Before ascending to offer the Holy Sacrifice, the Priest stands at the foot of the Altar, and recites with the server the solemn words of Psalm 42, I will go in to the Altar of God, to God who giveth joy to my youth.Ever mindful of his unworthiness to offer the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Priest makes a profound reverence, humbly asking God’s pardon in the Confiteor, I confess to almighty God.After the Absolutions, the Priest bows slightly and makes an appeal to God’s mercy before ascending to the Holy of Holies, Thou shalt turn again, O God, and quicken us, and thy people shall rejoice in thee.Kissing the relics of the holy Martyrs contained in the Altar, the Priest invokes their intercession and that of all the Saints, that God would vouchsafe to pardon me all my sins.Standing at the Epistle side of the Altar, the Priest makes the sign of the Cross and begins the Introit, which is taken from the Proper of the Mass of the Day.The Priest returns to the middle of the Altar, and after reciting the ninefold Kyrie Eleison invoking God’s mercy, offers praise and adoration to God in the Gloria in excelsis Deo.Turning to the congregation, the Priest greets them with the Dominus vobiscum, The Lord be with you, to which the server responds on behalf of the people, And with thy spirit.Returning to the Epistle side of the Altar, the Priest bows to the Holy Cross, saying Oremus, Let us pray, and then says the Collect, which is proper to the Mass of the Day.Often there is more than one Collect, asking for the intercession of other Saints commemorated today, or for a special intention.The Priest then reads the Epistle for the day, words taken from the letters and acts of St. Paul and the other Apostles, and which help us understand the special message of today’s holy Liturgy.The Priest bows profoundly at the middle of the Altar, asking God in the words of the Munda cor to be made worthy to announce the holy Gospel, Cleanse my heart and my lips, O almighty God.The Priest goes to the Gospel side of the Altar, making a triple sign of the Cross on his forehead, lips and heart, as he solemnly announces the Holy Gospel.As everyone in the Church stands and faces the Gospel, the Priest reads a passage from one of the four Evangelists, recounting an incident or parable from the life of our Saviour.As the Gospel ends, the server says Laus tibi, Christe, Praise be unto thee, O Christ. The Priest kisses the holy Gospel book and returns to the middle of the Altar.Facing the Altar, the Priest recites the Creed, which is the Church’s affirmation of faith in the divine mysteries. Recalling the Incarnation of God in the womb of the Blessed Virgin and the mystery of our Redemption, Priest and people fall to their knees at the words Et incarnatus est.The Offertory now begins. After a few short words proper to the Mass of the day, the Priest takes the wafer which is to be consecrated, and offers it to God that it may avail both him and all faithful Christians, living and dead, unto life everlasting.The Priest goes to the Epistle side and pours wine into the Chalice, adding a few drops of water to signify the union of God and Man in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.The Priest offers the Chalice of salvation, imploring God’s clemency for the salvation of the whole world.After kissing the Altar, the Priest turns to the faithful, and asks for their prayers, Orate, fratres, Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be well pleasing to God the almighty Father.After the Secret prayers, which are proper to the Mass of the day, the Priest recites aloud the most solemn words of the Preface, It is truly meet and just, right and profitable, for us, at all times and in all places, to give thanks to thee, O Lord, the Holy One, the Father almighty, the everlasting God.The Sanctus is said as the bells are rung three times for the Holy Trinity, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts. The Priest then bows and silently begins the Canon of the Mass.The Commemoration of the Living asks God to be mindful of all the faithful here present, their families and friends, that He might grant them the salvation of their souls and the health and welfare for which they hope.As the Priest extends his hands over the oblation, the bells are rung once to warn the faithful that the sacred Mystery is about to be enacted. The Priest prays that God will vouchsafe to bless, consecrate, and approve this our oblation.In a profound silence, the Priest says the holy words of Consecration, and changes the bread into the sacred Body of our Lord. The bells ring as he genuflects, and then again as he elevates the Sacred Host to allow the faithful to gaze upon their Lord. He genuflects once more and adores Christ present upon the Altar.The Priest continues the words of our Lord at the Last Supper, and consecrates the wine, which now becomes the Chalice of the Blood of Christ. Again he genuflects, raises the Chalice on high, and drops again to his knees in humble adoration.The Canon of the Mass now continues with the ancient prayers of our forefathers in the faith, invoking God’s blessings upon the holy Sacrifice, His mercy upon the faithful departed, and forgiveness for God’s people, sinners all. The Canon ends with the Minor Elevation, in praise of the Most Holy Trinity.The Priest now continues aloud with the prayer taught to us by our Saviour, the Pater Noster.Preparing now to receive the Sacred Body and Blood of Christ, the Priest asks to be delivered from all evil, past, present, and to come, begging the intercession of the Blessed Virgin and all the Saints for peace in our days.As he concludes this prayer, the Priest breaks the Sacred Host.The Priest makes the sign of the Cross with the Sacred Host over the Chalice, saying the Pax vobiscum, The peace of the Lord be always with you, and the server replies And with thy spirit.Bowing down, the Priest strikes his breast three times as a sign of contrition and humility, saying the threefold Agnus Dei, O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us, grant us thy peace.Now preparing to receive Holy Communion, the Priest takes the Sacred Host and strikes his breast three times as he humbly asks God for spiritual healing in the Domine, non sum dignus, O Lord, I am not worthy.The Priest receives Holy Communion under both sacred Species. As he consumes the Precious Blood, if Communion is to be distributed, the server says the Confiteor, the Priest gives the Absolutions, and the Domine, non sum dignus is repeated for the people. They then receive the Sacrament kneeling at the Communion rail.The Priest and servers perform the Ablutions at the Epistle side of the Altar. The Priest takes great care to ensure that no particles of the Sacred Host remain on the paten, and the Chalice is wiped clean with a linen cloth.After the Communion verse and Postcommunion Prayer, which are proper to the Mass of the day, the Priest says the Ite, missa est, and the server replies Thanks be to God. The Priest then blesses the faithful, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.Returning now to the Gospel side, the Priest makes the sign of the Cross on his forehead, lips and heart, and reads the Last Gospel. Unless a proper Last Gospel is assigned to be read, this is usually the opening words of the Gospel of St. John, In the beginning was the Word. Commemorating the mystery of our Redemption, Priest and faithful genuflect at the words, And the Word was made flesh.At Low Mass, the Priest generally kneels on the Altar steps and recites prayers with the faithful. He then leaves the Altar and the Mass concludes.
