Just a friendly reminder that there is no obligation of penance or abstinence from meat tomorrow, June 29, because it is the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. This is also a holy day of obligation in some countries, including England, Scotland, and Wales. It is not a holy day of obligation in the United States.
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Click here for Part 1: Preparations before Mass.
At a Low Mass, the priest is assisted by only one or two servers, and there is no music or incense. Only two candles are lit on the altar. Although it does not have some of the beautiful ceremonies of a Solemn Mass, it is the simplest form of the Mass to understand and participate in. Thus, in this article, I will walk you through a typical Low Mass. Afterwards, I will explain the parts that are different in a Sung or Solemn Mass.
If you like Holy Mass and More, you can subscribe by e-mail in the sidebar so that you won't miss any new posts!
Click here for Part 1: Preparations before Mass.
At a Low Mass, the priest is assisted by only one or two servers, and there is no music or incense. Only two candles are lit on the altar. Although it does not have some of the beautiful ceremonies of a Solemn Mass, it is the simplest form of the Mass to understand and participate in. Thus, in this article, I will walk you through a typical Low Mass. Afterwards, I will explain the parts that are different in a Sung or Solemn Mass.
The
congregation stands, sits, and kneels for certain parts of the Mass.
The postures and actions of
the congregation are not regulated by the rubrics, only by custom.
Thus, they sometimes vary
from place to place or even
from person to person.
As
a general rule, follow what other people are doing.
All
rise when the server rings the bell. The priest and server go in
procession to the altar. The
priest approaches
the altar to unfold the corporal and place the chalice. He then
returns
to the bottom of the altar steps to begin Mass. Kneel when the server
does.
The
priest and server say
the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar aloud together. You can follow
along in the missal and
silently say the prayers with the priest. The Prayers at the Foot of
the Altar are found in the Ordinary of the Mass in the missal. We
open with Psalm 42
and then pray the Confiteor, which
the server says on our behalf,
asking God for mercy and grace to prepare ourselves to offer the Holy
Sacrifice. Make the Sign of
the Cross at the verse “Adiutorium nostrum in nomine Domini,”
before the Confiteor. When
the server says the Confiteor, we strike our breasts three times at
the words, “Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.”
At
the end of the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, the priest goes
up to the altar, kisses
it, and then reads
the Introit. The Introit is
found in the missal in the propers of the day. Unless it is a Mass
for the Dead (also known as a Requiem Mass), all make the Sign of the
Cross when the priest begins the Introit. The priest then says
the Kyrie alternately with the server. If
the day is of a joyful nature, the priest says
the Gloria at the middle of the altar. The Kyrie and Gloria are both
found in the Ordinary of the Mass. The congregation remains kneeling.
At the words, “Cum Sancto
Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris,” at the end of the Gloria, make the
Sign of the Cross.
The
priest then kisses
the altar and turns
to greet the people, saying, “Dominus vobiscum.” The server
responds, “Et cum spiritu tuo.” In some parishes, it is customary
for the people to say this and
other responses
with the server.
Everything the server says
and does is on the people's behalf.
The priest prays
the collects at the epistle
side of the altar, which are
found in the propers for the day and for whatever occasions may be
commemorated. They always
conclude, “Per omnia saecula saeculorum,” to which the server
responds, “Amen.”
Next
is the Epistle, which the priest reads while the congregation remains
kneeling. It is found in the propers of the day. At the end, the
server says, “Deo gratias.” The
priest then reads aloud the Gradual, Alleluia verse, Tract, or
whatever is appointed to be read between the Epistle and Gospel.
After he has said these, the server moves the missal from the epistle
side to the gospel side of the altar (right
side to the left side when facing it).
Meanwhile, the priest bows down in the middle of the altar and
silently says the prayer Munda cor meum.
All
rise for the Gospel. The priest begins with the greeting, “Dominus
vobiscum.” When he says, “Sequentia (or Initium) sancti
Evangelii...” make a small Sign of the Cross with your thumb on
your forehead, lips, and breast, as a nonverbal way of praying that
the Gospel may be on our minds, our lips, and our hearts. Remain
standing while the priest reads the Gospel. At the end, the server
responds, “Laus tibi, Christe,” and the priest kisses the missal
at the place where the Gospel is printed,
silently praying, “Per Evangelica dicta deleantur nostra delicta.”
