#5 The Introductory Rites: Understanding the Mass and Its Parts

 

As we continue to consider the Mass and Its Parts, recall the principle that "if we understand why we do something, we will know how to do it." How are we to worship the Triune God in the Sunday Mass?

So far we examined the actual gathering of parishioners on Sunday to make visible the Catholic Church in a particular place, i.e. usually a sacred place like the parish church. There we–the–Church, Bishop or Priest and the People, celebrate the Sunday Mass. The Eucharist makes the Church and the Church Makes the Eucharist.

 

 

When we arrive at the church on Sunday, we hopefully arrive early enough to prepare ourselves in silent prayer. At the given hour the Sunday Mass begins with what are called Introductory Rites. The Rites include the following:

Entrance Song and Procession

 

The Sign of the Cross

Greeting

The Penitential Rite

the Gloria (except in Advent and Lent)

The Opening Prayer (called the Collect)

These elements of the Mass were added and developed over a long time. It is said that the earliest celebrations of the Mass lacked most of these Introductory Rites. For example, the Good Friday Mass begins with the entrance of the Ministers and Priests and the Opening Prayer is prayed and the Liturgy of the Word begins.

Obviously, more was required over time to begin the Mass. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), which regulates the proper celebration of the Mass, tells us why we do these Introductory Rites:

"The rites that precede the Liturgy of the Word...have the character of a beginning, an introduction, and a preparation.

"Their purpose is to ensure that the faithful, who come together as one, establish communion and dispose themselves properly to listen to the Word of God and to celebrate the Eucharist worthily." (GIRM #46)

The Introductory rites gather us officially; as the GIRM says we "come together" to "establish communion" both with God and with one another. This Communion establishes us as a Community, "the Community of Disciples."

 

 

What this language about Communion and Community alerts us to is that our coming to Mass is not a private act. It also is not all about "me and God." The Mass is bringing us together to worship and participate together as Church in the One Sacrifice of Christ. Thus we are going to do things together, as one People: sing together, pray together, listen together, offer together, give thanks together, receive together, and be sent out in mission together.

Of course each of us must be personally committed to Christ and personally participate in the Mass, but in our society where individualism is rampant, our error is usually to "to do our own thing" and not appreciate the importance of the Church and community in our worship and lives.

Thus the General Introduction of the Roman Missal states:

"For the celebration of the Eucharist is the action of the whole Church, and in it each one should carry out solely but totally that which pertains to him [or her], in virtue of the place of each within the People of God....For this people is the People of God, purchased by Christ's Blood, gathered together by the Lord, nourished by his word, the people called to present to God the prayers of the entire human family, a people that gives thanks in Christ for the mystery of salvation by offering his Sacrifice, a people, finally, that is brought together in unity by Communion in the Body and Blood of Christ. This people, though holy in its origin, nevertheless grows constantly in holiness by conscious, active, and fruitful participation in the mystery of the Eucharist." (#5; emphasis added)

Next Week: The Introductory Rites continued.

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