The Mass
Outline • • • •
Terms The Liturgy of the Word The Liturgy of the Eucharist The Biblical Roots of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass • The Mass in the New Testament • Heaven on Earth
The word “Mass” • The term "Mass" is derived from the Latin word missa (dismissal), a word used in the concluding formula of Mass in Latin: "Ite, miss est" ("Go; it is the dismissal"). • "In antiquity, missa simply meant 'dismissal'. In Christian usage, however, it gradually took on a deeper meaning. The word 'dismissal' has come to imply a 'mission'. These few words succinctly express the missionary nature of the Church" - (Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum caritatis, 51)
The word “Liturgy” •
Liturgy (leitourgia) is a Greek composite word meaning originally “a public duty, a service to the state undertaken by a citizen.”
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In the Septuagint it is used for the public service of the temple (e.g., Exodus 38:27; 39:12, etc.).
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In Hebrews 8:6, the high priest of the New Law "has obtained a better liturgy", that is a better kind of public religious service than that of the Temple.
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So in Christian use liturgy meant the public official service of the Church, that corresponded to the official service of the Temple in the Old Law.
The Mass Liturgy of the Word & Liturgy of the Eucharist
The Liturgy of the Word • • • • •
Old Testament Reading Psalm New Testament Reading Gospel Reading Homily
If you attend Mass every Sunday, you will go through 90% of the Bible every 3 years.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist • What is the Eucharist? • The real presence of Christ under the appearance of bread and wine • The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass • It is the re-presentation of the one time sacrifice of Jesus • The only perfect offering to God • The defining characteristic of Catholic worship
Biblical Roots of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass Malachi 1:11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts.
The Wedding Feast of Cana John 2:1-11 … 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.…9and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine…11This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
•Christ gave wine at a wedding feast as a prefigurement of the wine that he would give at Calvary; His precious blood. •Christ is the Bridegroom of the New Covenant Church which is His bride. •Every wedding has a feast. Each time we partake of His body and Blood we celebrate a nuptial feast. •At His second coming we will celebrate the wedding supper of the Lamb.
The Bread of Life Discourse John 6:32-70 ‌.35Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. ‌ 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
John 6 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 53
The Institution Narratives • Matthew 26:26-28 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." 27Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory (anamnesis) of me. • Mark 14:22-24 • Luke 22:17-20
The Last Supper: “Anamnesis” The word “anamnesis” is used only four times in the Old Testament. Twice it is used in a sacrificial context. •
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Numbers 10:10 "Also at your times of rejoicing . . . you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial (anamnesis) for you before your God." Leviticus 24:7 7 And you shall put pure frankincense with each row, that it may go with the bread as a memorial (anamnesis) portion to be offered by fire to the LORD Heb 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance (anamnesis) again made of sins every year.
The Last Supper was a true sacrifice and the beginning of the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross for the remission of sins.
The Last Supper was a Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you for performing the rite of expiation on the altar for your lives, for blood is what expiates for a life. Baltimore Catechism: Lesson 22 Q. 872. When is the Holy Eucharist a Sacrament, and when is it a sacrifice? A. The Holy Eucharist is a Sacrament when we receive it in Holy Communion and when it remains in the Tabernacle of the Altar. It is a sacrifice when it is offered up at Mass by the separate consecration of the bread and wine, which signifies the separation of Our Lord's blood from His body when He died on the Cross.
If the Last Supper was the beginning of Christ’s sacrifice for all and we are commanded to remember this sacrifice by perpetuating it, then our communion is a true sacrifice; a participation in His sacrifice at Calvary.
The New Testament Church and the Sacrifice of the Mass
The Road to Emmaus Luke 24:13-32 … 15As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16but they were kept from recognizing him. … 27 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 17He asked them, …30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
Christ is revealed to the disciples in the “breaking of the bread”. Here we have Christ celebrating the Mass by teaching them the scriptures (liturgy of the Word) and breaking the bread (liturgy of the Eucharist).