If
it is a Sunday, major holy day, or sometimes
an ordinary weekday, the priest may preach a sermon. Sit down as he
approaches the pulpit. First,
he might read the Epistle and
Gospel again in English.
If he does, sit for the
Epistle, stand for the Gospel, and then sit again. There are no
responses by the server or congregation when the Epistle and Gospel
are read in English.
You do not have to make the small Signs of the Cross again
when the Gospel is read, though you can if you want to.
The priest may also read some announcements. The sermon, always
in English, is customarily
begun and concluded with the Sign of the Cross. After the sermon, the
priest returns to the altar.
If
it is a Sunday or major holy day, the priest will then read aloud the
Credo, also called the Nicene Creed. It is found in the Ordinary of
the Mass. The people stand. At the words, “Et incarnatus est de
Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est,” genuflect on
your right knee in adoration of our Lord's Incarnation. At
the words, “Et vitam venturi saeculi,” at the end of the Credo,
make the Sign of the Cross.
The
priest will then greet the people with Dominus vobiscum and
read aloud the Offertory verse, which is found in the propers. The
congregation then sits. If there is a sermon but no Credo, you can
remain sitting after the sermon. This is the beginning of the Mass of
the Faithful. The priest now prepares the bread and wine and offers
them to God. They will soon become the Body and Blood of Christ. In
some parishes, the bell is rung when the priest unveils the chalice.
The Offertory prayers are found in the Ordinary of the Mass and are
said silently by the priest.
During
the Offertory, especially on Sundays, the ushers may collect the
people's monetary offerings for the support of the parish. They
proceed from the front of the church to the back with the collection
basket. If you are offering something, have it out and ready when the
usher comes by. Visitors are not expected to contribute money, though
generosity is always appreciated. Catholic parishes rely on free will
offerings. Catholics are obligated to make some sort of material
contribution to the support of their parish.
Toward
the end of the Offertory, the priest turns toward the people and says
in a soft but audible voice the two words, “Orate fratres.” As he
turns back to the altar, he continues silently, “ut meum ac vestrum
sacrificium acceptabile fiat apud Deum Patrem omnipotentem.” Here,
the priest is inviting us to participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass by asking us to pray that his sacrifice and ours may be
acceptable to God. The server responds by praying for this intention.
The priest then silently prays the secrets, which are found in the
propers of the day and of the occasions being commemorated.
The
priest concludes the secrets aloud and proceeds with the Sursum
corda dialogue, printed in the Ordinary of the Mass, followed by
the Preface. After the Preface, the priest says the Sanctus in a soft
but audible voice. At the beginning of the Sanctus, the server rings
the bell, and all kneel. This is the hymn of adoration of the holy
angels, so we join the angels in kneeling before God's throne. The
priest bows down while saying the first part of the Sanctus, and we
may bow our heads as well. At the words, “Benedictus qui venit in
nomine Domini,” we make the Sign of the Cross.
The
priest then reads the Canon of the Mass silently, with the people
kneeling. It is printed in the Ordinary of the Mass. During this most
important and sacred part of the Mass, there is silence in the
church. The server rings the bell once at the prayer “Hanc igitur,”
warning us that the bread and wine are about to become the Body and
Blood of Christ.
After
the priest pronounces the words of consecration of the Host, he
genuflects in adoration, and the bell is rung once. He then elevates
the Host, and the bell is rung three more times. Look at the Sacred
Host, knowing that it is God himself under the humble appearance of
bread, and say silently the words of St. Thomas the Apostle when he
believed that our Lord was risen: “My Lord and my God!” You can
also add one of the prayers given by Our Lady of Fatima: “Most Holy
Trinity, I adore thee! My God, my God, I love thee in the Most
Blessed Sacrament!” The priest genuflects again, and the bell is
rung once more. This same ritual follows the consecration of the
Chalice. Look up at the Chalice of our Lord's Precious Blood and say
silently again, “My Lord and my God!”
Later
in the Canon, the priest says the words, “Nobis quoque
peccatoribus,” in a soft but audible voice and then continues
silently. He strikes his breast when he says these words, but the
server does not. At the end of the Canon, he says aloud, “Per omnia
saecula saeculorum,” to which the server responds, “Amen.”
We
remain kneeling while the priest says the Pater noster
aloud. The server says the final line. The priest says the next
prayer silently while he breaks the Host. He again concludes aloud,
“Per omnia saecula saeculorum.” He then says aloud, “Pax Domini
sit semper vobiscum,” and the server responds, “Et cum spiritu
tuo.” After a silent prayer, the priest says the Agnus Dei aloud.
