Order of Mass

If the sprinkling with holy water is to occur before Mass outside of the Easter Season, the celebrant and the ministers kneel before the altar. The celebrant intones the following antiphon which the choir and congregation continue:

If the sprinkling with holy water is to occur before Mass during the Easter Season, the celebrant and the ministers kneel before the altar. The celebrant intones the following antiphon which the choir and congregation continue:

If the sprinkling with holy water has taken place, at the conclusion of the sprinkling the celebrant chants the following versicles to which the congregation responds:

The celebrant chants the following prayer:

In a sung Mass, the choir sings the Introit (proper to the day). At the foot of the altar, the celebrant begins Psalm 42, alternating with the server. In some Masses, the recitation of this psalm is omitted.

Psalm 42:

Then the celebrant continues with the other preparatory prayers, including the Confiteor:

The other ministers recite the Confiteor:

The celebrant prays:

The celebrant prays for absolution from God and continues:

As the celebrant goes up to the altar, he prays in a low voice:

If incense is used, the celebrant blesses the incense:

The celebrant incenses the altar, relics that are present, and the cross. Then the deacon or the server incenses the celebrant.

In a sung Mass, the choir sings the Kyrie, alternating with the congregation. At the right side of the altar, the celebrant recites the Introit (proper to the day). The celebrant then recites the Kyrie, alternating with the other ministers:

In some Masses, the Gloria is sung (alternating between the choir and the congregation), or the celebrant recites it:

The celebrant kisses the altar, faces the congregation and offers the greeting to which they respond:

Then the celebrant prays the Collect (proper to the day). At the conclusion, the congregation responds:

The Epistle (proper to the day) is chanted or read. If the celebrant reads the Epistle, at the conclusion the servers respond:

In a sung Mass, the choir sings the Gradual and the Alleluia or Tract (both proper to the day). If they are not sung, the celebrant reads them.

If incense is used, the celebrant blesses the incense:

If the celebrant will chant or read the Gospel, he stands at the center of the altar and prays:

The deacon or the celebrant chants or speaks the Gospel dialogue with the congregation:

The deacon or the celebrant begins the Gospel (proper to the day). At the end of the Gospel, the celebrant kisses the book, saying:

If the celebrant has read the Gospel, the server responds:

A homily may be preached.

In some Masses, the Creed is sung (alternating between the choir and the congregation) or the celebrant recites it:

Genuflect through: «and became man»

The celebrant chants or reads the Offertory Verse (proper to the day). In a sung Mass, the choir may sing the Offertory antiphon. The collection is taken during the Offertory.

The celebrant uncovers the chalice, takes the paten with the host, and offers it, praying:

The celebrant makes the sign of the cross over the cruet of water and pours a little water into the chalice of wine, praying:

The celebrant takes the chalice and offers it, praying:

Bowing before the altar, the celebrant prays:

The celebrant blesses the offerings, making the sign of the cross over them:

If incense is used, the celebrant imposes and blesses the incense:

The celebrant incenses the gifts with three signs of the cross and with three circles, saying:

Having incensed the gifts, the celebrant proceeds to incense the altar while praying Psalm 140:

As the celebrant returns the thurible, he prays:

The deacon or server incenses the celebrant, then the clergy and the congregation.

The celebrant washes his hands at the side of the altar, reciting from Psalm 25:

During Passiontide and in Masses for the Dead, the Gloria Patri is omitted.

The celebrant returns to the centre of the altar, bows, and prays:

The celebrant turns to the people and says:

The servers or congregation respond:

The celebrant responds quietly:

The celebrant recites the Secret prayer(s) silently (proper to the day). At the conclusion, he says aloud:

The celebrant begins the Preface dialogue:

The celebrant chants or recites the Preface (proper to the day or season). All Prefaces conclude with the following:

The celebrant and congregation say or sing together:

The Canon of the Mass is prayed silently by the celebrant. He extends his hands and prays:

The celebrant prays for the living:

The celebrant commemorates the Saints:

The celebrant extends his hands over the offerings:

The celebrant makes signs of the cross over the offerings:

The celebrant takes the bread and speaks the words of consecration:

The Words of Consecration:

The celebrant genuflects in adoration, then raises the Sacred Host for the faithful to adore, then genuflects again. A bell is rung.

Taking the chalice, the celebrant speaks the words of consecration:

The Words of Consecration:

The celebrant genuflects in adoration, then raises the Chalice for the faithful to adore, then genuflects again. A bell is rung.

The celebrant continues the Canon:

The celebrant bows profoundly over the altar:

The celebrant prays for the dead:

The celebrant strikes his breast and raises his voice slightly at the first words:

The celebrant makes signs of the cross over the offerings:

The celebrant elevates the Host and the Chalice slightly and chants or says the concluding doxology:

The celebrant chants or recites the introduction to the Lord's Prayer:

The celebrant continues silently, then says the conclusion aloud:

The celebrant breaks the Host and places a particle into the chalice, saying aloud:

The celebrant makes the sign of the cross over the chalice with the particle of the Host:

The celebrant drops the particle into the chalice, praying silently:

The celebrant strikes his breast three times, saying:

In Masses for the Dead, «have mercy on us» is replaced by «grant them rest» and the third invocation ends «grant them eternal rest.»

The celebrant prays silently, bowing over the altar:

In a Solemn Mass, the Kiss of Peace is exchanged here. The celebrant kisses the altar and says to the deacon:

The celebrant prays silently before receiving Communion:

The celebrant genuflects, takes the Host, and says:

Striking his breast three times, the celebrant says:

The celebrant makes the sign of the cross with the Host, saying:

The celebrant reverently consumes the Host. After a brief pause, he uncovers the chalice and says:

The celebrant makes the sign of the cross with the Chalice, saying:

The celebrant reverently consumes the Precious Blood.

If the faithful are to receive Holy Communion, the celebrant turns to the people, holding a Host over the ciborium, and says:

The celebrant says three times, and the faithful repeat, striking their breast each time:

The celebrant distributes Holy Communion, saying to each communicant. The communicant does not say Amen.

The celebrant returns to the altar. Wine is poured into the chalice for the first ablution:

Wine and water are poured over the celebrant's fingers into the chalice for the second ablution:

The celebrant reads the Communion antiphon (proper to the day). In a sung Mass, the choir sings it during the distribution of Holy Communion.

The celebrant turns to the people:

The celebrant recites the Postcommunion prayer(s) (proper to the day). At the conclusion, the congregation responds:

The celebrant turns to the people and says or chants:

In Masses where the Gloria was not said, instead of «Ite, Missa est» the celebrant says:

In Masses for the Dead:

The celebrant bows before the altar and prays silently:

The celebrant kisses the altar, turns to the people, and gives the blessing:

The blessing is omitted in Masses for the Dead.

The celebrant goes to the Gospel side of the altar and says:

Genuflect

On certain feasts, a proper Last Gospel is read instead of the Gospel of St John.

After Low Masses, the following prayers are recited by the celebrant and the faithful together. They are omitted after sung Masses and after Masses at which a liturgical function immediately follows.

The celebrant and faithful conclude: