In This Issue:
October, 2008
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church
100 Oak Dr. South
Lake Jackson, Texas
LIGHT FOR THE WORLD
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In This Issue: |
PARTS OF THE MASS continued
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Entrance Procession
Entrance Song
Veneration of the Altar
Sign of the Cross: Greeting: Introduction
Penitential Rite
Invitation/Silence/Proclamation
Confiteor/Kyrie
(or Sprinkling Rite may take the place of the Penitential Rite)
Gloria (Glory to God)
Opening Prayer (Collect)
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading
Responsorial Psalm
Second Reading
Gospel Acclamation
Gospel
Homily
Profession of Faith
General Intercessions
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Preparation of the Altar and the Gifts
Presentation of the Gifts
Offertory Song
Prayers At the Preparation of the Gifts*
Mixing of Water and Wine*
Lord God, We Ask You…*
Incensation*
Washing of the Hands*
Prayer Over the Gifts and Its Invitation*
(*Featured in this issue)
Eucharistic Prayer
Preface
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
Epiclesis
Institution Narrative
Memorial Acclamation
Anamnesis
Offering
Intercessions
Final Doxology
COMMUNION RITE
Lord’s Prayer
Rite of Peace
Breaking of the Bread
Commingling
Lamb of God (Agnus Dei)
(Private Preparation of Priest and People)
Invitation to Communion
Distribution of the Eucharist
Communion Song
Purification of the Vessels
Silent Prayer/Song of Praise
Prayer After Communion
CONCLUDING RITE
(Announcements)
Greeting and Blessing
Dismissal
Veneration of the Altar
Recessional
Prayers At the Preparation of the Gifts
After the priest has received the gifts, he raises the bread a little above the altar and prays in a formula that is modeled on a Jewish table prayer. These texts, which are primarily private prayers of the priest, recall the source, meaning, and goal of the gifts. God is praised for the works of his creation. Bread and wine, being the God-given fruits of the earth, symbolize our world, our life, and our labor. They are presented in view of what they will become, that is, our bread of life and our spiritual drink.
Mixing of Water and Wine
This was more of a practical ancient liturgical practice; because of the wine’s heavy texture, it was diluted with water to make it less strong.
This action soon was given a symbolic interpretation. In the West, the co-mingling came to represent the union of Christ with the faithful: just as wine receives water, so Christ takes us and our sins to himself.
The eastern interpretation was that the wine and water represent the divine and human nature of Christ.
This action, seemingly maintained for reasons of tradition, recalls that what was initiated in the Incarnation is realized in the sacrament of the Lord’s Body and Blood. Through the Eucharist we are to share in the divine dignity of Christ who became incarnate for us.
Lord God, We Ask You…
Based on the prayer of Azariah in Daniel 3:39-40, this is a private prayer of the priest, recited quietly. Looking forward to the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest requests that the future offering, animated by the spiritual sacrifices of the heart, be favorably received by God
Incensation
Incense is a traditional symbol of prayer rising to God (Psalm 141:2; Revelation 8:3-4). The gifts and altar may be incensed as a sign of the church’s offering and prayer going up to God. Priests and people are also incensed since they are to unite themselves and their prayers with the gifts which will be offered in the Eucharistic Prayer.
Washing of the Hands
Washing one's hands as a sign of inner purity was customary in both Judaism and early Christianity. It is possible this became a practical action because the priest handled what was offered by the people, which was often produce or chickens in lieu of money. Society went from one of barter to a money economy.
At first, no prayer accompanied the action, but a number of formulas were added over the centuries, the most general of these was one or more verses of Psalm 26. Today the washing of hands is an expression of the priest’s desire for inward purification, and is accompanied by Psalm 51:4 which is said quietly by the priest as the minister pours the water. At this point, the assembly stands.
Prayer Over the Gifts and Its Invitation
The preparation of the gifts concludes with the invitation to pray with the priest and the prayer over the gifts, followed by the Eucharistic Prayer.
The priest addresses the invitation to the whole congregation which prays that the sacrifice will be acceptable and pleasing to the Father, and expresses the community's desire to unite itself with the offering to come.
Mensa Latin for table; the flat (stone) top of a fixed consecrated altar. The altar represents Christ, the cornerstone and spiritual rock of the church, and the community. It is also the table of the paschal banquet and the altar of sacrifice.
