In the mass the vital points of the story of humanity in relationship with God is told. The structure of the mass is the story
The entrance is a procession
* Led by the Cross of Christ (a crucifix, usually gold plated, atop a pole). The symbol brings to mind the golden serpent atop a pole by which Israel was healed from the deadly snake bite that had been received; Christ is the anti-type, so as he he was lifted up on the cross he became the salvation of all who look to him for salvation. And he draws all mankind to himself.
Following the Cross is the book of the Gospels (the Word) which is held aloft and often decorated with gold on and in its binding.
Then come the acolytes who assist with the mass, they are dressed in white garments, reminiscent of the redeemed in Revelation and of the angels who witnessed Christ's resurrection and who assisted Christ's earthly ministry at various times.
And last comes the priest and deacon, who serve the congregation, they are dressed in vestments which, for the priest, bears a cross woven into the fabric. The symbol is of a man who comes to serve, covered in Christ's sacrifice, and he will become Christ for the congregation as he speaks the words of the gospel.
* There is a greeting given in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit to which the assembled faithful reply with a greeting. The sign of the cross is made "over the congregation" by the priest as he greets them, the people make the sign of the cross with him with their right hand touching head, heart, left shoulder, right shoulder and saying (in their minds) in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The hand touches head as Father is said/thought, heart as Son is said/thought, and the shoulders are touched as Holy Spirit is said/thought. The symbol here is we desire our thoughts ever to be in the Father, our hearts to be ever in the Son, and our works to be always in the Holy Spirit.
* The Penitential act is a prayer confessing our sins to God almighty and to our brothers and sisters who are present at the mass. This is following the story in Genesis with the greeting given and received reminiscent of creation, and the penitential act reminiscent of the fall and what immediately followed.
* The Gloria begins by echoing the proclamation of the angels at the birth of Christ: "Glory to God in the highest!" In this ancient hymn, the gathered assembly joins the heavenly choirs in offering praise and adoration to the Father and Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
* The Introductory Rites conclude with an opening prayer, called the Collect. The celebrant invites the gathered assembly to pray and, after a brief silence, proclaims the prayer of the day. The Collect gathers the prayers of all into one and disposes all to hear the Word of God in the context of the celebration.
Today's collect is this:
In this first post I want to very briefly cover the
Introductory Rites
- Entrance
- Greeting
- Penitential Act
- Glory to God
- Collect
The entrance is a procession
* Led by the Cross of Christ (a crucifix, usually gold plated, atop a pole). The symbol brings to mind the golden serpent atop a pole by which Israel was healed from the deadly snake bite that had been received; Christ is the anti-type, so as he he was lifted up on the cross he became the salvation of all who look to him for salvation. And he draws all mankind to himself.
Following the Cross is the book of the Gospels (the Word) which is held aloft and often decorated with gold on and in its binding.
Then come the acolytes who assist with the mass, they are dressed in white garments, reminiscent of the redeemed in Revelation and of the angels who witnessed Christ's resurrection and who assisted Christ's earthly ministry at various times.
And last comes the priest and deacon, who serve the congregation, they are dressed in vestments which, for the priest, bears a cross woven into the fabric. The symbol is of a man who comes to serve, covered in Christ's sacrifice, and he will become Christ for the congregation as he speaks the words of the gospel.
* There is a greeting given in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit to which the assembled faithful reply with a greeting. The sign of the cross is made "over the congregation" by the priest as he greets them, the people make the sign of the cross with him with their right hand touching head, heart, left shoulder, right shoulder and saying (in their minds) in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The hand touches head as Father is said/thought, heart as Son is said/thought, and the shoulders are touched as Holy Spirit is said/thought. The symbol here is we desire our thoughts ever to be in the Father, our hearts to be ever in the Son, and our works to be always in the Holy Spirit.
* The Penitential act is a prayer confessing our sins to God almighty and to our brothers and sisters who are present at the mass. This is following the story in Genesis with the greeting given and received reminiscent of creation, and the penitential act reminiscent of the fall and what immediately followed.
"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,
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."
* The Gloria begins by echoing the proclamation of the angels at the birth of Christ: "Glory to God in the highest!" In this ancient hymn, the gathered assembly joins the heavenly choirs in offering praise and adoration to the Father and Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
* The Introductory Rites conclude with an opening prayer, called the Collect. The celebrant invites the gathered assembly to pray and, after a brief silence, proclaims the prayer of the day. The Collect gathers the prayers of all into one and disposes all to hear the Word of God in the context of the celebration.
Today's collect is this:
Let us pray.
O God, who cause the minds of the faithful
to unite in a single purpose,
grant your people to love what you command
and to desire what you promise,
that, amid the uncertainties of this world,
our hearts may be fixed on that place
where true gladness is found.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
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