Liturgical Rites
A Rite represents an ecclesiastical tradition about how sacraments are to be celebrated. Each sacrament has an essential core which must be precisely followed for the sacrament to be deemed acceptable by the Roman Catholic Church. This core derived from the divinely revealed nature of this sacrament. This core cannot be changed by the church as it comes from Scripture and Sacred Tradition which is simply interpreted by the Magisterium.
When the apostles finally brought the Gospel to the cultural centres of their day, the essential elements of religious practice became one with those cultures. The essential elements became enwrapped in the symbols of the people s the rituals conveyed the desired spiritual meaning to that culture.
There are three major groupings of Rites: the Roman, the Antiochian (Syria) and the Alexandrian (Egypt). Later on the Byzantine derived from the Antiochian under the influence of St. Basil and St. John Crysosotom. These are just a few of the Rites that exist in over 20 liturgical Rites present in the Church today.
The most recent revival of the Catholic faith took place when Pope Paul VI undertook a reform of the Mass of the Roman Rite, creating a revised rite with the Missal of 1970. This Missal has since been modified twice since then: in 1975 and 2002. Mass celebrated in accordance with this missal is the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite. The vernacular editions of this Missal, and also the rites of the sacraments, were translated from the Latin typical editions which were revised after the Second Vatican Council. The “Order of the Mass” is derived from the Missale Romanum, or, the Roman Missal.
Introductory Rite
ENTRANCE PROCESSION:
After everyone has gathered in the church, an opening song is sung or recited as the Priest and the ministers enter the church and make their way towards the altar. When he has arrived at the altar, the Priest venerates the altar with a kiss and, if appropriate, incenses the cross and the altar. Then, with the ministers, he goes to the chair.
SIGN OF THE CROSS:
When the Entrance Procession is finished, the Priest and the faithful, standing, sign themselves with the Sign of the Cross, while the Priest, facing the people, says:
Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
GREETING:
The Priest, extending his hands, greets the people, saying:
Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
All: And with your spirit.
OR:
Priest: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
All: And with your spirit.
OR:
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
PENITENTIAL RITE:
The Priest invites the faithful to make the Penitential Act:
Priest: Brethren, let us acknowledge our sings, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
This Rite is then followed by a period of silent reflection.
All: I confess to almighty God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned through my own fault,
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,
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault;
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.
Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.
OR:
Priest: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
All: For we have sinned against you.
Priest: Show us, O Lord, your mercy.
All: And grant us your salvation.
Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.
OR:
The Priest, or a Deacon or another minister, then says the following or other invocations with Kyrie, eleison (Lord, have mercy):
You were sent to heal the contrite of heart: Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
All: Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.
All: Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.
You are seated at the right hand of the father to intercede for us: Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.
KYRIE:
The Kyrie, eleison (Lord, have mercy) invocations follow, unless they have just occurred in a formula of the Penitential Rite.
Priest: Lord, have mercy. All: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Christ, have mercy. All: Christ, have mercy.
Priest: Lord, have mercy. All: Lord, have mercy.
or
Priest: Kyrie, eleison. All: Kyrie, eleison.
Priest: Christe, eleison. All: Christe, eleison.
Priest: Kyrie, eleison. All: Kyrie, eleison.
GLORIA:
In an Advent Mass, the Gloria is not used because it is a season of penitence.
OPENING PRAYER:
Priest: Let us pray.
The congregation prays in silence with the Priest for a while.
Then the Priest, with hands extended, says the Collect prayer, at the end of which the people acclaim:
All: Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
FIRST READING:
Then the reader goes to the ambo and reads the First Reading (from the Old Testament), while all sit and listen.
To indicate the end of the reading, the reader acclaims: The word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM:
The psalmist or cantor sings or says the Psalm, with the people making the response.
SECOND READING:
After this, if there is to be a Second Reading (New Testament), a reader reads it from the ambo, as above.
To indicate the end of the reading, the reader acclaims: The word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION:
There is then an Alleluia or another chant depending on what the liturgical time requires.
Incense may also be used at this time.
