Washing one’s hands as a sign of inner puity was customary in both Judiasm and early Christianity. The original purpose of the gesture within the liturgy was not for purposes of physical cleanliness but as a symbol of the interior purity required before entering into the sacred mystery.

Today the washing of the hands is accompanied by Psalm 51: 2 which is quietly said by the priest.

Questions for Reflection;

1. Do I ask God to cleanse me of all inward impurities as the priest washes his hands?

Scripture: Psalm 26: 6-12

The original Roman practice was to burn incense in a brazier, which was carried in procession at the beginning and end of the celebration as well as at the gospel. This incensation has been simplified. Bread and wine, altar, cross, priest and people are incensed in silence. No detailed directions are given for the precise manner of incensation.

Reflection:

Priest 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. The incense is burned in a special container called the thurble with a long chain so it can be swung. This is carried by a thurifer. He bows as a sign of respect to the priests and the people and we bow back as a sign of that same respect.

Questions for Reflection:

1. What prayers do I offer to God during the time of incensing?

2. What sign of veneration do I make while passing in front of the altar?

Scripture: Ps. 141:2, Revelation 8: 2-4

General Instruction of the Roman Missal (The People’s Textbook)

The rite of carrying up the gifts continues the spiritual value and meaning of the ancient custom when the people brought bread and wine for the liturgy from their homes.

Reflection

“The Christian altar is by its very nature a table of sacrifice and at the same time a table of the paschal banquet; a unique altar on which the sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated in mystery throughout the ages until Christ comes; a table at which the Church’s children assemble to give thanks to God and receive the body and blood of Christ.”

The purpose of the action is to pepare the altar, the gifts and the community for the offering to come.

Questions for Reflection:

1. How do I prepare my heart to be brought to the Altar each Sunday?

2. Is there something else I can do to heighten myself for the reception of the Body of Christ?

Scripture:  1 Kings 7: 48-51

In ancient times before people had access to currency they offered the gifts of their workd and their lives. One of the most ancient customs of the Church is that of the people themselves providing the bread and wine for the Eucharist. As the Roman liturgy spread to other lands, this rite became a true procession of all the people who brought forth not only bread and wine but at times also oil, candles, wheat, grapes, and other items of precious value. Although traces of the procession continued down to the end of the Middle Ages, the presentation of bread and wine by the faithful was, from the eleventh century, generally replaced by the giving of money.

You can often see at school masses the children bringing up the results of their work both in real and symbolic forms. At Chrismas we bring up some of the food collected for the poor. At least some of the monies collected should be brought up as this is for the maintenance of the Church, priests, workers and the poor in our communities and in the world. Even the pooorer areas of the Church here in Canada and abroad have helped with our Lenten collections and Development and Peace.

The Offertory is often accompanied by a song, which celebrates the communal aspects of the procession. The text, therefore, may be an appropriate song of praise or of rejoicing in keeping with the season.

Reflection:

There are many forms of collections. We are used to ushers coming to us but often offertory baskets are passed from one to another through the congregation. In some Korean-Canadian parishes all parishioners who wish to give an offering form a single file and bring their offering to the foot of the altar (can be seen in some places in Africa today).

Questions for Reflection:

1.  Do I see myself bringing my gifts to the Altar?

2.  How do I decide what is a proper amount to give?

3. Do I pray about this?

4.  Do I reflect on the generosity of the Lord to me?

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 31:5

……….. the people of Israel gave in abundance the first fruit of grain, wine, oil, honey and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.

In mid-century Rome, a saint describes the celebration of baptism and then adds that all “offer prayers in common for ourselves, for him who had just been enlightened, and for people everywhere” (Justin, Martyr). Justin goes on to describe the Eucharist which followed. A remnant of the ancient form of this prayer at Rome is found in the Solemn Prayers of Good Friday. Though this was dropped for centuries it was restored at the Second Vatican Council.

Since the Church is both local and universal at least one intention is usually taken from each of the following categories:

1. the needs of the Church;

2. public authorities and the salvation of the world;

3. those oppressed by any need;

4. the local community.

General Instructions of the Roman Missal (The Church’s Textbook)

47.  The priest directs the prayer: with a brief introduction he invites the people to pray; after the intentions he says the concluding prayer. It is desirable that the intentions be announced by the deacon, cantor, or other persons. The Congregation makes its petition either by a common response after each intention or by silent prayer. Then the priest summarizes the petitions with a prayer to God the Father.

Reflection:

The general intercessions are an integral part of the liturgy. Having the Word, the assembled people respond to it and “exercise their priestly function by interceding for all humankind”(GI no. 45). The entire people of God form “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9) who, in union with Christ and under the presidency of the priest, make “petitions, prayers, intercessions …. for all” (1Timothy 2:1)

Questions for Reflection:

1. How do I join my own prayers/petitions to those of the Church?

2. Do I carry these prayer intentions with me during the week especially those mentioned by name?

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1

God is the centre of the our whole life and at the core of that mystery is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. How do we have one God and three persons and not three Gods? What is the relationship of the Father with the Son and the Father and the Son with the Holy Spirit? For centuries the great minds of the Church have wrestled with this mystery and gradually formed this prayer to explain.

The Apostle’s Creed is the simplified form. In the New Translation, the only significant difference is that we see reinstituted  is the idea that Jesus descended even into Hell to liberate the souls there by the power of his sacrifice.

