What goes on during a catholic mass?

Here is an outline of the Mass:

• Introductory Rites

. • Entrance (All stand)

. • Greeting

. • Act of Penitence

. • Kyrie Eleison (Greek for "Lord have mercy")

. • Gloria

. • Opening Prayer

• Liturgy of the Word

. • First Reading - usually from the Old Testament (All sit)

. • Responsorial Psalm

. • Second Reading - usually from a New Testament Epistle

. • Gospel Reading (All stand)

. • Homily (All sit for the sermon)

. • Profession of Faith (the Nicene Creed) (All stand)

. • Prayer of the Faithful (prayers of petition)

• Liturgy of the Eucharist

. • The Preparation of the Gifts - the bread and wine are brought forward and placed on the altar, our monetary offerings are also collected at this time (All sit)

. • The Prayer over the Offerings (All stand)

. • The Eucharistic Prayer - during this prayer the bread and wine change into the Body and Blood of Christ (Catholics kneel, visitors may kneel or sit)

. • The Lord's Prayer (All stand)

. • The Rite of Peace (We offer each other a sign of peace)

. • The Breaking of the Bread

. • Communion - non-Catholics are requested out of respect not to receive Communion, they may approach the altar with their arms crossed over their chest to receive a blessing (Stand or kneel according to local custom)

• The Concluding Rites

. • Announcements (All sit)

. • Blessing (All stand)

. • Dismissal

. • Procession

For more information, see the General Instruction of the Roman Missal: http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/chapter2.shtm...

and http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/catholic_mass_fu...

With love in Christ.

It's not a big deal, especially since you'll be going with someone who will tell you want to do IF you don't want to stand out. He'll tell you when to stand, sit, kneel and where in the missal to respond. I said "IF" because my dad isn't Catholic and he never kneels when we kneel. I believe that was one of the bigger deals for Protestants. We kneel because we believe that the host (The big white circle) and the wine in the gold cup called the chalice, become the actual Body and Blood of Christ. So, we're kneeling in front of God, not statues, etc. So, if you don't want to kneel, just let him know before Mass starts so that he's not surprised. My dad would sit and stand and the only prayer he'd say is the Our Father, which surprised us kids. I suggest going with an open mind or, perhaps, looking for places that you DO agree with. The entire beginning of the Mass is scripture: A reading from the Old Testament, New Testament, singing of a psalm, and the Gospel as well as the homily, which is the priest explaining how the Gospels apply to our lives. Mass is not about doctrine; it's about worshiping Jesus.

At a Roman Catholic Mass, it goes as follows:

Introductory Rites,

Liturgy of the Word (a few verses, from OT, then NT, and then from Gospel),

Liturgy of the Eucharist,

Communion Rite,

and Concluding Rite.

http://catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/Mass.htm this is a great site for understanding the Order of Mass.

The laity sings, recites prayers, listens to a bit of God's word read (they follow the exact same readings for the year, year after year) Then, the priest performs the ritual wherein the wine and crackers are magically transformed into the actual body and blood of Jesus. He then distributes this to the laity. (most churches do not share the wine!)

Then, a few more prayers and everyone goes home.

I hope no one answers this. Find your own links. Do your own homework.

What happens at a Catholic mass is, the priest tells people not to be lazy and to be responsible for their actions.

Brainwashing

newadvent.com

scrituralcatholic.com

CUF.org

ewtn.com

These are great Catholic Sites. Best Wishes with your project.

wow, doesn't surprise me that they'd value what it takes to be "catholic' as opposed to what the real message should be at Worship, God's Word and Law = Truth....not man made traditions/rituals and false doctrine, non Biblically based rules/regulations and the list goes on indeed...., actually a counterfeit to most of God's Word..no surprise at all :-( God Bless and please choose to obey and please God, not "man" by Seeking the TRUTH as He tells/Commands us ALL to do or be decieved, it is "your" free will to do so...

Go ask Monsignor Dale. He'll tell you all about it. :D

Hint hint look him up.

A lot of standing and sitting and kneeling and sitting and standing.