Active Participation The phrase “active participation” was conceived by the saintly Pope Pius X. He explained: If you wish to participate in the Mass actively, you must follow with your eye, heart, and mouth all that happens on the altar… You have to associate your heart with the holy feelings Read more…
Closing Rite The distribution of the Holy Communion during Mass is like an act of a lover meeting with the beloved. When we receive the Eucharist, we are welcoming Christ into our hearts and so it is an important moment. The priest and Deacon are the ordinary Ministers of the Read more…
The purpose of the responsorial psalm and Alleluia Someone asked me, why we sing the Psalm and Alleluia in between the Readings. We Catholics are accustomed to hearing the Responsorial Psalm and the Gospel Acclamation sung or recited between the Readings. These were instituted by the Second Vatican Council, in Read more…
Meaning of the word “Amen” in the Mass The word “Amen” is not a strange word for any Catholic, because it is used as a concluding response to all the prayers we recite. It is also used during the Holy Mass as people’s response to the prayers offered by the Read more…
How Many Times May a Person Receive Holy Communion? Some of our parishioners have asked me, whether one can receive Holy Communion more than once in a day. Let me clarify, how often in a day one can receive Holy Communion. The Church law, namely, the Code of Canon Law Read more…
Guidelines For The Reception Of the Holy Communion, Given by US Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) On November 14, 1996, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the following guidelines on the reception of Communion. FOR CATHOLICS As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we Read more…
Part Three: Liturgy of the Eucharist: Table of The Lord Communion is the word, we use, when we participate at the table of The Lord. This word is derived from two Latin words: com (which means “with, together”) + unus (which means “oneness, union”). The Latin root of Communion is Read more…
“Lamb of God…” is a prayer of humble petition and invocation to Jesus Christ to purify the soul from every sin. It is also an immediate preparation before approaching the table of The Lord. Then follows the invitation for the people, who are prepared, to come and take part in Read more…
Part Three: Liturgy of the Eucharist: With the prayer of glory and doxology, “Through Him, with Him and in Him…” the Eucharistic prayer comes to an end. Now we begin our immediate preparation to receive the nourishing spiritual food, the Body and Blood of Christ. Communion Rite: Step one: As Read more…
Part Three: Liturgy of the Eucharist: Following the response of the assembly to the invitation of the priest to proclaim the Mystery of Faith saying, “We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again”, the priest continues to pray as the presider of the assembly. Read more…