Parts of the Mass
The mass is one of the Catholic rituals where the concentration of faith in the Eucharistic act is made, each of the sacraments are ordered to be done in it. Its use is in the Latin rites, the Anglican Church and in some of the churches that correspond to Protestantism such as the Lutheran, but in the latter it is known as the Holy Supper. In the Eastern churches that correspond to the Orthodox and Coptic rites it is called the Divine Liturgy.
Initial Rites
The initial rites begin once the faithful or believers enter the church to listen to the celebration of mass, they begin with an entrance song, initial greeting, act of penance, Lord have mercy, glory and the opening prayer. All these activities or rituals have the purpose of making the faithful who are gathered are in communion and want to listen to the word of God. In addition they must also participate in it to be part of the Eucharist, all are considered a preamble or preparation.
Initial Greeting
After the entrance chant is made, it will be the priest who is standing at the altar, who makes the sign of the cross, an action that all attendees must do, to receive the priest's greeting to indicate that we are already before the presence of the Lord, it is with this greeting and the response of the faithful that the mass in the church is constituted. Once the greeting is over, the priest (or deacon who is a lay person who can minister the liturgy), makes the invitation to the faithful through a few short words.
act of penance
In this act, God's forgiveness is asked for those sins that have been committed by saying "Lord have mercy" three times, then the penitential act is performed where a brief silence is made and then the prayer of the Sinner I is said, which is a general confession, where the forgiveness of our venial sins is made, since if you have committed a mortal sin you must make confession before the priest before mass and do the penance that he indicates. In Sunday masses or during Easter or Holy Week, this penitential act is replaced by the sprinkling of water or the collective blessing, to commemorate baptism.
Lord, have mercy
This prayer is made after the penitential act, usually it is recited, but there are churches where it is done singing and with the same one asks and cries out to the Lord our God for his mercy, all the attendees in the church do it, in each acclamation it is usually repeated twice.
Gloria
This is also a prayer that can be sung like a hymn, and depending on the church, the text may vary. The Gloria is a very ancient hymn and is highly venerated in the Catholic Church, which believes that it unites the faithful, the Holy Spirit, glorifies God, and offers supplications to the Son or Lamb of God.
If this text is not changed in almost any of the church rituals, meaning it has been maintained over time, the priest must begin reciting, saying, or singing it, so that the rest of those present can follow.
Collect Prayer
This prayer is said by the priest, and it contains all the intentions of the community present. It summarizes the feast being celebrated that day. The priest invites the faithful to pray. For a brief moment, everyone remains silent, knowing that God is present and is listening to the prayers of his people. The priest reads the collection, explaining the reason for the celebration of that day.
In the ancient traditions of the church, the prayer of the collect was made directly to God, who is our Father, but through the figure of Christ and the Holy Spirit, to make mention of the Holy Trinity, in those times the prayer was longer, after the priest finishes this prayer all those present should say Amen.
liturgy of the word
This part of the mass is where the reading of the Word of God from the Holy Scriptures (Bible) takes place, usually these are developed in the homily, the profession of faith or creed and the prayer of the faithful. The readings are those that give the explanation of how God spoke to the people about him, to know the mysteries of redemption and salvation and to make the offering of spiritual food. Christ becomes present through his word in the faithful who attend mass.
This word, which is considered divine, must be embraced by believers. They must remain silent and form a union of profession of faith, to nourish themselves with it, to make supplications for all the needs of the Church, and to pray for the salvation of all souls and of the world. The liturgy of the word is a form of meditation and an invitation to contemplate God in recollection. Therefore, we must avoid things that distract us from listening to it.
During the reading, there must be silence. We must sit comfortably and establish a connection with the Holy Spirit, so that we can feel this word and then respond to it with prayer. Two readings are given in the Word: the first is taken from the Old Testament and the second from the New Testament. These are separated by a brief reading of a psalm. The first reading and the psalm can be done by two lay people; they must have been prepared by a priest, seminarian, or deacon.
The readings make a presentation at the table of the word of God for the faithful and that they also show interest in reading the bible. The two main readings should illustrate how the Old and New Testaments come together and what their role is in the salvation of men. These readings cannot be changed for any other text that is not in the Bible, these must be done from a suitable place next to the altar, and it is not the proclamation of a mystery.