At the words, “Miserere nobis,” in each of the first two lines,
and the words, “Dona nobis pacem,” in the third line, we strike
our breasts. If it is a Mass for the Dead, instead of “Miserere
nobis,” the priest says, “Dona eis requiem,” and instead of
“Dona nobis pacem,” he says, “Dona eis requiem sempiternam.”
We do not strike our breasts at Masses for the Dead.
Next,
the priest bows down and silently the three prayers in preparation
for Communion. After these, he takes the paten and Host and says
three times in a soft but audible voice, “Domine, non sum dignus,”
before continuing silently. The server rings the bell each of the
three times. The priest eats the Sacred Host and drinks the Precious
Blood.
Depending
on local custom, the server may say the Confiteor again on behalf of
the people before we receive Communion. Like before, we strike our
breasts three times at the words, “Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima
culpa.” The priest says the prayers “Misereatur...” and
“Indulgentiam...” He then takes the ciborium, turns to the
people, holds up a small Host, and invites us to Communion with the
words, “Ecce Agnus Dei...” He then adds, “Domine, non sum
dignus...” three times on our behalf. In some parishes, the people
say these words with the priest.
In
order to receive Communion, you must be a practicing Catholic in a
state of grace and fasting for at least one hour. “State of grace”
means you are not conscious of any mortal sins that have not yet been
absolved through the sacrament of Penance. Children usually receive
their first Holy Communion around age seven, after a period of
preparation. Finally, you may not receive Communion more than twice
in one day, and the second time must be at Mass. This restriction
does not apply to Viaticum, or Communion given to someone in danger
of death.
If
you are not receiving Communion, sit down and raise the kneeler to
allow others to get by. If you want, you may make an act of spiritual
Communion. No one will judge you or think anything of the fact that
you are not receiving Communion. If you are receiving Communion,
stand up and get in line after the people in front of you have done
so. You do not need to jump up as soon as the priest starts
distributing Communion. Do not genuflect when you leave your pew.
Since receiving Communion is a very personal experience, it is best
to keep your eyes directly in front of you and avoid staring or
watching people's faces during Communion. Kneel at the altar rail as
close as comfortably possible to the person next to you. If you
cannot kneel, you can stand. If there is a communion cloth, put your
hands under it. When the priest comes to you, close your eyes, open
your mouth, and stick out your tongue, and the priest will place the
Host on your tongue. The server will hold a paten under your chin to
catch the Host in case it falls. After you have received the Host,
make the Sign of the Cross and then go back to your pew. Try not to
chew the Host if you can avoid it, so that it does not get stuck in
your teeth.
After
receiving Communion, kneel in your pew and adore and thank God for
what you have just received. Some people cover their faces with their
hands while praying after Communion because of how intense and
personal the experience is. For at least a little while, your body is
a temple of the Blessed Sacrament. This is the closest we can
possibly be to God while on earth. Meditate for a moment on Jesus's
presence in your body. A popular prayer for after Communion is the
Anima Christi, which is found in most missals.
After
everyone has received Communion, the priest will perform the
ablutions and then read the Communion verse aloud. He then greets the
people and says the postcommunions, which are found in the propers.
The congregation remains kneeling. The rest of the Mass is in the
Ordinary of the Mass. After the priest gives the blessing, stand for
the Last Gospel. All genuflect at the words, “Et verbum caro factum
est,” in adoration of our Lord's Incarnation.
In
many parishes, at the end of Low Mass, the priest and server kneel at
the foot of the altar and say the Leonine Prayers in English. The
congregation says them with the priest while kneeling. Some parishes
add additional prayers after the Leonine Prayers by local custom.
After these, the priest and server exit. The congregation stands as
the priest and server leave the church. After Mass, make a private
act of thanksgiving to God for the grace that he has given to us in
the Mass. Remember the holy souls in purgatory, who always need our
prayers.
When
you are finished adoring and thanking God, genuflect as you leave the
pew and exit the church. If the Blessed Sacrament is exposed on the
altar, exit using a side aisle to avoid turning your back to the
Blessed Sacrament. In this case, kneel on both knees and make a
profound bow. If you want, you can bless yourself with holy water
again as you exit. Keep silence until you are in the vestibule.
