Editing Catholic Mass (section)

=== 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