INTRODUCTORY RITES

Entrance Song:

[An entrance song is sung or an antiphon is recited as the priest and the ministers enter the church and process to the altar; after reverencing the altar, they go to their chairs.]

Greeting:

Priest:  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  [All together make the sign of the cross.]
All:  Amen.

Option A: Priest:  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. All:  And also with you.

Option B: Priest:  The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. All:  Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. or All:  And also with you.

Option C: Priest:  The Lord be with you. [or Bishop:  Peace be with you.] All:  And also with you.

[The priest or another minister may then briefly introduce the Mass of the day, saying something about the readings, the feast, and/or the special occasion being celebrated.]

Rite of Blessing and Sprinkling Holy Water:

Priest:  Dear friends, this water will be used to remind us of our baptism. Let us ask God to bless it, and to keep us faithful to the Spirit he has given us.  [or similar words of introduction]

Option A: Priest:  God our Father, your gift of water brings life and freshness to the earth; it washes away our sins and brings us eternal life.  We ask you now to bless this water, and to give us your protection on this day which you have made your own. Renew the living spring of your life within us and protect us in spirit and body, that we may be free from sin and come into your presence to receive your gift of salvation.  We ask this through Christ our Lord. All:  Amen.

Option B: Priest:  Lord God almighty, creator of all life, of body and soul, we ask you to bless this water: as we use it in faith forgive our sins and save us from all illness and the power of evil. Lord, in your mercy give us living water, always springing up as a fountain of salvation: free us, body and soul, from every danger, and admit us to your presence in purity of heart. Grant this through Christ our Lord.  All:  Amen.

Option C (during the Easter Season): Priest:  Lord God almighty, hear the prayers of your people: we celebrate our creation and redemption. Hear our prayers and bless this water which give fruitfulness to the fields, and refreshment and cleansing to man. You chose water to show your goodness when you led your people to freedom through the Red Sea and satisfied their thirst in the desert with water from the rock. Water was the symbol used by the prophets to foretell your new covenant with us. You made the water of baptism holy by Christ's baptism in the Jordan: by it you give us a new birth and renew us in holiness. May this water remind us of our baptism, and let us share the joy of all who have been baptized at Easter. We ask this through Christ our Lord. All:  Amen.

[After blessing the water, the priest  moves through the church sprinkling all of the people while an antiphon or other song is sung. When the sprinkling and the song is finished, the priest concludes this rite as follows:]

Priest:  May almighty God cleanse us of our sins, and through the eucharist we celebrate make us worthy to sit at his table in his heavenly kingdom.
All:  Amen.

[This rite is commonly celebrated during the Easter Season, but may also be used at other times. When it is used, the Penitential Rite is omitted, and the Mass continues with the Gloria (on most Sundays and solemnities) or with the Opening Prayer (during Advent and Lent, and on weekdays).]

or  Penitential Rite:

Priest:  As we prepare to celebrate the mystery of Christ's love, let us acknowledge our failures and ask the Lord for pardon and strength.
       or  Coming together as God's family, with confidence let us ask the Father's forgiveness, for he is full of gentleness and compassion.
       or  My brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins.
      [or similar words of introduction, followed by a period of silent reflection.]

Kyrie:

[The following acclamations are sung or recited, either in English or Greek, unless they have already been used, as in option C above.] 

Gloria:

[This ancient hymn of praise is used on all Sundays outside of Advent and Lent, on solemnities and feasts, and in solemn local celebrations. It is normally sung, preferably by the whole congregation, but may also be recited.]

All:  Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,  almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:  have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:  receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,  you alone are the Lord,
You alone are the Most High,  Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,  in the glory of God the Father.  Amen.

Opening Prayer:

Priest:  Let us pray.
[After a time of silent prayer, the Priest sings or says the Opening Prayer, which is different for each Mass. At the end, the people proclaim their consent.]
All:  Amen.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading:

Lector:  A reading from the Book (or Letter, or Acts) of... 
[Different readings are prescribed for each day; after the lector ends, the people respond:]
Lector: The Word of the Lord.
All:  Thanks be to God!

Responsorial Psalm:

[The choir and/or cantor sing or recite the psalm; the people join in the repeated response.] 

Second Reading:

[A second reading is prescribed for all Sundays and major feasts, but not for most weekdays or minor feasts. The lector's introduction and conclusion and the people's response are the same as in the First Reading.] 

Alleluia or Gospel Acclamation:

Choir or Cantor:  Alleluia!   All repeat:  Alleluia!
Choir or Cantor:  [verse]    All repeat:  Alleluia!

[The "Alleluia" may be repeated two or more times, especially during the Easter Season. If it is not sung, it should be omitted.]
[During the Season of Lent, a different "Gospel Acclamation" is used, such as "Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!" or "Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!" or something similar.]

Gospel:

Before the Gospel Proclamation:
Priest:  The Lord be with you.   All:  And also with you.
Priest:  A reading from the Holy Gospel according to... [Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John]
All:  Glory to you, Lord!

