Editing Catholic Mass (section)

== Liturgy of the Eucharist==

==== Notes: ====
*"eucharist" is Greek for Thanksgiving
**in the Eucharist we are giving thanks to God and his works
***see [[Catechism of the Catholic Church#Eu|Catechism of the Catholic Church glossary Eu)]]
*in the Mass, "Eucharist" means "the Lord's Supper"
*and also the "Bread and Wine" that are the "Body and Blood" of Christ
*The Sacrament of the Eucharist and the consecrated host itself may also be referred to as "the Blessed Sacrament"

*from [https://www.usccb.org/eucharist The Eucharist | USCCB]:
<blockquote>The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the preparation of the gifts and the altar. As the ministers prepare the altar, representatives of the people bring forward the bread and wine that will become the Body and Blood of Christ. The celebrant blesses and praises God for these gifts and places them on the altar. In addition to the bread and wine, monetary gifts for the support of the Church and the care of the poor may be brought forward. 

After the gifts and altar are prepared, the Eucharistic Prayer begins. This prayer of thanksgiving is the heart of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In this prayer, the celebrant acts in the person of Christ as head of his body, the Church. He gathers not only the bread and the wine, but the substance of our lives and joins them to Christ's perfect sacrifice, offering them to the Father.
- [https://www.usccb.org/offices/public-affairs/structure-and-meaning-mass Structure and Meaning of the Mass (USCCB)]</blockquote>
* from [https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/girm-chapter-2 The Eucharist | GIRM]:
<blockquote>a) At the Preparation of the Gifts, bread and wine with water are brought to the altar, the same elements, that is to say, which Christ took into his hands

b) In the Eucharistic Prayer, thanks is given to God for the whole work of salvation, and the offerings become the Body and Blood of Christ.

c) Through the fraction and through Communion, the faithful, though many, receive from the one bread the Lord’s Body and from the one chalice the Lord’s Blood in the same way that the Apostles received them from the hands of Christ himself.</blockquote>

==== What is the Sacrament of the Eucharist ====
*"The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord's own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist." (CCC 1322)

====What is the Eucharist==== 
*the “work of human hands,” “fruit of the vine”  = gifts of the Creator (CCC 1333)
*"It is the very action of Christ at the Last Supper - 'taking the bread and a cup'" (CCC 1350)

====The Liturgy Eucharist as petition and prayer to God==== 

*the Liturgy of the Eucharist is directed towards and prayer to God the Father
**in the Preface, the priest speaks for the Church as a whole
**in the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest stands for Christ
*the Liturgy of the Eucharist is presented "in memory" of Christ, which does not mean "in memorial" (remembrance) but re-creation, as in re-enacting in real time the Last Supper:
<blockquote>'''<big>"''Do this in memory of me.''"</big>'''</blockquote>
*"in memory" = representing = re-presenting = re-doing, doing in real time ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/346/ CCC 1366])

==== The Eucharist as prayer for the coming of Christ ====

* '''THE EUCHARIST - "PLEDGE OF THE GLORY TO COME"''' (Part 2, Section 2, Article 3, VII)
** from [https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/356/ CCC 1403]: 
<blockquote>Whenever the Church celebrates the Eucharist she remembers this promise and turns her gaze "to him who is to come." In her prayer she calls for his coming: "Marana tha!" "Come, Lord Jesus!" "May your grace come and this world pass away!"</blockquote>

<u>Parts of the Liturgy of the Eucharist</u>:

===Part 1: Presentation and Preparation of the Gifts (Offertory) === 

*also called "'''the Offertory'''"
*after the Liturgy of the Word, the Priest invites the faithful to join the sacrifice
*the people may bring to the altar the bread and wine to be consecrated and transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ
**the faithful may "present the Gifts" by processing to the altar with the Bread, Wine and Holy Water and presenting them to the priest who receives them before the altar
**commonly, only the Wine and Holy Water are brought forward
**originally, the bread and wine were offerings from the people (owned or prepared by them, not the church)
**the items to be placed on the altar are: corporal (white cloth to be placed on the altar), purificator (white cloth to be placed over the chalice), Missal (text of the Mass), and chalice (the cup)

* "in the Offertory we give thanks to the Creator for bread and wine... gifts of the Creator" ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/338/ CCC 1333])
** which are reminiscent of Old Covenant sacrifice of bread and wine
**and which provide "a new and definitive meaning" given by Jesus ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/338/ CCC1363])
*we may relate the Offertory to the Christ's "Agony in the Garden" of Gethsemane
**giving ourselves, our wants, our sins, our will to God ("not my will but yours be done", [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/22?42 Lk 22:42])

*in the Preparation, the "Lord's table" (the altar) is made ready for the Lord's Supper (the sacrifice)
**from [https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/338/ CCC 1333]
<blockquote>At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and Blood. </blockquote>
*a collection (usually monetary) may be made during the "preparation", which may be carried to the priest who receives it before the altar along with the bread and wine (together with the collection, "the gifts")
**the collection comes from the early Church tradition to bring, in addition to the bread and wine, "gifts to share with those in need" ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/342/ CCC 1351])
**the collection is usually dedicated to specific purposes, such as maintenance of the Parish or for a particular charity
**there are usually two collections
**"ushers" pass through the isles to "collect" the gifts from the people 

==== Preface and Secret Prayers ====
*the priest will then commence the first of his "Eucharistic prayers" as he lifts the bread and wine which will become the body and blood of Christ
*and drops holy water into the wine
**representing the mixing of mortality in the divine life of Christ
**Christ's adoption of his human person for our salvation
**the water and blood poured out from Christ on the crucifix (the piercing of the sword)
*"secret" means "hidden" as in "mysterium" (mystery) and not as if it is a priestly secret
*the secret prayers here and in other parts of the Mass remind the priest of
**the gravity of his position and role
**his inherent unworthiness and coterminous humility
**the need to invoke divine aid to perform his duties

*the priest may say the prayers inaudibly, or, he may speak the first prayer to the people

==== the prayers are to God the Father, from the priest on behalf of the whole Church====
<blockquote>Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.</blockquote>
*to which the people will respond, "Blessed be God for ever"
*the second prayer may also be spoken audibly, and, if so , the people will respond "Blessed be God for ever":

 Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink. 

*the priest then says inaudibly the "secret prayer,"
<blockquote>With humble spirit and contrite heart may we be accepted by you, O Lord, and may our sacrifice in your sight this day be pleasing to you, Lord God.”</blockquote>
*he then washes his hands, stating from [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/51 Psalm 51]"
<blockquote>Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin</blockquote>

===Part 2: Invitation to Prayer===

*the priest then addresses the people:
<blockquote>Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters), that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.</blockquote>
* the people respond:
<blockquote>May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and the good of all his holy Church.</blockquote>
* note: the "sacrifice" is not just the bread and wine and/or the collection
**the "sacrifice" is all of us
** the Eucharist is presented "in memory" of the Lord, but as a living act, memorializing act, not in recognition of some past event
**thus Christ's sacrifice is real at every Mass and we are part of it

*

=== Part 3: THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER or PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS===

* For full texts of various Eucharistic Prayers, see [https://universalis.com/static/mass/orderofmass.htm Order of the Mass (Universalis Publishing)]
** Official translation of Vatican II Order of the Mass

* here for [https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Missal/Text/EP1-A4.pdf Eucharistic Prayer no. 1]

====Notes on the Eucharistic prayer====

*The Eucharistic prayer is conducted on the “altar”

* In Mass, the altar is both the sacrifice and the body of Christ:
<blockquote>The altar, around which the Church is gathered in the celebration of the Eucharist, represents the two aspects of the same mystery: the altar of the sacrifice and the table of the Lord. This is all the more so since the Christian altar is the symbol of Christ himself, present in the midst of the assembly of his faithful, both as the victim offered for our reconciliation and as food from heaven who is giving himself to us. ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/350/ CCC 1383])</blockquote>

=====Prayer to God the Father through the Son=====

*the Eucharistic prayer is addressed to the Father through the Son
*through the presence of Christ in the priest (ordained by the Holy Spirit)

=====the Eucharistic prayer...=====
*= a prayer of praise and thanksgiving
*= an invitation to join together with Christ
*repeats Jesus' words at the Last Supper
*the people respond to the prayer with various "acclamations"
*the entirety of the Eucharistic Prayer is called the "anaphora"

