PART III

The Mass of the Catechumens

(Stand)

On Sundays and in all Sung or Solemn Masses, the prayers at the foot of the Altar are omitted, the Confession being made later at the Communion. A hymn being sung, the Priest enters carrying the Gospel Book (unless a Deacon assists) and ascends the Altar, placing the Book on the Altar. While the Introit and Psalm are sung, he proceeds to the censing. Otherwise, at Low Masses, the Priest, after bowing at the foot of the Altar, says the following prayers.

(Kneel)

In the Name of the Father, ✠ and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

R. Amen.

V. I will go unto the altar of God.
R. Even unto the God of my joy and gladness.

V. Our help ✠ is in the Name of the Lord.
R. Who hath made heaven and earth.

The Priest, bowing down, makes his confession.

I CONFESS to almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to our holy Father Benedict, to all the Saints, and to you, brethren, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, [here he strikes his breast thrice] by my fault, by my own fault, by my own most grievous fault. Therefore I beg blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, our holy Father Benedict, all the Saints, and you, brethren, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

All reply:

Almighty God have mercy upon thee, forgive thee thy sins, and bring thee to life everlasting.

R. Amen.

All, bowing, make their confession:

I CONFESS to almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to our holy Father Benedict, to all the Saints, and to thee, Father, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, [here one strikes the breast thrice] by my fault, by my own fault, by my own most grievous fault. Therefore I beg blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, our holy Father Benedict, all the Saints, and thee, Father, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

The Priest gives the absolution:

Almighty God have mercy upon you, forgive you your sins, and bring you to life everlasting.

R. Amen.

The almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, ✠ absolution, and remission of our sins.

R. Amen.

Bowing slightly, the Priest continues:

V. Wilt thou not turn again and quicken us, O God.
R. That thy people may rejoice in thee.

V. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us.
R. And grant us thy salvation.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto thee.

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

Priest: Let us pray.

Ascending the Altar, the Priest prays quietly:

Take away from us our iniquities, we beseech thee, O Lord, that we may be made worthy to enter with pure minds unto the Holy of Holies. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Bowing, he kisses the Altar:

We pray thee, O Lord, through the intercession of the Saints whose relics are here, and of all thy Saints, that thou wouldest vouchsafe to pardon all my sins. Amen.

The Priest blesses the incense.

Be thou ✠ blessed by Him in whose honor thou shalt be burnt. Amen.

The Cross, Altar, Icons, Clergy and People are censed.

Here follows the Introit if it has not been sung earlier.

The Kyrie Eleison

(Kneel)

V. Kyrie eleison.
R. Kyrie eleison.
V. Kyrie eleison.

R. Christe eleison.
V. Christe eleison.
R. Christe eleison.

V. Kyrie eleison.
R. Kyrie eleison.
V. Kyrie eleison.

The Gloria in Excelsis

(Stand)

The Gloria is omitted in Advent, Lent, Requiems, and on penitential days and ordinary ferias. It is intoned by the Priest and continued by the Choir or Congregation.

GLORY BE to God on high.

All: And on earth peace to men of good will. We praise thee. We bless thee. We worship thee. We glorify thee. We give thanks to thee for thy great glory. O Lord, God, heavenly King, God the Father almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy upon us. Or thou only art holy. Thou only art the Lord. Thou only, O Jesus Christ, with the Holy Ghost, ✠ art most high, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Collect of the Day

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

Priest: Let us pray.

At the end of each collect is sung or said:

R. Amen.

The Lessons

(Sit)

The Lesson or Lessons are taken from the Old Testament, the Epistles or Acts of the Apostles. On Sundays and certain Solemnities, there are two scripture Lessons in addition to the Gospel. At the conclusion of each Lesson is said:

R. Thanks Be to God.

The Gradual, Alleluia, or Tract

If only one Lesson is appointed, it is followed by the Gradual and Alleluia (or, in Lent, the Tract). If there are two Lessons appointed, the Gradual is sung after the first Lesson, and the Alleluia (or, in Lent, the Tract) after the second Lesson.

On certain Sundays or feasts, a Sequence is also sung. Likewise, at this point any suitable Hymn may be sung.

The Holy Gospel

(Stand)

The Celebrant (or, if he assists, the Deacon) silently prays for a blessing:

Cleanse my heart and my lips, almighty God, who didst cleanse with a live coal the lips of Isaiah the Prophet; so of thy gracious mercy vouchsafe to cleanse me, that I may worthily proclaim thy Holy Gospel. Through Christ our Lord.

If said by the Priest:

Lord, grant a blessing. The Lord be in my heart and upon my lips, that I may worthily and fitly proclaim his Gospel. Amen.

If said by the Deacon, bowing with the Gospel book before the Priest: Master, grant a blessing. The Priest says the blessing:

The Lord be in thy heart and upon thy lips, that thou mayest worthily and fitly proclaim his Gospel. In the Name of the Father, ✠ and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Here incense is placed in the thurible and blessed by the Priest. Incense and candles accompany the Priest (or Deacon) to the place for the singing of the Gospel.

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

Each signs himself on the forehead, lips, and breast with a small Cross.

V. The Continuation (Beginning) of the Holy Gospel † according to Saint. N.

R. Glory ✠ be to thee, ✠ O Lord.

Here the Gospel Book is censed. Then the Gospel is sung. At the end all sing the response:

R. Praise be to thee, O Christ.

The Priest (or Deacon) kisses the book, saying the following prayer quietly:

By the words of the Gospel may my sins be blotted out.

If the Gospel has been sung by a Deacon, he brings the open book to the Priest to be kissed, before returning the book to the Altar.

At this time (or later after Communion) a Sermon may be given. The Congregation may sit for the sermon. Otherwise remain standing for the Creed or Litany.

The Creed

On Sundays, Solemnities and Feasts, as the Ordo directs, the Creed is sung by all, having been intoned by the Priest.

 

(Stand)

 

I BELIEVE in one God.

 

All: The Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God. Begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God. Begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven. (Bow) And was incarnate of the Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. (Rise) And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried. And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven; and sitteth at the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spake by the prophets. And 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.

Go to Part IV: The Mass of the Faithful