The Mass

Weekend Masses: 
Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
Sunday at 8:15 a.m. & 10:45 a.m.

Daily Mass (Monday through Friday) at 9:00 a.m.

Holy Day Masses as announced

Confession: 
Saturday from 4:00- 4:30 p.m.

Adoration:
Monday from 9:30- 11:30 a.m. 

Streaming/TV/radio Mass list from the Diocese of Columbus
 

What is the Mass?

The Mass dates back to the Last Supper, when Jesus took bread and wine, blessed it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, Take this and eat it... this is my body." (Matthew 26:26) and "Do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19). After Jesus' death, Resurrection, and the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, the disciples gathered each Sunday to celebrate the Resurrection and to share a meal in remembrance of Jesus. Today, these gatherings are called the "Mass," meaning, "to be sent forth:" we are sent forth from the Eucharist to live as Jesus did.

What Happens During the Mass?

Introductory Rites
The Mass begins with an opening song and a greeting. The Penitential Rite follows, when we remember our sins and ask God for forgiveness. On Sundays, solemnities, and feasts, we then say or sing the Gloria, offering praise to God, and we finish the Introductory Rites with the Collect, or opening prayer.

The Introductory Rites are followed by the two main parts of the Mass: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. 

The Liturgy of the Word
The Liturgy of the Word is primarily composed of readings from the Old and New Testaments. It begins with the First Reading, often taken from the Old Testament, and continues with the Responsorial Psalm, a verse that is said or sung to help us reflect on the Word of God. On Sundays and solemnities, the Responsorial Psalm is followed by a Second Reading, often taken from one of the New Testament letters. We then prepare for the proclamation of the Gospel by standing and singing an acclamation of praise, usually Alleluia (from the Hebrew for "Praise the Lord!"). The priest or deacon reads from one of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and gives a homily, or sermon, connecting the Word of God to our lives and instructing us in the Faith.

The homily is typically followed by a Profession of Faith, and the Liturgy of the Word finishes with the Prayers of the Faithful, when we pray for our needs and those of others, the Church, and the world.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist
The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the Preparation of the Gifts. Members of the parish family bring gifts of bread and wine to the altar, over which the priest prays as he prepares to offer them to God. The priest then begins the Eucharistic Prayer, in which he acts in the person of Christ and as the head of the Church, joining our imperfect lives and efforts to follow God's will to Christ's perfect sacrifice in an offering to the Father (USCCB). We respond by saying or singing, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord..." The priest mirrors Jesus' words and actions at the Last Supper, taking the bread and praying, "Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you." He then takes the chalice and continues, "Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me." Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the bread and wine become Jesus' true Body and Blood. This is called the consecration. We proclaim the Mystery of Faith, and the priest concludes the Eucharistic Prayer. We respond, "Amen."

We then prepare for Communion by saying the Our Father, and we share a sign of peace with those around us. The priest breaks the consecrated Host, recalling the actions of the Last Supper, and we say or sing the "Lamb of God." We recognize our unworthiness to receive the gift of the Eucharist, and the priest receives Holy Communion, followed by the rest of the assembly (USCCB).

We may receive the Eucharist in our hand or on our tongue, and we may also be invited to receive the Precious Blood from the chalice. The priest or extraordinary minister says, "the Body of Christ" or if we receive from the chalice, "The Blood of Christ," and we respond, "Amen," meaning, "So be it." The Liturgy of the Eucharist concludes with the Prayer after Communion.

To receive Communion, one must be a Baptized Catholic who has received First Communion, who has fasted (except for medicine) for at least one hour before receiving the Eucharist, and who is in a state of grace. A person who has committed a serious sin must receive absolution through the Sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving Communion.

Concluding Rites
The Mass concludes with a blessing, and the deacon or celebrant sends us forth "to love and serve the Lord."

"Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.' And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.'"

Luke 22:19