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
GOSPEL:
Deacon (or Priest): A reading from the Holy Gospel according to... [Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John]
At this time, he makes the Sign of the Cross on the book and on his forehead, lips, and breast.
All: Glory to you, O Lord.
At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest acclaims: The Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Then, he kisses the book, saying quietly: Through the words of the Gospel may our sins be wiped away.
HOMILY:
Then follows the Homily, which is to be preached by a Priest or Deacon on all Sundays and Holydays of Obligation; on other days, it is recommended.
PROFESSION OF FAITH:
At the end of the Homily, the Symbol or Profession of Faith or Creed, when prescribed, is either sung or said:
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,
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.
Instead of the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, the baptismal Symbol of the Roman Church, known as the Apostles’ Creed, may be used.
Apostles' Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
He descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL:
Then follows the Universal Prayer, that is the Prayer of the Faithful or Bidding Prayers.
Lector: …let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, hear our prayer. [or a similar response, repeated after each petition]
Liturgy of the Eucharist
PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS
The Offertory Chant begins. Meanwhile, the ministers place the corporal, the purificator, the chalice, the pall and the Missal on the altar.
It is desired that the faithful make 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.
The Priest, standing at the altar, takes the paten with the bread and holds it slightly raised above the altar and says:
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become the bread of life.
Then, he places the paten with the bread on the corporal.
All: Blessed be God for ever.
The Priest then pours wine and a little water into the chalice saying quietly:
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.
The Priest then takes the chalice and holds it slightly raised above the altar with both hands saying:
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.
Then, he places the chalice on the corporal.
All: Blessed be God for ever.
If there is no singing during the presentation of the gifts, the priest may say the preceding prayers aloud, and the people may respond. But if a presentation song is being sung, the priest recites these prayers inaudibly, and the people's response is omitted. Then, after the priest has washed his hands and the music is finished, he invites the people to join in prayer:
Priest: Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
All: 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 holy Church.
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS:
Then the Priest, with his hands extended says the Prayer over the Offerings, at the end of which the people acclaim:
All: Amen.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER:
Then the Priest begins the Eucharistic Prayer. Extending and raising his hands, he says:
Priest: The Lord be with you. All: And with your spirit.
Priest: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God. All: It is right and just.
Preface:
At the end of the Preface he joins his hands and concludes the Preface with the people, signing or saying aloud:
All: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
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.
The Priest continues to proclaim the Eucharistic Prayer.
MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION:
Priest: The mystery of faith.
All: We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
or When we eat this Bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
or Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
At the conclusion of the Eucharistic Prayer, the Priest takes the chalice and the paten with the host and, raising both, he says:
Priest: Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Communion Rite
THE LORD’S PRAYER
After the chalice and paten have been set down, the Priest, with his hands joined, says:
At the Saviour’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
He extends his hands and, together with the people, continues:
All: 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, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant us peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we wait the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour 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.
All: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.
SIGN OF PEACE
Then the Priest, with his hands extended, says:
Priest: Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you; look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will.
He joins his hands.
Priest: Who live and reign for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Priest: The Peace of the Lord be with you always.
All: And with your spirit.
Deacon or Priest: Let us offer each other a sign of peace.
And all offer one another a sign, in keeping with local customs, that expresses peace, communion, and charity. The Priest gives the sign of peace to a Deacon or minister.
BREAKING OF THE BREAD
Then he takes the host, breaks it over the paten, and places a small piece in the chalice, saying quietly:
Priest: May this mingling of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.
All: 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.
Then the Priest, with hands joined, says quietly:
Priest:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,
who, by the will of the Father
and the work of the Holy Spirit,
through your Death gave life to the world,
free me by this, your most holy Body and Blood,
from all my sins and from every evil;
keep me always faithful to your commandments,
and never let me be parted from you.
OR:
May the receiving of your Body and Blood,
Lord Jesus Christ,
not bring me to judgement and condemnation,
but through your loving mercy
be for me protection in mind and body
and a healing remedy.
COMMUNION
The Priest genuflects, takes the host and, holding it slightly raised above the paten or above the chalice, he says:
Priest: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
All: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
Priest: May the Body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life. (After he consumes both the Body and Blood of Christ).