That's why the first two readings are given by a lay person, and the second reading is done by either a deacon or assistant, or even by the priest himself. On Palm Sundays and Good Fridays, these readings are given by three people, and after the reading is finished, the same person makes his proclamation, stating that it is the word of God. Those present must respond as a sign that the reading was received with faith and gratitude. That's why each reader bows toward the altar at the end of the reading, not toward the tabernacle. He then bows again as he passes by the altar to go to the ambo.
First reading
This is taken from the Old Testament, and is to teach that since before the Birth of Jesus God was already helping his people for their salvation, this reading is usually associated with the second reading that is taken from the New Testament. In the Easter homily, the reading is usually taken from the Book of Revelation and the Acts of the Apostles.
Responsorial Psalm
This reading is taken from the Book of Psalms, except on the day of the Easter Vigil when the recitation of the Book of Exodus is made. This reading is antiphonal, that is, the reader says a phrase that must be repeated by all the faithful at the end of each paragraph or verse. It is an important part of the liturgy as it helps to meditate on the word of God that has been said. The responsorial psalm is made according to the reading taken for the day.
It must be said complete so that it has the response of the people. The person reading the psalm makes the proclamation of each stanza from the ambo, and the faithful remain seated listening and responding to the psalm. There will be occasions when psalms are chosen that do not carry a response from the faithful but are only read by the reading psalmist, and who does not have a response. In many churches, sheets are usually handed out that contain the readings that are going to be carried out.
Hallelujah
The Alleluia is an acclamation made before the second reading or Gospel reading begins. It is sung, but sometimes it is substituted for another song established by the Church in the liturgies. In itself, this constitutes more than a ritual; it is an act in which the faithful prepare to greet the Lord in the Word of the Gospel, and a profession of faith is made through song.
This chant is performed in all the liturgies of the year, except during Lent, when during these 40 days a verse is sung from the Lectionary, called a tract or acclamation. The most well-known are those used during Holy Week. Now, only one reading will be made; the psalm is searched among the alleluias. In these cases, the psalm or verse that comes before the Gospel or the psalm is generally chosen.
Second lecture
This is taken from the epistles of the apostles, the most used are those of Paul since they are messages that they give to the church that was being formed after the death of Jesus and are found in the New Testament, in many churches this reading is omitted on the days of the week and is only said when a solemn date is celebrated.
The reading of this Gospel is performed by the priest who celebrates the Mass and always begins by saying "A reading from the Holy Gospel according to...", and all the faithful must respond: Glory to you, Lord. In the same way, they must make the sign of the cross on their forehead, lips, and chest. This reading is the proclamation of the Word of God, and it is a reading that must be venerated, as it is above the other readings, as they have a special honor. Therefore, it is important that the priest himself perform it so that it may be blessed.
On many occasions incense is used when this word is said, and candles are placed on the sides of the ambo, which can be lit by the faithful, when the word is made, the presence of Christ is recognized and spoken of, since he he is the one who is speaking at that moment, and therefore the faithful listen attentively and stand up to give the sign of respect to the reading.
Homily
The homily is a sermon delivered by the priest, which should address the readings that have been given. On weekdays, it is generally not obligatory, but on Sundays and feast days, it is obligatory for the priest to reflect on the readings. This part of the Mass is very important, as it explains the Word, which will be our spiritual nourishment. Therefore, this explanation by the priest must relate the reading to the conduct of every good Christian. It therefore becomes a teaching for life, considering the mystery being celebrated and the needs of the people attending.
Occasionally, the homily may be delivered by a priest's assistant or co-celebrant, a deacon, a bishop, or a priest, but it may never be delivered by a lay person. On Sundays, weekdays during Advent, Lent, Easter, and other Church feast days, the homily must always be delivered. It may not be omitted unless there is a grave reason, as these are the days when the parishioners attend church most frequently. At the end of the homily, a brief silence is observed, followed by a hymn.
If there are many children or families, the priest may discuss the reading with them to see if they understood the meaning of the Word of the Lord that was read. However, if the Mass being celebrated is for the ordination of a diaconate, a priest, or a bishop, the first presentation should be made of the ordinands, followed by an invocation to the Holy Spirit and the reading of the corresponding papal bull issued by the bishops.
