Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Mary’s of the Lake:
(Below is Part 1 of Pope Francis’ catechesis on the Holy Mass on Dec 20, 2017 at the weekly Audience at St. Peter’s Square. 

 ◆ Today I would like to enter the vibrant heart of the Eucharistic celebration. The Mass is composed of two parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Eucharistic Liturgy. They are so closely connected to each other that they form one single act of worship (cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium, n. 56; General Instructions of the Roman Missal, # 28). The celebration, introduced by several preparatory rites and concluded by others, thus forms a single body and cannot be separated, but for clarification I will try to explain its various moments, each of which is capable of touching and engaging a dimension of our humanity. One must know these holy signs in order to experience the Mass fully and to enjoy all of its beauty.

◆ Once the people are gathered, the celebration opens with the Introductory Rites, including the Entrance of the celebrants or the celebrant, the Greeting — ‘The Lord be with you’ or ‘Peace be with you’ —, the Act of Penitence — ‘I confess’, with which we ask forgiveness for our sins —, the Kyrie Eleison, the Gloria Hymn and the Collect Prayer: it is called the ‘Collect Praye’, not because the collection of offerings takes place then: it is the Collect of the prayer intentions of all peoples; and that Collect of the peoples’ intention rises to heaven as a prayer. Their purpose — that of these Introductory Rites — is ‘to ensure that the faithful who come together as one establish communion and dispose themselves to listen properly to God’s word and to celebrate the Eucharist worthily.’ (General Instructions of the Roman Missal, n. 46). It is not a good habit to look at your watch and say: ‘I am on time; I arrive after the sermon and this way I fulfil the precept’. Mass begins with the sign of the Cross, with these Introductory Rites, because there we begin to adore God as a community. And for this reason it is important to make sure you do not arrive late, but rather early, in order to prepare the heart for this rite, for this community celebration.
◆ Normally, while the Entrance Hymn is sung, the priest, with the altar servers, approaches the altar in procession, and salutes it with a bow and, in a sign of veneration, kisses it and, when there is incense, incenses it. Why? Because the Altar is Christ: it is the figure of Christ. When we look at the Altar, we are looking exactly at Christ. The Altar is Christ. [To Be Continued)

‘The greatest prayer of all is Mass and Sunday Mass is that special day of the week when the whole community comes together to give honor and glory and praise to God’ (Bishop Ricken)