| Some essential vocabulary
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| Mass
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From the Latin word, "missa," which means "sent." This word appears in the last thing said by the priest in Latin: "Ite, missa est," which may be understood to mean, "Go, you [the congregation] are sent."
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| Liturgy
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From Greek, "laoi," people, and "ergon," work--"the work of the People of God." More loosely translated, the word refers to any form of public prayer in the Church.
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| Eucharist
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From Greek, "eu," good, and "charis," gift. To say "good gift!" is to give thanks to the person from whom the gift has been received. The whole of the Mass is "thanks-giving" to God for all of the gifts He has given us.
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| Transubstantiation
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At the consecration of the Mass, which is in the Eucharistic Prayer when the priest says, "This is my Body ... This is the chalice of my Blood," the substance of bread is changed entirely into the Body of Christ and the substance of wine is changed entirely into the Blood of Christ. This change takes place in the gifts that we place on the altar. Their trans-substantiation into the Body and Blood of Jesus changes them but does not change Jesus Himself. After the bread has become the Body of Christ and the wine has become the Blood of Christ, we called them "sacred species." What we do in eating the sacred species of bread and drinking the sacred species of wine does NOT injure Jesus in any way at all. The apostles received the sacred species at the Last Supper and saw with their own eyes that receiving the "Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity" of Jesus did not cause Him any harm. The sacred species act on us to make us into sacred vessels. We cannot act on the sacred species to change the Body or Blood of Jesus in any way whatsoever.
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| Vestments, Sacred Vessels, Altar, and Tabernacle
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| Alb
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Latin, alba, a white garment--derived from a Roman toga? The vestment is a reminder of Baptism and our need to be cleansed by God's grace.
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| Cincture
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(some albs do not require cinctures)--a rope that functions like a belt and reminds the priest of the need for self-control.
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| Stole
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A cloth band that goes over the shoulders of the priests. It is the distinctive sign of the office of the priest. Deacons have a different kind of stole.
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| Chasuble
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Derived from Roman "overcoats." "Above all things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfection" (Col 3:14).
- Liturgical colors used for the stole and chasuble:
- White: resurrection; solemnities of the Lord; feasts and memorials of saints.
- Red: the color of blood; Passion and Death of Jesus; feasts and memorials of martyrs; Holy Spirit.
- Green: ordinary time, the largest part of the Church year, during which we study the things that Jesus said and did in the presence of His disciples.
- Purple: penitence and anticipation; Advent and Lent.
- Rose (pink): Gaudete Sundy in Advent and Laetare Sunday in Lent. Joy!
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| Chalice
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The cup we use for the Blood of Christ.
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| Paten
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The plate or bowl we use for the Body of Christ.
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| Ciborium
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The covered vessel in which consecrated hosts are preserved in the Tabernacle.
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| Altar
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Dual symbolism:
- - a raised platform for offering sacrifice, like the altar in the Holy of Holies in the Temple;
- - the Table of the Lord, like the Passover table, used to provide food and drink for the feast.
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| Tabernacle
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From the Latin word for "tent," which is reminiscent of the Meeting Tent used by the People of God in their Exodus from Egypt and which, in turn, became the model for the Holy of Holies within the Temple in Jerusalem.
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| Missal
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| A. The Introductory Rites --"beginning, introduction, and preparation."
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| Entrance procession
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| Introit verse or hymn
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| Sign of the Cross
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"In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Touch your forehead, your heart, your left shoulder, and then your right shoulder in order to make "The Sign of the Cross."
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| Greeting
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| Act of Penitence
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All of us are "sinners redeemed by grace." We should do a quick examination of conscience before Mass begins to think of where we need God's help the most today.
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| Kyrie
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| Gloria
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| Collect
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| B. The Liturgy of the Word
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| Readings from Scripture
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| First Reading
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| Responsorial Psalm
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| Second Reading
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| Gospel Acclamation
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| Gospel
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| Homily
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| Profession of Faith
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| Prayer of the Faithful
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| C. The Liturgy of the Eucharist
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| Preparation of the Gifts
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| Washing of hands
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| Orate, fratres
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| Prayer over the Offerings
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| Preface
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| Sanctus
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| Eucharistic Prayer -- "the center and summit of the entire celebration"
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| Communion rite
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| Lord's Prayer
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| Prayer for Deliverance from Evil
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| Breaking of the Bread (Fraction rite)
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| Commingling of the Body and Blood of Christ
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| Lamb of God
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| Rite of Peace
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| Non sum dignus
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| Reception of Communion
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| Communion antiphon or hymn
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| Prayer after Communion
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| Final blessing
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| Dismissal
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