What Do Catholics Say During Mass?
Here are your “Cues” and “Lines”
I. We Gather the Folks (Be nice to each other!)
Priest opens with the sign of the cross:
“In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”
Congregation: “Amen!”
Priest: “The Lord be with you.”
Congregation: “And also with you!”
Priest: “Lord, have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord, have mercy.”
Congregation: “Lord/Christ/Lord have mercy.”
Priest & Congregation: Gloria (see front of the Sunday bulletin or the missalette in pews)
Conclusion of the opening prayer . . . Priest: “. . . through Christ our Lord.”
Congregation: “Amen!”
II. We Tell Our Stories (Scripture Readings)
Lector/Reader (after reading the text): “The Word of the Lord.”
Congregation: “Thanks be to God!”
Before reading the gospel. Priest: “The Lord be with you.”
Congregation: “And also with you!”
Priest: “A reading from the Holy Gospel According to (Mark, Matthew, Luke, or John).”
Congregation: “Glory to You, O Lord!”
At the end of the gospel . . . Priest: “the Gospel of the Lord.”
Congregation: “Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ.”
Priest & Congregation: Nicene Creed (see front of the Sunday bulletin or the missalette in pews)
After each prayer of the faithful: Lector/Reader: “. . . for this we pray to the Lord.”
Congregation: “Lord, hear our prayer!”
III. We Break the Bread
(At masses without music, two blessing prayers are said aloud as the priest places first bread and then wine on the altar. Usually, these are said silently on Sundays.)
Priest: “. . . it will become for us the bread of life.”
Congregation: “Blessed be God forever!
Priest: “. . . it will become our spiritual drink.”
Congregation: “Blessed be God forever!”
When the altar table has been prepared:
Priest: “. . . may be acceptable to God the Almighty Father.”
Congregation: “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 church.”
Dialogue and acclamations throughout the Eucharistic Prayer
Priest: “The Lord be with you.”
Congregation: “And also with you.”
Priest: “Lift up your hearts.”
Congregation: “We have lifted them up to the Lord.”
Priest: “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.”
Congregation: “It is right to give God thanks and praise.”
During Prayer:
Congregation: “Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. 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.”
Priest: “Let us Proclaim the Mystery of Faith:
Congregation (usually): “Christ has died, Christ is Risen, Christ will come again!”
After the Eucharist Prayer:
Congregation: “Amen!”
Priest & Congregation: “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.” The priest prays alone, then . . . “For the kingdom, the Power and the Glory are Yours now and forever! Amen.”
During the Breaking of the Bread The following is usually sung; at masses without musicians we say: Congregation: “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!”
Just before we go forward to receive communion.
Priest: “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed!”
At the At the moment of receiving Communion:
Eucharistic Minister: ‘‘The Body of Christ.”
Individual: “Amen!”
Eucharistic Minister: “The Blood of Christ”
Individual: “Amen!”
IV. We Go Out to Change the World (We are sent forth to make a difference.)
In response to the final blessing:
Congregation: “Amen!”
And to the words at dismissal:
Priest: “Go in peace” etc.)
Congregation: “Thanks be to God!”
Last revised 8-28-04
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