Assisting
at Sung Mass or Solemn Mass
At
a Solemn Mass, the priest is assisted by deacon and subdeacon,
everything is sung, and incense is used. A Sung Mass is similar to a
Solemn Mass, except that there is no deacon or subdeacon. Incense is
usually used at a Sung Mass, but it is not required. Six candles are
usually lit on the altar for both Sung and Solemn Mass, but four may
be used for Sung Mass. They are both commonly referred to as “High
Mass.” The manner of assisting at Sung or Solemn Mass is a little
different from a Low Mass, so I will explain the differences here.
Everything else is done as in a Low Mass.
The
procession to the altar is commonly led by a large crucifix. Some
people choose to bow or make the Sign of Cross when the crucifix
passes them. Some people also choose to bow when the priest passes
them in procession. If it is a Sunday, the Asperges will take place
before Mass. Remain standing while the priest walks up and down the
church, sprinkling everyone with holy water. When you are sprinkled
with holy water, make the Sign of the Cross. Meanwhile, the choir
will sing the antiphon Asperges me
or, in Eastertide, the antiphon Vidi aquam.
You can sing with the choir
if you feel comfortable doing so. At the end, the priest and
ministers will kneel in front of the altar to sing a prayer. The
congregation remains standing.
Sit
for a moment while the priest changes from cope to chasuble. The
choir will begin singing the Introit. Kneel as the priest and
ministers approach the altar.
While the choir is singing, the priest and ministers say the Prayers
at the Foot of the Altar. Afterwards, the priest incenses the altar.
When the choir finishes the Introit, they begin singing the Kyrie.
You can always sing with the choir on any part of the Mass that you
feel comfortable singing.
The
priest sings the first few words of the Gloria, and the choir
continues. Stand when the priest begins the Gloria. When the priest
finishes reading the Gloria to himself, he and the ministers go to
sit down. The congregation sits down after the priest sits down and
then stands when the priest does after the Gloria. Make the Sign of
the Cross when the choir sings, “Cum Sancto Spiritu,” at the end
of the Gloria. If there is no Gloria, stand when the priest sings,
“Dominus vobiscum,” before the collects.
Next,
the priest at a Sung Mass or the subdeacon at a Solemn Mass sings the
Epistle. The congregation sits. After the Epistle, the choir sings
the Gradual, Alleluia verse, Tract, or whatever is appointed. Stand
when the priest or deacon sings the Gospel. Sit for the sermon if
there is one.
Like
the Gloria, the priest sings the first few words of the Credo, and
the choir continues, with the congregation standing. Kneel while the
choir sings, “Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine,
et homo factus est,” and
then stand again. At a Sung Mass, sit after the priest sits down. At
a Solemn Mass, remain standing while the deacon
unfolds the corporal on the altar, and then sit when the deacon and
subdeacon sit. Stand when the
priest stands at the end of the Credo. Make the Sign of the Cross
when the choir sings, “Et vitam venturi saeculi.” The priest then
goes to the altar to begin the Offertory.
During
the Offertory, the choir sings the Offertory verse. They
may also sing other pieces, or the organ may be played.
The congregation stands when
they are incensed and then remains standing. The priest sings the
Preface, and then the choir sings the Sanctus while the priest begins
saying the Canon silently. If the choir is singing a polyphonic
setting of the Sanctus, they pause after the first “Hosanna in
excelsis” and then resume after the consecration of the Host and
Chalice. The priest ends the Canon singing aloud, “Per omnia
saecula saeculorum.” Stand while the priest sings the Our Father.
After the priest sings, “Pax
Domini sit semper vobiscum,” and the choir responds, the
congregation kneels. At a
Sung Mass, the servers may say the Confiteor before Communion. At a
Solemn Mass, the deacon sings
the Confiteor. The choir
sings the Communion verse during Communion, and they may also sing
other pieces, like at the Offertory.
After
Communion, stand when the priest sings, “Dominus vobiscum.” The
priest then sings the postcommunions. Kneel for the blessing, and
then stand again for the Last Gospel. The Leonine Prayers are not
said after Sung or Solemn Mass. A hymn may be sung as the priest and
ministers exit.
As
a final note, I acknowledge again that the traditional Latin Mass can
be confusing and intimidating if you are unfamiliar with it. Don't
worry about doing everything right or following all of the rules.
This article is intended to be a general guide rather than a strict
set of rules. The most important thing is to go to Mass, worship God,
and receive his grace.