After this, he takes the paten or ciborium and approaches the communicants. The Priest raises a host slightly and shows it to each of the communicants, saying:
Communion Minister: The Body of Christ. Communicant: Amen.
And receives Holy Communion.
When the Priest is receiving the Body of Christ, the Communion Chant begins. When the distribution of Communion is over, the Priest or a Deacon purifies the paten over the chalice and also the chalice itself.
Priest: What has passed our lips as food, O Lord, may we possess in purity of heart, that what has been given to us in time may be our healing for eternity.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Then, standing at the altar or at the chair and facing the people, with hands joined, the Priest says:
Priest: Let us pray.
All pray in silence with the Priest unless silence has just been observed. Then the Priest, with hands extended, says the Prayer after Communion, at the end of which people acclaim: Amen.
The Concluding Rite
DISMISSAL
The Priest says any brief announcements here. Then, facing the people, extending his hands, says:
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
The Priest blesses the people, saying:
May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Priest: Go forth, the Mass is ended.
OR: Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.
OR: Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
OR: Go in peace.
All: Thanks be to God.
Then the Priest venerates the altar as usual with a kiss, at the beginning. After making a profound bow with the ministers, he withdraws. If any liturgical action follows immediately, the rites of dismissal are omitted.
RECESSIONAL AND CLOSING SONG
It is quite common to have music played as the Priest and ministers process out of the Church; however, this is not officially stated in the Order of the Mass.
The Liturgy of the Word is composed of readings from the Old Testament and the New Testament, and a Gospel Reading from the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John; the recitation of the Church's main profession of faith, the Nicene Creed, by the entire community; prayers for the people; and the homily.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist is the core of the Mass and the heart of Catholic belief. Monetary gifts of the faithful and the sacrificial gifts of the bread and wine are brought to the altar; the priest and the participants speak a series of formal prayers, including a recitation of the Lord's Prayer; people exchange a sign of peace among themselves; and the entire community watches the transformation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, which believers then receive into their own bodies. This transformation from the simple elements of bread and wine into the physical presence of the divine is called transubstantiation and is a point of mystery and wonder for Catholics.
For centuries, the Mass was celebrated almost always in Latin with little to no variation based on local culture. Following the reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960's, the Church opened the Mass to be celebrated in the languages of the people (vernacular) and encouraged more participation by believers. The Church has charged its adherents around the world with creating Masses that reflect their own cultures and heritages while still retaining the central doctrinal and symbolic elements. This is one of the wonders of the Church: that on any given day a Catholic can attend Mass in any area of the world and find the same ritual being performed: the same scriptures will be read, the same order will be preserved, the same creed will be spoken, and the same Eucharist will be celebrated. This is the basis of connecting Catholics all around the world to each other.
Roman Catholic Liturgical Rites
A Rite represents an ecclesiastical tradition about how sacraments are to be celebrated. Each sacrament has an essential core which must be precisely followed for the sacrament to be deemed acceptable by the Roman Catholic Church. This core derived from the divinely revealed nature of this sacrament. This core cannot be changed by the church as it comes from Scripture and Sacred Tradition which is simply interpreted by the Magisterium.
When the apostles finally brought the Gospel to the cultural centres of their day, the essential elements of religious practice became one with those cultures. The essential elements became enwrapped in the symbols of the people s the rituals conveyed the desired spiritual meaning to that culture.
There are three major groupings of Rites: the Roman, the Antiochian (Syria) and the Alexandrian (Egypt). Later on the Byzantine derived from the Antiochian under the influence of St. Basil and St. John Crysosotom. These are just a few of the Rites that exist in over 20 liturgical Rites present in the Church today.
The most recent revival of the Catholic faith took place when Pope Paul VI undertook a reform of the Mass of the Roman Rite, creating a revised rite with the Missal of 1970. This Missal has since been modified twice since then: in 1975 and 2002. Mass celebrated in accordance with this missal is the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite. The vernacular editions of this Missal, and also the rites of the sacraments, were translated from the Latin typical editions which were revised after the Second Vatican Council. The “Order of the Mass” is derived from the Missale Romanum, or, the Roman Missal.
