Parts of the Mass

Introductory Rite

The Greeting
The priest welcomes all of us to the celebration.

Penitential Rite
We ask God's forgiveness for our sins.

Gloria
A prayer said or sung by the priest and the people usually on Sundays or special feasts.

Opening Prayer
A prayer said by the priest celebrant, asking God for guidance, strength and courage to love and serve Him.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading
We listen to a reading from the Old Testament (the accounts of God and his love for and covenant with his Chosen People.)

Responsorial Psalm
We pray or sing one of the psalms (songs) from the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament.

Second Reading
This reading is usually one of the letters written by Paul or one of the other apostles and is form the New Testament. (Sometimes this reading is omitted.)

Alleluia
We sing this song of praise before the Gospel. (If it is not sung, then we omit it.)

Gospel
We listen to the accounts - parables of Jesus' life and learn from his example.

Homily
We listen as the priest explains the readings and the gospel and tells us how to use them in our daily lives.

Creed
We summarize what we believe as we say the Nicene Creed.

General Intercessions (Prayer of the Faithful)
We present the needs of the church, the world, our family and friends to God.

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Presentation of the Gifts
We offer our gifts of bread, wine, and ourselves to God

Prayer over the gifts
The priest prays that God will accept our gifts.

Acclamation of Faith
We say or sing Holy, Holy, Holy (a prayer praising the holiness of God.)

Eucharistic Prayer
The priest prays a prayer of thanksgiving and of sanctification. He consecrates the bread and wine - that is, changes it into the body and blood of Jesus.

Memorial Acclamation
We say the prayer of remembrance that Christ died for us and that He will come again.

Great Amen
We say or sing AMEN (that we believe all that the priest has said in the prayer).

Lord's Prayer
Together we say the prayer that Jesus gave us.

Sign of Peace
We wish all those around us the peace of Christ.

Lamb of God
We say or sing that Jesus is the Lamb of God who came into the world to save us.

Communion
The priest and each of us receive the Body of Christ. On special days and feasts, the people may receive both the Body and the Blood of Jesus.

Prayer after Communion
The priest prays that receiving the Eucharist will give us a new purpose in life.

Concluding Rite

Blessing
The priest blesses all those who have celebrated together

Dismissal
The priest asks that as we leave Mass, we remember to love and serve God.