LESSON TWENTY-FOURTH: On the Sacrifice of the Divine Liturgy (Mass)

Q. 916. When and where are the bread and wine changed into the body and blood of Christ?
A. The bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ at the Consecration in the Divine Liturgy (Mass) which occurs at the Epiklesis.

Q. 917. What is the Divine Liturgy (Mass)?
A. The Divine Liturgy (Mass) is the unbloody sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ.

Q. 918. Why is this Sacrifice called the Divine Liturgy, and why is it call the Mass?
A. This Sacrifice is called the Divine Liturgy, because it is the Liturgy which contains the Consecration and Holy Sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus christ, and therefore it is Divine. This Sacrifice is called the "Mass" in the West very probably from the words "Ite Missa est," used by the priest as he tells the people to depart when the Holy Sacrifice is ended.

Q. 919. What is a sacrifice?
A. A sacrifice is the offering of an object by a priest to God alone, and the consuming of it to acknowledge that He is the Creator and Lord of all things.

Q. 920. Is the Divine Liturgy (Mass) the same sacrifice as that of the Cross?
A. The Divine Liturgy (Mass) is the same sacrifice as that of the Cross.

Q. 921. How is the Divine Liturgy (Mass) the same sacrifice as that of the Cross?
A. The Divine Liturgy (Mass) is the same sacrifice as that of the Cross because the offering and the priest are the same -- Christ our Blessed Lord; and the ends for which the sacrifice of the Divine Liturgy (Mass) is offered are the same as those of the sacrifice of the Cross.

Q. 922. What were the ends for which the sacrifice of the Cross was offered?
A. The ends for which the sacrifice of the Cross was offered were:
1st. To honor and glorify God;
2nd. To thank Him for all the graces bestowed on the whole world;
3rd. To satisfy God's justice for the sins of men;
4th. To obtain all graces and blessings.

Q. 923. How are the fruits of the Divine Liturgy (Mass) distributed?
A. The fruits of the Divine Liturgy (Mass) are distributed thus:
1.The first benefit is bestowed on the priest who says the Divine Liturgy (Mass);
2.The second on the person for whom the Divine Liturgy (Mass) is said, or for the intention for which it is said;
3.The third on those who are present at the Divine Liturgy (Mass), and particularly on those who serve it, and
4.The fourth on all the faithful who are in communion with the Church.

Q. 924. Are all Divine Liturgies (Masses) of equal value in themselves or do they differ in worth?
A. All Divine Liturgies (Masses) are equal in value in themselves and do not differ in worth, but only in the solemnity with which they are celebrated or in the end for which they are offered.

Q. 925. How are Divine Liturgies (Masses) distinguished?
A. Divine Liturgies (Masses) are distinguished thus:
1. When the Divine Liturgy (Mass) is sung by a bishop, assisted by a deacon and sub-deacon, it is called Patriarchial in the East, and Pontifical in the West;
2. When it is sung by a priest, assisted by a deacon and sub-deacon, it is called a Solemn Divine Liturgy (Mass);
3. When sung by a priest without deacon and sub-deacon, it is called a Divine Liturgy (Mass) in the East and in the West, a Missa Cantata or High Mass;
4. When the Divine Liturgy (Mass) is only read in a low tone it is called a low or private Divine Liturgy (Mass).

Q. 926. For what end or intention may Divine Liturgy (Mass) be offered?
A. Divine Liturgy (Mass) may be offered for any end or intention that tends to the honor and glory of God, to the good of the Church or the welfare of man; but never for any object that is bad in itself, or in its aims; neither can it be offered publicly for persons who are not members of the true Church.

Q. 927. Explain what is meant by Requiem, Nuptial and Votive Divine Liturgies (Masses).
A. A Requiem Divine Liturgy (Mass) is one said in black vestments and with special prayers for the dead. A Nuptial Divine Liturgy (Mass) is one said at the marriage of two who are Orthodox Catholics or Roman Catholics (or members of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church), and it has special prayers for their benefit. A Votive Divine Liturgy (Mass) is one said in honor of some particular mystery or saint, on a day not set apart by the Church for the honor of that mystery or saint.

Q. 928. From what may we learn that we are to offer up the Holy Sacrifice with the priest?
A. We may learn that we are to offer up the Holy Sacrifice with the priest from the words used in the Divine Liturgy (Mass) itself; for the priest, after offering up the bread and wine for the Sacrifice, turns to the people and says: "Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the Father Almighty," and the congregation and servers answer: "May the Lord receive the sacrifice from thy hands to the praise and glory of His own name, and to our benefit and that of all His Holy Church."

