Category: Mass

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Why is it important to receive communion at mass?

To understand its importance, let us first read what our Holy Mother Church tells us: The Eucharist is the fount and apex of the whole Christian life (Lumen Gentium 11). The other sacraments, as well as with every ministry of the Church and every work of the apostolate, are tied together with the Eucharist and are directed toward it. The Most Blessed Eucharist contains the entire spiritual boon of the Church, that is, Christ himself, our Pasch and Living Bread (Prebysterorum Ordinis 5).

The saving efficacy of the sacrifice is fully realized when the Lord’s body and blood are received in communion. The Eucharistic Sacrifice is intrinsically directed to the inward union of the faithful with Christ through communion; we receive the very One who offered himself for us, we receive his body which he gave up for us on the Cross and his blood which he “poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28). The Eucharist is a true banquet, in which Christ offers himself as our nourishment. When for the first time Jesus spoke of this food, his listeners were astonished and bewildered, which forced the Master to emphasize the objective truth of his words: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life within you” (John 6:53). This is no metaphorical food: “My flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed” (John 6:55). (Ecclesia de Eucharistia 16)

It is therefore very important not only to attend the Holy Mass but to participate in the banquet that our Lord has prepared for us, a banquet where the main dish He offers us is eternal life through His body.

Let us then get rid of the rags that are our sins (Matthew 22.1-14), let us get ready and share with Christ the great banquet that he offers us in Holy Communion.

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Can I celebrate mass at home?

A special occasion is coming up in my family, and we would like to celebrate it with a mass. Can mass be celebrated at my house? Although celebrating a mass in our home can be considered an honor and a great blessing, there are conditions for this to be done. The documents of the Catholic Church tell us that the celebration of the Eucharist must take place in a sacred place, for example, a cathedral, a church, a chapel or a shrine; unless a case of particular necessity requires otherwise, and in that case, it must be done in a decent place (Canon 932 § 1).

But what could be these situations of particular need? For example: there is no Catholic church nearby, such as in places of armed conflict or trapped on the road after a snow storm. Another special occasion is when the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is celebrated when a faithful is seriously ill, since it is recommended that this sacrament be celebrated within the Eucharist (CCC 1517). Or when the existing church is too small for the community, it can be celebrated in another appropriate place that is worthy of such a great mystery (GIRM 288).

The diocesan Bishop shall be the judge for his diocese concerning this necessity, on a case-by-case basis (Redemptionis Sacramentum 108)

Once permission has been obtained from the diocesan Bishop to celebrate a mass outside a sacred place, there are conditions that must be met:

Instead of a consecrated altar, a suitable table can be used for the Eucharistic Sacrifice, always with a cloth and corporal (Canon 932 § 2).

The celebration of Holy Mass is not to be inserted in any way into the setting of a common meal, nor joined with this kind of banquet. Mass is not to be celebrated on a dinner table nor in a dining room or banquet hall, nor in a room where food is present, nor in a place where the participants during the celebration itself are seated at tables. If out of grave necessity Mass must be celebrated in the same place where eating will later take place, there is to be a clear interval of time between the conclusion of Mass and the beginning of the meal, and ordinary food is not to be set before the faithful during the celebration of Mass. (RS 77)

Let us have reverence for the sacramentality of the great mystery that is the Holy Eucharist, let us go to our local church to celebrate and bless those special occasions in our lives and by being surrounded by holiness in such a sacred place, may this allow us to advance further in our own calling to holiness. (Matthew 5:48)

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Mass is over, what now?

After listening to the readings and their explanation in the homily and having participated in Holy Communion, have I already fulfilled my duties as a Catholic by attending mass? We, as disciples of Jesus Christ, have to follow the example of those first disciples and not let ourselves be carried away by the sorrows of the world.

Let us remember that on the same Sunday of the Resurrection, the risen Jesus accompanied two of his disciples who were saddened by the crucifixion of the Messiah and left Jerusalem on the way to Emmaus. It is on this road that our Lord Jesus Christ opens the Scriptures for them, explaining them the passages that referred to Him, and that it had been necessary for the Messiah to suffer all these things in order to later be glorified. And then, upon reaching Emmaus, the disciples shared dinner with Jesus, who took the bread in his hands, and giving thanks to God, broke it and gave it to him. It is just then that the disciples recognized Jesus (Luke 24:13-31). In this passage we can recognize the structure of the Mass: the reading of the Scriptures, their explanation, the Eucharistic dinner: take the bread, bless it, break it and give it to the disciples.

