Basic Catholic Q and A's

The numbers in parenthese that follow the questions refer to related paragraphs in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

1. What is the introductory rite of the Mass?
2. What is the penitential rite of the Mass?
3. What is the rite of blessing and sprinkling holy water at Mass?
4. What is the Liturgy of the Word?
5. What is the responsorial psalm?
6. What is the homily?
7. What is the profession of faith proclaimed at the Mass?
8. What is the prayer of the faithful or general intercessions?
9. What is the Liturgy of the Eucharist?
10. What is the preparation of the altar and the presentation of the offerings?
11. What is the preface of the Mass?
12. What is the Eucharistic Prayer?
13. What is the consecration of the Mass?
14. What is the memorial acclamation?
15. What are the intercessions following the acclamation?
16. What is the final doxology?
17. What is the Communion rite?
18. What is the rite of peace?
19. What is the breaking of the bread?
20. What is Holy Communion?
21. What is the concluding rite of the Mass?

1. What is the introductory rite of the Mass?
The introductory rite of the Mass includes the entrance song, greeting of the people, penitential rite or rite of blessing and sprinkling holy water, the "Lord, Have Mercy," "Glory to God" and the opening prayer. The introductory rite prepares the faith community to hear God's Word and to participate at the Eucharist.

2. What is the penitential rite of the Mass?
In the penitential rite of the Mass we call to mind our sins and ask God to have mercy on us, so that we may be better disposed to celebrate the Eucharist. (1393-1395)

3. What is the rite of blessing and sprinkling holy water at Mass?
The rite of blessing and sprinkling holy water may be used at Mass instead of the penitential rite. It reminds us of our Baptism.

4. What is the Liturgy of the Word?
The Liturgy of the Word includes readings from Scripture, the responsorial psalm, alleluia or Gospel acclamation, homily, profession of faith and general intercessions or prayer of the faithful. (1346, 1349)

5. What is the responsorial psalm?
The responsorial psalm is a psalm prayed by the worshipping community as a response to the first reading during the Liturgy of the Word.

6. What is the homily?
In the homily the priest or deacon explains the Word of God just proclaimed. (1349)

When you received the word of God which you heard from us you did not accept it as mere human words but for what it truly is, the word of God which is at work in you believers (1 Thes 2:13).

7. What is the profession of faith proclaimed at the Mass?
On Sundays and holy days, the profession of faith or Creed is said by the faithful to express belief in the truths of our Catholic faith and in the Word of God proclaimed in the readings.

8. What is the prayer of the faithful or general intercessions?
The prayer of the faithful or general intercessions is a special prayer by which the faithful act as a priestly people and intercede, or ask God's help, for the needs of the Church and the world. (1349)

I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men-for kings and for all those in positions of authority-that we may lead a peaceful, quiet life, holy and respectable in every way (1 Tm 2:1-2).

9. What is the Liturgy of the Eucharist?
The Liturgy of the Eucharist follows the Liturgy of the Word, and together they form one great act of worship. Within the Eucharistic Prayer, our gifts of bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ, offered in sacrifice to God. At Communion, we receive Jesus as a sign of our unity with Christ and with one another. (1346)

10. What is the preparation of the altar and the presentation of the offerings?
During this rite the altar is prepared, the gifts of bread and wine are carried to it and then offered to God, and the priest washes his hands and prays to be cleansed of sin. (1350)

Therefore, let us continually offer through him a sacrifice of
praise to God, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name (Heb 13:15).

11. What is the preface of the Mass?
The preface of the Mass is a prayer of praise and thanks to God our Father for the work of salvation or for some particular aspect of his saving love. At every Mass the preface ends with the acclamation "Holy, Holy, Holy," a wonderful song in which priest and people join their praise of God to that of the angels. (1352)

12. What is the Eucharistic Prayer?
The Eucharistic Prayer is a hymn of thanksgiving to God for his work of salvation. Within this great prayer, bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ. (1352-1353) 

13. What is the consecration of the Mass?
During the consecration the words of the priest-"This is my Body"; "This is my Blood"-change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. All those present adore the Real Presence of the Lord. (1353)

14. What is the memorial acclamation?
At the memorial acclamation the priest invites us: "Let us proclaim the mystery of faith," and we respond: "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again," or a similar acclamation. (1354)

15. What are the intercessions following the acclamation?
The intercessions following the memorial acclamation are offered for the whole Church, living and dead, and for the pastors of the Church, the Pope, the bishop, priests and deacons. These intercessions unite us with the universal Church. (1354)

16. What is the final doxology?
The final doxology is a tribute of praise to our Triune God proclaimed through, with and in Christ. This concludes the Eucharistic Prayer; the Communion rite follows.

17. What is the Communion rite?
The Communion rite includes the Lord's Prayer, the rite of peace, breaking of the bread, the Lamb of God, the Communion of the priest and people, and the prayer after Communion. (1355)

18. What is the rite of peace?
The rite of peace expresses the love and peace which members of the community give each other at Mass before sharing the Body and Blood of Christ.

19. What is the breaking of the bread?
At the breaking of the bread the priest breaks the Host as a sign that in Communion we become one in the Body and Blood of Christ.

20. What is Holy Communion?
Holy Communion is the real Eucharistic Jesus whom we receive at Mass. (1382, 1384)

Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves (Jn 6:53).

21. What is the concluding rite of the Mass?
The concluding rite of the Mass is the priest's blessing and dismissal of the people, inviting them to do good works and to praise God.

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