Q. 929. From what did the custom of making an offering to the priest for praying Divine Liturgy (Mass) arise?
A. The custom of making an offering to the priest for praying Divine Liturgy (Mass) arose from the old custom of bringing to the priest the bread and wine necessary for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy (Mass).

Q. 930. Is it not simony, or the buying of a sacred thing, to offer the priest money for praying Divine Liturgy (Mass) for your intention?
A. It is not simony, or the buying of a sacred thing, to offer the priest money for praying Divine Liturgy (Mass) for our intention, because the priest does not take the money for the Divine Liturgy (Mass) itself, but for the purpose of supplying the things necessary for the Divine Liturgy (Mass) and for his own support.

Q. 931. Is there any difference between the sacrifice of the Cross and the sacrifice of the Divine Liturgy (Mass)?
A. Yes; the manner in which the sacrifice is offered is different. On the Cross Christ really shed His blood and was really slain; in the Divine Liturgy (Mass) there is no real shedding of blood nor real death, because Christ can die no more; but the sacrifice of the Divine Liturgy (Mass), through the separate consecration of the bread and the wine, represents His death on the Cross.

Q. 932. What are the chief parts of the Divine Liturgy (Mass)?
A. The chief parts of the Divine Liturgy (Mass) are The Divine Liturgy (Mass) of the Catechumens (those who are studying to become members of the Church) and The Divine Liturgy (Mass) of the Faithful (those who are members of the Church). The Liturgy of the Catechumens begins at the beginning of the Liturgy, and ends just before the Gospel. The Liturgy of the Faithful begins at the Gospel and is composed of three parts:
1. The Offertory, at which the priests offers to God the bread and wine to be changed at the Consecration;
2. The Consecration / Epiklesis, at which the substance of the bread and wine are changed into the substance of Christ's body and blood;
3. The Communion, at which the priest receives into his own body the Holy Eucharist under the appearance of both bread and wine, as do the Faithful.

Q. 933. At what part of the Divine Liturgy (Mass) does the Offertory take place, and what parts of the Divine Liturgy (Mass) are said before it?
A. The Offertory takes place immediately after the uncovering of the chalice. The parts of the Divine Liturgy (Mass) said before it are: The Introit, Kyrie, Gloria, Prayers, Epistle, Gospel and Creed. The Introit, Prayers, Epistle and Gospel change in each Divine Liturgy (Mass) to correspond with the feast celebrated.

Q. 934. What is the part of the Divine Liturgy (Mass) called in which the Words of Consecration are found?
A. The part of the Divine Liturgy (Mass) in which the words of Consecration are found is called the Canon, specifically at the Epiklesis. This is the most solemn part of the Divine Liturgy (Mass), and is rarely and but slightly changed in any Divine Liturgy (Mass).

Q. 935. What follows the Communion of the Divine Liturgy (Mass)?
A. Following the Communion of Divine Liturgy (Mass), there are prayers of thanksgiving, the blessing of the people, and sometimes the saying of the last Gospel.

Q. 936. What things are necessary for Divine Liturgy (Mass)?
A. The things necessary for Divine Liturgy (Mass) are:
1. An altar with linen covers, candles, crucifix, altar stone or antimensium and liturgical book;
2. A Chalice with all needed in its use, and leavened bread of flour from wheat and wine from the grape;
3. Vestments for the priest, and
4. An acolyte or server.

Under certain circumstances the Divine Liturgy (Mass) can be prayed without some of these, except that it is always required that there be bread of flour from wheat and wine from the grape.

Q. 937. What are the altar stone and the antimensium, and of what do they remind us?
A. The altar stone is that part of the altar upon which the priest rests the Chalice during Divine Liturgy (Mass). This stone contains some holy relics sealed up in it by the bishop, and if the altar is of wood this stone is inserted just in front of the Tabernacle. The altar stone reminds us of the early history of the Church, when the martyrs' tombs were used for altars by the persecuted Christians. It also reminds us that Christ is the foundation stone of the Church. The antimensium also serves this purpose, it being the cloth, usually with a red outside and icons on the inside, upon which the altar vessels are placed during Divine Liturgy (Mass).

