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Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Lord:
Many readers have probably heard
parishioners say something like “I went to Mass at the cathedral on Good
Friday” or “I like it when Deacon Gene says Mass on Father’s day off”.
After a prayer assembly at school, one parent remarked, “I’ve just been
to the school Mass”. The only trouble is, these events are not ‘Mass’.
The word ‘Mass’ is not a general term for any prayer gathering in the
church. It is quite specific in its meaning. It refers to the Eucharist
which we normally celebrate on Sundays. It has two main parts:
1. The
Liturgy of the Word when we listen to the readings and the homily, say
the Creed and pray our intercessions;
2. The
Liturgy of the Eucharist when we carry bread and wine to the altar,
offer the great Prayer of Consecration and Thanksgiving (this includes
the story of the Lord’s Supper), share the Lord’s Prayer, a sign of
peace and receive the Body and Blood of the Lord in Holy Communion.
It is not Mass that is celebrated on
Good Friday but a liturgy consisting of the reading of the Passion,
veneration of the cross and receiving Communion. A Liturgy of the Word
with Communion led by a Deacon or a lay person is not Mass. When the
school gathers for readings, prayers and songs it is not Mass.
There are many liturgical ceremonies
which are not Mass: for example, baptism, anointing the sick, weddings
and funerals (though all these can take place within a Mass); the
sacrament of penance; morning and evening prayer (based on praying the
psalms); a service of the Word; benediction and rites of blessing. It
seems that many people do not know the correct terminology when it comes
to describing various forms of public worship, or liturgy. A few
definitions might help:
· “Mass”.
The term comes from the final words of the Eucharist: Ite missa est
(Go, the Mass is ended). It means ‘sent’. Having been renewed and
fed at the table of the Lord, we are sent to be missionaries of the
gospel in the world.
· “Eucharist”.
This word comes from the Greek meaning ‘thanksgiving’. We give
thanks for all the wonderful things God has done for us, especially for
sending us his Son, Jesus, in whose death and resurrection we
participate when we offer the Mass.
· “Liturgy”
is a more general word which literally means ‘the work of the people’.
It refers to the public work of the people of God in giving God praise
and thanks.
· “Prayer”
refers to personal communication with a deity, especially in the form of
supplication, adoration, praise, contrition, or thanksgiving. Prayer is
not about God but is addressed to God.
· “Ritual”.
This refers to the prescribed or established form of words, actions and
symbols of a religious ceremony.
The celebration of Mass is unique among
all liturgical prayer(s). It’s special because, by our offering, we join
ourselves to Christ’s self offering on the cross and become part of
Christ’s great act of reconciliation between the human race and God.
Each Mass leads us to the heart of the Easter mystery by which we are
saved. It truly is a joining of heaven on earth, the source and summit
of the life of Church and our lives as Catholic people. The Mass is a
means of grace, a mystery of faith and a gift for which we should be
eternally grateful and never take for granted.
Let’s give our minds and hearts to the
Lord!
Father Joe |