Credo
The Creed is the manifestation of the Catholic faith as a symbol of Christianity, in this prayer a summary of the Catholic faith and all its postulates is made, where the figure of the Holy Trinity is the main one: Father, Son and Holy Spirit . Its conformation is established taking into account the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Its origin is found in ancient Gaul of the 28th century, with the name of Jesus is the Lord. Saint Matthew mentions it in his gospel in 19:710, so apparently it was known from the second century, but it was not until the year XNUMX when it began to appear in the canonical books.
His writing tells us that we must believe in a God who is all-powerful, who is the creator of all that exists, in his son Jesus Christ, who gave his life to obtain forgiveness for our sins, and in the Holy Spirit who gives life, as well as that Jesus Christ is seated next to his father, who died and rose again and who will be the one who comes to judge the living and the dead at the end of time.
Intercessions
The Prayer of the Faithful is a prayer prayed for general needs, and is offered directly to God. It is prayed by the people, responding to the Word of God where faith is gathered and baptism is practiced. Therefore, we make requests to God for salvation. As its name suggests, it should be prayed by the faithful who attend church so that their supplications may be raised through the church. It is almost always prayed for rulers, for the church, for the sick, for those in need, and for the salvation of humanity and the world.
The intentions will depend on the place where the Mass is being held. However, if a specific celebration is being held, such as confirmations, weddings, or funerals, the petitions are tailored to these events, but the priest should always lead them. Of course, he should also invite the faithful to pray. Generally, the petitions should be sober and general; they can be freely given to the deacon or the person chosen as lector.
When the petitions are made, the people at mass must stand, to make the proclamation saying "We ask you Lord", in ceremonies of the sacrament this is omitted and is changed by the litanies of the saints.
Liturgy of the Eucharist
This is the central part of the Mass, where Jesus Christ manifests himself through wine and bread, representing his Body and Blood, his soul and divinity. Its origin lies in the Last Supper Jesus shared with his apostles. He was the one who instituted this Paschal sacrifice through his death on the cross, and he entrusted all his disciples with doing the same in his memory.
In this part, the entire ritual is performed following the same words and actions Jesus used at his Last Supper. In this part, the offerings of bread and wine with water are brought to the altar. They are presented and instructed to eat and drink them, as they represent the body and blood of Jesus, and this should be done in his commemoration. When making this prayer, we should give thanks to God for his work of salvation in us and for allowing these offerings to become his Son, who will be our spiritual nourishment. This is the same representation of what the apostles received from Jesus.
Offertory
These correspond to the offerings, generally bread and wine that are offered to God by the priest at mass, who will then purify himself by washing his hands. At this moment there is silence, sometimes a soft chant will be made that is conducive to the moment. This offering is taken to the altar, after preparing the table or altar, where the missal and the chalice and the purificator must be placed. The praise of the bread and wine is made, which are presented to the faithful, and then they are received by the priest at the altar, in ancient times the bread and wine were brought by the faithful, now the representation is made through of the sacred Host, but its spiritual content and its meaning have been maintained over time.
At this time, the collection of offerings or alms takes place. These are the donations made by the faithful for the church and the poor. These are placed in a suitable place, either next to the Eucharistic table or in front of it. Here, at this point, a chant similar to the one at the entrance is also sung. Then, the priest places the wine and bread on the altar and says the established formula. Before making the offering, some priests place incense on them and on the altar cross. This signifies the oblation of the church and that the prayer being offered may be raised to the throne of God, just as incense does. The incense is then placed on the deacon and any ministers present.
The offering prayer
Once the offerings are placed on the altar and the aforementioned rites are performed, the preparation of these gifts is completed and the priest asks for a prayer so that the sacrifice to be made may be pleasing to God. The faithful must respond that the Lord may receive these gifts from the sacrifice to praise and glorify the name of God, for the good of all and of the Holy Church. The priest makes some portions on the offering and it is now ready to say the Eucharistic Prayer saying Through Jesus Christ Our Lord, who lives and reigns forever and ever, to which the faithful must respond with an Amen.
The Eucharistic Prayer
This is the prayer of thanksgiving and consecration, in which the priest invites the faithful to raise their hearts to God, praying and giving thanks. He also includes all the people in his prayer and elevates them to Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit and to God the Father. In this prayer, the entire congregation of the faithful gathers to be united with Christ and recognize his greatness, his works, and his sacrifice as an offering to God. This prayer is heard in silence and with reverence. It is divided into:
- Preface: This is a hymn that the priest begins by engaging in dialogue with the faithful. It summarizes the praises and thanksgiving for the Mass being celebrated. The priest glorifies God the Father and gives thanks for his work of salvation in us and for certain events, such as the feast day, the saint's day, or the liturgy itself.
