The First Part of the Mass

Or the Mass of the Catechumens

The term “catechumens” designates those who have been receiving religious instruction, but have not yet been admitted to Baptism. In the early days of the Church these candidates were allowed to be present only for the first part of the Mass, being dismissed just before the Offertory.

1. Preparatory Prayers at the Foot of the Altar

Latin	English
In nomine Patris, ✠ et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen. Antiphon. Introibo ad altare Dei.	In the name of the Father, ✠ and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Antiphon. I will go unto the altar of God.
Response. Ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam.	Response. To God Who giveth joy to my youth.

Psalm XLII

To be omitted in Passion-tide and in Masses for the Dead.

Latin	English
Judica me, Deus, et discerne causam meam de gente non sancta: ab homine iniquo, et doloso erue me. Ministers. Quia tu es Deus fortitudo mea: quare me repulisti, et quare tristis incedo, dum affligit me inimicus? Priest. Emitte lucem tuam, et veritatem tuam: ipsa me deduxerunt, et adduxerunt in montem sanctum tuum, et in tabernacula tua. M. Et introibo ad altare Dei: ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam. P. Confitebor tibi in cithara, Deus, Deus meus; quare tristis es, anima mea, et quare conturbas me? M. Spera in Deo, quoniam adhuc confitebor illi: salutare vultus mei, et Deus meus. P. Gloria Patri, et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. M. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen. Ant. Introibo ad altare Dei. R. Ad Deum, qui lætificat juventutem meam. V. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini. R. Qui fecit cælum et terram.	Judge me, O Lord, and distinguish my cause from the nation not holy: deliver me from the unjust and deceitful man. Ministers. For Thou, O God, art my strength: why hast Thou cast me off? and why do I go sorrowful whilst the enemy afflicteth me? Priest. Send forth Thy light and truth: they have conducted me and brought me unto Thy holy mount and into Thy tabernacles. M. And I will go unto the altar of God: to God, Who giveth joy to my youth. P. To Thee, O God, my God, I will give praise upon the harp: why art thou sad, my soul, and why dost thou disquiet me? M. Hope in God, for I will still give praise to Him: the salvation of my countenance and my God. P. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. M. As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Ant. I will go in unto the altar of God. R. Unto God, Who giveth joy to my youth. V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who hath made heaven and earth.

Latin

English

Judica me, Deus, et discerne causam meam de gente non sancta: ab homine iniquo, et doloso erue me.
Ministers. Quia tu es Deus fortitudo mea: quare me repulisti, et quare tristis incedo, dum affligit me inimicus?
Priest. Emitte lucem tuam, et veritatem tuam: ipsa me deduxerunt, et adduxerunt in montem sanctum tuum, et in tabernacula tua.
M. Et introibo ad altare Dei: ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam.
P. Confitebor tibi in cithara, Deus, Deus meus; quare tristis es, anima mea, et quare conturbas me?
M. Spera in Deo, quoniam adhuc confitebor illi: salutare vultus mei, et Deus meus.
P. Gloria Patri, et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.
M. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.
Ant. Introibo ad altare Dei.
R. Ad Deum, qui lætificat juventutem meam.
V. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini.
R. Qui fecit cælum et terram.

Judge me, O Lord, and distinguish my cause from the nation not holy: deliver me from the unjust and deceitful man.
Ministers. For Thou, O God, art my strength: why hast Thou cast me off? and why do I go sorrowful whilst the enemy afflicteth me?
Priest. Send forth Thy light and truth: they have conducted me and brought me unto Thy holy mount and into Thy tabernacles.
M. And I will go unto the altar of God: to God, Who giveth joy to my youth.
P. To Thee, O God, my God, I will give praise upon the harp: why art thou sad, my soul, and why dost thou disquiet me?
M. Hope in God, for I will still give praise to Him: the salvation of my countenance and my God.
P. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
M. As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. I will go in unto the altar of God.
R. Unto God, Who giveth joy to my youth.
V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who hath made heaven and earth.

Humbly bowing down, the priest continues:

Latin	English
Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, beatæ Mariæ semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, beato Joanni Baptistæ, sanctis Apostolis Petro et Paulo, omnibus Sanctis, et vobis, fratres, quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo, et opere, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem, beatum Michaelem Archangelum, beatum Joannem Baptistam, sanctos Apostolos Petrum et Paulum, omnes Sanctos, et vos, fratres, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum. M. Misereatur tui omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis tuis, perducat te ad vitam æternam. P. Amen.	I confess to almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the Saints, and to you, brethren, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, and you, brethren, to pray to the Lord our God for me. M. May almighty God have mercy upon thee, and forgive thee thy sins, and bring thee unto life everlasting. P. Amen.

Latin

English

Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, beatæ Mariæ semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, beato Joanni Baptistæ, sanctis Apostolis Petro et Paulo, omnibus Sanctis, et vobis, fratres, quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo, et opere, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem, beatum Michaelem Archangelum, beatum Joannem Baptistam, sanctos Apostolos Petrum et Paulum, omnes Sanctos, et vos, fratres, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum.
M. Misereatur tui omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis tuis, perducat te ad vitam æternam.
P. Amen.

I confess to almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the Saints, and to you, brethren, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, and you, brethren, to pray to the Lord our God for me.
M. May almighty God have mercy upon thee, and forgive thee thy sins, and bring thee unto life everlasting.
P. Amen.

The ministers then recite the Confiteor.

Latin	English
Misereatur vestri omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis vestris, perducat vos ad vitam æternam. M. Amen. Indulgentiam ✠ absolutionem, et remissionem peccatorum nostrorum tribuat nobis omnipotens et misericors Dominus. M. Amen.	May almighty God have mercy upon you, and forgive you your sins, and bring you unto life everlasting. M. Amen. May the almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, ✠ absolution, and remission of our sins. M. Amen.

Again bowing, the priest continues:

Latin	English
V. Deus, tu conversus vivificabis nos. R. Et plebs tua lætabitur in te. V. Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam. R. Et salutare tuum da nobis. V. Domine, exaudi orationem meam. R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat. V. Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Oremus.	V. Thou shalt turn again, O God, and quicken us. R. And thy people shall rejoice in Thee. V. Show us Thy mercy, O Lord. R. And grant us Thy salvation. V. O Lord, hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come unto Thee. V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. Let us pray.

Going up to the altar, the priest says inaudibly:

Latin	English
Aufer a nobis, quæsumus, Domine, iniquitates nostras: ut ad Sancta sanctorum puris mereamur mentibus introire. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.	Take away from us our iniquities, we beseech Thee, O Lord: that we may be worthy to enter with pure minds into the Holy of holies. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Bowing down over the altar, the priest kisses it, saying:

Latin	English
Oramus te, Domine, per merita Sanctorum tuorum quorum reliquiæ hic sunt, et omnium Sanctorum, ut indulgere digneris omnia peccata mea. Amen.	We beseech Thee, O Lord, by the merits of Thy saints whose relics are here, and of all the saints, that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to forgive me all my sins. Amen.

At Solemn Mass incense is blessed

Latin	English
Ab illo benedicaris in cuius honore cremaberis. Amen.	Be thou blessed by Him in whose honor thou shalt burn. Amen.

2. From the Introit to the Collect

At Solemn Mass the altar is incensed before the Introit and Kyrie. The use of incense is intended to symbolize prayer, according to the words of the Psalmist: “Let my prayer, O Lord, be directed as incense in Thy sight” (Ps. cxl. 2).

The Introit

The Introit and other variable parts of the Mass here given are taken from the Mass of the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus.

Philippians ii. 10, 11

In the name of Jesus let every knee bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth; and let every tongue confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.

Psalm viii. 2

O Lord our Lord, how admirable is Thy Name in the whole earth!

