For the Spanish Version of the Liturgy, click here
For the Latin Version of the Liturgy, click here
Copyright © 2001-2005, 2009
by the
American Catholic Union
(Said in the Sacristy, as
the Priest prepares for Mass)
{First,
the Prayer of Intention:}
I wish to celebrate Mass and confect the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the rite of the holy Church, to the praise of almighty God and all of the Church Triumphant, for my well being and that of all of the Church Militant, for all those commended to my prayers in general and in specific, and for the favorable state of the holy Church. Amen.
(Then, washing his hands, he says:)
Give strength, O Lord, to my hands by this washing, so that I may serve You without sin, either physical or mental.
{Then, if he uses the Amice, he says: }
Lord, put the helmet of salvation on my head, that I may be
defended against the incursions of the devil.
(Donning the Alb, he says: )
Make me white, O Lord, and cleanse my mouth, so that, washed in
the Blood of the Lamb, I may offer you praise forever.
(Donning the cincture, he says: )
Bind me up, O lord, with the cincture of purity, and extinguish
the flames of lust in me; that the virtues of continence and chastity
may find root in me.
(Putting on the Stole, he says: )
Adorn me, O Lord, with the stole of immortality, which was lost
with the lies of our first parents; that, however unworthy I may be
to go into your sacred mysteries, I may merit eternal joy through
them.
(Putting on the Chasuble, he says: )
O Lord, You who said: "My yoke is easy, and my load is light"; make me worthy to bear that yoke and that burden, that I may earn your grace.
Amen.
{While in procession from the Sacristy to the Sanctuary, the Celebrant, Assistants, and Acolytes sing or say either The Asperges or Psalm 42: }
{From Trinity Sunday to Palm Sunday is said: }
Cel: Sprinkle me ...
Res: ...with
Hyssop, O Lord, and I shall be cleansed; Wash me, and I will be
whiter than snow.
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
according to Your Great mercy.
(In Eastertide - Palm Sunday to Trinity Sunday - is said: )
Cel: I saw water . . .
Res: flowing from the right side of the Temple -
Alleluia!
And all to whom that water came were saved, and they shall say:
Alleluia!
Give praise to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endures
forever!
(and it continues: )
All: Glory be to the Father , and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, throughout all Ages of Ages, Amen.
(The Antiphon is repeated: )
Cel: "Sprinkle me . . ." or "I saw water . . ."
(and continues with: )
Cel: O Lord, show
Your mercy on us.
Res:
And grant us Your salvation.
Cel:
O Lord, hear my prayer,
Res:
And let my cry come unto You.
Cel:
The Lord be with you.
Res:
And with your spirit.
Cel: Let us pray:
Graciously hear us, O holy Lord, Father Almighty, Eternal God; and send Your holy angel from heaven, who may keep, cherish, protect, visit, and defend all who are assembled in this place. This we ask through Jesus Christ Our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, throughout all ages of ages,
Amen.
[All Stand]
(Having arrived at the steps at the foot of the Altar, there is said the following: )
Cel: In the name
of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
All:
Amen
Cel: I will go
unto the Altar of God
All:
Unto God, who gives joy to my soul.
Cel:
Our help + is in the Name of the Lord
All: Who made
heaven and earth.
{In Masses for the Dead, and
from Passion Sunday until Easter Eve inclusive
(unless a Festival
occur), the Psalm, Glory be,
etc.,
and repetition of the following Antiphon are left out.}
Cel: Judge me, O
God, and defend my cause against the ungodly people: deliver me from
the deceitful and the wicked man.
All:
For You are the God of my strength; why have You put me from You, and
why go I so heavily while the enemy oppresses me?
Cel:
Send out Your light and Your truth that they may lead me: and bring
me unto Your holy mountain, and to Your dwelling-place.
All:
And I will go unto the Altar of God, to God who gives joy to my soul.
Cel: On the harp
I will give thanks unto You, O God, my God.
Why are you sad, O my soul, and why do you disturb me?
All:
O put your trust in God; for I will yet give Him thanks: Who is the
help of my countenance, and my God.
Cel:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
All: As it was in
the beginning is now, and ever shall be world without end, Amen
Cel: My brothers and sisters, in order to prepare ourselves to celebrate these sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins.
{We pause a few moments to recall our sins, then is said:}
All: I confess to Almighty God, one in the Holy Trinity, to Blessed Mary, Ever-Virgin, to Blessed Michael the Archangel, to Blessed John the Baptist, to the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the saints, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned by thought, word, and deed . . .
{We strike our breast three times, saying:}
Through my fault; Through my fault; Through my great fault.
Therefore I ask Blessed Mary, Ever-Virgin, Blessed Michael the Archangel, Blessed John the Baptist, the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray to the Lord Our God for me.
All: May Almighty
God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to
everlasting life.