But the passage does not stop there, the evangelist continues and tells us that the disciples without waiting any longer set out for Jerusalem, even when it was already night (Luke 24:29), to proclaim the good news: “It is true! The Lord has risen” (Luke 24:34).

Thus, our mission as disciples of Jesus Christ is not only to attend mass, listen to his word and participate in Holy Communion; rather it starts after the mass. Our Lord Jesus Christ exhorts us to proclaim the good news, to evangelize, using the talents that have been given to us, and to be recognized as disciples of Jesus and children of God by our fruits (Matthew 7:15-20)

Let us not be sponge-like Christians who only receive the word without taking action, rather let us be like a honeycomb, Christians overflowing with the sweetness of the Gospel through our example of life, let our hearts burn when listening to the Scriptures and recognize the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist; and after mass has ended, let us go out and evangelize, bearing fruit thirty, sixty or one hundredfold.

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Who can receive communion at mass?

Jesus Christ said “Whoever feeds upon my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life” (John 6:54), therefore it is necessary as a Catholic to receive communion of the body of Christ, but what are the requirements to receive communion at mass?

The Church tells us that there are conditions to be able to receive communion: being a baptized Catholic and having made First Communion, since as part of our initiation into the Catholic Church we must have been baptized and practice our faith.

Not being aware of having committed a serious sin; he who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must first make a perfect contrition, that is, repent of the sin committed, moved by love for God, by the pain of having offended him (CCC 1451,1452); and then go to the sacrament of reconciliation (CCC 1456). In the case of venial sins, these will be absolved after the penitential act if we are truly sorry for having committed them (GIRM 51).

Do not live in an irregular situation; that is to say, living as a couple in a free or only civil union; having divorced after a Catholic marriage and remarrying or living with a new partner. (Familiaris Consortio 80, 81, 82, 84)

Practice Eucharistic fast, that is, not having eaten or drunk one hour before Holy Communion (Canon 919 §1)

Receive communion devoutly and respectfully, holy communion within the Catholic Church is a sacrament, that is, a visible sign of an invisible truth, we as Catholics, unlike other Christian denominations, believe in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the consecrated host and wine (CCC 1374), and it is by showing due respect to God-Son that we receive him in communion.

Let us then receive Holy Communion acknowledging in the Eucharist the real presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us fast for purification before attending mass, let us go to the sacrament of reconciliation if we are aware of having committed a serious sin and confess it together with any other venial sin that we have committed, and let us do everything possible to solve any irregularity that prevents us from enjoying the paschal banquet that brings us eternal life

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Why are the scriptures read at mass?

Our Lord Jesus Christ clearly said that by eating the bread that is His Body and drinking the wine that is His Blood we will have eternal life (John 6:53-54). So why is it also read from the scriptures at mass?

The figure of bread is strongly linked to Jesus Christ, from the unleavened bread at the Passover meal; where yeast represents sin (Exodus 12:15-20, Matthew 16:6, 1 Corinthians 5:5-7); the birthplace of Jesus himself, Bethlehem which in Hebrew means “House of bread”; Jesus Christ himself describing himself as the bread of life and the bread that came down from heaven (John 6:35-41); and the last supper of our Lord Jesus Christ with his disciples, where he establishes communion through unleavened bread that will be transubstantiated into His Body (Luke 22:14-20). We must remember that this last event occurs in the context of the Passover feast (Luke 22:7), in which the tradition is to read the story of the Exodus from Egypt and comment on its meaning.

All of this establishes the importance of the communion of His Body through bread, but we must not forget Jesus’ own words when he was tempted, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4, Deuteronomy 8:3).

Jesus Christ also gave us an example of how to celebrate mass, when He met the disciples who were on their way to Emmaus, where He recounted the passages in the scriptures that spoke about Him and explained their meaning, ending at dinner where Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it and gives it to them, at which point their eyes are opened and they go out to proclaim the good news. (Luke 24:27-31)

The Church in its immense wisdom takes the words and works of our Lord Jesus Christ and gives us the mass, the paschal banquet through which we are to be able to achieve eternal life, through the Word of God and the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us go to Mass filled with joy and hope, let our hearts burn when we listen to the scriptures and participate in Holy Communion, for both are life that comes from God.