==== Eucharistic Prayer origin ====

* in the modern, Vatican II, Mass, there are various Eucharistic Prayers
* the first, Eucharistic Prayer I (EPI), is the original prayer, called "The Roman Canon" (canon for standard, agreed upon)
** it alone was used prior to the 1970s
** it has its origins in the earliest Church, thus we can attribute it to the Apostles, themselves, who taught the early Christians how to pray, who taught the Liturgy of the Eucharist at the very beginning of the Church
*** see https://www.lsm.org.uk/media/PDF/Eucharist-13.pdf
*

====A. Preface Dialogue & Thanksgiving====

* called "The Thanksgiving"
* [https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/girm-chapter-2 from GIRM Ch 2, no. 79]: 
** "The thanksgiving (expressed especially in the Preface), in which the Priest, in the name of the whole of the holy people, glorifies God the Father and gives thanks to him for the whole work of salvation or for some particular aspect of it, according to the varying day, festivity, or time of year."

* the priest speaks for the people and the church through Christ 
<blockquote>Priest: The Lord be with you.

People: And with your spirit.

Priest: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them up to the Lord.

Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

People: It is right and just.</blockquote>
*'''"Lift up your hearts"'''
**see "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself" ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/12?32 Jn 12:32])
*'''"It is right and just" [to give thanks to the Lord"]'''
**"It is right and just to entrust oneself wholly to God and to believe absolutely what he says. It would be futile and false to place such faith in a creature" (CCC 150) 
***"right" as in it is the correct, necessary thing to do ("Give thanks to the Lord our God") 
****"just" as in "owed" or "duty fulfilled"
****we owe it to God to "give thanks"

* see [https://www.catholicherald.com/article/columns/right-and-just/ Right and just - Arlington Catholic Herald]

==== B) Preface ====
*in a petition to the Father, the priest recites a prayer and petition for the Father to bless and accept the sacrifice in communion with all the Church and the Saints
*the priest reads the "preface" (before), which celebrates the feast, if any, and the "mystery" of the Eucharist
**prefaces are dedicated to different liturgical days, seasons and purposes, such as Advent, Nativity, Lent, Easter, Ordinary Time and also for Sacraments of Matrimony and of Healing (for the dead)

====C) Sanctus or Acclamation====
*the priest then extends his hands as if on the Cross
*and leads the faithful in the "Sanctus"
*from the [https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/girm-chapter-2 GIRM Ch 2]:
**"The acclamation, by which the whole congregation, joining with the heavenly powers, sings the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy). This acclamation, which constitutes part of the Eucharistic Prayer itself, is pronounced by all the people with the Priest."
* all chant or sing, "'''''Holy, Holy, Holy'''''" as the cherubin sing in constant praise of God
** we are joining the angels and saints in praise of God
** note that Hebrew does not have comparatives and superlatives, such as in English, "holy, holier, holiest"
*** so the repetition, "Holy, Holy, Holy", creates that comparison, ending with the superlative, as in "God is holy, holier, and holiest"
* scriptural sources of the Sanctus are from:
<blockquote>One cried out to the other: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!” ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/6?3 Isa 6:3])</blockquote><blockquote>The four living creatures, each of them with six wings,* were covered with eyes inside and out. Day and night they do not stop exclaiming: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.” ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/4:8 Rev 4:8])</blockquote>

====D) ''Epiclesis''====
*section may also be called ''te igutur'', "we come to you, Father"
*all kneel, while the priest extends his hands over the offering 
**asking the Father to bless and accept these gifts
** and calls down the Holy Spirit to consecrate the bread and wine
* from the [https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/girm-chapter-2 GIRM Ch 2]:
** "The epiclesis, in which, by means of particular invocations, the Church implores the power of the Holy Spirit that the gifts offered by human hands be consecrated, that is, become Christ’s Body and Blood, and that the unblemished sacrificial Victim to be consumed in Communion may be for the salvation of those who will partake of it."