Amen
Cel: May Our Lord
Jesus Christ absolve you, and by His authority I absolve you from
your sins,
in the Name of the Father +
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All:
Amen.
Cel: O God, You
shall again revive us
All:
And Your people will rejoice in You.
Cel:
Show us, O Lord, Your mercy.
All:
And grant us Your salvation
Cel:
O Lord, hear our prayer
All:
And let our cry come unto You.
Cel:
The Lord be with you.
All:
And with Your spirit
Cel: Let us pray
Take away from us our iniquities, we pray you, O Lord, that we may be worthy to enter with pure minds into your Holy of Holies. Through Christ Our Lord.
All: Amen
The Collect for Purity
Cel: Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You, and worthily magnify Your Holy Name; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
{He then reads the INTROIT From the Mass Book, ending with: }
Cel: Glory be to
the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
All:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world
without end,
Amen.
Cel: Lord, have mercy on us
or Kyrie Eleison
All:
Lord, have mercy on us
Kyrie Eleison
Cel: Lord, have mercy on us
Kyrie Eleison
All: Christ, have mercy on
us Christe
Eleison
Cel: Christ, have mercy on us
Christe Eleison
All: Christ, have mercy on
us Christe
Eleison
Cel: Lord, have mercy on us
Kyrie Eleison
All: Lord, have mercy on
us
Kyrie Eleison
Cel: Lord, have mercy on us
Kyrie Eleison
(omitted
in Masses for the Dead, also in Lent, Advent, etc.,
unless the
Mass be of a saint.)
{All sing or say:}
Glory
be to God on high, and on earth peace to men of good will.
We
praise You, we bless You, we adore You, we glorify You.
We give
You thanks for Your great glory,
O Lord God, heavenly King, God
the Father Almighty;
Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten son
Lord
God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
You take away the sins of
the world,
Have mercy on us
You take away the sins of the
world,
Receive our prayers
You sit at the right hand of the
Father,
Have mercy on us.
For You alone are holy, You alone are Lord, You alone
are most high,
O Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory
of God the Father.
Amen.
Cel: The Lord be
with you
Res: And
with Your spirit.
Cel: Almighty God......
{The Collect is read from the Mass Book (Sacramentary)}
...through Christ Our Lord
Res: Amen.
[All Sit]
Read by a lay person or guest
Lector: A reading from the book of ..., beginning at the __ Chapter and the __ Verse.
{O.T. Reading, from the Lectionary}
...The Word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God.
{From the Mass Book}
Lector: The Reponsorial Psalm is
taken from Psalm __
The Response is:
All:
{Repeat the Response}
{Traditionally read by
the Subdeacon}
Lector: A reading from the Letter of St. ...... to ......, beginning at the __ Chapter and the __ Verse
{Epistle, from the Lectionary}
...The Word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God.
All Stand
Choir: Alleluia.....
Lector:
{Gospel Acclamation, from the Lectionary}
Choir: Alleluia.....
{said by the Deacon or Priest who will read the GOSPEL}
Gospeller: Cleanse my heart and my lips, that I may worthily proclaim Your Holy Gospel, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen
{The Gospeller then turns to the Bishop or the principal Celebrant, and says quietly:}
Gospeller: Give me your blessing, Father. ("Your Grace" if the Bishop is present) {Jube, domne, benedicere}
{The Bishop or Celebrant then says}
Cel: May the Lord be in Your heart and on Your lips, that you may worthily proclaim His Gospel; In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen
{Here the Gospeller makes the sign of the cross on the page where the Gospel is written}
Gospeller: +
The continuation (or beginning) of the holy Gospel according
to.........
All: Glory be to
You, O Lord
{Gospel, from the Lectionary}
Gospeller: The
Gospel of the Lord.
All:
Praise be to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
{Then the Gospeller kisses the Gospel book, and says in a low voice:}
Gospeller: By the words
of the Gospel
May our sins be wiped away!
{All sit for the SERMON, which ends:}
Preacher: . . . in the Name of the Father + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen
Cel: Let us all stand for the Nicene Creed, our ancient Profession of Faith
[All Stand]
Cel: I believe in one God,
All: the Father, the Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father; God from God, Light from Light; true God from true God; Begotten, not made; one in Being with the Father, Through Him all things were made. For us men, and for our salvation, he came down from heaven;
{Here, we kneel in reverence for the Lord's Incarnation}
<>By the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary; and Became Man. For our sake, He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He suffered, died, and was buried.
{A moment's silence, then all rise}
And on the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; He will come again with 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; With the Father and the Son, He is worshiped and glorified; He has spoken through the Prophets.
And I believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Cel: Let us pray
with all our hearts and minds to the Lord, saying:
Lord, hear
our prayer
All: Lord, hear
our prayer.
Cel: For the Peace of God,
for His mercy, and for the salvation of our souls,
let us pray to
the Lord.