Introductory Rite
ENTRANCE PROCESSION:
After everyone has gathered in the church, an opening song is sung or recited as the Priest and the ministers enter the church and make their way towards the altar. When he has arrived at the altar, the Priest venerates the altar with a kiss and, if appropriate, incenses the cross and the altar. Then, with the ministers, he goes to the chair.
SIGN OF THE CROSS:
When the Entrance Procession is finished, the Priest and the faithful, standing, sign themselves with the Sign of the Cross, while the Priest, facing the people, says:
Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
GREETING:
The Priest, extending his hands, greets the people, saying:
Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
All: And with your spirit.
OR:
Priest: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
All: And with your spirit.
OR:
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
PENITENTIAL RITE:
The Priest invites the faithful to make the Penitential Act:
Priest: Brethren, let us acknowledge our sings, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
This Rite is then followed by a period of silent reflection.
All: I confess to almighty God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned through my own fault,
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,
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault;
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.
Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.
OR:
Priest: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
All: For we have sinned against you.
Priest: Show us, O Lord, your mercy.
All: And grant us your salvation.
Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.
OR:
The Priest, or a Deacon or another minister, then says the following or other invocations with Kyrie, eleison (Lord, have mercy):
You were sent to heal the contrite of heart: Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
All: Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.
All: Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.
You are seated at the right hand of the father to intercede for us: Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.
KYRIE:
The Kyrie, eleison (Lord, have mercy) invocations follow, unless they have just occurred in a formula of the Penitential Rite.
Priest: Lord, have mercy. All: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Christ, have mercy. All: Christ, have mercy.
Priest: Lord, have mercy. All: Lord, have mercy.
or
Priest: Kyrie, eleison. All: Kyrie, eleison.
Priest: Christe, eleison. All: Christe, eleison.
Priest: Kyrie, eleison. All: Kyrie, eleison.
GLORIA:
In an Advent Mass, the Gloria is not used because it is a season of penitence.
OPENING PRAYER:
Priest: Let us pray.
The congregation prays in silence with the Priest for a while.
Then the Priest, with hands extended, says the Collect prayer, at the end of which the people acclaim:
All: Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
FIRST READING:
Then the reader goes to the ambo and reads the First Reading (from the Old Testament), while all sit and listen.
To indicate the end of the reading, the reader acclaims: The word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM:
The psalmist or cantor sings or says the Psalm, with the people making the response.
SECOND READING:
After this, if there is to be a Second Reading (New Testament), a reader reads it from the ambo, as above.
To indicate the end of the reading, the reader acclaims: The word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION:
There is then an Alleluia or another chant depending on what the liturgical time requires.
Incense may also be used at this time.
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
GOSPEL:
Deacon (or Priest): A reading from the Holy Gospel according to... [Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John]
At this time, he makes the Sign of the Cross on the book and on his forehead, lips, and breast.
All: Glory to you, O Lord.
At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest acclaims: The Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Then, he kisses the book, saying quietly: Through the words of the Gospel may our sins be wiped away.
HOMILY:
Then follows the Homily, which is to be preached by a Priest or Deacon on all Sundays and Holydays of Obligation; on other days, it is recommended.
PROFESSION OF FAITH:
At the end of the Homily, the Symbol or Profession of Faith or Creed, when prescribed, is either sung or said:
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,
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.
Instead of the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, the baptismal Symbol of the Roman Church, known as the Apostles’ Creed, may be used.
Apostles' Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
He descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL:
Then follows the Universal Prayer, that is the Prayer of the Faithful or Bidding Prayers.
Lector: …let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, hear our prayer. [or a similar response, repeated after each petition]
Liturgy of the Eucharist
PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS
The Offertory Chant begins. Meanwhile, the ministers place the corporal, the purificator, the chalice, the pall and the Missal on the altar.
It is desired that the faithful make 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.
The Priest, standing at the altar, takes the paten with the bread and holds it slightly raised above the altar and says:
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become the bread of life.
Then, he places the paten with the bread on the corporal.
All: Blessed be God for ever.
The Priest then pours wine and a little water into the chalice saying quietly:
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.
The Priest then takes the chalice and holds it slightly raised above the altar with both hands saying:
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.
