The Order of the Mass: Sequence of Mass parts

Understanding the Revised Mass Texts

You may find the following 'Step by Step Walk through the Mass' helpful.

The Introductory Rites

• Gathering for Worship:

The etymology of the word "religion" reminds us that, at its roots, it means "reconnection."  Each time we gather, we are seeking to reconnect with God, with our sisters and brothers in Christ, with all of humanity and creation.  It helps, then, to ask ourselves whether our gathering activity is, in some small way perhaps, serving each of those connections.

• The Entrance Procession:

A Song or Psalm of celebration.  The Entrance procession and entrance song are meant to be a movement that unites all members of the worshipping assembly in prayer and worship.  As we come together God's people and God's ministers literally approach the Lord's Table "to remember the sacrifice of Christ and celebrate the resurrection.  The procession should help the ministers and the people to focus on their act of worship, and help them identify as a worshipping community.

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) directs the usual order of procession as follows: the thurifer (if incense is used); a crossbearer and two ministers carrying lighted candles; other ministers serving the liturgy; a lector (or a deacon if one is present) who carries the Book of the Gospels, the deacon and the priest celebrating the Mass.

The GIRM also states the purpose of the entrance song during this procession  "...is to

1. open the celebration,
2. foster the unity of those who have been gathered,
3. introduce their thoughts to the mystery of the liturgical season or festivity, and
4. accompany the procession of the priest and minsters." (GIRM₄₇)

• The Sign of the Cross and Greeting
• Liturgical Dialogues
• The Act of Penitence
• The Gloria
• The Collect: the Opening Prayer

The Liturgy of the Word

The Profession of Faith

The Liturgy of the Eucharist

• The Preparation of the Gifts

The Eucharistic Prayer

• The Opening Dialogue
• Preface
• Holy, Holy, Holy
• Thanksgiving
• Acclamation
• Epiclesis
• Institution Narrative and Consecration:
• Anamesis

         - Take this, All of You, and Eat of it, For this is My Body, which will be Given Up for You.

         - Take this, All of You, and Drink from it, For this is the Chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the New and Eternal Covenant,

           which will be poured out For You and For Many for the Forgiveness of sins.  Do this in memory of Me.

• Offering
• Intercessions
• Final Doxology

The Mystery of Faith   "Mysterium Fidei"

Immediately following the consecration and therefore the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of the Lord, the priest is directed to say 'The Mystery of Faith'.  Then the whole congregation prays to Christ, now present upon the altar.  What the newly revised translation beautifully brings out is, that what we, as a congregation, are saying, is a prayer to our Lord now present on our altar in the species of His Body and Blood.  The acclamation that had the form, 'Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again' has been omitted: this does not even occur in the Latin text, and does not have the form of a prayer to Christ.

Each of the three acclamations that remain have been carefully revised so as to bring out, even more clearly, that they are prayers to Christ now really present on the altar.

It is a form of a prayer, and not just the form of a declarative sentence.  The reason for these changes throughout the Mass is, of course, to enable us to pray better.  In this particular place, they are to help us to focus on the mystery of faith before us: Christ being really present on the altar.                                                                                                      -    Fr. Joseph Koterski, S.J., Fordham University, Bronx, New York

• We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
• When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, untill you come again.
• Save us, Savior of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.

The Communion Rite

• The Lord's Prayer
• Sign of Peace
• Lamb of God
• Prayer after Communion

The Concluding Rites

• Dismissal Options:

     Go forth, the Mass is ended,

     Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord

     Go in Peace, glorifying the Lord in your life

     Go in Peace

When Mass concludes, we do not just leave the building.  We enter the world with a mission. 

The Mass ends with words of praise, words we say having experienced exhilaration or relief, surprise or ecstasy: our response is:

"Thanks be to God."

Additonal Resources:

For Pew Cards: www.Magnificantmissal.com