All: Lord, hear
our prayer.
Cel: For peace in
our time, for the welfare of the Holy Church, and for all people,
let us pray to the Lord:
All:
Lord, hear our prayer.
Cel: For the
Patriarch of the West, (Name), for all Patriarchs, for all Bishops
{especially our Bishop, N}, pastors {especially our pastor,
N.}, That they may, by their life and doctrine, set forth God's
true and lively Word, and rightly and duly administer His Holy
Sacraments,
let us pray to the Lord:
All:
Lord, hear our prayer.
Cel: For peace in
the Middle East, the home of 3 great world religions,
let us pray
to the Lord:
All: Lord, hear
our prayer.
Cel: For the
President, the leaders of all nations, and for all who are in
authority,
let us pray to the Lord:
All:
Lord, hear our prayer.
Cel: For this city (town,
village, etc.), for all cities and communities, and for those who
live in them,
let us pray to the Lord.
All:
Lord, hear out prayer..
Cel:
For good weather, and for the abundance of
the fruits of the earth.
let us pray to the Lord
All:
Lord, hear our prayer.
Cel:
For the good earth the Lord has given us,
and for the wisdom and will to preserve it,
let us pray to the
Lord.
All:
Lord, hear our prayer.
Cel:
For all who travel by land, sea, air, or in space,
let us pray to
the Lord
All: Lord,
hear our prayer.
Cel: For all those
who, in this transitory life, are in sorrow, sickness, need,
or any other
adversity, {especially N.},
let us pray to the
Lord
All: Lord, hear our
prayer.
Cel: For the poor and the
oppressed, for the unemployed and the homeless,
for those in
prison and captivity, and for their families and loved ones,
let us pray to
the Lord
All: Lord, hear our
prayer.
Cel: For all who
have died in the hope of the Resurrection, ad for all of the
dead,
let us pray to the Lord
All:
Lord, hear our prayer.
Cel:
For the liberation of all mankind from all danger, violence,
oppression, and degradation,
lset us pray to the Lord
All:
Lord, hear our prayer.
Cel:
That we may end our lives in Faith &
Hope, without suffering or reproach,
let us pray to the Lord.
Cel: And if anyone has a special person or thing to pray for, speak up now, and we will all pray together.
{As each person asks for prayers for their intention, let the Celebrant or someone else end it with:}
. . . let us pray to the Lord:
All:
Lord, hear our prayer.
Cel: For these
things, and for all of the unspoken prayers, deep in our hearts, let
us pray to the Lord:
All:
Lord, hear our prayer.
[The priest, turning to the people, says:}
Cel: Having affirmed our ancient Faith, and having prayed together, let us now remember the words of Our Lord: "And whenever you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father, who is in heaven, may forgive you. {Mark 11:25}
{Then, spreading his arms in the "Orans" gesture, he says:}
Cel: O Lord, Jesus
Christ, You said to Your apostles, “My peace I leave you, my peace
I give unto you”, regard not our sins, but the faith of Your
Church; and grant us that peace and unity which are agreeable to Your
will, You who live and reign for ever and ever,
Amen.
{Addressing the people, he says:}
Cel: Let us offer to each other the sign of peace.
{All exchange the Sign of Peace, as the custom of the particular place may be.}
{The Gifts are brought up to
the Altar, and the Choir may sing.
When the Gifts have been placed
on the Altar, the Celebrant turns to the people and says:}
Cel: The Lord be
with you.
All:
And with your spirit.
[All Sit]
{Holding the Paten with the Host on it up towards Heaven, the Celebrant says:}
Cel: Accept, O Holy Father, Almighty and eternal God, this spotless Host, which I, Your unworthy servant offer unto You, my living and true God; for my innumerable sins, offenses and negligences and for all here present; as also for all faithful Christians, living and dead; that it may avail us and them unto life everlasting, Amen.
{He makes a cross with the paten and slides the Host(s) off onto the Corporal. He puts the Paten under the right edge of the Corporal, covers the part sticking out with the Chalice Purificator, and leaves them there until after the Our Father. The Celebrant or Deacon then goes to the side of the altar, where the Servers bring Wine and Water; pours some wine into the Chalice, then makes the Sign of the Cross over the water, saying:}
Cel: O God, grant that by the mystery of this Water {he pours a little water into the Wine} and Wine, we may be made partakers of His divinity, who took part in our humanity, namely, Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You, in unity with the Holy Spirit, God, throughout all ages of ages, Amen
{Then, returning to the
center of the Altar and raising the Chalice toward Heaven
with
both hands, he says:}
Cel: We offer unto You, O Lord, the Chalice of Salvation, praying Your mercy, that it may ascend before Your divine Majesty with a pleasing fragrance, for our salvation, and for that of the whole world. Amen
{He then makes the Sign of the Cross with the Chalice, sets it on the Corporal, and covers it with the Pall; bows slightly before the altar, and says:}
Cel: Grant that the sacrifice we offer with humility and a contrite heart this day, may be pleasing to You, O Lord our God.
