Penitential Act: Brethren, let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries (Latin sacra mysteria).
Offertory: By the mystery (Latin mysterium) of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.
Consecration: [The priest] shows the chalice to the people, places it on the corporal, and genuflects in adoration. Then he says: The mystery of faith. (Latin mysterium fidei).
Catechesis on the Mass = “Mystagogy” Catechism: The Greek word mysterion was translated into Latin by two terms: mysterium and sacramentum. In later usage the term sacramentum emphasizes the visible sign of the hidden reality of salvation… Liturgical catechesis aims to initiate people into the mystery of Christ (It is “mystagogy.”) by proceeding from the visible to the invisible, from the sign to the thing signified, from the “sacraments” to the “mysteries”
Visible —> Invisible Sign —> Thing Signified Sacraments —> Mysteri
The Meaning of “the Mass” Catechism: The Eucharist or principal sacramental celebration of the Church… It is called “Mass” (from the Latin missa) because of the “mission” or “sending” with which the liturgical celebration concludes (Latin: Ite, Missa est [“Go forth, the Mass is ended”).
The Early Medieval Papal “Mass” (7th Century) Ordo Romanus I: After it is finished, whichever deacon the archdeacon has appointed glances towards the pope, so that he may signal to him, and chants to the people: Go, the Mass is finished (Latin Ite, missa est). Resp[onse]: Thanks be to God. (Latin Deo gratias).
The Mass of the Roman Rite Catechism: The liturgical traditions or rites presently in use in the Church are the Latin (principally the Roman rite, but also the rites of certain local churches, such as the Ambrosian rite, or those of certain religious orders) and the Byzantine, Alexandrian or Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, Maronite, and Chaldean rites.
St. Justin Martyr: The Ancient Roman Mass (2nd Century)
On… the day of the sun, all… 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… 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... 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.’ [T]hose whom we call deacons give to those present the “eucharisted” bread, wine and water and take them to those who are absent
- Gathering (Greek synaxis)
- Readings (OT and Gospels)
- Homily
- Prayers of the Faithful
- Kiss of Peace
- Offertory
- Eucharistic Prayer
- Communion under Both Kinds
The Road to Emmaus: The Pattern of the Mass
The Catechism presents the road to Emmaus as more than a historical event. It reveals the fundamental movement of the Mass: Christ opens the Scriptures and makes Himself known in the breaking of the bread.
The Liturgy of the Word In Luke 24:25–27, the risen Christ interprets Moses and the Prophets in light of His suffering and glory. This forms the pattern of the Liturgy of the Word: Scripture is proclaimed, Christ is revealed as its fulfillment, and its meaning is opened through preaching. The disciples’ hearts burn as the Scriptures are opened. The Word prepares the heart to recognize Christ.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist In Luke 24:30–31, Christ takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to the disciples. These four actions echo the Last Supper and disclose the pattern of the Eucharistic Liturgy. Their eyes are opened in the breaking of the bread. Though Christ vanishes from their physical sight, the scene directs attention to His sacramental presence.
Essential Pattern The Mass joins the opening of the Scriptures with the breaking of the bread. The Word kindles the heart; the Eucharist opens the eyes. The Sunday gathering of the Church thus participates in the Paschal movement of the risen Christ with His disciples.