About the Mass series: Liturgy of the Eucharist: Preparation of the Gifts Part 1.

ABOUT THE MASS SERIES.

THE MASS: ABOUT THE MASS SERIES ICON.

Liturgy of the Eucharist: Preparation of the Gifts Part 1.

We now commence the next main section of the Mass- The liturgy of the Eucharist which contains the following elements:

·                      Preparation of the Gifts

·                      Introductory Dialogue.

·                      Preface.

·                      Holy. Holy-Sanctus

·                      Eucharistic Prayers Nos 1-4-

·                      Doxology and Great Amen.

As this is such an important section of the Mass, the Preparation of the gifts will have 11 posts, Sanctus will have 2 posts, and Eucharistic Prayers will have 8 posts.


Let us now commence Liturgy of the Eucharist Part 1.

As the Mass is the centre of the Church’s liturgy and worship, the Church has laid down careful rules (rubrics), so that the Mass may be worthily celebrated, as well ensuring an uniformity and universality. For the offering of Mass an altar is required, which is God’s table on which our gifts are placed to become the Victim that is offered in Sacrifice. We receive as His children from God’s table the food He gives us.

The altar is usually a stone table, which is consecrated by the Bishop. In the altar, there are relics of some saints.  Do you know whose relics were placed in the altar in the parish where you worship?   The Church requires that the altar be covered with at least one white or liturgically appropriate coloured cloth. On it are usually placed a crucifix, to show that the Mass is the Sacrifice of the Cross, Candles to represent the Light of the World giving light to us, and the Priest’s Missal called the Sacramentary (Roman Missal).

Some churches use one candle each side for both Sunday and weekday Masses, whilst some other churches’ use 3 candles each side on Sunday, and one each side during the week.  Other churches use one candle each side of the altar, but during Christmastide and Eastertide, use extra candles (e.g. my own parish uses 3 candles in brass candle holders which are placed each side of the steps of the sanctuary)

Before Mass begins, the Priest, Sacristan or altar servers place altar wine and water into the 2 Cruets accompanied by a finger towel. The priest uses a metal plate called a Paten on which the bread (priest’s host) is held, and a metal cup called the Chalice into which the wine is poured that becomes the blood of Christ. If they are not made of gold, they are gilt inside. The Cruets and Paten are placed on the offertory table ready for the offertory procession. The offertory table is located either in the centre aisle (midway as in the case of my own parish) or behind the last pew near the entrance in the church.

The offertory procession requires members of the congregation to bring the paten and Flagon (decanter), which is a bigger receptacle required for the wine, to the priest.  Four Communion Cups (chalice like vessels) are used during Mass when communion is given out under both species.

The Chalice is often covered by a Veil (which varies in colour with the season or feast) and underneath it are the Corporal (3^rd lined cloth), Purificator (a triple folded white cloth used to cleanse chalice) and Pall (cloth which covers chalice). This is placed on the Credence Table on the Sanctuary.  A credence table may be either marble/stone or wood.