{He then raises his eyes to heaven and blesses the offerings saying:}
Bell
Cel: Come, O Sanctifier, Almighty, Eternal God, and bless this + sacrifice prepared for the glory of Your Holy Name.
{The Servers bring water, a
bowl and a towel; they pour a little water
over the fingers of the
Celebrant and any Concelebrants,
while the Celebrant says these
words from Psalm 25:}
Cel: I will wash my
hands among the innocents, O Lord, and so will I go about Your altar,
That I may hear the voice of thanksgiving; and tell of all Your
wondrous works.
Server: Amen
{Going back to the middle of the altar, he bows, and says quietly:}
Cel: Receive, O Holy Trinity, this oblation which we make to You in memory of the Passion, Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in honor of Blessed Mary, Ever-Virgin, and all the saints; that it may be for their honor, and our salvation; and that they may intercede for us in heaven, whose memory we celebrate on earth. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen
{He kisses the altar, then turns towards the people, and says:}
Cel: Pray, my
brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable
to God the Father Almighty.
All:
May the Lord accept this sacrifice from your hands, to the praise and
glory of His name, For our good, and that of all His Church.
{He then reads in a low voice the SECRETA, (Prayer over the Gifts) which may be found in the Sacramentary, and concludes by saying aloud:}
Cel:
. . . world without end.
All: Amen
[ALL STAND]
{Turning to the people, he says:}
Cel: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
{Gesturing upward with his hands, he says:}
Cel: Lift up your hearts
All: We lift them up unto the
Lord.
Cel: Let us give thanks to
the Lord our God
All: It is
right to give Him thanks and praise.
Cel: It is truly right and just, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks to You, O Lord, Holy Father, almighty and eternal God . . .
{He here reads the Proper Preface from the Mass Book, ending with:}
Cel: And therefore, with Angels & Archangels, with Thrones, Powers, Dominations, Cherubim and Seraphim, and with the whole company of Heaven, we laud and glorify Your Holy Name, evermore praising You and saying:
[All Kneel]
HOLY
HOLY
HOLY
Bell
Bell
Bell
Lord God of Hosts;
Heaven and earth are
filled with Your Glory
Hosanna in the Highest
Blessed
is he + who comes in the
Name of the Lord
Hosanna in the Highest
[ALL KNEEL]
Cel: We therefore humbly pray You, most merciful Father, through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord, {he kisses the altar} that You accept and bless these + gifts, these + presents, these spotless + sacrifices, which, in the first place, we offer up to You for the Holy Catholic Church, to which grant peace. And we pray you to preserve, unite and govern it throughout the world, together with Your servants the Patriarchs, Bishops, priests, and monks, as also all who profess the True, Catholic and Apostolic faith.
Cel: Be mindful, O Lord, of Your servants N. and N. {Here he prays silently for the living} And of all here present whose faith and devotion are known unto You, who offer up this sacrifice of praise for themselves, for their families and friends, for the redemption of their souls, for the health and salvation they hope for, to You, the eternal, living, and true God.
Cel: Communicating with, and venerating the memory, first of the ever-glorious Virgin Mary, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ; likewise of the blessed Apostles, Martyrs and Confessors, and with all the hosts of saints, who, for the Glory of Your Name and the coming of Your Kingdom, lived, suffered, and died. May the remembrance of these saints help us to follow their example, and so make us worthy of Your grace and love. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen
{Spreading his hands, thumbs interlocked, over the oblation, he says:}
Bell
Cel: We therefore pray You, O Lord, to accept this as our oblation and as that of Your whole family; and to dispose our days in Your peace, preserve us from eternal damnation, and rank us in the number of Your elect. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Cel: Which oblation we pray You, O God, to bless + approve + ratify and + accept; that it may be made for us the + Body and + Blood of Your most beloved Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
[All Kneel]
{The Celebrant takes the host between the thumbs & first fingers and says the following, looking upwards at the words "towards heaven to You", blesses it, and shows it to the people:}
Cel: Who, in
the night before He suffered, took bread in His holy and venerable
hands, and with His eyes lifted up towards heaven to You, Almighty
God His Father, giving thanks, he blessed +,
broke and gave it to His disciples saying:
Take and eat ye all of this
{Holding the Host, the Celebrant, concelebrators and servers genuflect and adore. The Bell is rung once. The Celebrant then rises, while the concelebrants and servers remain kneeling. The Bell is rung once again. Holding up the Sacred Host, the Celebrant displays it to the people, who say:}
All: My Lord and My God!
