When the entrance procession is over, and the priest and the deacon have been venerated at the altar, and after incensing it in the case of solemn celebrations, the priest goes to his chair and, together with the whole assembly, makes the sign of the cross, while saying: “In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” to which the assembly responds “Amen,” thus acknowledging that God is one expressed in the Holy Trinity.
The priest then salutes the assembly, which can be given in its short version: “The Lord be with you” or in its longer form: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”, (Roman Missal 2), the response of the assembly being “And with your spirit”. It is through this greeting and the response of the assembly that the mystery of the Church gathered together is made manifest (GIRM 50)
The priest then invites those present to take part in the Act of Penitence which, after a brief pause of silence, is carried out by means of the formula of the general confession of the whole community, and concludes with the absolution of the priest which, however, lacks the efficacy of the sacrament of Penance (GIRM 51). Which means, this absolution is only for those venial sins of which we are truly repentant, for in order to be absolved of mortal sins we must attend the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Penance.
Once the Act of Penitence is over, it is always followed by the “Lord, have mercy…” where, after having confessed ourselves to be sinners, we ask for the mercy of our Lord, so that he may accept our sacrifice and find us worthy to receive him in communion.
The introductory rites conclude with the “Gloria” in which we join the angels of heaven in proclaiming the immeasurable glory of God, we ask our Lord Jesus Christ to hear us and have mercy on us, since He is the one who takes away the sin of the world. It should be noted that at the mention of our Lord’s name we bow, not only following the norms of the Church (GIRM 275), but also the scriptures (Philippians 2:9-11). The singing or recitation of the Gloria is suspended during the liturgical seasons of preparation, Lent and Advent.
Let us participate attentively in the introductory rites of the Mass, for they not only prepare us to be nourished by the Word of God and the Body and Blood of our Lord, but they work for the purification of our soul and prepare us to be one with Jesus Christ.