V. Glory be to the Father, etc.

The Kyrie

Latin	English
Kyrie eleison, Ministers. Kyrie eleison,	Lord, have mercy, Ministers. Lord, have mercy,
P. Kyrie eleison, M. Christe eleison, P. Christe eleison, M. Christe eleison, P. Kyrie eleison, M. Kyrie eleison, P. Kyrie eleison.	P. Lord, have mercy, M. Christ, have mercy, P. Christ, have mercy, M. Christ, have mercy, P. Lord, have mercy, M. Lord, have mercy, P. Lord, have mercy.

The Gloria

Afterwards, at the middle of the altar, the priest says the Gloria in excelsis, the magnificent hymn of adoration. The Gloria is omitted on Sundays during Lent and Advent.

Latin	English
Gloria in excelsis Deo; et in terra pax hominibus bonæ voluntatis. Laudamus te; benedicimus te; adoramus te; glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. Domine Deus, Rex cælestis, Deus pater omnipotens. Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe: Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis: qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram: qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis. Quoniam tu solus sanctus: tu solus Dominus: tu solus altissimus, Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu, in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.	Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace to men of good will. We praise Thee; we bless Thee; we worship Thee; we glorify Thee. We give Thee thanks for Thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us: Thou Who takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer: Thou Who sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For Thou only art holy: Thou only art the Lord: Thou only, O Jesus Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Latin

English

Gloria in excelsis Deo; et in terra pax hominibus bonæ voluntatis. Laudamus te; benedicimus te; adoramus te; glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. Domine Deus, Rex cælestis, Deus pater omnipotens. Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe: Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis: qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram: qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis. Quoniam tu solus sanctus: tu solus Dominus: tu solus altissimus, Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu, in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.

Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace to men of good will. We praise Thee; we bless Thee; we worship Thee; we glorify Thee. We give Thee thanks for Thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us: Thou Who takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer: Thou Who sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For Thou only art holy: Thou only art the Lord: Thou only, O Jesus Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

3. The Collect

The priest kisses the altar, and, turning to the people says:

Latin	English
V. Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Oremus.	V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. Let us pray.

The Collect

O God, Who hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son to be the Saviour of mankind, and hast commanded that His name should be called Jesus, mercifully grant that we may enjoy in heaven the blessed vision of Him Whose holy Name we worship on earth. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

4. From the Epistle to the Creed

EPISTLE. Acts iv. 8–12

In those days:—Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: Ye rulers of the people and ancients, hear. If we this day are examined concerning the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he hath been made whole, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom ye crucified, Whom God hath raised from the dead, by Him this man standeth here before you whole. This is the stone which was rejected by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner: neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other Name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved.

Latin	English
R. Deo gratias.	R. Thanks be to God.

The Gradual

Psalm cv. 47. Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations: that we may give thanks to Thy holy Name, and may glory in Thy praise.

V. Isaias lxiii. 16. Thou, O Lord, art our Father and our Redeemer, from everlasting is Thy Name.

Alleluia, alleluia.

V. Psalm cxliv. 21. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless His holy Name, alleluia.

In votive Masses after Septuagesima the Alleluia and its verse is omitted and in its place the following Tract is said:

V. O Lord God of Hosts, convert us and show Thy face and we shall be saved; let Thy voice sound in mine ears.

V. For sweet is Thy voice, and Thy face exceeding fair.

V. Thy Name, O Jesus, is as oil poured forth, therefore have the maidens loved Thee.

In Paschal time instead of the Gradual the following is said:

Alleluia, Alleluia. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless His holy Name. Alleluia.

I will extol Thee, O God my King, and bless Thy Name, O Jesus, forever: yea, forever and ever. Alleluia.

Before the Gospel

Latin	English
Munda cor meum ac labia mea, omnipotens Deus, qui labia Isaiae prophetae calculo mundasti ignito: ita me tua grata miseratione dignare mundare, ut sanctum Evangelium tuum digne valeam nuntiare. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. Jube Domine benedicere. Dominus sit in corde meo et in labiis meis, ut digne et competenter annuntiem Evangelium suum. Amen.	Cleanse my heart and my lips, O almighty God, Who didst cleanse the lips of the prophet Isaias with a burning coal; and vouchsafe, through Thy gracious mercy, so to purify me, that I may worthily proclaim Thy holy Gospel. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Lord, grant Thy blessing. The Lord be in my heart and on my lips, that I may worthily and fittingly proclaim His holy Gospel. Amen.