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Why are bells rung during the consecration?

During the mass, the ringing of some bells is heard twice. The first is when invoking the Holy Spirit over the offerings and the second is when the priest is consecrating them (GIRM 150), why are said bells ringing? This tradition dates back from before the Second Vatican Council, when the priest celebrated Mass with his back to the congregation, in a low voice and in Latin, not in the language of the people as it is today. This usually caused the assembly to be distracted, in such a way that, to highlight these extremely important moments, it was established that the bells would be rung. After the Second Vatican Council, this tradition was maintained to continue marking the peak moment of consecration, in which bread and wine are transubstantiated into the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The ringing of the bells centers our attention on the fact that we are before our Lord Jesus Christ, truly, really and substantially present in the Blessed Sacrament; and it is the moment in which some people out of devotion repeat the words of Saint Thomas, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). It is worth mentioning that these words should be said rather, inside our hearts; since the consecration, being part of the actions of the one who presides over the mass, must be pronounced with a clear and loud voice, and that everyone listens carefully. Therefore, while the priest consecrates the offerings, there should be no singing, prayers, or music (GIRM 32). The act of elevating the body and blood of Christ is part of the consecration.

Let us always keep attention during mass, and may the sound of the bells remind us that it is Jesus Christ himself who is present in the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, and we must receive Him in communion in order to enjoy eternal life with Him in the Kingdom of the Heavens.

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Why does the priest wash his hands during Mass?

During the Preparation of the Altar and the Gifts, various movements are made. The gifts of bread and wine are processed forward by members of the liturgical assembly and received by the presider at the altar (GIRM 73). The priest pours water into the wine. Finally, after incensing, usually the server pours a good quantity of water on both the fingers and the hands of the presider, who then uses a towel to dry his fingers and hands fully. The priest says inaudibly while washing his hands, “Lord, wash away my iniquity; cleanse me from my sin” (Roman Missal 28, p.530 ). Because the prayer is inaudible, and because in most parishes music is being sung during the preparation rites, members of the liturgical assembly do not hear the personal prayer of the priest while washing his hands, yet see the washing of his hands. Thus, the question is often asked, “Why does the priest wash his hands at Mass?”.

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal states that “The priest then washes his hands at the side of the altar, a rite that is an expression of his desire for interior purification” (GIRM 76). Thus, more than cleansing the hands is suggested by this prayer. Many of us tend to believe that the washing of his hands is a physical cleansing of the hands. Rather, the priest’s prayer during the washing is about the interior dimension of the priest so that he may be purified. The prayer also confirms this desire so that he may be cleansed from his sin and freed from iniquity. In the prayer, twice “my” is used to express that this is for the priest’s personal benefit.

Let us accompany the priest asking for forgiveness for our sins and faults so that we can be ready to receive the bread and wine now transformed into the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Seaman, Kristopher “Why Does the Priest Wash His Hands during Mass?  Liturgy Training Publications https://pastoralliturgy.org/resources/1009ReproRsrc.pdf

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Why do we present the offerings during the mass?

After the universal prayer, once everyone sits down, the offertory song begins, it is at this moment that the offerings of bread and wine are presented by the faithful to the priest, processing from among the community; the priest receives the offerings on the steps of the presbytery, and then, assisted by the acolyte or the deacon the offerings are taken to the altar, the priest proceeds to bless the offerings, purifies his hands, and pronounces: “Let us pray that your sacrifice and mine, maybe acceptable to God the almighty Father”, to which the community responds: “May the Lord accept this sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and glory of His Name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church”. These two prayers are where our sacrifice is presented by the priest ‘In persona Christi’ directly to God and us as a community ask for their acceptance by praising Him and asking for blessings. This bread and wine will then be consecrated and transubstantiated in the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and offered in communion to the community.

This bread and wine not only commemorate the bread and wine of the Last Supper, but also represents the whole community gathered offering themselves as a sacrifice so that not only through the hands of the priest, but also with him, through Christ the Mediator, they should be drawn day by day into ever more perfect union with God and with each other, so that finally God may be all in all (Sacrosanctum Concilium 48). This bread and wine, our sacrifice, will be made into the Body and Blood of Christ who died for our sins, is then offered to us so that we may join Him in communion, and obtain eternal life in Him.