Q. 938. What lesson do we learn from the practice of using martyrs' tombs for altars?
A. From the practice of using martyrs' tombs for altars we learn the inconvenience, sufferings and dangers the early Christians willingly underwent for the sake of hearing Divine Liturgy (Mass). Since the Divine Liturgy (Mass) is the same now as it was then, we should suffer every inconvenience rather than be absent from Divine Liturgy (Mass) on Sundays or holy days.

Q. 939. What things are used with the chalice during Divine Liturgy (Mass)?
A. The things used with the chalice during Divine Liturgy (Mass) are:
1. The purificator or cloth for wiping the inside;
2. The paten which may be a small silver or gold plate or a plate with a stand used in handling the bread;
3. The pall or white card used for covering the chalice;
4. The corporal or linen cloth on which the chalice and paten rest;
5. The asterisk or star which is placed over the paten;
6. One small veil for the paten and another for the chalice, and the large veil wich covers both.

Q. 940. What is the host?
A. The host is the name given to the thin wafer of bread used at Western Rite Divine Liturgy (Mass). This name is generally applied before and after Consecration to the large particle of bread used by the priest, though the small particles given to the people are also called by the same name. In the Eastern Rite, it is called the phospora, and is a small bread usually with designs on the top.

Q. 941. Are large and small hosts consecrated at every Divine Liturgy (Mass)?
A. A large host is consecrated at every Divine Liturgy (Mass), but small hosts are consecrated only at some Divine Liturgies (Masses) at which they are to be given to the people or placed in the Tabernacle for the Holy Communion of the faithful.

Q. 942. What vestments does the priest use at Divine Liturgy (Mass) and what do they signify?
A. The vestments used by the priest at Divine Liturgy (Mass) are:

In Western Rite:
1. The Amice, a white cloth around the shoulders to signify resistance to temptation;
2. The Alb, a long white garment to signify innocence;
3. The Cincture, a cord about the waist, to signify chastity;
4. The Maniple or hanging vestment on the left arm, to signify penance;
5. The Stole or long vestment about the neck, to signify immortality;
6. The Chasuble or long vestment over all, to signify love and remind the priest, by its cross on front and back, of the Passion of Our Lord.

In the Eastern Rite:
1. The Cassock, or White Sticharion, or Stikhar, or Podriznik, a long white garment, to signify purity and innocents;
2. The Stole, or Epitrakhil, is the vestment worn over the back of the neck and joined together in front of the Priest (or for Deacon, Orar - but it is worn in various ways at different times during different liturgies.) It indicates the consecrating Grace of the Priesthood for Priests, and the service of the angelic Cherubim and Seraphim for the Deacons.
3. The Cuffs or Porutchi, for the Priest signify the binding of Our Lord's hands, for the Deacon, that he relies on God's strength, and not his own;
4. the Zone, or Belt, or Poyas, is worn over the Stole, and signifies the gift of strength and exhorts the Priest to a blameless life;
5. The Sword, or Epigonation, or Nabedrennik, is a rectangular cloth worn at the right hip (unless the Priest also has a Palitza in which case it is worn at the left hip) and signifying the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, and also signifies the towel with which our Lord girded himself to wash the disciples' feet. It is conferred as a reward of honor;
6. The Palitza is a diamond shaped cloth suspended from a corner at the right hip, conferred as a reward like the Epigonation, for zeal for the faith and salvation of Christ's flock;
7. The Chasuble, or Phelonion, or Felon, covers all the other garments, is open in the front, and signifies the Lord's promise "My yoke is easy, and My burden is light";
8. The Bishop does not wear a Chasuble. He wears a Dalmatic, or Sakkos, symbolic of our Lord's coat without seams, over which is worn a Stole, or Omofor, or Omophorion, or Pall, which hangs down in front and back, signifying the wanderng or lost sheep which gives the Bishop the image of our Savior, the Good Shepherd, bearing the wandering lost sheep back to the flock;
9. Mitre, Cross, Panagia, Mantle, Crozier, Eagle, Dikiri, Trikiri, are other items are more appropriately considered in a full studyof the Divine Liturgy.