- Sanctus or Holy. This is the song of the Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the highest, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest. This can be recited or sung depending on the way the Mass is conducted.
- Epiclesis: At this point, the priest makes certain invocations to ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen those of us who have assisted in his consecration and to become part of the body and blood of Christ, and for the immaculate who receive communion to also receive his salvation.
- Consecration: in this part the account is made of how the Eucharist was established on Holy Thursday using the words of Jesus, that both offerings are his body and his blood. In this part the faithful must kneel while the sacrifice is made.
- Anamnesis and intercessions: a remembrance of the mysteries of Jesus' life, commemoration of the saints and the Virgin Mary, and prayers for the health of the Pope, bishops, the deceased faithful, and those present. Anamnesis is a memorial, that is, a remembrance of Christ, his passion, death, and resurrection, as well as his ascension into heaven.
- Oblation: The Church gathered for Mass must make the offering of this ceremony to the Father in the Holy Spirit and the Immaculate Victim (Jesus). The Church desires that the faithful not only make this offering but also offer themselves, striving each day to improve and perfect themselves through the mediation of Christ, in union with God, since He is everything in all of us.
- The intercessions show us that the Eucharist is a communion between the church (not only the earthly one where we are gathered, but also the one in heaven) and that is why the oblations are made for her in the first place, for the faithful who follow her, the deceased and anyone who wants to be part of the salvation and redemption of Christ through his body and blood.
- Final Doxology: It is the way in which God is glorified, when all the faithful say Amen, it is through this exclamation, which we can say three times in a row, when the priest elevates all the petitions saying “Through Christ, with him and in him, to you God the almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and all glory forever and ever, Amen.”
Communion Rite
Later the prayer of the Our Father is made. This prayer is the perfect one and was given by Jesus to his disciples to teach them how they should pray to the father from his heart, since all the desires of people are expressed in it. The order in which it is composed is very studied, it is also easy to be memorized, and it is one of the first sentences that are taught since we are children.
Peace Ritual
In this ritual the priest must first say: "Lord Jesus Christ you who said my peace left you my peace I give you", he invites the faithful to make the greeting of peace. This peace is to maintain unity, imploring to be calm, that the family is united and that charity is expressed, before making the sacrament of communion. This ritual is done depending on the city, country, locality, but there are churches where it is only given in a sober way to the people who are closest.
bread breaking
The Eucharistic bread is broken by the priest, just as Jesus did at the Last Supper. This breaking signifies that there are many with whom to share the one bread of life, that Christ died and rose again for us to give life to the world, and with him is now made one body. The priest must bow when breaking the bread, then place the portion of the host in the chalice, so that the body and blood of Jesus Christ may be united as the saving mission, since Christ is alive and full of glory. He does the same with the wine.
The song of the Lamb of God or Agnus Dei should be sung, so that the priest can raise the host and the faithful should say the words: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul will be healed.”
Communion
The sacrament of Communion is received by those faithful who are ready to receive it, those who have not committed mortal sins since their last confession, and those who have fasted before Mass. During Communion, those who do not receive it may sing a special song along with the choir. After Communion, the faithful return to their places to pray in silence while the priest says his secret prayer and also receives Communion.
Communion is an act of participation in Christ's sacrifice. After distributing Communion, it is time to say a silent prayer, which may last a few minutes. The priest then finishes drinking the remaining wine from the chalice and proceeds to purify the sacred vessels that have been used. Any remaining hosts should be placed in the tabernacle for use at another Mass.
Farewell Rituals
The farewell rituals consist of making a blessing, which the priest must perform, but before it he can make a comment about events that are going to take place or give notice to the faithful of the next masses. The final blessing is made by the priest making the sign of the cross, the faithful can receive it standing or kneeling. The blessing can be in various forms:
- Which is longer, broader and enriching since it is done with a long prayer that the priest performs over the faithful.
- In a Pontifical Mass, performed by a bishop, he must make the sign of the cross three times over the faithful.