The Church in Acts Acts 2:38-42 ‌ 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
St. Paul’s Teaching on the Eucharist 1 Corinthians 10:15-22 …16Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?...18Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons… • The “cup of demons” is a sacrifice to demons, the “cup of the Lord” is compared in the same context implying that it is a sacrifice as well. • When a person eats the sacrifices they participate in the altar. What is the altar for Christians when we partake of the Eucharist?
St. Paul’s Teaching on the Eucharist 1 Corinthians 11:23-30 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
People had “fallen asleep” (died) because they had profaned the body and blood of the Lord. Did they die because they had received a symbol unworthily?
Heaven on Earth
Jewish Temple, Catholic Church • The Temple was a miniature of the cosmos • The temple was considered the place where heaven and earth met • Every mass is a participation in the heavenly liturgy
What Does Heavenly Worship Look Like? Revelation 5:6-14 6 … I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain …the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints;…by thy blood didst ransom men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 and hast made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth."…14 And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped.
The Wedding Feast of the Lamb Rev 19:6-9 …7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;…9 And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." … Christ began His ministry at a wedding feast and He will conclude all of history with a wedding feast.
Conclusion The Mass glorifies God, by offering Him what is of infinite worth, and sanctifies man by putting before him the price of redemption.
Appendix
Introductory Rites Revelation Sunday Worship High Priest Priesthood of the Faithful Antiphonal chant Altar Incense Vestments
Consecrated celibacy Lampstands (menorah) Sign of the Cross Blessing Penitence Gloria
Reference Verses 1:10 1:13 1:6; 20:6 4:8-11; 5:9-14; 7:10-12; 18:1-8 8:3-4; 11:1; 14:18 5:8; 8:3-5 1:13; 1; 4:4; 6:11; 7:9; 15:6; 19:13-14 14:4 1:12; 2:5 14:4 4:5; 8:10 7:3; 14:1; 22:4 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6 Chapters 2 and 3 15:3-4
Celebration of the Mass Introductory Rites - Processional - Entrance Antiphon - Priest reverences the altar by kissing the altar and by reverencing the altar with incense if a high Mass is being celebrated. He wears the appropriate vestments - Sign of the Cross and Greeting - The Rite of Blessing - The Penitential Rite - Gloria - Opening Prayer
Liturgy of the Word Revelation Prominence of the Virgin Mary Book or Scroll Reading From Scripture
Reference Verses 12:1-6; 12:13-17
Alleluia Intercession of angels and saints
19:1,3,4,6 5:8; 6:9-10;
5:1 Chapters 2-3,5; 8:2-11 8:3-4
Celebration of the Mass Liturgy of the Word - 1st Reading, Responsorial Psalms, 2nd Reading - Alleluia and Gospel - Intercessions
Liturgy of the Eucharist Revelation Eucharistic Host Chalices
Reference Verses 2:17 15:7; Chapter16; 12:9
Lift up your hearts
11:12
Holy, Holy, Holy
4:8
Great Amen
19:4; 22:21
Lamb of God
5:6; entire book
Marriage Supper of the Lamb
19:9;
Silent Contemplation
8:1
Devotion to Archangel Michael Worldwide/Universality (catholic)
12:7
Celebration of the Mass Liturgy of the Eucharist - Preparation of the Gifts (the wine and bread) - Eucharistic Prayer intro dialog “Lift up your hearts” - Acclamation “Holy, Holy, Holy” - The Great Amen - Communion Rite - “Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world” -“This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his table” - Silent Contemplation -Concluding Rites
7:9
“…go forth to love and serve the Lord”
Chapter 17
Why can’t non-Catholics receive communion? •
Sign of unity • 1 Cor 10:17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
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Spiritual well being • 1 Cor 11:27-30 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.
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Hypocrisy • When you receive communion you are saying AMEN to everything the Catholic Church teaches. • Why would you want to do something you do not believe in?
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