*"epiclesis" means "invocation" (calling for assistance)
<blockquote>The Holy Spirit makes present the mystery of Christ

Christian liturgy not only recalls the events that saved us but actualizes them, makes them present. The Paschal mystery of Christ is celebrated, not repeated. It is the celebrations that are repeated, and in each celebration there is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that makes the unique mystery present. ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/288/ CC 1104])

The Epiclesis ("invocation upon") is the intercession in which the priest begs the Father to send the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, so that the offerings may become the body and blood of Christ and that the faithful by receiving them, may themselves become a living offering to God. ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/288/ CC 1105]) </blockquote>
*a bell may be rung during the epiclesis to mark the calling down of the Holy Spirit

====E) Institution Narrative & Consecration ====

===== Institution Narrative =====
*standing for Christ, the priest recounts the Lord's words at the Last Supper
**in which Jesus instituted (created) the sacrament and affirmed the New Covenant

*the priest holds up the host and the chalice and says new and everlasting covenant 
**brings us to holy communion w/ God to bridge the gap that was lost w/ fall of Adam/Eve
** this act by the priest is known as the "'''Major Elevation'''"
*the Eucharistic Prayer has various forms 
**all of which tell of the Last Supper
**Here from Eucharistic Prayer No. 1:
<blockquote>On the day before he was to suffer he took bread in his holy and venerable hands, and with eyes raised to heaven to you, O God, his almighty Father, giving you thanks he said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying: 

'''"Take this, all of you, and eat of it: for this is my body which will be given up for you."'''

In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took this precious chalice in his holy and venerable hands, and once more giving you thanks, he said the blessing and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying: 

'''"Take this, all of you, and drink from it: for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me."'''</blockquote>
*the Institution Narrative affirms how Jesus transformed his betrayal and murder into an act of love, sacrifice, and salvation
*from the [https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/girm-chapter-2 GIRM Ch. 2, 79d]:
**" The institution narrative and Consecration, by which, by means of the words and actions of Christ, that Sacrifice is effected which Christ himself instituted during the Last Supper, when he offered his Body and Blood under the species of bread and wine, gave them to the Apostles to eat and drink, and leaving with the latter the command to perpetuate this same mystery."

===== Consecration =====
*during the Institution Narrative, the priest holds up the bread and the wine (in a "chalice")

*and "consecrates" or makes it holy
*it becomes the actual Body and Blood of Christ 
**called "transubstantiation"
**bells may be run three times for each, Body and Blood
***in order to mark and remind about the present mystery
***(i.e., the mystery that is going on at that moment)
*Jesus is now wholly present in the Mass
*after the consecration of each, the priest holds up the consecrated Bread and Wine 
**then he sets it down on the altar and bows to the Lord

===== The Mystery of Faith =====
*also called the "Memorial Acclamation" 
**"memorial" because Christ called for us to "''do this in memory of me''"
*at the end of the Institution Narrative, after the priest speaks for Jesus, saying
<blockquote>"Do this in memory of me"</blockquote>
*the priest calls upon the faithful to celebrate the "'''Mystery of Faith'''"
** i.e., faith in the real presence of the Lord

===== Three Acclamations =====
*the people respond to the Memorial Acclamationwith
**one of three "acclamations" which the priest may choose, and which the faithful say in response to the Memorial Acclamation
<blockquote>We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection, until you come again.</blockquote><blockquote>When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.</blockquote><blockquote>Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.</blockquote>
*the Memorial Acclamation is spoken to Jesus 
**(the Eucharistic Prayer is otherwise spoken to God the Father)

====F) Anamnesis & Oblation====

*usually starts with
 Therefore, holy Father,
*the second half of Eucharistic Prayer contains the Anamnesis and Oblation:
** "anamnesis" = "remembrance" or "memorial"
**"oblation" = offering or sacrifice to God
* the "memorial" is the actual sacrifice of Jesus made present
**i.e., happening again now

* from the [https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/girm-chapter-2 GIRM Ch. 2]: 
** "The anamnesis, by which the Church, fulfilling the command that she received from Christ the Lord through the Apostles, celebrates the memorial of Christ, recalling especially his blessed Passion, glorious Resurrection, and Ascension into heaven." 
** "The oblation, by which, in this very memorial, the Church, in particular that gathered here and now, offers the unblemished sacrificial Victim in the Holy Spirit to the Father. The Church’s intention, indeed, is that the faithful not only offer this unblemished sacrificial Victim but also learn to offer their very selves, and so day by day to be brought, through the mediation of Christ, into unity with God and with each other, so that God may at last be all in all."