Later, the priest or deacon will say, "Go in peace," and the faithful will respond, "Let us give thanks to the Lord," as a sign of praise and gratitude for having received not only the word of God but also having been part of the body and blood of Christ. The priest must kiss the altar before leaving. The important thing about masses is that in them there is a communion between brothers; they are people who do not know each other, but who all follow the same purpose of establishing communion with God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, so that we can call ourselves a church that is formed to praise and thank God in the correct way.
When attending mass you must follow an order, wear appropriate clothing and above all maintain an attitude in accordance with the moment that is being celebrated, since it is not only about gathering together but also listening to what the word of God is, for many people who go to mass, maybe they do not know how to hear the word well, but they do know that God is love, that Jesus is love, and that it is because of that love that he gave his life to give us our salvation, that because of that love God sent his son to die for us and so that once our sins are forgiven we can go to heaven and will be by his side, that is the greatest gift that God has given us.
Origins
The word mass was coined in the 4th century to farewell those participating in it after the celebration of the Eucharistic ceremony. After the entire process of this ceremony, it was later called mass. This term comes from the Latin misio, and it would appear that it is the way of living a practical life of what is learned in a Eucharistic liturgy.
In Pope Pius X's Large Catechism, he states that the Mass is the sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, offered on an altar through the forms of bread and wine as a reminder of his sacrifice and death on the Cross. The Mass is detailed as a natural religion in the sacrifices made by Abel, Noah, Abraham, and Melchizedek, and in ancient Jewish Mosaic law. Luke 22:19 states that the Mass was instituted by Jesus when he celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples.
purpose of the mass
In the Council of Trent of 1753 it had been ruled that the function of the mass was to praise and give thanks or to commemorate the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, but that this was not propitiatory, that it is only used by those who they receive it, and that it should not be offered from the living to the dead, sins, pains or satisfactions or any other need.
Martin Luther, after reading and studying the Bible, determined that the sacrifice was a sacrifice of praise, an act of praise and thanksgiving, but that it was not a form of expiatory sacrifice to recreate Calvary. During the so-called Wittenberg Reformation, private Masses were abolished, and the evening meal was held in two forms. Religious decorations, images, and side altars were eliminated. Today, the Mass must fulfill four purposes:
- The first is to give honor to God in the correct way; this purpose is called latreutic.
- The second purpose is to give thanks for the benefits that have been bestowed upon us and it is a Eucharistic purpose.
- The third is to apply and satisfy the forgiveness of our sins and do penance for the souls that are in purgatory and is a propitiatory purpose.
- The last purpose is to be able to obtain all the graces and it is an impetratory purpose.
mass classes
According to the way they are made, they may have a different name:
- Solemn: performed with songs and ministers who have been consecrated as deacons and priests, and with incensing.
- Sung: If the Mass is sung, all the prayers are in that style and incensing cannot be performed.
- Prayed: it is the one that is done without including any song, it can be called a simple or private mass.
- Pontifical: This is a celebration celebrated by a bishop on special occasions to exercise his ministry, such as when a Confirmation is performed, priests are ordained, temples are dedicated and consecrated, or the holy oils are blessed during the Chrism Mass. It may also be for a feast that merits a bishop's performance, during which he must wear the appropriate clothing: liturgical footwear, amice, pectoral cross, alb, cincture, ring, crosier, etc.
- Souls: it is the one that is made for the souls that are in purgatory or in honor of the deceased that are made at the request of relatives.
- Veil: also called votive, it is done for the spouses. It receives this name because a veil is placed on the husband's shoulders and one on the wife's head. It is generally done so that the couple's children follow a Christian life or want to dedicate themselves to a religious vocation.
- Seca: in this only the prayers of the mass are made or recited, there is no offertory, consecration or communion. Its origin dates back to the XNUMXth century where the priests sometimes did not have bread or wine, but they had to do the mass, or weddings or funerals when in times when the mass was prohibited. It is also known as a nautical mass, since it was held on the high seas, where it could happen that the wine spilled or the hosts fell into the water due to the movement of the ship by the waves.
This dry mass is used by Carthusian monks, since when they are locked in their cells they can celebrate the mass themselves, and from there it passed to the laity, who do it when they cannot attend mass. In the same way one can do the so-called Liturgy of the Hours, where a spiritual and not sacramental communion is made, but which is currently in disuse.
