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Text Box: The Orthodox - Basilian Catechism 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

Text Box: 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

Text Box: 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

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