“The world could exist more easily without the Sun than without the Mass”
-Padre Pio
Resources: Bible, “A Biblical Explanation of the Mass” By: Dr. Brant Pitre, Professor of Sacred Scripture Notre Dame Seminary, www.ourcatholicfaith.org, The Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Key Questions
What is the significance of the “welcome” part of the mass?
Key Points
Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink
Upon entering the sanctuary we dip our fingers in a font containing Holy Water which is to first remind us of our baptism and secondly to show reverence for the house of the Lord and to bring us into a sense of worship. Catholic’s will also kneel upon the right leg before sitting, looking at the crucifix and making the sign of the cross-remembering Christ crucifixion. Before the service begins, many will kneel in prayer reflecting upon our sins and our need for forgiveness.
Introductory Rites – AS found in scripture!
The Procession: Moses Enters the Tabernacle
Now Moses used to take the tent [=the Tabernacle] and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp; and he called it the tent of meeting. And every one who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose up, and every man stood at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he had gone into the tent. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the door of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the door of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, every man at his tent door. Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. (Exodus 33:7-11)
“Lord, Have Mercy” (Kyrie Eleison): The Blind Men and Jesus
And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him And behold, two blind men sitting by the roadside, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent; but they cried out the more, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" And Jesus stopped and called them, saying, "What do you want me to do for you?" They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they received their sight and followed him. (Matthew 20:30-31)
“Glory to God in the Highest” (Gloria): The Angelic Hymn of Joy
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem… to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:4-20)
A little historical background from St. Justin Martyr
CCC 1345: "As early as the second century we have the witness of St. Justin Martyr for the basic lines of the order of the Eucharistic celebration. They have stayed the same until our own day for all the great liturgical families. St. Justin wrote to the pagan emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161) around the year 155, explaining what Christians did:
Another of the earliest type of the Mass was the offering of bread and wine by the Priest-King Melchizedek in Genesis 14:18-20.
On the day we call the day of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place.
The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read, as much as time permits.
When the reader has finished, he who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things.
Then we all rise together and offer prayers* for ourselves . . .and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation.
When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss.
Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren.
He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and for a considerable time he gives thanks (in Greek: eucharistian) that we have been judged worthy of these gifts.
When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: 'Amen.'
When he who presides has given thanks and the people have responded, those whom we call deacons give to those present the "eucharisted" bread, wine and water and take them to those who are absent.
Gather of the mass
CCC 1348: All gather together. Christians come together in one place for the Eucharistic assembly. At its head is Christ himself, the principal agent of the Eucharist. He is high priest of the New Covenant; it is he himself who presides invisibly over every Eucharistic celebration. It is in representing him that the bishop or priest acting in the person of Christ the head (in persona Christi capitis) presides over the assembly, speaks after the readings, receives the offerings, and says the Eucharistic Prayer. All have their own active parts to play in the celebration, each in his own way: readers, those who bring up the offerings, those who give communion and the whole people whose "Amen" manifests their participation.
Questions for Discussion:
1. Why do we dip our hands in holy water when entering the sanctuary?
2. What similarities to the Mass do you find in the Old Testament?
3. Who are we singing with when we sing the Gloria?
4. How long have we been doing similar rituals to the ones we do and profess today?
5. When you are saying/ professing the parts of the Mass do you actively think about what is coming out of your mouth?
6. Do you ever wonder what Mass would have been like around St. Justin’s time? (155 AD)
Take Home Message:
The Welcome portion of the Mass is biblically rooted and prepares our hearts for the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist
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