Missal

Introductory Rites

The Priest and the faithful sign themselves with the Sign of the Cross, while the Priest says:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The people reply:
Amen.

Then the Priest greets the people, saying:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.

Or:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Or:
The Lord be with you.

The people reply:
And with your spirit.

PENITENTIAL ACT

The Priest invites the faithful, saying:
Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

A brief pause for silence follows. Then all recite together the formula of general confession:
I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,

And, striking their breast, they say:
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;

Then they continue:
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

The absolution by the Priest follows:
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.

The people reply:
Amen.
Go to the Gloria.

Or:
Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

A brief pause for silence follows. The Priest then says:
Have mercy on us, O Lord.

The people reply:
For we have sinned against you.

The Priest then says:
Show us, O Lord, your mercy.

The people reply:
And grant us your salvation.

The absolution by the Priest follows:
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.

The people reply:
Amen.
Go to the Gloria.

Or:
Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

A brief pause for silence follows. The Priest, or a Deacon or another minister, then says the following or other invocations with Kyrie, Eleison (Lord, have mercy):
You were sent to heal the contrite of heart:
Lord, have mercy. (Or: Kyrie, Eleison.)

The people reply:
Lord, have mercy. (Or: Kyrie, Eleison.)

The Priest then says:
You came to call sinners:
Christ, have mercy. (Or: Christe, Eleison.)

The people reply:
Christ, have mercy. (Or: Christe, Eleison.)

The Priest then says:
You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us:
Lord, have mercy. (Or: Kyrie, Eleison.)

The people reply:
Lord, have mercy. (Or: Kyrie, Eleison.)

The absolution by the Priest follows:
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.

The people reply:
Amen.

The Kyrie Eleison (Lord, have mercy) invocations follow unless they have just occurred in a formula of the Penitential Act.

V. Lord, have mercy.
R. Lord, have mercy.

V. Christ, have mercy.
R. Christ, have mercy.

V. Lord, have mercy.
R. Lord, have mercy.

Or:

V. Kyrie, eleison.
R. Kyrie, eleison.

V. Christe, eleison.
R. Christe, eleison.

V. Kyrie, eleison.
R. Kyrie, eleison.
 

Gloria

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise you,
we bless you,
we adore you,
we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.

When this hymn is concluded, the Priest says:
Let us pray.

And all pray in silence with the Priest for a while. Then the Priest says the Collect prayer, at the end of which the people acclaim:
Amen.

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

Click here for today's Mass Readings.

The reader goes to the ambo and reads the First Reading, while all sit and listen. At the end of the reading, the reader acclaims:
The word of the Lord.

All reply:
Thanks be to God.

The psalmist or cantor sings or says the Psalm, with the people making the response.

After this, if there is to be a Second Reading, a reader reads it from the ambo, as above. At the end of the reading, the reader acclaims:
The word of the Lord.

All reply:
Thanks be to God.

The Deacon, or the Priest, then proceeds to the ambo. There he says:
The Lord be with you.

The people reply:
And with your spirit.

The Deacon or the Priest says:
A reading from the holy Gospel according to N.

The people acclaim:
Glory to you, O Lord.

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:
The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Then follows the Homily, which is to be preached by a Priest or Deacon on all Sundays and Holydays of Obligation; on other days, it is recommended.
At the end of the Homily, the Profession of Faith or Creed, when prescribed, is either said or sung.
 

Creed

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

At the words that follow, up to and including the Virgin Mary, all bow.
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.

Or:
Nicene Creed

I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,

At the words that follow up to and including and became man, all bow.
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Liturgy of the Eucharist
 

The Priest, standing at the altar, takes the paten with the bread and holds it slightly raised above the altar with both hands, saying:

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,
for through your goodness we have received
the bread we offer you:
fruit of the earth and work of human hands,
it will become for us the bread of life.

The people acclaim:
Blessed be God for ever.

The Priest then takes the chalice and holds it slightly raised above the altar with both hands, saying:
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,
for through your goodness we have received
the wine we offer you:
fruit of the vine and work of human hands,
it will become our spiritual drink.

The people acclaim:
Blessed be God for ever.

Then the Priest, standing at the side of the altar, washes his hands, saying quietly:
Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
 

The Priest says:
Pray, brothers and sisters,
that my sacrifice and yours
may be acceptable to God,
the almighty Father.

The people stand and reply:
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 holy Church.

Then the Priest, with hands extended, says the Prayer over the Offerings, at the end of which the people acclaim:
Amen.

The Preface

Extending his hands, the priest says:
The Lord be with you.

The people reply:
And with your spirit.

The Priest, raising his hands, continues:
Lift up your hearts.

The people reply:
We lift them up to the Lord.

The Priest, with hands extended, adds:
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

The people reply:
It is right and just.

The Priest, with hands extended, continues the Preface. At the end of the Preface he joins his hands and concludes the Preface with the people, singing or saying aloud:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
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.

The Eucharistic Prayer

Eucharistic Prayer I
Eucharistic Prayer II
Eucharistic Prayer III
Eucharistic Prayer IV


The Communion Rite

After the chalice and paten have been set down, the Priest, with hands joined, says:
At the Savior’s command
and formed by divine teaching,
we dare to say:

He extends his hands and, together with the people, continues:
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.

With hands extended, the Priest alone continues, saying:
Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,
graciously grant peace in our days,
that, by the help of your mercy,
we may be always free from sin
and safe from all distress,
as we await the blessed hope
and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

He joins his hands. The people conclude the prayer, acclaiming:
For the kingdom,
the power and the glory are yours
now and for ever.

Then the Priest, with hands extended, says aloud:
Lord Jesus Christ,
who said to your Apostles:
Peace I leave you, my peace I give you;
look not on our sins,
but on the faith of your Church,
and graciously grant her peace and unity
in accordance with your will.
Who live and reign for ever and ever.

The people reply:
Amen.

The Priest, turned towards the people, extending and then joining his hands, adds:
The peace of the Lord be with you always.

The people reply:
And with your spirit.

Then, if appropriate, the Deacon, or the Priest, adds:
Let us offer each other the sign of peace.
 

Meanwhile, the following is sung or said:
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.
 

The Priest genuflects, takes the host and, holding it slightly raised above the paten or above the chalice while facing the people, says aloud:
Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

And together with the people he says:
Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed. The Priest consumes the Body and Blood of Christ.

After this, he takes the paten or ciborium and approaches the communicants. The Priest raises a host slightly and shows it to each of the communicants, saying:
The Body of Christ.

The communicant replies:
Amen.
and receives Holy Communion.

Then the Priest may return to the chair. If appropriate, a sacred silence may be observed for a while, or a psalm or other canticle of praise or a hymn may be sung.

Then the Priest says:
Let us pray.

All pray in silence with the Priest for a while, unless silence has just been observed. Then the Priest says the Prayer after Communion, at the end of which the people acclaim:
Amen.
 

The Concluding Rites

Then the dismissal takes place. The Priest, facing the people and extending his hands, says:
The Lord be with you.

The people reply:
And with your spirit.

The Priest blesses the people, saying:
May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

The people reply:
Amen.

Then the Deacon, or the Priest himself, with hands joined and facing the people, says:
Go forth, the Mass is ended.

Or:
Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

Or:
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

Or:
Go in peace.

The people reply:
Thanks be to God.