After the Gospel Proclamation:
Priest:  The Gospel of the Lord.   
All:  Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

Homily:

[The bishop, priest, or deacon then speaks to the people, usually focusing on that day's scriptures and/or on the feast or special occasion being celebrated at that Mass; but the homily may also be based on any liturgical text from the Mass.]

Profession of Faith:

[On Sundays and solemnities, the Nicene Creed is normally recited by everyone after the homily. In celebrations of Masses with children, the Apostles' Creed may be used instead.]

General Intercessions / Prayer of the Faithful:

Lector:  …let us pray to the Lord.
All:  Lord, hear our prayer.  [or a similar response, repeated after each petition]

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Presentation of the Gifts / Preparation of the Altar:

Priest:  Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.
All:  Blessed be God for ever.

Priest:  Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink.
All:  Blessed be God for ever.

[If there is no singing during the presentation of the gifts, the priest may say the preceding prayers aloud, and the people may respond. But if a presentation song is being sung, the priest recites these prayers inaudibly, and the people's response is omitted. Then, after the priest has washed his hands and the music is finished, he invites the people to join in prayer:]

Priest:  Pray, my brothers and sisters, that our sacrifice
may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
All:  May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands,
for the praise and glory of his name,
for our good, and the good of all the Church.

Prayer over the Gifts:

[The Priest sings or says this prayer, which is different for each Mass. At the end, the people respond:]
All:  Amen.

Eucharistic Prayer:

[The Priest may choose from among four different Eucharistic Prayers, or two other Eucharistic Prayers for Masses of Reconciliation. On appropriate occasions, the priest may also choose from among three Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with Children, or four recently approved Eucharistic Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions.  Each prayer has a similar structure, including some responses and acclamations by all the people. There are also many choices for the "Preface," depending on the liturgical season, the feast of the day, and the ritual or occasion being celebrated at that Mass. The full texts of the Eucharistic Prayers can be found online at several other websites; click here or here.]

Preface Dialogue:
Priest:  The Lord be with you.   All:  And also with you.
Priest:  Lift up your hearts.   All:  We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest:  Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.   All:  It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Sanctus:
All:  Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Memorial Acclamation:
Priest:  Let us proclaim the mystery of faith: 
All:  A - Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
    or B - Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory.
    or C - When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus, until you come in glory.
    or D - Lord, by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free. You are the Savior of the World.

Great Amen:
Priest:  Through him, with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.
All:  Amen!  [may be sung more than once]

COMMUNION RITE

Lord's Prayer:

Priest:  Let us pray with confidence to the Father in the words our Savior gave us.
      or  Jesus taught us to call God our Father, and so we have the courage to say:
      or  Let us ask our Father to forgive our sins and to bring us to forgive those who sin against us.
      or  Let us pray for the coming of the kingdom as Jesus 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 those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Priest:  Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
All:  For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.

Sign of Peace:

Priest:  Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles: I leave you peace, my peace I give you. Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom where you live for ever and ever.
All:  Amen.

Priest:  The Peace of the Lord be with you always. 
All:  And also with you.

Deacon or Priest:  Let us offer each other a sign of peace.

Breaking of the Bread:

All: 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 peace.

[This text may be sung or recited, and may be repeated several more times until the breaking of bread is finished.] 

Communion:

Priest:  This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.
All:  Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.

Communion Minister:  The body of Christ.    Communicant:  Amen.
Communion Minister:  The blood of Christ.   Communicant:  Amen.

Communion Song:

[During the reception of Communion, an appropriate song is sung, or at least a short "Communion Antiphon" is recited.]

Period of Silence  or  Song of Praise:

[When the distribution of Communion is completed, there is a period of silence for individual prayer, or a psalm or song of praise may be sung.]

Prayer after Communion:

Priest:  Let us pray.
[All pray in silence for a while, unless a period of silence has already been observed. Then the Priest sings or says the Prayer after Communion, which is different for each Mass. At the end, the people proclaim their consent.]
All:  Amen.

CONCLUDING RITE

Greeting:

Priest:  The Lord be with you.
All:  And also with you.

Blessing:

Option A:  Simple Form Priest:  May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All:  Amen.

Option B: Solemn Blessing  Deacon or Priest:  Bow your heads and pray for God's blessing. [Several invocations may be spoken, and the people usually respond "Amen" to each one. The following conclusion is always used.] Priest:  May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All:  Amen.

Option C:  Prayer over the People Deacon or Priest:  Bow your heads and pray for God's blessing. [The priest may choose from several options, depending on the occasion or special need. The following conclusion is always used.] Priest:  May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All:  Amen.

Dismissal:

Deacon or Priest:  Go in the peace of Christ.
    or  The Mass is ended, go in peace.
   or  Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All:  Thanks be to God!

 

[Recessional and Closing Song]:

[Although it is traditional in many countries and many parishes to sing a final song or to have some instrumental music played as the priest and ministers process out of the church, this is not prescribed in the Order of Mass.]