3MC - Episode 40 - What are the parts of the Mass?

Donjojohannes - Birett Ballett - Kathmedia

11 Dec 201502:45

Summary

TLDRThe Holy Mass is traditionally divided into the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, focusing on Bible readings and Jesus' presence in the Eucharist. Additionally, St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross observed a three-stage spiritual progression in Mass: purification, illumination, and union with God, reflecting the stages of Christian spiritual life.

Takeaways

📖 The Holy Mass is divided into two main parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
📜 The Liturgy of the Word includes readings from the Bible and the Gospels, focusing on Jesus and God's revelation in Salvation history.
🙏 The readings help believers to know God more deeply and teach them to lead a good and upright life in Christ.
🍞 The Liturgy of the Eucharist centers on the Word of God incarnate, Jesus, who becomes truly present on the altar under the species of bread and wine.
🔄 Another way to divide the Holy Mass includes three stages: purification, illumination, and union with God.
👫 Saints Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross observed that these three stages parallel the spiritual life and occur during Mass.
🛐 At the beginning of Mass, the theme of purification is emphasized through prayers like the 'I Confess' and the 'Lord Have Mercy.'
🌟 The readings from Holy Scripture illuminate the mystery of God and faith, shedding light on the believers.
✝️ On the altar, Jesus becomes present, and believers can receive Him in Holy Communion, symbolizing union with God.
🏫 Holy Mass serves as a school for Christian life, teaching the stages of spiritual progression: purification, illumination, and union with God.

Q & A

What are the two main parts of the Holy Mass?
-The two main parts of the Holy Mass are the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
What is the focus of the Liturgy of the Word?
-The focus of the Liturgy of the Word is on readings from the Bible and the Gospels, which help us know God deeper and teach us to lead a good and upright life in Christ.
What central place do the Gospels hold in the Liturgy of the Word?
-The Gospels hold a central place in the readings during the Liturgy of the Word because they speak about Jesus.
What is the Liturgy of the Eucharist about?
-The Liturgy of the Eucharist revolves around the Word of God incarnate, made flesh in Jesus, who is truly present on the altar under the species of bread and wine.
What is another way to divide the Holy Mass, as observed by St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross?
-Another way to divide the Holy Mass is into three stages: purification, illumination, and union with God.
How does the beginning of the Mass reflect the theme of purification?
-At the beginning of the Mass, the theme of purification is reflected in the prayer 'I confess to Almighty God' and the singing of the Curie or 'Lord have mercy.'
What happens during the illumination stage of the Holy Mass?
-During the illumination stage of the Holy Mass, the readings from Holy Scripture shed light on the mystery of God and our faith.
What signifies the union with God during the Holy Mass?
-Union with God during the Holy Mass is signified by the presence of Jesus on the altar and receiving Him in Holy Communion.
Why is the Holy Mass considered the best school for our Christian life according to the script?
-The Holy Mass is considered the best school for our Christian life because it encompasses the stages of purification, illumination, and union with God, mirroring our spiritual life progression.
What is the significance of purification, illumination, and union with God in the context of the Mass?
-The significance of purification, illumination, and union with God in the context of the Mass is that they represent the stages of spiritual growth and experience during the Mass, similar to the stages of Christian spiritual life.

Outlines

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📖 Structure of the Holy Mass

This paragraph introduces the two main parts of the Holy Mass: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Liturgy of the Word involves readings from the Bible and Gospels, focusing on Jesus and offering insights into God's revelations and teachings for a righteous life. The Liturgy of the Eucharist emphasizes the presence of Jesus, made manifest in the form of bread and wine, and the opportunity for believers to partake in Holy Communion. Additionally, the paragraph references a historical perspective, suggesting a three-stage spiritual progression during Mass: purification, illumination, and union with God, as observed by St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Holy Mass

Holy Mass, also known as the Eucharist, is the central act of worship in the Catholic Church. It is a liturgical celebration where believers gather to hear the Word of God and partake in the sacrament of the Eucharist. In the video, Holy Mass is divided into two main parts, the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and further related to the spiritual stages of purification, illumination, and union with God.