* the prayer continues its appeal to God the Father 
**explaining why we partake in this "memorial"
* various versions may be read; here for Eucharistic Prayer II (EP II):
<blockquote>Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of his Death and Resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the Bread of life and the Chalice of salvation, giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you.</blockquote>
*the Anamnesis also contains another Epiclesis, or calling down of the Holy Spirit
*as well as a prayer to unite all who participate in the Eucharist to be joined in one by the Holy Spirit:
<blockquote>Humbly we pray that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit. (EP II)</blockquote>or<blockquote>Look, we pray, upon the oblation of your Church, and, recognizing the sacrificial Victim by whose death you willed to reconcile us to yourself, grant that we, who are nourished by the Body and Blood of your Son and filled with his Holy Spirit, may become one body, one spirit in Christ. (EP III)</blockquote>
* note: the GIRM treats the Anamnesis and Oblation as separate elements

==== G) Intercessions==== 

*"intercession" = a prayer for blessings and others
*the Eucharistic Prayer continues with prayers for the Church, the Pope, the Bishops, and all the priests
**and usually includes a special call to the Saint of the particular parish
*different versions may include prayer for  
**union with the saints
**for the dead
** "for all of creation"
*and concludes with a call for the Lord God to sanctify and bless all those prayed by and for
*from the [https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/girm-chapter-2 GIRM Ch. 2]:
**"The intercessions, by which expression is given to the fact that the Eucharist is celebrated in communion with the whole Church, of both heaven and of earth, and that the oblation is made for her and for all her members, living and dead, who are called to participate in the redemption and salvation purchased by the Body and Blood of Christ."

====H) Concluding Doxology and Great Amen====

* doxology = "words of praise"
<blockquote>Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, for ever and ever.</blockquote>
*the people respond with the "'''Great Amen'''" 
**which may be sung and repeated
*the Great Amen is affirmation by the faithful of the Eucharistic Prayers
**"amen" = "so be it" or "it is so"
*from the [https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/girm-chapter-2 GIRM Ch 2]:
**" The concluding doxology, by which the glorification of God is expressed and which is affirmed and concluded by the people’s acclamation Amen."
*the “Geat Amen” is the moment of the sacrifice of Christ:
**per Leviticus, the people would present the animal for sacrifice, placing a hand on it to show ownership (of the animal and of their sins) ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/leviticus/1?4 Lv 1:4])
**in the Mass, this is the moment the priest would splash the blood of the victim onto the altar ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/leviticus/1?5 Lv 1:5]) 

=== Part 4. Communion Rite ===
* for preparation to receive Holy Communion
* by which Jesus invites us to join in communion with him
** as instituted at the Last Supper
*the priest invites the faithful to first say the "Our Father" prayer:

 Priest: At the savior's command, and formed by divine teaching, we dare say:

==== Our Father ====
*called the ''oratio Dominica''
*"taught and given to us by the Lord Jesus." ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/664/ CCC 2765])
*"we dare say" means that we have the faith and courage to acclaim "Our Father"

*see entry on "[[Catechism of the Catholic Church#"Our Father" prayer|Our Father]]" for review of the text and meaning
*All: 
<blockquote>Our Father, who art in heaven, 

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done, 

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day, \our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.</blockquote>

====Embolism prayer:====

*a prayer to emphasize the implications of the Lord's Prayer:
**"embolism" for "inserted" or "added" 
**''en'' + ''ballein'' meaning literally "thrown in"
**Priest:
<blockquote>Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil

graciously grant peace in our days,

that, by the help of your mercy,

we may be always free from sin

and safe from all distress

as we await the blessed hope

and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.</blockquote>

====Doxology====

*"words of praise" that follow various prayers, canticles, hymns
* this doxology was not spoken by Jesus, but added by early Christians
*here the doxology is spoken by all to conclude the Lord's Prayer:
*All:
<blockquote>For the kingdom,

the power and the glory are yours

now and for ever.</blockquote>

==== Sign of Peace ====
* before receiving Holy Communion, the priest leads a prayer to Christ and by Christ 
**that we may be in "peace and unity" with one another, in the Church, and with Christ"
*Priest:
<blockquote>Lord Jesus Christ,

who said to your Apostles:

"Peace I leave you, my peace I give you"

look not on our sins,

but on the faith of your Church,

and graciously grant her peace and unity

in accordance with your will.