The Nicene Creed was established in Nicea in 325 AD (in modern Turkey). Even in this Creed when I stand I make a personal professtion that I believe in this. You will notice more poetic language  ‘”things visible and invisible, before all ages”.

The word “consubstantial” is used which has a richer significance in talking about ow the fullness of God subsists in both the Fathe and the Son.

General Instruction of the Roman Missal (The Church’s Textbook)

43. In the profession of faith or creed the people have the opportunity to respond and give assent to the word of God which they have heard in the readings and the homily. It is also a time for the people to recall the teachings of the faith before they begin the Eucharist.

98. At the words: by the power of the Holy Spirit, etc. all bow in honour of Jesus becoming incarnate. On the feasts of the Annunciation and Christmas all genuflect.

Reflection:

The Profession of Faith links the liturgies of the Word and Eucharist as the congregation recalls the mysteries of faith which will again be proclaimed in the Eucharistic Prayer.

Questions for Reflection:

1. How do I reflect on God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

2. What does the Profession of Faith contribute to the special solemnity of Sundays and certain feasts?

Scripture: Luke 3: 21-22

In the synagogue service the readings from the Law and Prophets were concluded by an explanation given by one of those present. One of the oldes descriptions of the Eucharist attests the same practice. Writing about the year 50, St. Justin the Martyr says after the readings the bishops instructed and exhorted the people to imitate the things they heard (cf.  I Aplolgia 67:4). Like the Eucharist itself, the bread of God’s word was to be broken, to be applied to the concrete life situations of the people.

Many times in the Church’s history, homilies were not considered essential or important. In 1964, the Second Vatican Council said, “By means of the homily the mysteries of the faith and the guiding principles of the Christian life are expounded from the sacred text during the course of the liturgical year; the homily, therefore, is to be highly esteemed as part of the liturgy itself: in fact, at those Masses, which are celebrated with the assistance of the people on Sundays and feasts of obligation. It should not be omitted except fro a serious reason.” ( Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Art. 52).

General Instruction of the Roman Missal (The Church’s Textbook)

41. The homily is strongly recommended as an integral part of the liturgy and as a necessary source of nourishment of the Christian life. It should develop some point of the readings or of another text form the Ordinary of the Mass of the day. The homilist should keep in mind the mystery that is being celebrated and the needs of the particular community.

Reflection:

Through the homily the members of the assembly are called to become a holy people so that they can better celebrate the Eucharist and offer themselves with and through Christ in the Eucharistic Prayer.

Questions for Reflection:

1. What can prevent me from applying myself to understand the homily?

2. How can I avoid distractions so as to better concentrate?

3. Can I take away one lasting point of reflection for the coming week?

4. Am I willing to give the preacher honest feedback?

Scripture: Lk 4: 2o-22

In mid-second century Rome, a saint describes the celebration of Baptism and then adds that all “offer prayers in common for ourselves, for him who had just been enlightened and for people everywhere” (Justin, Martyr). Justin goes on to describe the Eucharist which followed. A remnant of the ancient form of this prayer at Rome is found in the Solemn Prayers of Good Friday. Though this was dropped for centuries it was restored at the Second Vatican Council.

Since the Church is both local and universal at least one intention is usually taken from each of the following categories:

1. the needs of the Church

2. public authorities and the salvation of the world

3. those oppressed by any need

4. the local community

General Instruction of the Roman Missal (The Church’s Textbook)

47. The priest directs the prayer: with a brief introduction he invites the people to pray: after the intentions he says the concluding prayer. It is desirable that the intentions be announced by the deacon, cantor, or other persons. The Congregation makes its petition either by a common response after each intention or by silent prayer. Then the priest summarizes the petitions with a prayer to God the Father.

Reflection:

The general intercessions are an integral part of the liturgy. Having heard the word, the assembled people respond to it and “exercise their priestly function by interceding for all humankind” (GI no. 45). The entire people of God form “a royal priesthood”(1 Peter 2:9) who, in union with Christ and under the presidency of the priest, make “petitions, prayers, intercessions … for all (1 Timothy 2:1)

Questions for Reflection:

1. How do I join my own prayers/petitions to those of the Church?

2. Do I carry these prayer intentions with me during the week especially those mentioned by name?

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1

The General Intecessions of the Roman Missal ( The Church’s Textbook)

The Gospel is meant to be proclaimed not just read. This puts great responsibility on the priest and deacon to know thoroughly the Gospel but it also puts a responsibility on the people. The people must prepare themselves so they so the Word is not only heard by the ears but also received in the heart.

Often the Priest or Deacon elevates the Book so the people can see and proclaims the ending with “This is the Good News of the Lord”. We reply, “Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ” who is the living Word of God. The Priest then kisses the book as a sign of reverence saying quietly, “Through the words of the Gospel may our sin be wiped away.”

Reflection:
We process in with the Book of the Gospel. We incense the Book of the Gospel. We kiss the Book of the Gospel.
Do I elevate the Gospels in my life?

Questions for Reflection:
1. Do I make time in the week before Sunday Mass to reacquaint myself with the Gospel I want to hear?
2. Do I give myself time after I hear the Gospel to let it really take root in my heart?
3. What do I carry away from the Gospel?

Scripture: Jn. 1: 1-4, Nehemiah 8:8

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father.

God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven:
By the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of 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.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen. NEW TEXT
I 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.

APOSTLES CREED

PRESENT TEXT I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

NEW TEXT I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; On the third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

]]> http://stmaryslindsay.ca/did-you-know/exploring-the-mass-nicene-creed-apostles-creed/feed/ 0