Then, he places the chalice on the corporal.
All: Blessed be God for ever.
If there is no singing during the presentation of the gifts, the priest may say the preceding prayers aloud, and the people may respond. But if a presentation song is being sung, the priest recites these prayers inaudibly, and the people's response is omitted. Then, after the priest has washed his hands and the music is finished, he invites the people to join in prayer:
Priest: Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
All: 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 holy Church.
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS:
Then the Priest, with his hands extended says the Prayer over the Offerings, at the end of which the people acclaim:
All: Amen.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER:
Then the Priest begins the Eucharistic Prayer. Extending and raising his hands, he says:
Priest: The Lord be with you. All: And with your spirit.
Priest: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God. All: It is right and just.
Preface:
At the end of the Preface he joins his hands and concludes the Preface with the people, signing or saying aloud:
All: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
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.
The Priest continues to proclaim the Eucharistic Prayer.
MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION:
Priest: The mystery of faith.
All: We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
or When we eat this Bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
or Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
At the conclusion of the Eucharistic Prayer, the Priest takes the chalice and the paten with the host and, raising both, he says:
Priest: Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Communion Rite
THE LORD’S PRAYER
After the chalice and paten have been set down, the Priest, with his hands joined, says:
At the Saviour’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
He extends his hands and, together with the people, continues:
All: 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, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant us peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we wait the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour 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.
All: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.
SIGN OF PEACE
Then the Priest, with his hands extended, says:
Priest: Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you; look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will.
He joins his hands.
Priest: Who live and reign for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Priest: The Peace of the Lord be with you always.
All: And with your spirit.
Deacon or Priest: Let us offer each other a sign of peace.
And all offer one another a sign, in keeping with local customs, that expresses peace, communion, and charity. The Priest gives the sign of peace to a Deacon or minister.
BREAKING OF THE BREAD
Then he takes the host, breaks it over the paten, and places a small piece in the chalice, saying quietly:
Priest: May this mingling of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.
All: 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.
Then the Priest, with hands joined, says quietly:
Priest:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,
who, by the will of the Father
and the work of the Holy Spirit,
through your Death gave life to the world,
free me by this, your most holy Body and Blood,
from all my sins and from every evil;
keep me always faithful to your commandments,
and never let me be parted from you.
OR:
May the receiving of your Body and Blood,
Lord Jesus Christ,
not bring me to judgement and condemnation,
but through your loving mercy
be for me protection in mind and body
and a healing remedy.
COMMUNION
The Priest genuflects, takes the host and, holding it slightly raised above the paten or above the chalice, he says:
Priest: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
All: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
Priest: May the Body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life. (After he consumes both the Body and Blood of Christ).
After this, he takes the paten or ciborium and approaches the communicants. The Priest raises a host slightly and shows it to each of the communicants, saying:
Communion Minister: The Body of Christ. Communicant: Amen.
And receives Holy Communion.
When the Priest is receiving the Body of Christ, the Communion Chant begins. When the distribution of Communion is over, the Priest or a Deacon purifies the paten over the chalice and also the chalice itself.
Priest: What has passed our lips as food, O Lord, may we possess in purity of heart, that what has been given to us in time may be our healing for eternity.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Then, standing at the altar or at the chair and facing the people, with hands joined, the Priest says:
Priest: Let us pray.
All pray in silence with the Priest unless silence has just been observed. Then the Priest, with hands extended, says the Prayer after Communion, at the end of which people acclaim: Amen.
The Concluding Rite
DISMISSAL
The Priest says any brief announcements here. Then, facing the people, extending his hands, says:
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
The Priest blesses the people, saying:
May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Priest: Go forth, the Mass is ended.
OR: Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.
OR: Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
OR: Go in peace.
All: Thanks be to God.
Then the Priest venerates the altar as usual with a kiss, at the beginning. After making a profound bow with the ministers, he withdraws. If any liturgical action follows immediately, the rites of dismissal are omitted.
RECESSIONAL AND CLOSING SONG
It is quite common to have music played as the Priest and ministers process out of the Church; however, this is not officially stated in the Order of the Mass.