Who live and reign for ever and ever.</blockquote>People: Amen.
Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
People: And with your spirit 
*the priest or deacon may (but not always) next invite the congregation to:
**"Let us offer each other the sign of peace"
*the people may shake hands or gently wave to one another

==== Fraction Rite ====
*"fractioning" = breaking the bread into pieces
*just as did Jesus at the Last Supper
*the "fraction rite" is a literal act, just as Christ "broke" the bread to give pieces of it to the Apostles, the priest traditionally breaks the bread to be distributed to the faithful
**(in a modern church, consecrated hosts set aside for distribution at the Eucharist are stored in the Tabernacle)
**in a service in which the bread is broken into many pieces, the ''Agnus Dei'' will be recited or sung over again until the bread has been broken as needed 
*from the GIRM:
<blockquote>“The gesture of breaking bread done by Christ at the Last Supper, which in apostolic times gave the entire Eucharistic Action its name, signifies that the many faithful are made one body” ([https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/girm-chapter-2 GIRM Ch 2, 83])</blockquote>
*the priest then drops one small piece into the Chalice, saying to quietly,

 May this mingling of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it. 

*the mingling of the bread and wine, i.e. bringing together the Body and Blood of Christ
**signifies his resurrection
**thus when we receive Holy Communion it is the Living Christ

==== Lamb of God (Agnus Dei) ====
* as the priest conducts the "Fraction Rite", he vocally starts the "Lamb of God" petition that the people recite
**Christ is the "Lamb of God," i.e., the only unblemished (not stained) sacrifice to pay for our sins and to reconcile us with God
**"Lamb of God" comes from:
***the Jewish Passover, during which the Jewers were to sacrifice a lamb ("without blemish") and sprinkle its blood on their doorposts so that God would "pass over" that house when "striking down every first born" ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/exodus/12?5 Exodus 12:5, 12-13])
***John the Baptist's proclamation that Jesus is the "Lamb of God"
***
 Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1:29 John 1:29])
*We who blessed are about to personally participate in the sacrifice of Christ remind ourselves of his purpose

{|
|+ English |'''Lamb of God / ''Agnus Dei'''''
|
 Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
 
 Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
 
 Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

|
 ''Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.''
 
 ''Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis''
 
 ''Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem''

|}

====Invitation to Communion====
*the priest genuflects (bows) profoundly, 
**then holds up the Host and Chalice to the people
** and repeats the words of John the Baptist and a third line adapted from the Book of [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/19?9 Revelation 19:9]:
<blockquote>Behold the Lamb of God, 

behold him who takes away the sings of the world. 

Blessed are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb.</blockquote>
*it also recollects Pontius Pilate's presentation to the Jews of the flogged and beaten Christ, "Behold the man" ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/19?5 Jn 19:5])
*along with the priest, the people respond with the words spoken by the Roman centurion who petitioned Jesus to save heal his servant:
*All:
<blockquote>Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,

but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. 

([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/8?8 Matthew 8:8-13])</blockquote>
*Jesus was "amazed" at "such faith" as demonstrated by the Centurion 
*the petition marks our humility and gratitude for receiving Christ in the Eucharist despite our unworthiness

==== Reception of Communion ====
*Communion = becoming one with the Body and Blood of Christ, a gift from Christ
** note that we do no't "take" but instead "receive" Communion, as it is a grace and gift from God, not something we take from him
**even though at the Last Supper, Jesus told the Apostles, "''Take and eat; this is my body''" ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/26?26 Matthew: 26:26]) and "Take it; this is my body" ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/14?22 Mark 14:22]) 
*** in Luke, he says, ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/22?19 Luke 22:19])
<blockquote>Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.</blockquote>and from St. Paul in 1 Corinthians: <blockquote>Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/11?23 1Cor 23-26])</blockquote>
*first, the priest himself receives communion
**saying quietly before receiving the Host
<blockquote>May the Body of Christ