During the Lutheran era, it was believed that the substance of the bread remained, but that worship of the Blessed Sacrament should not be performed, as this would constitute idolatry, and this was not written in the Bible. For them, the Mass should have an Introit, Gloria, Epistle, Gospel, and the Sanctus, after which a sermon should be given. They abolished everything related to the Offertory and the Canon that had been established regarding the sacrifice of the Mass.
For this reason, since then, only one account of what happened at the Last Supper has been kept. This was done in a strong German language. A consecration was performed, and Communion was distributed to the faithful. The chants of the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God), the Communion prayer, and the Benedicamus were recited after the Mass concluded. But over the years, since the Mass was celebrated in German rather than Latin, various factions emerged that branched off from Lutheranism and made modifications to the Mass, distorting it.
the liturgy
The liturgy depends on the rite in which it is done, be it Mass, Divine Office or Divine Liturgy, they all have two parts, the liturgy of the word and the Eucharistic liturgy, there are also masses of the catechumens, before masses and Masses of the faithful.
Tridentine Mass
This is the Mass celebrated following the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, faithfully followed by the editions of the Roman Missal maintained from 1570 to 1962. It is called Tridentine because of its origin, since through the Council of Trent, a unique codification of the ritual of the Mass was achieved, which was imparted throughout the world. It is also called the Mass of St. Pius V, who presided over the Council of Trent, the Latin Mass (because it was celebrated in Latin), the Pre-Conciliar Mass (because it was celebrated before the Second Vatican Council in 1962), and the Traditional Mass.
The first edition of the missal was published in 1750 and was written by Pope Pius V himself. He established the order to be used in all Western churches, except for those churches that used the missal prior to 1370. This missal was adopted by most churches and religious orders, but those that did not use it were those who followed the Ambrosian, Mozarabic, Bracarense, and Carthusian rites. The masses celebrated before these are today called pre-Tridentine.
The Mass we know today is called the Mass of Paul VI and came into full force in 1970. If you take into account how the years have passed, you can see that the Masses have also changed, that is, they have varied, not only in their acts and prayers themselves but also in the celebrations that are held according to the calendar. These modifications occurred in 1570 (Pius V), 1604 (Clement VIII), 1634 (Urban VIII), 1920 (Benedict XV) and 1962 (John XXIII). In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI declared that the Roman Missal of Pope John XXIII had never been repealed and that its use was permitted in all churches.
The difference of the rites
When we talk about rites, they are the different ways in which the mass is done in different parts of the world, since we have from the Latin to the Protestant:
latin rite
The Latin ritual in the liturgy is that performed in Latin, which was the predominant language in the Catholic churches of the Middle Ages. It was used for many years in the Eastern Catholic churches. Today, this type of rite is greatly diminished. When the Council of Trent was held between 1568 and 1570, Pius V decided to suppress or eliminate breviaries and missals that were proven to be less than two centuries old.
Many of the local rites continued to be used even after the decree was issued, but they were gradually abandoned, especially in the 19th century. By the second half of the 20th century, many orders that had their own rites began to follow the Roman rite established by the Second Vatican Council. Today, very few churches still use this formula.
roman rite
It is the most widely known today, and has been in use since 1570. Over time, many of its rituals changed, but as the centuries passed, the variations became very few, so it remained in use even after the Council of Trent. Each edition of the Roman Missal was modified to update it, so every so often a liturgical book would repeal the previous one.
In the 1955th century, the biggest changes were made by Pope Pius X, who substantially modified the psalter found in the breviary and changed the rubrics of the masses. The popes that followed also made modifications, such as those of Pius XII, who revised the ceremonies that were performed during Holy Week and certain issues that were found in the Roman Missal of XNUMX.
At the Second Vatican Council, a thorough revision of all the rituals of the sacraments, including the Mass or Eucharist, was undertaken. In 1970, a new liturgical book was issued, repealing the 1962 edition, and a new one was subsequently issued in 1975. The latest edition, published in 2002 by Pope Benedict XVI, but it recognizes that the formula used in 1962 can still be used in Masses since it was never repealed.
Usage of Zaire
In some African Catholic churches, a Zaire or Congolese rite has been used since the late 1970s, which is a varied form of the Roman rite, which was transculturalized to African Catholics.
