Holy Mass
The Mass is the unbloody sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ. It is the highest act of divine worship in the Catholic Church.
The principal actions of the Mass are the offering of bread and wine, the changing of them into the Body and Blood of Christ, and the consuming or receiving of them.
Every Catholic who can read, should familiarize himself with the parts of the Mass, and with the various prayers and devotions at the same by the constant use of prayer-books. Every one should likewise, but especially those who cannot read, provide himself with rosary-beads.
The most appropriate prayer-book at Mass is the one that corresponds to the Mass-book or missal on the altar, from which it is translated, which can be had from any Catholic publisher. But all prayer-books contain appropriate Mass-devotions.
Postures and Actions at Holy Mass
Try to be as near to the altar during Mass as possible. Do not remain in the rear of the church when there is room in the front. The idea of assisting at Mass is to be as near to the altar of sacrifice, to join in the service and to follow it as closely as possible.
At Low Mass. At Low Mass all should kneel during the whole Mass, standing only at the gospels. In some places the faithful stand also during the Credo, if it is said, which is immediately after the first gospel. They bend the knee with the Priest at the words, “Et homo factus est.”
If anyone wishes to sit during the Mass, especially if he is not able to kneel during the whole time, he may sit down after the Credo until the Sanctus-bell is rung. Another time suitable for sitting is after the Communion, whilst the Priest purifies and covers the chalice, until he begins to read the last prayers.
At High Mass. All stand during the sprinkling of the congregation before the Mass. They kneel at the Mass until the Priest intones the Gloria, when they stand. They sit whenever the Priest sits, whilst the announcements are made and during the sermon. They stand during the singing of the prayers; except at a Requiem Mass. They sit during the reading of the Epistle until the book is carried over. They stand at the Gospel, also at the Credo, whilst the Priest is standing. They sit at the Credo when the Priest sits, kneeling down when the Choir sings the passage, “Et incarnatus est,” rising after the words, “Et homo factus est.” They sit during the Offertory and rise when the Priest sings the Per omnia sæcula sæculorum for the Preface. They kneel from the Sanctus until after the Communion. They sit whilst the Priest purifies and covers the chalice. They stand during the last prayers, kneel for the blessing, and stand during the last Gospel.
When the Priest says the words, “And the Word was made Flesh,” toward the end of the Gospel, and genuflects, the faithful should genuflect likewise, and rise again with him. Some people remain kneeling at that point of the Gospel, which is not correct.
No one should leave the church before the Priest has left the sanctuary.
At Solemn High Mass. A High Mass is called solemn, when at least three sacred ministers officiate, that is the Celebrant, a Deacon and a Subdeacon. The same postures are observed as at High Mass. The faithful, however, should stand not whilst the first Gospel is being read by the celebrant, at the altar, but whilst it is being sung immediately after by the deacon.
They should stand also when the altar-boy incenses the congregation.
Other Actions at Holy Mass
It is a pious custom to bow low and strike the breast at the ringing of the bell during the Consecration and at the Communion.
Whilst striking the breast at the Consecration we might say, “Jesus, for Thee will I live; Jesus, for Thee will I die; Jesus, Thine will I be in life and in death;” or, “Jesus, I believe in Thee; Jesus, I hope in Thee; Jesus, I love Thee with all my heart.”
Whilst striking the breast at Communion we should say three times, “Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof; but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.”
To strike the breast properly, lay the left hand a little below it and strike it with the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand.
At the beginning of the Gospels, lay your left hand on your breast and with the thumb of your right hand, spreading at the same time your other fingers, make a small cross on your forehead, on your lips and on your breast.
Always bow the head at the mention of the Sacred Name of Jesus, whether during the Mass or during the sermon. Do not forget this. All devout Catholics do it.
Bow the head also whilst the “Gloria Patri,” or “Glory be to the Father,” is being said or sung at any service, and when the Priest gives the blessing.
Do not walk in the church, in the vestry, or parts adjoining the sanctuary, speak, or perform any service except that connected with another Mass, whilst the Consecration of a Mass is going on. At the sound of the bell everyone should fall on his knees, in whatever place about the church he may be, and assist in profound adoration.
The same rule should be observed also whenever a priest gives out Holy Communion. All in and about the church should kneel and assist at it. If there should be a large number of communicants, all should remain kneeling at least until the priest begins to administer Communion at the rail.