💡Liturgy of the Word

The Liturgy of the Word is the first part of the Holy Mass, focusing on the proclamation of sacred scripture, including selected texts from the Bible and the Gospels. It is a time when the congregation hears the Word of God and is instructed in the faith. The script mentions that this part helps us to know God deeper and teaches us to lead a good life in Christ.

💡Liturgy of the Eucharist

The Liturgy of the Eucharist is the second part of the Holy Mass, where the focus shifts to the sacrament of the Eucharist. It involves the consecration of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, symbolizing the incarnation and sacrifice of Jesus. The script explains that this part revolves around the Word of God made flesh, present on the altar.

💡Readings

Readings refer to the selected passages from the Bible and the Gospels that are read aloud during the Liturgy of the Word. They are meant to convey the teachings of Jesus and the message of salvation. In the script, the readings are said to have a central place and help illuminate the mystery of God and our faith.

💡Gospels

The Gospels are four books in the New Testament of the Bible that narrate the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They are a primary source of Christian doctrine and are central to the readings in the Liturgy of the Word, as mentioned in the script.

💡Salvation history

Salvation history, also known as Heilsgeschichte, is a theological concept that refers to the history of God's interactions with humanity, culminating in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The script mentions that the readings from the Bible help us understand what God has revealed to us in salvation history.

💡Eucharist

The Eucharist is a sacrament in the Catholic Church where bread and wine are consecrated and become the body and blood of Christ. It is the central act of the Liturgy of the Eucharist during Holy Mass. The script describes the Eucharist as the moment when Jesus becomes truly present under the species of bread and wine.

💡St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa of Avila was a prominent Spanish mystic, writer, and reformer of the Carmelite Order in the 16th century. In the script, she is mentioned alongside St. John of the Cross for their reflections on the spiritual life and its correlation with the stages of the Holy Mass.

💡St. John of the Cross

St. John of the Cross was a Spanish mystic and poet who, along with St. Teresa of Avila, deeply pondered Christian life and spiritual growth. The script refers to his observations about the progression of spiritual life stages during the Holy Mass.

💡Purification

Purification, in the context of the Holy Mass, refers to the initial stage of the liturgy where participants are called to cleanse their souls in preparation for worship. This is exemplified by the act of confessing sins and seeking mercy, as mentioned in the script.

💡Illumination

Illumination, in the spiritual context of the video, is the process of gaining deeper understanding and insight into the divine mysteries through the reading of scripture. The script describes how the readings shed light on the mystery of God and our faith, leading to spiritual enlightenment.

💡Union with God

Union with God is the ultimate goal of Christian spiritual life, representing a deep, intimate relationship with the divine. In the script, it is depicted as the final stage of the Holy Mass, where believers receive Jesus in Holy Communion, signifying a profound union with God.

Highlights

Holy Mass is divided into two parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

The Liturgy of the Word primarily consists of readings from the Bible and the Gospels.

Readings focus on texts about Jesus and have a central place in the Mass.

Readings help us understand God's revelation and teachings for a good and upright life in Christ.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist revolves around the Word of God incarnate, Jesus, present on the altar.

The Eucharist involves Jesus truly present under the species of bread and wine.

There is another division of Holy Mass based on the stages of spiritual life.

St. Teresa of Avila and Saint John of the Cross observed three stages in spiritual life: purification, illumination, and union with God.

Mass also progresses through purification, illumination, and union with God.

At the beginning of Mass, the theme of purification is emphasized through prayers and singing.

Readings from Holy Scripture shed light on the mystery of God and our faith.

The presence of Jesus on the altar and receiving him in Holy Communion symbolize union with God.

Holy Mass reflects the stages of spiritual life, making it an ideal school for Christian growth.

St. Teresa of Avila and Saint John of the Cross's observations connect the Mass with the spiritual journey.

The Holy Mass is a comprehensive experience that encompasses both the Word of God and the physical presence of Jesus.

The Mass serves as a guide for understanding and living a Christian life.