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 http://stmaryslindsay.ca/did-you-know/exploring-the-mass-5-sign-of-the-cross/ http://stmaryslindsay.ca/did-you-know/exploring-the-mass-5-sign-of-the-cross/#comments Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:54:09 +0000 Sr. Loretta http://stmaryslindsay.ca/?p=2812 History:

Signing with the cross was a gesture practiced by Christians as early as the second century . By the late fourth century this action was incorporated at many points in the celebration of the Sacraments. This is surely the earliest prayer. Your parents made the sign of the cross on your forehead when you were brought to the Church for Baptism. We’ve all taught very young children by moving their hands for them.

A greeting extended by the priest, on the other hand, is among the most ancient elements of the introductory rites. The traditional formula in the west has been “The Lord be with you,”a text of biblical origins. Although these words greet Ruth 2:4, they are more often found as a simple statement of God’s presence in the community, e.g. Judges 6:12. The accustomed Latin response Et cum spiritu tuo has parallels in St. Paul, e.g. Galatians 6:18, and its meaning is generally accepted  as one of reciprocity.

One of the first changes in the New Testament you’ll notice is in response to the Priest’s “The Lord be with you.” We will respond using the direct translation of the Latin, “And with your spirit”. This empasizes the spirit of the Priest’s ordination as he is not to celebrated the Mass as ‘Joe, Pete, Bill’ but as a priest of the Sacrament.

The Order of Mass provides two additional greetings. the first is the conclusion of St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians (13:13) and is found in some easter liturgies as introducing the dialogue before the eucharistic prayer: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ …”. The other is “The grace and peace of God our Father …. ” a formula often used by St. Paul to begin his letters e.g. Galatians 1:3.

The Order of Mass allows the Presider or suitable minister to give a short introduction to the celebration.

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

28. After the entrance song, the priest and congregation make the sign of the cross. Then through a greeting the priest expresses the presence of the Lord to the assemble community.
29. After greeting the people, the priest or other suitable minister may very briefly introduce the Mass of the day.
86. Then the priest goes to the chair.

Reflection:

The sign of the cross, a traditional prelude to prayer, is a form of self-blessing with strong baptismal overtones: in the rite of Christian initiation we are signed with the cross since all salvation come through the victorious cross of Christ. Moreover, every Christian has been baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The community at worship is first and foremost a baptismal community.

Questions for Reflection:

1. How is the sign of the cross made – reverently and with thought or absentmindedly and carelessly?

2. Have I reflected on what my Baptism means to me?

Scripture: Gal. 6:18, Cor.13:13

Over 580 family members including 380 children experienced a more joyful and loving Christmas as a result of your contributions and efforts.

The schools, St. Mary’s, Pope John Paul II, St. Dominic and St. Thomas Aquinas adopted 50 families this Christmas; members of St. Mary’s Parish (and businesses) adopted 80 families; 55 children received toys and clothing through the Angel Program sponsored by members of the parish.

In addition to these efforts, through your monthly contributions 205 Food Hampers were purchased and distributed.

A special thanks to EMS and Fire Protection Services for delivering 146 of these hampers!

Thanks again to all the generous individuals and organizations that responded to a real need in our community.

May the joy and love of our Lord Jesus Christ continue to be with you!