keep me safe for eternal life</blockquote>
*and then, before receiving the Chalice
<blockquote>May the Blood of Christ

keep me safe for eternal life</blockquote>
*if there is music, a "Communion antiphon" (antiphon = response) will be sung while the priest receives Holy Communion
*if there is no music, the priest will receive Communion, then recite the "Communion antiphon," which will vary according to each Mass
*the priest then distributes the Eucharist to the serving ministers in the sanctuary (where the altar is located)
**<u>Note</u>: 
***the priest and deacon are "Ordinary Ministers of Communion" 
****in that they are the ones to "ordinarily" distribute Holy Communion"
***other lay (non-clerical) ministers may assist, however, called "Extraordinary Ministers of Communion"
****in that they are not, or outside of, "Ordinary Ministers"
*the priest then walks to the front of the alter to distribute Holy Communion (usually just the Host)
*the faithful step in line, starting at the front of the Church, to receive the Eucharist, i.e. "Reception of Communion"
**note that Catholics alone should participate in the Eucharist
***and only if they are not in a state of Mortal Sin (i.e. without a valid Confession)
***here for [https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/order-of-mass/liturgy-of-the-eucharist/guidelines-for-the-reception-of-communion Guidelines for the Reception of Communion | USCCB]
*the people may "receive" the Host by hand or directly to the mouth (traditional) 
**post-Covid, many parishes no longer distribute the Chalice, or it is offered optionally
**see [[Recieving (not taking) Communion|Receive (not take) Communion]] 
*afterwards, the faithful return to the pews and kneel in prayer, gratitude and thanksgiving 

==== Prayers to recite while about to receive Communion ====

* while not part of the Liturgy, it is traditional, and was practiced by many Saints, to recite prayers or Scripture during Holy Communion.
* Saint Thomas' words on encountering the resurrected Christ ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/20?28 Jn 20:28])
 ''My Lord and my God!''

* [https://aleteia.org/2021/06/02/st-john-vianneys-short-prayer-before-holy-communion/ prayer of St. John Vianney]
<blockquote>O my God, come to me, so that You may dwell in me and I may dwell in you.</blockquote>
* [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/84 Psalm 84] (''Qual dilecta, anima'')
<blockquote>My soul yearns and pines

for the courts of the LORD.

My heart and flesh cry out

for the living God.</blockquote>
* [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/103 Pslam 103] (''Benedic anima mea Domino'')
<blockquote>Bless the L<small>ORD</small>, my soul; 

all my being, bless his holy name!

Bless the L<small>ORD</small>, my soul;

and do not forget all his gifts.</blockquote>
*ers/ sources
** [https://traditionalcatholicprayers.com/2019/09/23/a-collection-of-traditional-prayers-composed-by-some-of-the-churchs-greatest-doctors-and-saints-in-preparation-to-attend-the-holy-mass-and-receive-the-eucharist/ Prayers Before & After Communion | Traditional Catholic Prayers]0
** [https://www.catholicfaithandreason.org/prayers-before-and-after-holy-communion.html Prayers Before and After Holy Communion - Catholic Faith and Reason]

====Prayer After Communion====

* after distributing the Eucharist, the priest carefully cleans the plate that held the Host,  
**dropping any remnants into the Chalice
**to which he then adds Holy Water, mixing it around to capture remnants of the Host
*then drinks the remaining Wine and Bread from the Chalice
**then carefully cleans the Chalice
**and puts away remaining Consecrated Hosts into the Tabernacle (a container to store it between Masses)
* while cleaning the vessels, the priest will say quietly,
 What has passed our lips as food, O Lord, may we possess in purity of heart, 
 that what has been given to us in time may be our healing for eternity
*the priest will carefully place the cleaned plate and chalice to the side
**usually with the cloth used during the Eucharist as a tent over them

====Prayer After Communion====
*the priest may then sit quietly for a moment
*then stands, followed by the faithful
*and recites the "Prayer After Communion" 
**the prayer will vary upon each Mass and may relate to the Liturgy of the Word readings or themes
** it will generally petition the Lord to accept the prayers and "sacrificial offerings" of the faithful
**and petition for entry to Heaven
**always concluding with,

 Through Christ our Lord