Whys of the Mass, Part II
By Mike Lambrecht
Last week we looked at what happens before Mass begins. This week we will explore the Introductory Rites of the Mass.
We begin each Mass by making the sign of the cross, a recognition of the triune God. “What we did by ourselves upon entering the church, we now do with everyone gathered in the church. We are no longer alone, but with others who believe in and trust God in the same way we do.”1 We are part of the community. This sign also reminds us of the loving death that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners.2 Father then greets us reminding us that God is present with any number of greetings, the most common being, “The Lord be with you.”
Next we move on to the Penitential Rite of Mass. “Acknowledging that we have sinned is an important starting point if we are to enter into our need for salvation.”3 This rite can take on several forms but in all of them we call to mind our own sinfulness and the need for God’s mercy in our lives. It is important to note that on those occasions when we pray the Confiteor (I confess), that we are praying not only to God but we are asking those present to pray for us as well. Therefore, if we want others to pray for us, we should spend some time praying for those around us.
The Gloria may follow and is an opportunity to join in an angelic song of praise to our God. “There is no being on earth worthy of more thanks than the one who is our Creator and Lord.”4 If we read the book of Revelation, we can see that the angels are ceaselessly singing this hymn and we often join our voices to theirs at Mass.5 As another side note, the Gloria is never sung during Lent because of the penitential nature of the season or during Advent because we are awaiting the messiah.
The last part of the Introductory Rite is the opening prayer or Collect. It begins when Father says, “Let us pray.” This is a very important prayer addressed to God the Father by the priest acting in the person of Christ [in persona Christi]. This means that, “when God hears the prayer, it is as though He hears His Son asking.”5 This prayer always follows the same basic structure. We begin by calling out to God, remembering something God has done, and then we ask for something in the name of His Son. The “Amen” that we say at the end of the prayer signifies our approval and agreement. It means that we believe and makes the prayer our own.
The remainder of the Mass is divided into two parts, namely, the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Liturgy of the Word begins with the first Reading and concludes with the Prayers of the Faithful or petitions. The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the collection and offertory and ends just before the Concluding Rites of the Mass. It is the Liturgy of the Word that we will focus on next week.
1,3,4,5 Dubriel, Michael. The How-To Book of the Mass. Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 2006.
2 See Romans 5:8
5 See Revelation 4:8