Mass is the most special thing we do as God’s family: we listen to Jesus, and Jesus comes to us. Here is what happens, step by step, when to stand, sit and kneel, and the words we say back. Read it together before Sunday.
Jesus has invited us, and we come together as God’s family.
We stand and sing as the priest walks in and kisses the altar. Then we all make the Sign of the Cross together.
Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Priest: The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
We tell God we are sorry for the times we were not kind, and ask Him to forgive us.
Priest: Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Priest: Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Sometimes we pray “I confess to almighty God” instead, and gently tap our chest at “through my fault”.
We sing a happy song of praise, like the angels on the night Jesus was born.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise You, we bless You, we adore You, we glorify You…
We don’t sing the Gloria on the Sundays of Advent and Lent, so it sounds extra joyful at Christmas and Easter.
God speaks to us in the Bible.
We sit and listen to stories and words from the Bible. God is speaking to us!
Reader: The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
For the Psalm, the singer teaches us a short response, and we sing it back after each verse.
We stand to hear a story about Jesus. We trace three little crosses on our forehead, lips and heart: Jesus, be in my mind, on my lips and in my heart.
Alleluia! (not in Lent)
Priest: A reading from the holy Gospel according to…
Glory to you, O Lord.
Priest: The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
We sit while the priest helps us understand God’s word. Listen for one thing to remember!
Nothing to say: just listen. Try to catch one word or idea to talk about at lunch.
We stand and say together what we believe about God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible…
We bow our heads at “and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man”.
We pray for the Church, for the whole world, for people who are sick and for people who have died.
Reader: Let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Parishes sometimes use a different response: listen to the first one, then join in.
The bread and wine become Jesus.
The bread and wine are brought to the altar, and we give to the collection. We can give Jesus our hearts too.
Priest: Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters), that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
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.
The priest asks us to lift up our hearts to God. Then we sing with all the angels and saints in heaven.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right and just.
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
The most special moment! The priest says Jesus’ own words, and the bread and wine become Jesus, His Body and Blood. Look up at the Host and the chalice when the priest holds them high.
Whisper in your heart: “My Lord and my God!”
Priest: The mystery of faith.
We proclaim Your Death, O Lord, and profess Your Resurrection until You come again.
Priest: Through him, and with him, and in him…
Amen!
Jesus comes to us in Holy Communion.
We stand and pray the prayer Jesus taught us, all together as one family of God.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…
Priest: Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil…
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours now and for ever.
We wish the people around us the peace of Jesus, with a smile and a handshake or a little bow.
Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
And with your spirit.
To the people near us: Peace be with you.
We sing to Jesus, the Lamb of God, while the priest breaks the Host. Then he holds it up, and we tell Jesus how much we need Him.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us… grant us peace.
Priest: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
In most parishes we kneel after the Lamb of God.
Everyone who has made their First Holy Communion receives Jesus. Little ones come up too, with arms crossed over their chest, for a blessing.
Priest: The Body of Christ.
Amen.
Back in our place, we kneel and talk to Jesus: “Jesus, I love You. Thank You for coming to us.”
We take Jesus’ love home with us.
The priest blesses us, and we make the Sign of the Cross. Then he sends us out to share Jesus’ love with everyone.
Priest: May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Priest: Go forth, the Mass is ended.
Thanks be to God.
A little bag with a few quiet things helps small children stay with Mass. Bring them out when needed, and put them away to look up at the Consecration.
The Mass bag cardThe responses, the Sign of the Cross, the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be, in big letters. Cut out, or cut in half and fold.
Quiet colouring pagesA church, the chalice and Host, the dove and the altar with candles: three pages to colour quietly.
This guide, to printAll sixteen steps on two A4 pages, for the fridge or the Mass bag.