A few times I’ve heard over the years how to tell between a Catholic Church and a Protestant church, the answer is simple, go inside and see what is directly at the front of the Church, a pulpit, or an altar. In Protestant worship services, the Bible is main and centre; whereas in the Catholic Church, the altar is centre stage, with the tabernacle behind it.  

 

The Catholic Mass is the universal celebration of the Liturgy of the Word and the Eucharist. The Catholic Mass is the same no matter where you go in the world (language excluded). All Catholics celebrate the same Mass, hence the word universal.

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The Catholic Mass is a liturgy and is commonly divided into two parts. The first part of the Mass is the Liturgy of the Word. This is where the Word of God touches our lives by listening to it proclaimed. There are three main readings during the Liturgy of the Word; a reading from the Old Testament, a reading from the New Testament letters, then a reading from one of the Gospel accounts. However, between the Old and New Testament readings, the lectionary reader reads a few verses from the Psalms, that includes the parishioners reciting a verse from the Psalms.

 

The next part of the Mass is the Word made flesh, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, where we receive Christ through the bread and wine. This is where the significant difference between Protestant services and the Catholic Mass takes place. Protestants reject the understanding that the bread and wine becomes the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, yet still appearing under the elements of bread and wine. As the Eucharist is the central part of the Mass, there would not be a Mass if there is no Eucharist. 

 

The structure of the Mass follows the order Luke 24. In the walk to Emmaus, the risen Christ walks with the two disciples and explains scriptures with them. Although they didn't recognise the resurrected Jesus, the disciples are moved by the Scriptures and invite Jesus to eat with them. Their eyes are spiritually opened through the breaking of the bread. 

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Many non-Catholics, when attending a Catholic Mass, would find it strange that there is constant standing, sitting and kneeling. Most Catholics sit, stand and kneel at specific points of the Mass without being asked to, which may confuse non-Catholics. Yet, there is a reason why Catholics move around on cue. Let me share some of the reasons why. 

 

Stand 

 

Catholics stand for the opening and closing prayers of the Mass and stand for the Gospel as it is on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Catholics stand for the "Gloria" and the "Our Father; because we are giving thanks and proclaiming the Scriptures.

 

Sit 

 

Parishioners sit for the first two Scripture readings and the sermon, and to reflect on what we have heard, and how they impact our lives as Christians. 

 

Kneel

 

We kneel before the Consecrated Host, and when the priest says the words from the Last Supper as Catholics believe that it is the real presence of Christ. (Romans 14:11)

 

 

Various aspects of the Mass are for silent prayer. Parishioners are encouraged to use this quiet time to talk to God and listen to Him. So often these days, there is always sound needed to occupy ourselves. Rarely do we have the opportunity for silent prayer and reflection. The Mass provides us with the chance to reflect on our lives, and on our relationship with Jesus. 

 

Regarding the liturgy of the Eucharist, the Catholic Church commonly calls it the sacrifice of the Mass, which may disturb many Protestants. Non-Catholics Christians may refute the sacrifice of the Mass; as they point out in Hebrews 10 it says that Jesus took away sin by His one sacrifice (Hebrews 10:11-18). However, The Church does not teach that the sacrifice of the Mass is another sacrifice over and over again, nor that the priest re-sacrifices Jesus.

 

Two main sacrifices are offered up during the Mass; firstly, we offer up self-sacrifices in thanksgiving, departing from the things that block us from following Christ; and to recommit our lives to Christ. All Christians are called to be a holy nation of priests; we are called to serve the Lord. By doing this, Jesus can change and guide our hearts to the truth. (Romans 12:1-2, 1 Peter 2:4-5). The other sacrifice is the one that Jesus gave to us on the cross. In every Mass, Catholics revisit and remember Jesus's sacrifice for us at Calvary. Jesus died once, and He never needs to die again for us. But yet, Jesus gave us His sacrificial body through the bread and wine, so we may take part in His one sacrifice forever until He returns to bring us home. The Last Supper and Calvary are one sacrifice.

 

We must consider that in most of the book of Hebrews, Paul was writing about the high priests of the old Covenant who sacrificed animals. We acknowledge Jesus as the true High Priest and who continues to give us grace through our offering of thanksgiving. We are to receive the Eucharist and celebrate Mass as a gift of God. The Eucharist isn't a worthless and meaningless ritual; instead, it is the opposite. The Eucharist is Jesus' gift to us, to remember Christ's sacrifice and partake in His body so we may become holy. This does not mean that we will become perfect humans; nobody's perfect, nor does eating the body and drinking the blood of Christ makes us God. It's a mystery; Although, Catholics believe we must partake in what He ordered us to do in John 6 and the last supper accounts. Jesus gives us the graces needed to live a holy life when we genuinely and faithfully partake in the Eucharist. 

 

Before receiving the Eucharist, we must examine ourselves, aiming to live the Holy life God wants us to live. We know that Jesus was sacrificed once and for all to take away the sins of the world. (Hebrews 7:27). The Mass is a re-presentation of Jesus' original sacrifice, making it present to all Christians in all time and places. 

 

Jesus fulfils all the sacrifices of the Old Testament in His one holy sacrifice on the cross. The word "Mass" comes from the Latin term, Ite missa est, which translates to "Go, it is sent". This is the same meaning that appears in the latter part of the word Christmas. In the Catholic Mass, the "It" refers to the Church, which relates to both the visible Church and the spiritual Church. Through the Eucharist and the Holy Spirit, we receive the gift of grace to go out and proclaim the Good News of Christ. The Mass is the public profession of the Catholic faith. 

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"Assemble on the Lord's day, and break bread and offer the Eucharist; but first make confession of your faults, so that your sacrifice may be a pure one. Anyone who has a difference with his fellow is not to take part with you until he has been reconciled, so as to avoid any profanation of your sacrifice [Matt. 5:23-24]. For this is the offering of which the Lord has said, 'Everywhere and always bring me a sacrifice that is undefiled, for I am a great king, says the Lord, and my name is the wonder of nations' [Mal. 1:11, 14] - Didache 14 A.D. 70

 

"If Christ Jesus, our Lord and God, is himself the high priest of God the Father; and if he offered himself as a sacrifice to the Father; and if he commanded that this be done in commemoration of himself, then certainly the priest, who imitates that which Christ did, truly functions in place of Christ" Cyprian of Carthage AD 253