Florida Catholic | A Sunday Guide to Mass 8

ED FOSTER JR.| FC
Father Carlos Rojas, Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, St. Petersburg.

BREAKING OF BREAD AND COMMUNION

Priest: Breaks the large host that has been consecrated into pieces and puts a piece into the chalice to symbolize the unity of the body and blood in the glorious living body of Jesus. After silent prayer, he shows the bread to the faithful and invites them to the banquet. He partakes of the body and precious blood before distributing Communion to the faithful, with the aid of extraordinary ministers of holy Communion. After a period of quiet meditation, ends the Communion rite with a prayer.

People: Sing “Lamb of God.” Kneel in humble adoration, begin singing a Communion hymn when the priest receives the sacrament. Stand and approach the priest or minister of Communion, bow and respond, “Amen,” first to receiving the body in the palms of the hands then to receiving the blood by sipping from the cup. After Communion, when the hosts have been returned to the tabernacle, sit for a period of quiet meditation.

Did you know? Bowing as a gesture of reverence before receiving each kind of holy Communion was recently added to the liturgy for the universal church.

Tip: Some pastors in large congregations suggest bowing as the person in line in front of you receives Communion to avoid prolonging the Mass.

CONCLUDING RITE

Priest: Blesses and dismisses the congregation, kisses and bows to the altar, processes out of the church with the ministers of the Mass.

People: Stand and make the sign of the cross. Sing a recessional hymn.

Did you know? After Communion and before the blessing is an appropriate time for brief announcements and second collections to be made.

Tip: It’s polite to wait until the priest has left before you do.

ABOUT THIS GUIDE

This guide was compiled by Denise O’Toole Kelly of the Florida Catholic staff from sources including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Web site, www.usccb.org (Committee on the Liturgy, Chapter 2), catholic-pages.com (Tour of the New Mass) and catholic-resources.org (Basic Texts for the Roman Catholic Eucharist, The Order Of Mass).