Mass Actions

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- Brandon Lewandowski
  
  Seminarian
  
  lewandowskibholyspirit-parish.org

Mass is the source and summit of our faith. Of course, during this troubling time, we are all hurting from being separated from this great sacrament. Nevertheless, it is always important to stay plugged into our faith community, the saving mysteries, and prayer. That might not look the same as it does normally, but we still have options. With today’s technology, we have the ability to video stream the Mass. We can still hear the Word of God and watch the sacrament take place, but this new format creates some new challenges...

In a conversation not long ago, my parents remarked that while watching Mass at home, they wanted to follow along with Mass as usual, but they realized that they did not know the responses and postures nearly as well as they thought! It is so much easier to stand up, sit down, and recite some specific responses when there are a couple of hundred other people around you doing the same. So I decided to write this small article to help you out. Although there is deeper spirituality to many of these words and actions, after one paragraph on spirituality, this article only contains what you need to get through.

First, a preliminary note on the postures. Standing is a sign of rising up together in unity. It can be to acknowledge the presence of a respectable authority—for instance, the priest when he enters the church, or God when we pray big communal things like the Our Father. Sitting is a relaxed position, mostly for listening or waiting. Finally, kneeling shows great reverence, to the point of worship, so we use this posture during the Eucharistic Prayer. It is also a sign of humility and repentance, which is why we kneel after the Lamb of God to say “Lord, I am not worthy...”
Mass posture list in chronological order:
1. Stand: Entrance procession and opening prayers
2. Sit: The readings and responsorial psalm
3. Stand: The Alleluia (or Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ—the Gospel Acclamation) and Gospel
4. Sit: The homily and offertory (collection and setting the altar)
5. Stand: When the priest says, “Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.”
6. Kneel: After the “Holy, holy, holy”
7. Stand: After the elevation of both the chalice and host (“Through him and with him and in him...”) and our “Amen!” response
8. Kneel: After the Lamb of God
9. *NO PROPER POSTURE PRESCRIBED FOR THE PEOPLE: During Communion and purifying the vessels after.
10. Stand: At “Let us pray” for the final prayer, through the whole exit procession
What about number 9, during communion? What is written is correct. There is actually no official posture for the people while Holy Communion is distributed.

While there are not any official, universal rules, many churches or even nations have customs of varying popularity. For instance, in Europe, the people stand during the Eucharistic Prayer except for the consecration (the words of Jesus at the Last Supper to make Him present in the Eucharist), while in the United States we kneel the whole time.

As for Communion, there are a few options. Certain parishes or even different people at the same parish will sit as soon as they have received communion; others will sit after a short period of personal prayer; others sit when Jesus is back in the tabernacle; it seems common for people to sit when the priest sits down, and it is also an option to remain kneeling all the way until “Let us pray”. This is not the place to push for what might be better or worse options.
Mass responses in chronological order:
- Father opens with the sign of the cross
All make the action and respond, “ Amen"
- Father says the official greeting (usually “The Lord be with you”)
Response “ And with your spirit.”
- If used:
“ I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.
Therefore I ask Blessed Mary Ever-Virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.”
- “Lord, have mercy.” “Christ, have mercy.” “Lord, have mercy.”
- [Only certain feast-days and most Sundays:]
“ Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly king, O God almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ,
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 prayer.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father; have mercy on us.
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.”
- Father prays the Collect (formal opening prayer), usually ending with
“Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.”

Response “ Amen.”
- The readings are read.
“The Word of the Lord.”

Response “ Thanks be to God.”
- Responsorial Psalm: Repeat the verse... This could be difficult without it on paper in front of you. Consider going to www.usccb.org/bible and then click “Today’s Reading”.
- Gospel Acclamation: repeat the Alleluia or “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory” (there are other ways this can be worded, too)
- “A reading from the Holy Gospel according to [name].”
Response “ Glory to you, O Lord.”
- “The Gospel of the Lord.”
Response “ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Father tells a joke during the homily
Response “ Ha ha ha!”
- [On Sundays and very high feast days/solemnities, the Creed:
“ I believe in one God, the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,
born of the father before all ages;
God from God, light from light, true God from true God;
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation, he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day in accordance with the scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in 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 and the Son;
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified;
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one holy catholic apostolic Church.
I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins,
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.”
- [After each intercession is said]
Response “ Lord, hear our prayer.” [variants to this response are possible]
- Priest: “Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have this bread to offer. Fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.”
Response: “ Blessed be God forever.”
- Priest: “Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have this wine to offer. Fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become for us our spiritual drink.”
Response: “ Blessed be God forever.”
- Priest: “Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be made acceptable to God our almighty Father.”
Response: “ 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 His Holy Church.”
- [The priest prays the Prayer Over the Offerings, which is different each day.]
  “Through Christ our Lord.”
Response “ Amen.”
- The Preface Dialogue:
  “The Lord be with you.” “And with your spirit.”
  “Lift up your hearts.” “We lift them up to the Lord.”
  “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.” “It is right and just.”
“... with one voice, we acclaim:”
“ Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts!
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.”
- There are a few options for the Mystery of Faith.
Just follow along with what Father says or what the choir sings. The most common is: “
When we eat this bread and drink this cup,

we proclaim Your death, O Lord,

until you come again.”
- “Through Him and with Him and in Him, O God almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, forever and ever.”
  “Amen!” (often sung)
- “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.”
- “... as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ.”
Response: “For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours,

now and forever.”
- “... graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will.
Who live and reign for ever and ever.”
Response: “ Amen.”
- “And with your spirit.”
- “Peace be with you” / “And with your spirit” (among each other)
- “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.”
- Priest: “Behold the Lamb of God. Behold Him Who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lord.”
Response: “ Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof.

But only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.”
- [At the end of the Postcommunion Prayer, the final one:] “Through Christ our Lord.”
Response: “ Amen.”
- “The Lord be with you.”
Response: “ And with your spirit.”
- “May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
Response: “ Amen.” (And receive the blessing with the sign of the cross)
- “Go; the Mass is ended.” / “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” / [other options]
Response: “ Thanks be to God.”