{ The Celebrant then genuflects, the Bell is rung the third time, and Celebrant, concelebrants and servers rise to their feet, while he continues:}
Cel: In like manner, when the supper was done, taking also this excellent chalice into His holy and venerable hands, again giving You thanks, He blessed + and gave it to His disciples, saying:
Take and drink of this, all of you,
FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD
OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL TESTAMENT,
THE MYSTERY OF
FAITH;
WHICH SHALL BE SHED FOR YOU
AND FOR
MANY,
UNTO THE REMISSION OF SINS.
As often as ye do these things, do them in remembrance of Me
{Holding the Chalice, the Celebrant, concelebrators and servers genuflect and adore. The Bell is rung once. Then the Celebrant rises, the Bell is rung the second time, the concelebrants and servers remain kneeling, and the Celebrant shows the Chalice of the Precious Blood to the people, who say:}
All: My Lord and My Salvation!
{The Celebrant then
genuflects, the Bell is
rung,
and the concelebrators and servers rise with him,
as he
continues:}
Cel: Let us
proclaim the Mystery of Faith
All:
{One of the following:}
1)
Dying, You destroyed our Death;
Rising, You renew our Life;
Come in Glory, Lord Jesus!
2) Christ has died; Christ has Risen; Christ will come again!
3)
When we eat this Bread, and drink this Cup,
We proclaim Your death, Lord Jesus,
Until you come in Glory!
{Raising his hands to heaven, the Celebrant says:}
Cel: We offer you, O Lord and Heavenly Father, the memorial Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ commanded, and we ask that these gifts be carried by the hands of Your holy angel to Your highest altar. And we pray you to look on these offerings with a gracious and joyful countenance, and accept them, as you accepted the gifts of Your servant Abel, the sacrifice of our Patriarch Abraham, and the gifts which Your High Priest Melchizedek offered up to You: a holy sacrifice, an immaculate host:
{Raising his hands to
Heaven, and bringing them down
over the Host and Chalice, he
says:}
Cel: We offer unto you, Father, this acceptable and unbloody sacrifice, and we call upon you to send down your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts. Make this Bread the Precious Body + and this Wine the Precious Blood + of Your Son, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
All (singing)
{Celebrant, concelebrants,
and servers step back from the Altar
and bow profoundly
while singing the Amen.}
{Approaching the Altar and bowing, he says:}
Cel: We pray You, Almighty Father, that as many of us as shall receive from this Altar {Here he kisses the altar} the most sacred Body + and Blood + of Your Son may be filled with every grace {Blessing + himself} and benediction. Through the same Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
{Extending and closing his hands, he says:}
Cel: Be mindful, O
Lord, of Your servants {, especially N. &
N.}, as well as all who have gone before us in the sign of
Faith, and rest in the sleep of peace. To these, O Lord, and to all
that sleep in Christ, grant, we pray You, a place of refreshment,
light and peace, through the same Christ our Lord.
All:
Amen
Cel: Also, to us
sinners, Your servants, confiding in the multitude of Your mercies,
we pray You to grant us some part and fellowship with Your holy
Apostles and Martyrs; and with all Your saints: Including Karol
Woytyla, late Pope JP II; Mother Teresa of Calcutta; and Archbishop
Emil Fairfield-Rodriguez; into whose company we pray You to admit us,
not in consideration of our merit, but of Your gracious pardon,
through Christ our Lord.
All:
Amen
Cel: Through whom, O Lord, You always create, sanctify +, vivify +, bless + and give us all these good things.
{Here he uncovers the
Chalice, genuflects, and, taking the Host,
makes the Sign of the
Cross with it over the Chalice three times, saying :}
Through + Him, and with + Him, and in + Him
{and twice between himself and the Chalice:}
Is to You, God the Father +
Almighty,
In the unity of the Holy +
Spirit
{Here he elevates the Chalice on high, holding the Host over it, as he says:}
All honor and glory, for ever and ever
All: Amen
{Here he covers the Chalice, turns to the people, and says:}
Cel: Let us pray in the words Our Savior taught us.
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 them that trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
{He then picks up the Paten with his right hand, and continues with:}
Cel: Deliver us, we pray You, O Lord, from all evils, past , present, and to come; and by the intercession of the blessed and ever glorious Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, and of the Holy Apostles Peter, Paul, and Andrew and all the Saints,
{Here he makes the sign of the cross on himself with the paten}
Mercifully grant us + peace in our days,
{He kisses the Paten}
That through the assistance of Your mercy, we may be always
free from sin, and secure from all disturbance.
{Here he slides the Paten
under the Host, uncovers the Chalice, genuflects,
and breaks the
Host into two pieces over the Chalice, saying:}
Through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son Our Lord,
{He then puts the piece in
his right hand down on the Paten,
and breaks off a sliver from
the piece in his left, saying:}
Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, God, throughout all ages of ages
All: Amen
{He then makes the sign of the Cross three times over the Chalice with the particle, saying:}
Cel: The peace +
of the Lord + be always +
with you.