Anglican usage
For the Anglican Church, the liturgies of the Eucharist, especially in prayer, follow a rite very similar to the Roman rite, but it differs from it in the Liturgy of the Word and the penitential rite. The language used is the same as that used in the 1980th century in the Book of Common Prayer; the Book of Divine Praise, derived from this prayer book, is used. Anglicans are permitted to use the XNUMX Pastoral Instructions, except for some churches in the United States that separated from the Episcopal Churches. One of their instructions is that the ordination of ministers is in the old manner, where married men are appointed to be Catholic priests.
Ambrosian Rite
It is a Western rite, which is used in the dioceses of Milan, Italy and Switzerland, the Italian language is used in the liturgies and they follow a ritual similar to the Roman one, but that varies a lot in the texts and in the order in which they are done. the readings of the Word.
Rite of Braga
Also called the Bracarense Rite, it is used in northern Portugal by the Diocese of Braga and has been in use since November 18, 1971.
Mozarabic Rite
It is known as the Visigothic rite, and it is from the Hispanic liturgy, which was used throughout Spain at the time of the Visigoths and the Arab invasions, where they respected the Catholic rituals in the lands they had invaded, their use It is currently located in the Cathedral of Toledo, Spain.
Carthusian Rite
This rite was last revised in 1981, but it maintained the Grenoble rite dating back to the XNUMXth century, with some variations that have arisen over the centuries. It is used by the Carthusian orders and is the only one that exists in this religious order, through the Ecclesia Dei indult, so they are authorized to continue its rites or stop using them whenever they want.
Disused Rites
Many Western Catholic rites have already disappeared or have ceased to be used like the African rite that was used before the XNUMXth century in North Africa, which was made up of Roman provinces, today this region belongs to Tunisia, they followed a very similar ritual to the Roman Another that has ceased to be used is the Celtic Rite, which was made up of structures that were not Roman, and it is believed that they were Antiochene (from the Church of Antioch), although there are some texts that had a Roman influence, similar to the one that follows the Mozarabic rite.
This would have been used in some parts of Ireland, Scotland and the north of England, which would include Wales, Cornwall and Somerset, until they fell out of use when the Roman rite was imposed in the Middle Ages. It receives the name of Celtic for the population that lived in this area, and may have been used in some British Isles by Augustine of Canterbury in the sixth century. Today little is known about him as there are not many liturgical written records of him.
It is known that there are currently some Christian religious groups that do not follow the Catholic Church, composed of Eastern Orthodox, who call themselves Celtic Orthodox, who want to give life to this rite, but due to the lack of historical precision of its use, this has been questioned and is not taken into account, so they are considered to be only sects.
The Gallican rite also fell into disuse in parts of France after the first thousand years of the imposition of Christianity. The Sarum or Salisbury rite, another variant of the Roman rite widely used in England and Scotland from 1530 onwards, fell into disuse when the Protestant Reformation took place. It had very similar rites in York, Lincolnshire, Bangor, and Hereford. Other rites that have fallen into disuse are the Cologne, Lyon, Nidaros, Uppsala, Aquilean, Beneventan, and Durham rites.
Religious Orders and their Rites
Many religious orders celebrated the mass following their own rituals, which were in use 200 years before the Papal Bull Quo primun came out. Its uses were of a local type and in them there was a combination of the Roman and Gallican rites, after the celebration of the Second Vatican Council in 1962, many of these rites were abandoned, leaving only the Carthusian rite. The religious orders of more recent origin are based on the rituals that are imposed from the Catholic Church.
In this sense, the Carmelite, Cistercian, Dominican, and Premonstratensian rites, as well as the Ordinary of the Mass, continue to be used in a more limited manner, always with the permission of their ecclesiastical superiors. The Ordinary of the Mass is a set of prayers within the Mass that follows the Roman rite. For these orders mentioned above, a comparison is made of what a Mass should contain, the chants that are changed each liturgical year or on a specific feast.
The Ordinary, which is inserted in the Roman Missal, is located in a section halfway through the book, between the Easter Masses and the Masses of the Season and the Masses of the Saints. The choir chants are divided into five parts and depend on the congregation. They are so named because they are sung by a choir. These chants generally remain unchanged, with only the Agnus Dei used in the Mass. The chants consist of the "Lord, have mercy," also called the Kyrie Eleison, the Gloria, the Credo, and the Sanctus. These are followed by the Canon, the Pater Noster (Our Father), and the Agnus Dei. Of these, only the Kyrie is sung in Greek by tradition, but the others are sung in Latin.
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