The Order of Mass

The Introductory Rites

The Introductory Rites help the faithful, come together as one, establish communion and prepare
themselves to listen to the Word of God and to celebrate the Eucharist worthily.

All stand. The Priest approaches the altar with the Have mercy on us, O Lord.
ministers and venerates it while the Entrance Song is
sung. For we have sinned against you.
Sign of the Cross Show us, O Lord, your mercy.
All make the Sign of the Cross as the Priest says: And grant us your salvation.
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. You were sent to heal
Amen. the contrite of heart:
Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
Greeting Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God, You came to call sinners:
and the communion of the Holy Spirit Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.
be with you all. Or:
Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.
Grace to you and peace You are seated at the right hand
from God our Father of the Father to intercede for us:
and the Lord Jesus Christ. Or: Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
The Lord be with you. Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
The absolution by the Priest follows:
And with your spirit.
May almighty God have mercy on us,
Penitential Act forgive us our sins,
The Priest invites the faithful to the Penitential Act. and bring us to everlasting life.
Then one of the Penitential Acts follows:
Amen.
I confess to almighty God
The Kyrie, eleison (Lord, have mercy) may follow.
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned, Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
in my thoughts and in my words, Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
in what I have done Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.
and in what I have failed to do, Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.
And, striking their breast, they say: Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
through my fault, through my fault, Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary The Gloria
When indicated this hymn is either sung or said:
ever-Virgin,
Glory to God in the highest,
all the Angels and Saints,
and on earth peace to people
and you, my brothers and sisters,
of good will.
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
We praise you,
we bless you,
we adore you, For you alone are the Holy One,
we glorify you, you alone are the Lord,
we give you thanks you alone are the Most High,
for your great glory, Jesus Christ,
Lord God, heavenly King, with the Holy Spirit,
O God, almighty Father. in the glory of God the Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Amen.
Lord God, Lamb of God, The Collect
Son of the Father, When this hymn is concluded, the Priest, says:
you take away the sins of the world, Let us pray.
have mercy on us; And all pray in silence with the Priest for a while.
Then the Priest says the Collect prayer, at the end of
you take away the sins of the world, which the people acclaim:
receive our prayer; Amen.
you are seated at the right hand
of the Father,
have mercy on us.
The 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.

First Reading  all sit The Homily all sit

To indicate the end of the reading, the reader acclaims: At the end of the Homily it is appropriate for there to be
The word of the Lord. a brief silence for recollection.

Thanks be to God. The Apostles’ Creed  all stand

On Sundays and Solemnities, the Profession of Faith
Psalm or Creed will follow. During Lent and Easter Time,
After the First Reading the psalmist or cantor sings or especially, the Apostles’ Creed may be used.
says the Psalm, with the people making the response. I believe in God,
Second Reading the Father almighty,
On Sundays and certain other days there is a second Creator of heaven and earth,
reading. It concludes with the same response as above.
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son,
Gospel our Lord,
The assembly stands to sing the Gospel Acclamation to
At the words that follow, up to and including the Virgin
welcome the Gospel. They remain standing in honour of
Mary, all bow.
the Gospel reading, the high point of the Liturgy of the
Word. who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
The Lord be with you. born of the Virgin Mary,
And with your spirit. suffered under Pontius Pilate,
A reading from the holy Gospel was crucified, died and was buried;
according to N. he descended into hell;
Glory to you, O Lord. on the third day he rose again
from the dead;
At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest,
acclaims: he ascended into heaven,
The Gospel of the Lord. and is seated at the right hand
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge The Prayer of the Faithful
the living and the dead. After each intention there is a pause while the faithful
pray.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, Lord, in your mercy.
the holy catholic Church, Hear our prayer.
the communion of saints, The Priest concludes the Prayer with a collect.
the forgiveness of sins, When the Liturgy of the Word has been completed, the
the resurrection of the body, people sit.

and life everlasting. Amen.

The 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.
During the Offertory Song the gifts of bread and wine The Priest concludes the Preface with the people, singing
are brought in procession. The Priest offers the prayers Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
of blessing quietly at the altar. If the priest says the
prayers aloud the assembly’s acclamation each time is Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Blessed be God for ever. Hosanna in the highest.
The Priest completes additional personal preparatory Blessed is he who comes in the name
rites, and the people rise as he says: of the Lord.
Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters), Hosanna in the highest.
that my sacrifice and yours The Priest continues with the Eucharistic Prayer.
may be acceptable to God, After the words of Consecration the priest says:
the almighty Father. The mystery of faith.
May the Lord accept the sacrifice We proclaim your Death, O Lord,
at your hands and profess your Resurrection
for the praise and glory of his name, until you come again. Or:
for our good When we eat this Bread
and the good of all his holy Church. and drink this Cup,
Then the Priest says the Prayer over the Offerings, at the we proclaim your Death, O Lord,
end of which the people acclaim:
until you come again. Or:
Amen.
Save us, Saviour of the world,
The Eucharistic Prayer for by your Cross and Resurrection
The Lord be with you. you have set us free.
And with your spirit. At the conclusion of the prayer the Priest takes the
Lift up your hearts. chalice and the paten with the host and, raising both,
he says:
We lift them up to the Lord.
Through him, and with him, and in him,
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. O God, almighty Father,
It is right and just. in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honour is yours,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Communion Rite Breaking of the Bread
The Lord’s Prayer all stand Lamb of God, you take away the sins
At the Saviour’s command of the world, have mercy on us.
and formed by divine teaching, Lamb of God, you take away the sins
we dare to say: of the world, have mercy on us.
Our Father, who art in heaven, Lamb of God, you take away the sins
hallowed be thy name; of the world, grant us peace.
thy kingdom come, Invitation to Communion all kneel
thy will be done After his private prayers of preparation the Priest
genuflects, takes the host and, holding it slightly raised
on earth as it is in heaven. above the paten or above the chalice says aloud:
Give us this day our daily bread, Behold the Lamb of God,
and forgive us our trespasses, behold him who takes away
as we forgive those who trespass the sins of the world.
against us; Blessed are those called
and lead us not into temptation, to the supper of the Lamb.
but deliver us from evil. Lord, I am not worthy
Deliver us, Lord… that you should enter under my roof,
and the coming of our Saviour, but only say the word
Jesus Christ. and my soul shall be healed.
For the kingdom, Communion
the power and the glory are yours The communicants come forward in reverent
procession, and make a preparatory act of reverence by
now and for ever. bowing their head in honour of Christ’s presence in the
Lord Jesus Christ… Sacrament.

Who live and reign for ever and ever. The Body (Blood) of Christ.
Amen. Amen.
After the distribution of Communion, if appropriate, a
The peace of the Lord sacred silence may be observed for a while, or a psalm
be with you always. or other canticle of praise or a hymn may be sung.
And with your spirit. Prayer after Communion all stand
Let us offer each other Let us pray.
All pray in silence. Then the Priest says the Prayer after
the sign of peace. Communion, at the end of which the people acclaim:
All offer one another the customary sign of peace.
Amen.
The Concluding Rites
The Concluding Rites send people forth to put into effect in their lives what they have received.
Blessing Dismissal
The Lord be with you. Then the Deacon, or the Priest says one of the following:

And with your spirit. Go forth, the Mass is ended.

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.
May almighty God bless you, Go in peace, glorifying the Lord
the Father, and the Son, by your life:
and the Holy Spirit. Go in peace.
Amen. Thanks be to God.
Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.
Compilation & layout © 2011 Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. www.missal.org.uk MCAL