All: And with Your
spirit
{He drops the particle of the Host into the Chalice, saying:}
Cel: May this mingling and hallowing of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring us who receive it unto life everlasting.
All: Amen
{Then genuflecting, bowing, and striking our breasts, we all say, or the Choir sings:}
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 your peace.
All Stand
Cel: O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, who, according to the will of the Father, and through the cooperation of the Holy Spirit, by Your death revived the world; deliver us by this Your most sacred Body and Blood from all our sins, and from every evil; and grant that we may always fulfill Your holy will, you who reign, God, for all ages of ages.
All: Amen
{Here he genuflects, and taking the Host in his left hand , says:}
Cel: I will take the bread of heaven, and call upon the name of the Lord.
{Striking his breast with his right hand with humility and devotion, he says thrice:}
Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my
roof,
but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.
or
Domine non sum dignus, ut intres sub tectum meum,
sed tantum
dic verbo, et sanabitur anima mea
{Genuflecting and
receiving reverently both parts of the Host he says:}
Cel: May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul to life everlasting. Amen
{Before taking the Chalice, he says:}
Cel: What shall I render unto the Lord for all the things that He has rendered unto me? I will take the Chalice of Salvation, and will call upon the name of the Lord. Praising, I will call upon the Lord, and so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
{Receiving the Chalice, he says:}
Cel: May the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul to life everlasting,
Amen.
[All Kneel]
THE COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE
{Celebrant genuflects, then
holding a Host over the Chalice,
he displays them to the people
and says:}
Cel: Behold the Lamb of
God
Behold Him who takes away the sins of the world
Happy are we who are called to his supper
All: I believe and I confess, Lord, that You are truly the Christ, the Son of the Living God, who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. I also believe that this is truly Your pure Body and that this is truly Your precious Blood. Therefore, I pray You to have mercy upon us, and forgive our sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, known and unknown. And make us worthy without condemnation to partake of Your pure Mysteries for the forgiveness of sins and for life eternal.
All: Amen.
{The people then come forward to receive Communion. As he gives communion, he says:}
Cel: The Body + (and)(Blood) of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Communicant: Amen
{After communion is finished, the Celebrant brushes any crumbs from the Paten and Server's paten into the Chalice with the Purificator, and drinks the remainder of the wine, saying:}
Cel: Grant, O Lord, that what we have taken with our mouths, we may receive with a pure mind, that of a temporal gift it may become to us an eternal remedy.
{He may extend the chalice
to the Server, asking for more wine to make a second ablution.}
{He (and any concelebrants) then go to
the side, and the Server pours water over their fingers into the
Chalice. He returns to the Altar, drinks the water, wipes the
Chalice, and says:}
Cel: May Your body, O Lord, which we have received, and Your Blood which we have drunk, cleave unto our hearts; and grant that no stain of sin may remain in us who have been fed with this pure and holy sacrament, You, who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever One God, throughout all ages of ages, Amen.
{He puts the Purificator on the Chalice, the Paten on top of that, the Pall atop the Paten, folds the Corporal and puts it in the Burse, then unfolds the Chalice veil, and puts it over the Pall, and the Burse on top of all.}
Cel:
The Lord be with you
All: And
with your spirit
{He then says the COMMUNION prayer from the Sacramentary:}
Cel: Let us pray
{He then reads the POSTCOMMUNION prayer from the Sacramentary}
{The Last Gospel and Prayers
after Mass may be omitted
on most occasions, skipping to the
DISMISSAL}
[All Stand]
Cel: The Lord be with you
All: And with your spirit
Cel: +The Beginning of the Gospel according to St. John
All: Glory be to Thee, O Lord
IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him: and without him was made nothing that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shone in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the light, that all men might believe through him. He was not the light, but was to give testimony of the light. That was the true light, which enlightens every man that comes into this world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto his own, and His own received him not. But to as many as received him, he gave the power to become the sons of God, to those that believe in his name. Who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
{Here all genuflect}
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
{and rise again}
And we saw his glory -- glory as of the only begotten of the Father -- full of grace and truth.
All: Thanks be to God
{The Ave Maria is said three times:}
All: Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy Womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, AMEN.
All:
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! Our life, our
sweetness and our hope! To thee we cry, poor banished children
of Eve, to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this
vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of
mercy towards us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed
fruit of thy Womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin
Mary.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,
That
we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Cel: Let us pray.
All: St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the snares and wickednesses of the devil. We humbly beseech God to command him, and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the Divine Power, thrust down into Hell Satan and all the evil spirits who roam through the world, seeking the ruin of souls.
All: Amen
{Turning to the people, he says:}
Cel: The Lord be with
you
All: And with
Your spirit
{If a priest gives the blessing, he says:}
Cel: May Almighty
God bless you,
In the Name of the Father, + the Son,
and the Holy Spirit.