Q. 943. How many colors of vestments are used, and what do the colors signify?
A. Usually five colors of vestments are used, namely, white, red, green, violet or purple, and black. White signifies innocence and is used on the feasts of Our Blessed Lord, of the Blessed Virgin, and of some saints. Red signifies love, and is used on the feasts of the Holy Ghost, and of martyrs. Green signifies hope, and is generally used on Sundays from Epiphany to Pentecost. Violet signifies penance, and is used in Lent and Advent. Black signifies sorrow, and is used on Good Friday and at Divine Liturgies (Masses) for the dead. Gold is often used for white on great feasts. Blue is often used on feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Some modernists use mottled colors respecting pagan origins of various peoples - such use is wrong for it grants to pagan culture and religion the respect which is due only to the true religion.

Q. 944. What is the Tabernacle and what is the Ciborium?
A. The Tabernacle is the tomb or house-shaped part of the altar where the sacred vessels containing the Blessed Sacrament are kept. The Ciborium is the large silver or gold vessel which contains the Blessed Sacrament while in the Tabernacle, and from which the priest gives Holy Communion to the people during Presanctified Liturgies.

Q. 945. What is the Ostensorium or Monstrance?
A. The Ostensorium or Monstrance is the beautiful wheel-like vessel in which the Blessed Sacrament is exposed and kept during the Benediction.

Q. 946. How should we assist at Divine Liturgy (Mass)?
A. We should assist at Divine Liturgy (Mass) with great interior recollection and piety and with every outward mark of respect and devotion.

Q. 947. Which is the best manner of hearing Divine Liturgy (Mass)?
A. The best manner of hearing Divine Liturgy (Mass) is to offer it to God with the priest for the same purpose for which it is said, to meditate on Christ's sufferings and death, and to go to Holy Communion.

Q. 948. What is important for the proper and respectful hearing of Divine Liturgy (Mass)?
A. For the proper and respectful hearing of Divine Liturgy (Mass) it is important to be in our place before the priest comes to the altar and not to leave it before the priest leaves the altar. Thus we prevent the confusion and distraction caused by late coming and too early leaving. Standing in the doorways, blocking up passages and disputing about places should, out of respect for the Holy Sacrifice, be most carefully avoided.

Q. 949. What is Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and what vestments are used at it?
A. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is an act of divine worship in which the Blessed Sacrament, placed in the ostensorium, is exposed for the adoration of the people and is lifted up to bless them. The vestments used at Benediction are: A cope or large silk cloak and a humeral or shoulder veil.

Q. 950. Why does the priest wear special vestments and use certain ceremonies while performing his sacred duties?
A. The priest wears special vestments and uses certain ceremonies while performing his sacred duties:
1. To give greater solemnity and to command more attention and respect at divine worship;
2. To instruct the people in the things that these vestments and ceremonies signify;
3. To remind the priest himself of the importance and sacred character of the work in which he is the representative of Our Lord Himself.

Hence we should learn the meaning of the ceremonies of the Church.

Q. 951. How do we show that the ceremonies of the Church are reasonable and proper?
A. We show that the ceremonies of the Church are reasonable and proper from the fact that all persons in authority, rulers, judges and masters, require certain acts of respect from their subjects, and as we know Our Lord is present on the altar, the Church requires definite acts of reverence and respect at the services held in His honor and in His presence.

Q. 952. Are there other reasons for the use of ceremonies?
A. There are other reasons for the use of ceremonies:
1. God commanded ceremonies to be used in the old law, and
2. Our Blessed Lord Himself made use of ceremonies in performing some of His miracles.

Q. 953. How are the persons who take part in a Solemn Divine Liturgy (Mass) or Vespers named?
A. The persons who take part in a Solemn Divine Liturgy (Mass) or Vespers are named as follows: The priest who says or celebrates the Divine Liturgy (Mass) is called the celebrant; those who assist him as deacon and sub-deacon are called the ministers; those who serve are called acolytes, and the one who directs the ceremonies is called the master of ceremonies. If the celebrant be a bishop in the Western Rite, the Divine Liturgy (Mass) or Vespers is called Pontifical Divine Liturgy (Mass) or Pontifical Vespers.

Q. 954. What is Vespers?
A. Vespers is a portion of the divine office or daily prayer of the Church. It is sung in Churches generally on Sunday afternoon or evening, and is usually followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Q. 955. Can one satisfy for neglecting Divine Liturgy (Mass) on Sunday by hearing Vespers on the same day?
A. One cannot satisfy for neglecting Divine Liturgy (Mass) on Sunday by hearing Vespers on the same day, because there is no law of the Church obliging us under pain of sin to attend Vespers, while there is a law obliging us under pain of mortal sin to hear Divine Liturgy (Mass).

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