Editing Catholic Mass (section)

==Liturgy of the Word==

*the Liturgy of the Word is a distinct and essential part of the Mass
**it is highlighted by the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ himself
**we listen to the priest or Deacon speak the Gospel standing for Christ in real time
***= Christ's presence in the Mass
 The Liturgy of the Word includes "the writings of the prophets," that is, the Old Testament, and "the memoirs of the apostles" (their letters and the Gospels). ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/342/ CCC 1349])
*the Readings address not just Old and New Testament scripture but purposefully bring us closer to the "Life in Christ":
#First Reading (Old Testament): thematically connects to fulfillment in the Gospel reading
#*during Easter season, the First Reading is from the Book of Acts
#Responsorial Psalm: from the "Book of prayers", teaches us to pray to and listen to God
#Second Reading (Epistles):
# Alleluia: praise the Lord
#Gospel: the life and words of the Lord Jesus Christ as written by the Evangelists who were inspired by the Holy Spirit
<blockquote>In the sacramental economy the Holy Spirit fulfills what was prefigured in the Old Covenant. Since Christ's Church was "prepared in marvelous fashion in the history of the people of Israel and in the Old Covenant," the Church's liturgy has retained certain elements of the worship of the Old Covenant as integral and irreplaceable, adopting them as her own:
-notably, reading the Old Testament;
-praying the Psalms;
-above all, recalling the saving events and significant realities which have found their fulfillment in the mystery of Christ (promise and covenant, Exodus and Passover, kingdom and temple, exile and return).
([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/286/ CCC 1093])</blockquote>
* in "The Purpose of the Parables" ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/4?12 Mk 4:12]), the Lord explains to the Twelve why he speaks in parables:
<blockquote>He answered them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that
‘they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.’” [quoting from [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/6?9 Isaiah 6:9]]</blockquote>
* He then speaks in a parable to exhort the people to listen <u>and</u> hear (as in his similar explanation in [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/13?13 Mt 13:13], "they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand"):
<blockquote>“The sower sows the word.

These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them. 

And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy. But they have no root; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit.

But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/4?14 Mark 4:14-20]:)</blockquote>

===First Reading===

* may be conducted a "lector" (lay reader)
* upon completion, the lector says, "The word of the Lord"
*the people respond,
<blockquote>"Thanks be to God"</blockquote>
*"thanks" because God's revelation through scripture is a gift
*unlike the Gospel response, the "thanks" for the First and Second Readings are directed to God

=== Second Reading===

*may be conducted a "lector" (lay reader)
*same conclusion, "The word of the Lord" and response the people , "Thanks be to God"

====Alleluia====

*may be spoken by the priest or sung by a cantor or choir
*the assembled stand during the "Praise [for] the Lord" in preparation
*during Lent, the response to Alleluia will offer "Glory and praise" or another form recognizing the greatness and glory of God and his works

===Gospel Reading===

*may be read only by a priest or deacon, who stand for Christ while reading the Gospel
**if by the deacon, he will ask the priest, "Your blessing Father" to which the priest will offer a blessing and prayer that  
***''"The Lord may be in [the deacon's] heart" and that he "proclaim [the] Gospel worthily and well"''
**the deacon responds, or if the reading is by the priest, he will say to himself, 
***''"Cleanse my heart and my lips, almighty God, that I may worthily proclaim your holy Gospel"''
** "worthily" and "well" because the priest or deacon is speaking the words of Christ himself
*the priest or deacon will tell the people,
<blockquote>The Lord be with you </blockquote>
*to which the people respond,
<blockquote>And with your spirit</blockquote>
*as in the Introductory Rite, the exchange affirms the presence of God and invokes the Priest's ordination
**here it is especially important as the priest or deacon is speaking in the presence of Christ
*the priest or deacon then says,
<blockquote>A reading from the holy Gospel according to ___ </blockquote>
*the people say,
<blockquote>Glory to you, O Lord</blockquote>
*this acclamation is directed to Lord Jesus Christ himself, whose Word the priest or deacon speaks
*and all make the Sign of the Cross to show our desire that the Word of God be on our
**<u>forehead</u>: for focus, attention, and thoughts of Word of God
**<u>lips</u>: that our word may proclaim the Word of God
**<u>heart</u>: that we embrace the Word of God with sincerity, purity, and courage
*on completion, the priest or deacon will say,
<blockquote>"The Gospel of the Lord"</blockquote>
* to which the people respond,
<blockquote>Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ</blockquote>
*again, the people here speak directly to Jesus

*the priest or deacon will then kiss the Bible and say inaudibly,  
**''"Through the words of the Gospel may our sins be wiped away."''
===Homily===

* through the Holy Spirit, the priest or deacon will offer a teaching about the Readings
*to teach (catechesis) and ask the people to respond to Christ in their lives
<blockquote>The ministry of the Word, too - pastoral preaching, catechetics and all forms of Christian instruction, among which the liturgical homily should hold pride of place - is healthily nourished and thrives in holiness through the Word of Scripture. ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/38/ CCC 132])

and

... the homily... is an exhortation to accept this Word as what it truly is, the Word of God, and to put it into practice ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/342/ CCC 1349])</blockquote>
*in the homily, the priest speaks for himself
* St. Paul gives scriptural instruction for the Homily:
 “I did not at all shrink from telling you what was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public or in your homes.” ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/20?20 Acts 20:20])
<blockquote>”Proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.” ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2timothy/4?2 2 Tim 4:2])</blockquote>

===Profession of Faith (the Creed) ===

*after the homily, the priest will sit for a moment in silence to lead the people in reflection
*then all will stand to recite the '''Nicene Creed''' or the '''Apostles' Creed'''
*the Nicene Creed is derived from language adopted by the Councils of Nicaea (325 AD) and Constantinople (381) 
**the Councils were instrumental is affirming the Christian faith, especially against the heresies that distorted or denied the nature of God and Jesus, including: 
***the Father is "maker of heaven and earth, all things visible and invisible" 
****heretics claimed that only heaven is divine and the earth is impure and of a god of darkness
****known as "dualism" which divides the divine from the earthly
***that the Lord Jesus Christ is "born of the Father before all ages... begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father... and was incarnate of the Virgin Mary"
****heretics claimed that Jesus the man was not divine, or that he was not actually human, and that he was not born of the Virgin Mary
****or, they claimed, as did Arius (of "Arianism" or the "Arian heresy"), that the Father pre-existed the Son, therefore the son did not always exist
****that Christ and the Holy Spirit are not of the "same substance" (from Council of Nicaea) as God the Father
****these heresies opened up possibility in belief in polytheism
*****or actually treated Christianity as polytheistic
***note that the "severe" monotheistic religions, such as Judaism and Islam do not believe in the Holy Trinity
* the Creeds represent the essence of the Catholic faith

=== Universal Prayer===

*the priest will invite the people to join in prayer and the deacon or lay minister (lector) lead prayers for the needs of the Church and the world
** the people will respond to each prayer, "'''Lord, hear our prayer'''"

* just as Jesus God wants us to gather in his name ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/18?20 Mt 18:20]: "Where two or three are gathered"), he wants us to pray together, per [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/18?19 Mt 18:19]:
<blockquote>Again, [amen,] I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.</blockquote>
* the purpose of the prayer is for intercessions and thanksgivings:
<blockquote>After the homily, which is an exhortation to accept this Word as what it truly is, the Word of God, and to put it into practice, come the intercessions for all men, according to the Apostle's words: "I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings, and all who are in high positions." ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/342/ CCC 1349] and quoting [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1timothy/2?1 1 Tim 2:1-2])</blockquote>