{If a Bishop, he says:}
Cel: May the Lord
Bless & Keep you; +
May the Lord make His Face to shine upon you'
and be merciful unto you +
May the Lord lift up His countenance above you,
and give you His Peace forevermore. +
All: Amen
Cel: The Mass is ended
Let us go in peace,
To love & serve the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God!
This is a GREGORIAN Liturgy, because it is patterned after the Roman Liturgy of the Mass as codified by Pope Gregory the Great in about 600 A.D. In putting it together, I have drawn from The major descendants of Pope Gregory's liturgy: The pre-Vatican II Liturgy of Pius V (LPV); the post-Vatican II liturgy of Paul VI (Novus Ordo/NO), and the Anglican Book of Common Prayer (BCP) Communion service, principally the 1928 American BCP, although with some reflections from the 1549. I have also taken parts of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, used by the Byzantine churches - specifically: Omitting the "filioque" in the Creed; adding a post-Consecration Epiklesis, and the Communion Prayer. The liturgy presented here is essentially a "Low Mass", without incense or processions.
In formulating this Liturgy, one of my aims was to make one which would reflect how the Roman Mass should have looked in the mid-1990s, if they had gone about changes carefully, wisely, and incrementally, instead of mandating a break (in English – the Latin NO is recognizably a descendant of the LPV) in tradition and continuity by papal fiat. I leave it to posterity to judge how successful I am.
The Preparatory Prayers and Entrance Procession are directly from the LPV.
In the "People's Mass", the Confiteor is shortened by half from the LPV Penitiential Rite, and an explicit Absolution is added, after the pattern of the BCP, which, however, puts it later in the rite.
We return again to the LPV, until the Collect for Purity. There is ample pre-1549 precedent for use of this Collect in approximately this position, but I confess that I included it because I love it, its language, and its message so much -- from my experience of the BCP Liturgy - both 1549 & 1928.
I have indicated that the Propers be read from the "Mass Book", and by this I mean the Novus Ordo Roman Missal - for reasons of penury and laziness. Roman Missals are widely available and, for the most part, reasonably priced. To prepare and distribute such a Missal would be beyond my ability or ambition.
In the Gloria, I have translated "Qui tollis/sedes" as "You take/sit", rather than "Who taketh (takes) away / sitteth (sits)", or worse "Thou that ..." - principally for euphony. I trust that the meaning remains the same.
In the Liturgy of the Word, I have adopted the NO pattern, for the following reasons:
1) More of the Bible gets read over the 3-year cycle.
2) The people get the opportunity to read the Word of God before the congregation -- and it is my observation that they greatly appreciate this.
3) It makes me work harder at preparing sermons - working in the ideas of 3 readings and a Psalm, instead of just two. Also, it somewhat hinders recycling old sermons. By the time a set of readings come around again, I generally have forgotten my thought processes from 3 years before, and can approach it with a fresh outlook.
4) Again - penury and laziness. Roman Mass materials are cheap and everywhere.
The Gospel is properly said by the Deacon or Priest, and for that reason, I have retained the LPV "Munda cor meum" and "Jube, domne, benedicere" rituals.
The Sermon is also properly the domain of the Priest -- or Licensed Preacher.
In the Creed, I have omitted the "filioque", both as a gesture to the Orthodox, and out of historical recognition that it was wrongly, if honestly, added by the Spanish church in the 6th Century. It ought not to be an issue that divides the Churches.
The particular pattern of kneeling during the Creed, I have adopted from the practice that I and my Bishop (+H. Ernest Caswell) worked out while doing the 1559 BCP Masse at the Northern California Renaissance Pleasure Faire from about 1971 to 1991. The LPV genuflects at the words "et Caro factum est", then rises immediately. I extended it forward in homage to the Incarnation, and prolonged it (with a pause of reflection after "was buried"), principally to bring the action of rising up in line with the words "...rose again, according to the Scriptures".
The Bidding Prayer I have taken from the BCP, principally for its language, which is excellent.
Broadly, I make no apologies for including a "huggy" peace, nor for putting it just after the Creed and before the Offertory. The Ambrosian Liturgy, still offered in Milan, I am informed, also has the Adjuration to Forgiveness and the Peace in this place. Where it was (after the Pater Noster), it broke the flow of reverence for the Precious Body & Blood, and disturbed many people.
The Offertory (and rubrics) are straight from the LPV.
I have shortened the Lavabo to two verses of the Psalm, since that is about how long it takes to wash and dry one's fingers. No sense prolonging the prayer beyond the action.
In the Preface, I have formatted the ending exclamation to stress the 3-fold "Holy", which is the accurate translation of Isaiah's exclamation: "Kadosh; Kadosh; Kadosh (full stop) Yahweh Tsebaoth". The LPV Latin rightly makes it: "Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus; (full stop) Dominus Deus Sabaoth", while the NO mucks it up as "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord" - blowing the Trinitarian reference altogether.
