The Holy Mass
Caravaggio · Supper at Emmaus
The Mass is the heart of Catholic worship: the one sacrifice Christ offered on the cross, made present on the altar without the shedding of blood. Here are its six parts in order, with the words the Priest and the people say.
Want to see it before you go? In this video Fr. Mike Schmitz walks through every part of the Mass.
Part 1
The Introductory Rites
The Priest goes up to the altar, kisses it and makes the Sign of the Cross. Before anything else, we ask God’s forgiveness.
The words of the Mass
The Priest goes up to the altar, kisses it, and makes the Sign of the Cross with everyone.
PriestIn the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
PeopleAmen.
The Priest greets the people:
PriestThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
PeopleAnd with your spirit.
Or:
PriestThe Lord be with you.
PeopleAnd with your spirit.
or:
PriestMay God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ grant you peace and salvation.
PeopleLet us give thanks to God now and always.
The Priest invites everyone to call to mind their sins:
PriestBefore we celebrate the mystery of salvation, let us call to mind our sins and, in sorrow, ask pardon of God.
Priest and PeopleI 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, (striking the breast) through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. 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.
Or:
PriestBefore we celebrate the mystery of our salvation, let us call to mind our sins and, in sorrow, ask pardon of God.
PriestLord, in your great love, forgive us.
PeopleFor we have sinned against you.
PriestLord, do not withhold your mercy from us.
PeopleAnd bring us to salvation.
or:
PriestYou were sent to heal the contrite of heart: Lord, have mercy.
PeopleLord, have mercy.
PriestYou came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy.
PeopleChrist, have mercy.
PriestYou are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us: Lord, have mercy.
PeopleLord, have mercy.
PriestMay almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
PeopleAmen.
Then the Kyrie:
PriestLord, have mercy.
PeopleLord, have mercy.
PriestChrist, have mercy.
PeopleChrist, have mercy.
PriestLord, have mercy.
PeopleLord, have mercy.
On Sundays and feast days, the Gloria:
Priest and PeopleGlory 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.
The Priest says the Collect, the opening prayer of the day.
PriestLet us pray.
At the end, the people answer:
PeopleAmen.
Part 2
The Liturgy of the Word
God speaks to us in the readings, the Gospel and the homily. Then we profess our faith together.
The words of the Mass
A reader proclaims the first reading and, on Sundays, a second, with a psalm in between. Only a priest or deacon reads the Gospel. Each reading ends:
PriestThe word of the Lord.
PeopleThanks be to God.
Before the Gospel, the Priest prays quietly:
PriestCleanse my heart and my lips, almighty God, that I may worthily proclaim your holy Gospel.
Then he says:
PriestThe Lord be with you.
Everyone is standing.
PeopleAnd with your spirit.
PriestA reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint N.
With the Priest, everyone traces a small cross with the thumb on the forehead, the lips and the heart.
PeopleGlory to you, O Lord.
At the end of the Gospel:
PriestThe Gospel of the Lord.
PeoplePraise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The Priest kisses the book and says quietly:
PriestMay the words of the Gospel wipe away our sins.
After the homily, on Sundays and solemnities, everyone stands for the Creed:
Priest and PeopleI 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, 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.
Then come the Prayers of the Faithful. After each petition:
PriestLet us pray to the Lord.
PeopleLord, hear our prayer.
Part 3
The Preparation of the Gifts
Bread and wine are brought to the altar, and the Priest offers them to God for all of us.
The words of the Mass
The Priest lifts the bread a little and says:
PriestBlessed 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.
PeopleBlessed be God for ever.
He pours wine and a drop of water into the chalice, saying quietly:
PriestBy the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity.
He lifts the chalice:
PriestBlessed 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.
PeopleBlessed be God for ever.
Bowing, he says quietly:
PriestWith humble spirit and contrite heart may we be accepted by you, O Lord, and may our sacrifice in your sight this day be pleasing to you, Lord God.
He washes his hands, saying quietly:
PriestWash me, O Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Then he turns to the people:
PriestPray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
PeopleMay 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.
The Priest says the Prayer over the Offerings. The people answer:
PeopleAmen.
Part 4
The Eucharistic Prayer
The heart of the Mass. The Priest gives thanks to God for all of us, and by the power of the Holy Spirit the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ.
The words of the Mass
PriestThe Lord be with you.
Everyone is standing.
PeopleAnd with your spirit.
PriestLift up your hearts.
PeopleWe lift them up to the Lord.
PriestLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.
PeopleIt is right and just.
The Priest says the Preface of the day, and everyone joins in the Holy, Holy:
Priest and PeopleHoly, 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 continues. Everyone kneels.
PriestYou are indeed Holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness. Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray, by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall, so that they may become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The words of consecration:
PriestAt the time he was betrayed and entered willingly into his Passion, he took bread and, giving thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT, FOR THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU. In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice and, once more giving thanks, he gave it to his disciples, saying: TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT, FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT, WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.
PriestThe mystery of faith.
PeopleWe proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
PriestTherefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the saving Passion of your Son, we, your servants and your holy people, offer to your glorious majesty this bread of life and cup of eternal salvation. Humbly we pray that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.
PriestRemember, Lord, your Church, spread throughout the world; strengthen her in charity together with N. our Pope, N. our Bishop, and all the clergy who serve you.
PriestThrough him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, for ever and ever.
PeopleAmen.
Part 5
The Communion Rite
We pray the Our Father, offer each other the sign of peace, and receive the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion.
The words of the Mass
PriestAt the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
Priest and PeopleOur 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.
PriestDeliver 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.
PeopleFor the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever.
PriestLord 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. You live and reign for ever and ever.
PeopleAmen.
PriestThe peace of the Lord be with you always.
PeopleAnd with your spirit.
PriestLet us offer each other the sign of peace.
The Priest continues quietly:
PriestMay this mingling of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.
Everyone offers a sign of peace to those nearby.
Priest and PeopleLamb 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 raises the Host for all to see. Everyone kneels.
PriestBehold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
PeopleLord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
Receiving the Body of Christ, the Priest says quietly:
PriestMay the Body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.
Receiving from the chalice:
PriestMay the Blood of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.
To each person the Priest or minister says, “The Body of Christ,” and they answer, “Amen.” If you are not Catholic, or not ready to receive, you are still welcome: come forward with your arms crossed over your chest for a blessing, or stay in your seat and pray.
Everyone stands for the Prayer after Communion.
PriestLet us pray…
PeopleAmen.
Part 6
The Concluding Rites
The Priest blesses the people and sends them out to live the Gospel.
The words of the Mass
PriestThe Lord be with you.
PeopleAnd with your spirit.
PriestMay almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Everyone makes the Sign of the Cross:
PeopleAmen.
PriestGo in peace.
PeopleThanks be to God.