Mass
Authors: Bigalke Ron J. 
Published: January 2012

Abstract

Mass is the complex of ceremonies and prayers that constitute the Eucharistic service. The Mass is divided into the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Traditionally, the first part of the Mass was called the Mass of the Catechumens and the second part was called the Mass of the Faithful. The “catechumens” were not communicants and following the homily were dismissed at the end of the first part of the Mass. In the earliest liturgy, congregational members read passages from the Old and New Testaments, which were followed by an antiphon or “Alleluia.” The priest's homily then was followed by an affirmation of faith, prayers, and antiphons (and an offering at some time). The “faithful” were baptized, and therefore were full members, who were sent forth at the end of the second part of the Mass. The Liturgy of the Eucharist is the high point of the Mass. The Eucharist is the “Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar” in the dual aspects of sacrament and sacrifice of the Mass wherein it is believed the Lord Jesus Christ is truly and completely present (i.e. “Real Presence” sc. blood, body, divinity, and soul) under the appearance (or “accidents”) of bread and wine, which are as true as he is in heaven. Roman Catholic and some Anglo‐Catholic theologians distinguish between the body (death) of Christ and the blood (life) of Christ. Other titles for the Eucharist include the Holy of Holies (
Sanctissimum
), the Lord's Body (
Corpus Domini
), the Lord's Supper (
Coena Domini
), and Table of the Lord (
Mensa Domini
). There is variance among Catholic theologians regarding the perpetual offering of Christ in the Mass. Aquinas sought to distinguish between the “offering of the sacrifice” and the “consummation of the sacrifice” (i.e. the actual sacrifice and the accomplishments of the sacrifice). The Council of Trent affirmed belief that Christ is truly present in the sacrifice of the Mass, and regarded the heavenly priesthood of Christ as being fulfilled in the perpetual sacrifice of the Mass. Whereas Aquinas and the Council of Trent regarded the Mass as a true sacrifice of Christ, Anglo‐Catholic theologians have commonly combined the doctrine of the Eucharist with the theory of a perpetual offering of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary (e.g. the true tabernacle). The Mass and the Eucharist is the means for redemption being implemented in Roman Catholicism. “The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy: Excerpts on the Eucharist” of Vatican II affirmed, “For it is the liturgy through which, especially in the divine sacrifice of the Eucharist,” there is accomplishment of redemptive work. The Council of Trent reaffirmed that Christ is offered in an unbloody manner in the sacrifice of the Mass, which is the same as that of Calvary. As an art form, the musical settings of the Mass have profoundly influenced the history of Western music. Prior to Vatican II, the Mass was always spoken (Low Mass) or sung (High Mass) in Latin. The Latin term for Mass is
missa
, from the phrase ending the Mass (“
Ite, missa est
”), which means “Go forth, you are sent.” “Dismissal” and “missal” are derived from the Latin
missa
, which implies that one is sent forth on a mission from the Lord in the observance of the Mass. The distinction between Low Mass and High Mass is no longer observed, but the term Mass in the context of the history of Western music refers to High Mass and therefore the Ordinary of the Mass. Generally, the series of unvarying chants called the Ordinary of the Mass includes the following Latin texts: Kyrie (“Lord have mercy”), Gloria (“Glory to God in the highest”), Credo (“I believe in one God”), and Sanctus (“Holy, Holy, Holy”), which is sometimes divided into Benedictus (“Blessed is He”) and Angus Dei (“Lamb of God”). The Ordinary of the Mass is distinguished from the Proper of the Mass, which is the part of the Mass that varies according to the ecclesiastical calendar.