At Solemn Mass the deacon before singing the Gospel is blessed by the priest. The singing of the Gospel is accompanied by a procession, lights and incense. In other Masses the celebrant, going to the Gospel side, reads the Gospel.

The Gospel

Latin	English
Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. V. Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam (ii) 21. R. Gloria tibi, Domine.	The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. V. The continuation of the Gospel according to St. Luke (ii) 21. R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

Here is read the Gospel

GOSPEL. Luke ii. 21

At that time:—After eight days were past, that the Child should be circumcised; His Name was called Jesus, so called by the Angel before He was conceived in the womb.

Latin	English
R. Laus tibi, Christe!	R. Praise be to Thee, O Christ.

The priest kisses the Gospel, saying:

Latin	English
Per evangelica dicta deleantur nostra delicta.	By the words of the Gospel may our sins be blotted out.

In Solemn Mass the celebrant is incensed by the deacon after the Gospel. Here also the sermon is usually preached.

5. The Nicene Creed

This Creed, or profession of faith, was formulated by the Councils of Nicæa and Constantinople in the fourth century. The priest recites it at the middle of the altar. At the incarnatus est both priest and people genuflect in honor of the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God.

Latin	English
Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, Factorem cæli et terræ, visibilium omnium et invisibilium. Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum, et ex Patre natum ante omnia sæcula. Deum de Deo; Lumen de Lumine; Deum verum de Deo vero; genitum, non factum; consubstantialem Patri, per quem omnia facta sunt. Qui propter nos homines, et propter nostram salutem, descendit de cælis [Here all kneel.] et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto, ex Maria Virgine: et homo factus est. Crucifixus etiam pro nobis: sub Pontio Pilato passus et sepultus est. Et resurrexit tertia die secundum Scripturas; et ascendit in cælum, sedet ad dexteram Patris: et iterum venturus est cum gloria judicare vivos et mortuos: cujus regni non erit finis. Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem, qui ex Patre Filioque procedit: qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur; qui locutus est per prophetas. Et unam sanctam catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam. Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum, et vitam venturi sæculi. Amen.	I believe in one God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God of God; Light of Light; very God of very God; begotten, not made; of one substance with the Father, by Whom all things were made. Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, [Here all kneel.] and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary; and was made man. He was crucified also for us, suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was buried. The third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father: and He shall come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead: of Whose kingdom there shall be no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son: Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke by the Prophets. And one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Latin

English

Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, Factorem cæli et terræ, visibilium omnium et invisibilium.
Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum, et ex Patre natum ante omnia sæcula. Deum de Deo; Lumen de Lumine; Deum verum de Deo vero; genitum, non factum; consubstantialem Patri, per quem omnia facta sunt. Qui propter nos homines, et propter nostram salutem, descendit de cælis [Here all kneel.] et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto, ex Maria Virgine: et homo factus est. Crucifixus etiam pro nobis: sub Pontio Pilato passus et sepultus est. Et resurrexit tertia die secundum Scripturas; et ascendit in cælum, sedet ad dexteram Patris: et iterum venturus est cum gloria judicare vivos et mortuos: cujus regni non erit finis.
Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem, qui ex Patre Filioque procedit: qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur; qui locutus est per prophetas. Et unam sanctam catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam. Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum, et vitam venturi sæculi. Amen.

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God of God; Light of Light; very God of very God; begotten, not made; of one substance with the Father, by Whom all things were made. Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, [Here all kneel.] and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary; and was made man. He was crucified also for us, suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was buried. The third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father: and He shall come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead: of Whose kingdom there shall be no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son: Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke by the Prophets. And one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.