Let us always be prepared to receive the sacred sacrament of communion, for that is the banquet that gives us eternal life and we are all invited to the Lord’s Supper.

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What is the importance of the altar during the mass?

In God’s salvation plan, our Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect sacrifice, not only because he is the lamb without blemish, but because He is, in this sacrifice, at the same time: high priest, sacrifice and altar (Rite of Dedication of a Church and an Altar).

During mass, the altar is the symbol of Christ himself, present in the midst of the assembly of his faithful, both as the victim offered for our reconciliation and as heavenly food given to us (CCC 1383). The altar is given the most prominent place in the church, occupying the place that is truly the center towards which the attention of the entire congregation of the faithful naturally converges (GIRM 299).

This is also why the laws of the Church strongly encourages the altar to be fixed to the ground to indicate the Christ eternity and never-ending commitment to his people. Furthermore, at the very least its mensa is to be made of stone echoing the scriptures which repeatedly call Christ a rock and cornerstone (1 Peter 2:4, 1 Corinthians 10:4, Ephesians 2:20).

When an altar is dedicated, it is anointed and incensed. These liturgical actions reveal the sacramental reality of the altar as a sacrament of Jesus Christ. During the dedication prayer, the altar is anointed with the sacred chrism precisely because Jesus Christ is the One Anointed by the Father with the Holy Spirit, making him “High Priest, who, on the altar of His body, offers the sacrifice of His life for the salvation of all” (RDCA). The sacred chrism, the same that we receive at our baptism and confirmation, and that with which the head of the consecrated bishop is anointed, is poured over the five crosses that adorn the altar table, crosses that represent the five wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ, and it is spread over the entire surface of the mensa by the consecrating bishop. Additionally, incense is burned during the dedication of the altar to signify that the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ ascends to God the Father as an odor of sweetness.

The altar is the table of sacrifice and at the same time the table of the paschal banquet, on which Jesus Christ offers himself as the new sacrificial lamb. The altar is not only the fulfillment of the paschal table on the last supper, but also prefigures the table of the heavenly banquet, that banquet in which we will celebrate total reunification with God and all of his creation.

Let us show due respect to the altar during the celebration of mass, since it is not only the table of the paschal banquet but also the representation of Jesus Christ who, as High Priest, on the altar of His body, offered the sacrifice of His life for the salvation of all of us.

McNamara, Denis. “Altar as Alter Christus: Ontology and Sacramentality” Adoremus, 18 June 2016, https://adoremus.org/2016/06/altar-alter-christus-ontology-sacramentality

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Why is the Sign of Peace exchanged during the Mass?

In the celebration of the Mass, there is a special moment when we exchange the sign of peace with one another. This gesture holds great significance, representing unity, love, and reconciliation within the Christian community. Let’s explore why the sign of peace is an important part of the Mass and how it reflects the teachings of Jesus Christ.

The Significance of Peace:

Peace is an essential aspect of our faith, emphasized throughout the Bible. Jesus himself said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (John 14:27). Through the sign of peace, we are called to share in the peace of Christ and extend that peace to one another. It reminds us of the harmonious relationship we are called to have with God and with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Unity and Reconciliation:

During the sign of peace, we acknowledge the presence of Christ in one another and affirm our unity as the body of Christ. It is a moment to reconcile with one another, letting go of conflicts or misunderstandings. Just as Jesus taught us to reconcile with our brothers and sisters before offering our gifts at the altar (Matthew 5:23-24), the sign of peace invites us to seek unity and reconciliation in our relationships.

Concrete Example:

Imagine a group of friends playing a team sport. In the midst of the game, they may have disagreements or misunderstandings. However, when they come together to celebrate a victory, they shake hands or give each other high fives as a sign of unity and camaraderie. Similarly, during the sign of peace, we express our unity and love for one another as members of God’s team, the Church.

The sign of peace in the Mass is not just a formality; it is a powerful moment of connection and love. It invites us to actively participate in the teachings of Jesus Christ by seeking unity, reconciliation, and harmony within our Christian community. As we exchange this sign, let us remember the words of St. Paul: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body” (Colossians 3:15). May the sign of peace be a reminder of our call to live in peace and love, embracing one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.