Matt C. Abbott
The Catholic Mass explained
By Matt C. Abbott
The following are the biblical explanations/meditations for each aspect of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (from the April 2, 2006 bulletin of St. John Cantius Parish in Chicago):
MEDITATION ON THE ACTIONS OF THE MASS
Priest: Goes to the altar
Christ: Goes to the Garden of Gethsemane
Priest: Begins the Mass
Christ: Prays in the Garden
Priest: Says the Confiteor
Christ: Sweats blood
Priest: Ascends the altar and Kisses the altar
Christ: Judas betrays the Son of Man with a Kiss
Priest: Goes to Epistle side {Introit}
Christ: Jesus is taken to Annas
Priest: Returns to center of the altar {Kyrie
Eleison}
Christ: Brought to Caiphas; Denial of St. Peter three times
Priest: Kisses the altar; Says "Dominus vobiscum"
Christ: Looks at Peter and converts him
Priest: Reads the Collect and Epistle
Christ: Brought before Pilate
Priest: At the center of the altar {Munda cor}
Christ: Taken to King Herod
Priest: Reads the Gospel
Christ: Taken back to Pilate
Priest: Uncovers the chalice — removes the veil
Christ: Stripped of His garments
Priest: Offers the bread and the wine
Christ: Scourged at the Pillar
Priest: Covers the chalice with the pall
Christ: Crowned with thorns
Priest: Washes his hands (Lavabo)
Christ: Declared innocent by Pilate
Priest: Kisses the altar; says "Orate Fratres"
Christ: Pilate presents Christ — "Ecce Homo"
Priest: Says the Preface and Sanctus
Christ: Condemned by Pilate
Priest: Memento for the living
Christ: Jesus meets His afflicted mother
Priest: Blesses the bread and wine (before consecration)
Christ: Is crucified
Priest: Elevation of the Host (consecration)
Christ: Raised on the Cross
Priest: Elevation of the chalice
Christ: Shedding of the Most Precious Blood
Priest: Says outloud "Nobis quoque peccatoribus"
Christ: Prays for mankind
Priest Recites the Pater Noster — seven petitions
Christ: Seven last words
Priest: Fraction of the Sacred Host
Christ: Bows His head and dies
Priest: Small particle of the Host dropped into the chalice with the Precious Blood
Christ: The harrowing of hell/descends into limbo
Priest: Recites the Agnus Dei
Christ: Acknowledged as the Son of God by some bystanders
Priest: Receives Holy Communion
Christ: Laid in the tomb (sepulcher)
Priest: Purifies the chalice
Christ: Anointed by the Holy Women
Priest: Prepares chalice for use again
Christ: Rises from the dead
Priest: Kisses the altar and says "Dominus vobiscum"
Christ: Appears to His mother and disciples
Priest: Says the last prayers
Christ: Teaches for forty days after the Resurrection
Priest: At the center of the altar; he kisses it and says "Dominus vobiscum"
Christ: Ascends into Heaven
Priest: Imparts the blessing
Christ: Sends down the Holy Paraclete
Priest: Says "Ite missa est" and reads last Gospel
Christ: Sends the Apostles to preach the Gospel
© Matt C. Abbott
The following are the biblical explanations/meditations for each aspect of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (from the April 2, 2006 bulletin of St. John Cantius Parish in Chicago):
Priest: Goes to the altar
Christ: Goes to the Garden of Gethsemane
Priest: Begins the Mass
Christ: Prays in the Garden
Priest: Says the Confiteor
Christ: Sweats blood
Priest: Ascends the altar and Kisses the altar
Christ: Judas betrays the Son of Man with a Kiss
Priest: Goes to Epistle side {Introit}
Christ: Jesus is taken to Annas
Priest: Returns to center of the altar {Kyrie
Eleison}
Christ: Brought to Caiphas; Denial of St. Peter three times
Priest: Kisses the altar; Says "Dominus vobiscum"
Christ: Looks at Peter and converts him
Priest: Reads the Collect and Epistle
Christ: Brought before Pilate
Priest: At the center of the altar {Munda cor}
Christ: Taken to King Herod
Priest: Reads the Gospel
Christ: Taken back to Pilate
Priest: Uncovers the chalice — removes the veil
Christ: Stripped of His garments
Priest: Offers the bread and the wine
Christ: Scourged at the Pillar
Priest: Covers the chalice with the pall
Christ: Crowned with thorns
Priest: Washes his hands (Lavabo)
Christ: Declared innocent by Pilate
Priest: Kisses the altar; says "Orate Fratres"
Christ: Pilate presents Christ — "Ecce Homo"
Priest: Says the Preface and Sanctus
Christ: Condemned by Pilate
Priest: Memento for the living
Christ: Jesus meets His afflicted mother
Priest: Blesses the bread and wine (before consecration)
Christ: Is crucified
Priest: Elevation of the Host (consecration)
Christ: Raised on the Cross
Priest: Elevation of the chalice
Christ: Shedding of the Most Precious Blood
Priest: Says outloud "Nobis quoque peccatoribus"
Christ: Prays for mankind
Priest Recites the Pater Noster — seven petitions
Christ: Seven last words
Priest: Fraction of the Sacred Host
Christ: Bows His head and dies
Priest: Small particle of the Host dropped into the chalice with the Precious Blood
Christ: The harrowing of hell/descends into limbo
Priest: Recites the Agnus Dei
Christ: Acknowledged as the Son of God by some bystanders
Priest: Receives Holy Communion
Christ: Laid in the tomb (sepulcher)
Priest: Purifies the chalice
Christ: Anointed by the Holy Women
Priest: Prepares chalice for use again
Christ: Rises from the dead
Priest: Kisses the altar and says "Dominus vobiscum"
Christ: Appears to His mother and disciples
Priest: Says the last prayers
Christ: Teaches for forty days after the Resurrection
Priest: At the center of the altar; he kisses it and says "Dominus vobiscum"
Christ: Ascends into Heaven
Priest: Imparts the blessing
Christ: Sends down the Holy Paraclete
Priest: Says "Ite missa est" and reads last Gospel
Christ: Sends the Apostles to preach the Gospel
© Matt C. Abbott
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