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No. 1. In the Mass: +
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Where does that come from? Then the glory of the God of Israel moved off the cherub and went up to the threshold of the temple. He called to the man dressed in linen with the scribe’s case at his waist, and the Lord said to him: Pass through the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and mark an X on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the abominations practiced within it. (Ezekiel 9:3-4)
No. 2. In the Mass:
Amen.
Where does that come from? The specific Hebrew word ’amen appears to be derived from a related verb ‘aman,’ which means “he confirmed, supported, or upheld.” This verb is associated with the Hebrew word for truth (’emet), which carries the idea of certainty or dependability (i.e., that which is true is that which is certain or dependable). ’Amen itself is an interjection used to agree with, affirm, approve, or emphasize something else that has been said. When one says “amen” in response to a prayer, it serves as an affirmation of agreement with the content of the prayer (cf. 1st Corinthians 14:16)—in which case it is translated “So be it” (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 2856)—or as an expression of faith that God will hear and act on the prayer.
No. 3. In the Mass:
And with your spirit.
Where does that come from? Refers to the priest’s standing “in the place of Christ” “It is Christ himself who is present to his Church as Head of his Body, Shepherd of his flock, high priest of the redemptive sacrifice, Teacher of Truth. This is what the Church means by saying that the priest, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, acts in persona Christi Capitis.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church no. no. 1548)
No. 4. In the Mass:
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 (And, striking their breast, they say) through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault (Then they continue) 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.
Where does that come from? He then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:10-14)
No. 5. In the Mass:
Lord, have mercy (Lord, have mercy) Christ, have mercy (Christ, have mercy) Lord, have mercy (Lord, have mercy)
Where does that come from? As they left Jericho, a great crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “[Lord,] Son of David, have mercy on us!” The crowd warned them to be silent, but they called out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” Jesus stopped and called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They answered him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” Moved with pity, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight, and followed him. (Matthew 20:29-34)
No. 6. In the Mass:
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will ...
Where does that come from? Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:8-14)
Note: Prepares the shepherds to encounter God. Likewise, prepares us to encounter God.
No. 7. In the Mass:
The Word of the Lord
Where does that come from? All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the field; the grass withers, and the flower wilts; but the word of the Lord remains forever.
(1st Peter 1:24-25)
No. 8. In the Mass:
Thanks be to God
Where does that come from? Thanks be to God that, although you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient from the heart to the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted. (Romans 6:17)
No. 9. In the Mass:
After this, the Deacon who is to proclaim the Gospel, bowing profoundly before the Priest, asks for the blessing, saying in a low voice: Your blessing, Father. The Priest says in a low voice: May the Lord be in your heart and on your lips, that you may proclaim his Gospel worthily and well, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit. The Deacon signs himself with the Sign of the Cross and replies: Amen. If, however, a Deacon is not present, the Priest, bowing before the altar, says quietly: Cleanse my heart and my lips, almighty God, that I may worthily proclaim your holy Gospel.
Where does that come from? In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, with the train of his garment filling the temple. Seraphim were stationed above; each of them had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they hovered. One cried out to the other: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!” At the sound of that cry, the frame of the door shook and the house was filled with smoke. Then I said, “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, holding an ember which he had taken with tongs from the altar. He touched my mouth with it. “See,” he said, “now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” “Here I am,” I said; “send me!” (Isaiah 6:1-8)
No. 10. In the Mass:
The Deacon, or the Priest, then proceeds to the ambo, accompanied, if appropriate, by ministers with incense and candles. ... and, at the same time, he makes the Sign of the Cross on the book and on his forehead, lips, and breast.
Where does that come from? “The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the dumb speak. May he soon touch your ears, N., to receive his word, and your mouth to proclaim his faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father.” (Rite of Baptism)
Note: The Gospel of Jesus Christ would be forever on our minds, on our lips, and foever in our hearts.
No. 11. In the Mass: The word homily (associated with the Greek word “kerygma”) means “Explanation.”
No. 12. In the Mass: The Roman Missal states: “It is desirable that the faithful express their participation by making an offering, bringing forward bread and wine for the celebration of the Eucharist and perhaps other gifts to relieve the needs of the Church and of the poor.”
Where does that come from? In the Old Testament that which you sacrificed represented your life. The bread and wine brought forward from the people represents the lives of the faithful. In other words: Pray my brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and yours might be acceptable to God the almighty Father.
No. 13. In the Mass:
The Priest washes his hands, saying quietly: Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Where does that come from? The Lord told Moses: For ablutions you shall make a bronze basin with a bronze stand. Place it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. Aaron and his sons shall use it in washing their hands and feet. When they are about to enter the tent of meeting, they must wash with water, lest they die. Likewise when they approach the altar to minister, to offer an oblation to the Lord, they must wash their hands and feet, lest they die. This shall be a perpetual statute for him and his descendants throughout their generations. (Exodus 30:17-21)
No. 14. In the Mass: Then the Priest begins the Eucharistic Prayer. Extending his hands, he says: The Lord be with you. The people reply: And with your Spirit. The Priest, raising his hands, continues: Lift up your hearts.