In the Canon, I have retained the multiple Signs of the Cross both before and after the Consecration, agreeing with Jungmann's Mass of the Roman Rite that this was done to point out and demonstrate the gifts and their sacredness, rather than to sanctify them, as the Sign of the Cross is used to do in other situations - it is a formal and liturgical pointing, and assists the concentration on the profundity of what we are doing.
In the Consecration, I have retained the LPV wording ("Mystery of Faith" and "...and for many"). The former for tradition's sake, and the latter, because it is an accurate translation of the Latin, and what the Church has meant by the words since at least the 7th Century. The Orthodox, as I understand it, also interpret the Greek this way, rather than as "...for all" the way Modernists do. To me, the theology is not the issue - saying "for all" makes as good sense, because we are sent out to preach Salvation to all mankind. It is simply a matter of keeping faith with the Fathers of the Church, and all of the generations before us.
I have, however, included the NO Proclamation of the Mystery of Faith. It is an effective and pious affirmation, and a good way to include the congregation in the celebration.
I have included an Anamnesis, after the pattern of the Anglican BCP liturgy -- and it works!
The post-Consecration (there are several pre-Consecration ones) Epiklesis I have taken from the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and placed approximately where it is in that Rite. This is explicitly a gesture of fellowship with the Orthodox.
The Great AMEN (with the profound bow which accompanies it), I have added as an outward sign of the devotion that we should rightly pay to the Precious Body & Blood on the Altar. I was not aware that any liturgy did that at this place, until I dropped in at my local Greek Orthodox parish (St. Nicholas, San Jose, CA), and saw the priest do just that, to my great delight!
The Novus Ordo places the Great Amen after the Doxology and the Minor Elevation. I have retained both rituals, but left the Amen to be a minor one.
In a parish where I once served, it was the custom to have a list of the deceased members on the altar, and to touch (or point to) this list during the Commemoration of the Dead. This is an ancient and honorable custom - done at Rome from Apostolic times to the present - and I highly recommend it.
After the Ecce Agnus Dei, I have added a Communion Prayer lifted (and somewhat edited) from the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. It is both beautiful and instructive -- and the latter is needed in these days when (reportedly) many less than 50% of Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist. I wanted to make a very firm and explicit statement about that topic, and St. John had written this wonderful prayer -- so I stole it.
In many Roman parishes, it has become customary for the congregation to hold hands during the Our Father. This is deprecated by the Roman General Instructions for the Roman Mass (GIRM), and by conservatives in general. I do not have strong feelings about it one way or another, and have left it to the custom of the particular place, whether to do it or not.
The above topic reflects a dichotomy in late 20th/early 21st Century thinking about the Liturgy - whether it is to be a Service of Adoration, and an occasion for individual prayer and contemplation; or whether it is to be a more-or-less joyous expression of the community of believers assembled at one place and time -- essentially the difference between the psychological categories of "introvert" and "extrovert". In my view, both expressions are valid, and both need to be included - the precise mix and order in the liturgy are not yet clear, though.
In the Communion, I do not have any particular preference for "on the tongue" versus "in the hand" - having seen the latter work well in Anglican venues. I think that kneeling for Communion expresses reverence for the Eucharist, but I am not doctrinaire on the subject. As to "Host Only", "Host & Cup", or "Intinction on the tongue", I am neutral - whatever suits the custom of the place, so long as it be reverent and express Catholic belief about the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Bread & Wine seems good to me.
It has become the custom in many communities to add a "Second Sermon" - usually a nag about money or parish administrivia - after the Communion. In my view, this sort of thing should go before the "Scripture" sermon (just after the Gospel), or be delayed until after Mass. Talking secular trivia just after Communion breaks the concentration of the congregation on what should be the most important part of the Mass - receiving Jesus Christ into one's mouth, heart & soul.
I have included the Last Gospel and Prayers at the foot of the Altar, but think that they might profitably be included only once or twice a year, rather than at every Mass, as they lengthen it by several minutes.
As of today, I have added a reference to the recently deceased Servant of the Servants of God and Patriarch of the West, Karol Wojtyla -- John Paul II -- to the list of Saints commemorated in my liturgy. This is the first step in the Orthodox practice of canonization -- to include his name in the Canon -- and to invite other Churches to do the same, until the devotion has spread throughout the whole Catholic Church. I was minded to do this by the cries of the people of Rome and the pilgrims at his funeral Mass: "Santo Subito!", whenever there was a pause in the Liturgy. Vox populi interdum vox Dei.
+Samuel B. Bassett
The
Feast of St. Maximinius of Trier
Bishop,
ca. 350 A.D.
May 29th,
2009