The Order of Mass: Introductory Rite

Written by McDonald, T.  |  Date 27th of November 2021

Holy Mass is a wonderful experience for Catholics all over the world. However, if you are new to this, you might be wondering what is going on.  If you have not read it already, I have a blog that shows you four prayers to learn for Holy Mass.  Mass is separated into two parts with different sections, see table.

The Order Of Holy Mass

Holy Mass
First Part		Second Part
Introductory Rite	Liturgy of the Word	Liturgy of the Eucharist	Concluding Rites
Opening Prayer The Act of Penance   Confiteor The Gloria	Readings Gospels Homily Nicene Creed Prayer of the Faithful	The Offertory  Eucharist Prayer Our Father Holy Communion	Concluding Prayer Dismissal

If you have read the last blog for Mass, you will know I have covered Something for each of the four sections: The Confiteor, the Nicene Creed, the Our Father (The Lord's Prayer) and the concluding Prayer, which sometimes is the Prayer To St Michael The Archangel.  Needless to say, I will not cover them again.  I will, however, cover the first section of the first part the Introductory rite in a lot more depth than before. 

In many churches you will hear a bell to signify the beginning of Mass it is also a cue to stand. 

Introductory Rite

All Stand.  Let the priests take their positions.  You will likely have music and singing at this point possibly the Entrance Antiphon

The Opening Prayer

All say together: In the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  Cross yourself while saying this.

Welcome greetings we take one of the following forms:

1. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

You say: And also with you.

2. The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

You say: And also with you.

Or: Blessed be God, the Father or our Lord Jesus Christ.

3. The Lord be with you.

You say: And also with you.

If it has not already been said or sung, the Priest will say the Entrance Antiphon.

The Priest may also comment on the Mass for that day.

The Act of Penance

One of three forms will happen

While still Standing.

First form

The Priest invites all to repent:

My brothers and sisters (or similar wording), to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sin.  

After 2 second delay all say: The Confiteor

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 Priest now gives the Absolution.

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life.

You then say: Amen

The Kyrie eleison now follows

Priest says: You were sent to heal the contrite: Lord have mercy.

You then say: Lord, have mercy.

Priest says: You came to call sinners: Christ have mercy.   

You then say: Christ, have mercy.

Priest says: You were sent to heal the contrite: Lord have mercy.

You then say: Lord, have mercy.

 

---

Second form

The Priest invites all to repent:

My brothers and sisters (or similar wording), to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sin.  

After 2 second delay

Priest says: Lord, we have sinned against you: Lord, have mercy.

You then say: Lord, have mercy

Priest says: Lord, show us your mercy and love.

You then say: And grant us your salvation.

The Priest now gives the Absolution:

Priest says: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life.

Amen.  

 

---

Third form

The Priest invites all to repent:

My brothers and sisters (or similar wording), to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sin.  

After 2 second delay

The priest makes the following (or other) invocations followed by Lord have mercy. 

Priest says: You were sent to heal the contrite: Lord have mercy.

You then say: Lord, have mercy.

Priest says: You came to call sinners: Christ have mercy.   

You then say: Christ, have mercy.

Priest says: You plead for us at the right hand of the Father: Lord, have mercy. 

You then say: Lord, have mercy.

The Priest now gives the Absolution:

Priest says: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life.

Amen.  

---

The Gloria

Still standing. 

***Note during Advent and Lent the Gloria is omitted.

I know two versions of this  prayer, but this is the one used in church. In order to learn it, just break it down into smaller chunks

Glory 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 then says: Let us pray.

All pray silently with the priest for a while, The Priest says collect, which ends: For ever and ever.

You say: Amen

This ends the introductory rite.

Bibliography 

The Catholic Truth Society (1979) 'The Order of Mass' in The Catholic Truth Society (1979 edition) A Simple Prayer Book, London, The Catholic Truth Society, pp 51 - 80.

St Brigid's Catholic Primary School (n.d.) available at https://www.stbrigid.bham.sch.uk/gloria/ (Accessed on 14/10/21)