Christians who give themselves to prayer, offer petitions to God and present sacrifices of supplication, are the living stones from which the Lord Jesus builds the Church’s altar.
The word can also be applied to that portion of church property which is set aside for the support of the prelate or the serving ministry.
QUIZ
(TRUE/FALSE)
Q. A lector may use the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) during U. S.
Masses.
(Click here for answers, or scroll down)
That October is Rosary Month? We traditionally meditate on the mysteries of the life of Christ in reciting the rosary, but we are reminded that Pope John Paul II added the Luminous Mysteries, and that the 5th Luminous Mystery is the Institution of the Eucharist, the greatest gift Jesus has given the Church.
Take
note of those who hold heterodox opinions on the grace of Jesus Christ which has
come to us, and see how contrary their opinions are to the mind of God. . . .
They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they do not confess that
the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh which suffered for
our sins and which that Father, in his goodness, raised up again. They who deny
the gift of God are perishing in their disputes.
(St. Ignatius of Antioch (c. AD 50-AD 117) in his Letter to the Smyrnaeans
6:2–7:1)
ORDINARY
TIMES
Although there is some evidence to suggest that in the early Church, instruction and explanation took place at the Eucharistic meal (Col.4:16; Philemon 2; Rev. 1:3), it was only after the separation of the Eucharist from the meal that a more formal scripture service developed.
The Liturgical Year, a system of fixed and related readings was gradually established to highlight particular feasts or seasons and to give thematic unity to the readings.
As we wind down our Church Year and Matthew’s Gospel, we will hear the readings from the 27th to the 30th Sundays of Ordinary Time, and also observe Respect Life Sunday on the 5th and World Mission Sunday on the 19th. We will hear of Tenants and Stewards, Invitation to the King’s wedding feast, told to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s and hear the Greatest Commandment. We are to reflect on the meaning of these readings in our lives today.
Feast Days of Saints
Oct. 1 St. Therese of the Child Jesus
Oct. 2 Feast of the Guardian Angels
Oct. 4 St. Francis of Assisi
Oct. 5 Respect Life Sunday
Oct. 7 Our Lady of the Rosary
Oct. 9 St. Denis & Companions; St. John Leonardi
Oct. 15 St. Teresa of Jesus
Oct. 16 St. Hedwig; St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
Oct. 17 St. Ignatius of Antioch*
Oct. 18 St. Luke, Evangelist
Oct. 28 Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles
*St. Ignatius, one of the Apostolic Fathers, (also known as Theophorus- God bearer) was born in Syria around the year AD 50, and died in Rome sometime between 98 and 117; some list 107.
He was probably a convert to Christianity and is said to have been a disciple of St. John. There is a legend that he was appointed and consecrated Bishop of Antioch by St. Peter, and would have been the 3rd Bishop there, after Peter himself and Evodius. Ignatius governed for 40 years, but was arrested during the persecution of Emperor Trajan and sent to Rome.
The ship he was on traveled along the coast of Asia Minor, but he was also taken overland for part of the journey, and apparently allowed to stay (under guard) for some time in some of the towns – particularly Smyrna, where his friend, Polycarp was Bishop. He wrote a series of letters during this time, of which seven survive and are considered among the most important of the earliest Christian writings. He was the first to use the Greek term that translated into English as Catholic, meaning universal, when speaking of the Church.
He was killed by lions in the Coliseum in Rome; his bones taken back to Antioch and in 637 placed in the church of St. Clement of Rome in the city of Rome. His Feast was celebrated on Feb. 1 under the old calendar.
ANSWER:
A. False. No lector (or anyone else) may use the NRSV of Scripture during any
Mass in the U.S. (CIC 826, 767) Note: Canada was given permission by
Rome for such use in 2007 after 18 years.
Featured
book of the month
THIS IS MY BODY, THIS IS MY BLOOD
Miracles of the Eucharist
Bob & Penny Lord
BX22258.L67 190pages paperback
Whenever the Church is in crisis, the Lord brings about miracles of the Eucharist. The timeframe of this book parallels the raging battle between our time-honored 2000-year tradition that Jesus truly comes to us, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Blessed Sacrament, and those who would have us believe He who comes to us is just a symbol.
Brought to you monthly by The Envision Priority Area Team:
Understanding The Mass and Eucharist