Where does that come from? Let us lift up our hearts as well as our hands toward God in heaven! (Lamentations 3:41) If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. (Colossians 3:1-2)
No. 15. In the Mass:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Where does that come from? “I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, with the train of his garment filling the temple. Seraphim were stationed above; each of them had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they hovered. One cried out to the other: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!’ At the sound of that cry, the frame of the door shook and the house was filled with smoke.” (Isaiah 6:1-4)
“After this I had a vision of an open door to heaven. At once I was caught up in spirit. A throne was there in heaven, and on the throne sat one whose appearance sparkled like jasper and carnelian. Around the throne was a halo as brilliant as an emerald. Surrounding the throne I saw twenty-four other thrones on which twenty-four elders sat, dressed in white garments and with gold crowns on their heads. In front of the throne was something that resembled a sea of glass like crystal. In the center and around the throne, there were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back. The four living creatures, each of them with six wings, were covered with eyes inside and out. Day and night they do not stop exclaiming: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.” Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before the one who sits on the throne and worship him, who lives forever and ever. They exclaim: “Worthy are you, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things; because of your will they came to be and were created.” (Revelation 4:1-11)
Where does that come from? Incense at the Mass is an imitation of the the worship of heaven. Also, we kneel at this part of the Mass because that is what they are doing in heaven.
No. 16. In the Mass:
At the time he was betrayed and entered willingly into his Passion, he took bread and, giving thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you.
Where does that come from? Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” (Luke 22:19)
In the Mass:
In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice and, once more giving thanks, he gave it to his disciples, saying: take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.
Were does that come from? Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:27-30)
No. 17. In the Mass:
Then he takes the host, breaks it over the paten, and places a small piece in the chalice, saying quietly: May this mingling of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.
Why? “The priest breaks the Eucharistic Bread, assisted, if the case calls for it, by the deacon or a concelebrant. Christ’s gesture of breaking bread at the Last Supper, which gave the entire Eucharistic Action its name in apostolic times, signifies that the many faithful are made one body (1st Corinthians 10:17) by receiving Communion from the one Bread of Life which is Christ, who died and rose for the salvation of the world. The fraction or breaking of bread is begun after the sign of peace and is carried out with proper reverence, though it should not be unnecessarily prolonged, nor should it be accorded undue importance. This rite is reserved to the priest and the deacon. The priest breaks the Bread and puts a piece of the host into the chalice to signify the unity of the Body and Blood of the Lord in the work of salvation, namely, of the living and glorious Body of Jesus Christ.”
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 83
No. 18. In the Mass:
The Priest genuflects, takes the host and, holding it slightly raised above the paten or above the chalice, while facing the people, says aloud: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
Where does that come from? The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29) And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself. (John 12:32)
No. 19. In the Mass:
Then the Deacon, or the Priest himself, with hands joined and facing the people, says: Go forth, the Mass is ended. or Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord. or o in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life. or Go in peace.
Where does that come from? The ending to the Mass in Latin: “Ite, missa est” Root of the word “mission.”
Jesus Has Power Over the Natural Elements
John 6:1-14 — Jesus multiplies the loaves
John 6:16-24 — Jesus walks on the water
The Bread of Life Discourse
John 6:25-27 — the crowds want more bread
John 6:28-32 — Jesus’ bread will fulfill the Old Testament “type”
John 6:35-40 — I am the bread of life (1st emphatic declaration)
John 6:41-42 — The crowds understand his teaching and they “murmur” {לון luwn} for the 1st time
John 6:48-50 — I am the bread of life (2nd emphatic declaration)
John 6:51 — I am the bread of life (3rd emphatic declaration)
John 6:52 — The crowds understand his teaching and they “murmur” {לון luwn} for the 2nd time
John 6:53-54 — You must eat and drink the flesh and blood
John 6:55 — my flesh is real flesh, my blood is real blood
John 6:60 — The crowds understand his teaching and they acknowledge that it is a hard teaching to grasp
John 6:61 — Jesus refuses to apologize for the teaching
John 6:66 — The crowds understand his teaching and that is why they leave
John 6:77 — Jesus does not stop them from leaving
Four Biblical Arguments Proving True Presence
1. Old Testament “types” can not be greater than their New Testament fulfillments
2. The crowds understood what Jesus was teaching (vss. 41,52, and 60), that’s why they left (vs. 66)
3. Jesus as a good Rabbi would never leave a teaching “misunderstood”; however, he lets them go ... he does “clarify” the teaching
4. Acts 2:42 — The very first Christian converts celebrated Mass with the true presence
Substance & Accidents
Substance > that which makes something what it is
Accidents > the external properties
Transubstantiation
Transubstantiation is the change whereby the bread and the wine used in the sacrament of the Eucharist become, not merely as by a sign or a figure, but also in actual reality the body and blood of Christ. The Catholic Church teaches that the substance or reality of the bread is changed into that of the body of Christ and the substance of the wine into that of his blood, while all that is accessible to the senses (the outward appearances - species) remains unchanged. What remains unaltered is also referred to as the “accidents” of the bread and wine, but this term is not used in the
official definition of the doctrine by the Council of Trent. The manner in which the change occurs, the Catholic Church teaches, is a mystery: “The signs of bread and wine become, in a way surpassing understanding, the Body and Blood of Christ.”
Recorded Sunday, March 22, 2015 at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Thibodaux, Louisiana.
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© Fr. Mark Toups, 2015
