The Mass is made up of two great parts, the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, framed by the Introductory and Concluding Rites. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal describes them as so closely joined that they form one single act of worship: at the table of God's Word and the table of Christ's Body the faithful are instructed and refreshed. Knowing the shape of the Mass is the first step toward what the Second Vatican Council asked of every Catholic: full, conscious and active participation. This guide walks through a Sunday Mass in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite as it is celebrated in the United States.

What you need

• Nothing but yourself; a missal or the parish's worship aid helps you follow the readings and responses
• The Eucharistic fast: one hour from food and drink (other than water and medicine) before receiving Communion
• The state of grace, if you intend to receive Holy Communion — confession first if you are aware of mortal sin

When to pray it

Every Sunday and holy day of obligation, at the vigil Mass on the evening before or on the day itself; daily Mass whenever you can. Sunday is the original feast day, and the precept binds all Catholics who are not prevented by serious reason.

Steps

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   Step 1: The Introductory Rites: gathering as one body

   The Mass begins with the entrance chant as the priest and ministers process to the altar; the priest kisses the altar, a sign of Christ. Then all make the Sign of the Cross▾ together and the priest greets the people: 'The Lord be with you.' R. 'And with your spirit.' The Penitential Act follows — often the Confiteor▾ ('I confess to almighty God...'), striking the breast at 'through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault' — and then the Kyrie: 'Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.' On Sundays outside Advent and Lent, and on solemnities and feasts, the Gloria is sung or said. The priest then invites 'Let us pray' and prays the Collect, gathering the prayers of all, to which the people answer 'Amen.'

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   Step 2: The Liturgy of the Word: the readings and the psalm

   All sit. The First Reading is usually from the Old Testament (from the Acts of the Apostles in Easter Time) and is chosen to echo the Gospel. The lector ends 'The word of the Lord' and all answer 'Thanks be to God.' The Responsorial Psalm follows, sung or said, with the people repeating the refrain; it is the people's meditative answer to God's word. On Sundays and solemnities there is a Second Reading from the New Testament letters or Revelation, again closing with 'The word of the Lord. R. Thanks be to God.' Keep a moment of silence after each reading to let it settle.

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   Step 3: The Gospel: standing to hear Christ speak

   All stand for the Gospel Acclamation — the Alleluia, or in Lent 'Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory' or a similar acclamation. The deacon or priest says 'The Lord be with you. R. And with your spirit. A reading from the holy Gospel according to N.' and all answer 'Glory to you, O Lord,' tracing a small cross on the forehead, lips and heart: that the Gospel may be in my mind, on my lips and in my heart. At the end: 'The Gospel of the Lord.' R. 'Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.' In the Gospel, Christ himself is present and speaking to his people.

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   Step 4: The Homily, the Creed and the Universal Prayer

   All sit for the Homily, in which the priest or deacon opens the Scriptures and applies them to life; the homily is part of the liturgy itself, not an interruption of it. On Sundays and solemnities all then stand for the Profession of Faith, ordinarily the Nicene Creed▾; everyone bows at the words 'and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man' (and genuflects at them on Christmas and the Annunciation). The Apostles' Creed▾ may be used instead, especially in Lent and Easter Time. The Liturgy of the Word closes with the Universal Prayer (the Prayer of the Faithful), in which the people intercede for the Church, the world, those in need and the local community, answering each petition, usually 'Lord, hear our prayer.'

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   Step 5: The Preparation of the Gifts

   All sit as the Liturgy of the Eucharist begins. Members of the congregation bring forward the bread and wine, and the collection for the Church and the poor is gathered — both are the people's offering of themselves. The priest places the gifts on the altar with the prayers 'Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation...', to which the people may answer 'Blessed be God for ever,' and washes his hands. Then all stand as he says: 'Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters), that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.' R. '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.' He prays the Prayer over the Offerings; all answer 'Amen.'

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   Step 6: The Eucharistic Prayer: the centre and summit of the Mass

   The Eucharistic Prayer opens with the Preface dialogue: 'The Lord be with you. R. And with your spirit. Lift up your hearts. R. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. R. It is right and just.' After the Preface all sing 'Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts...' and then kneel. The priest asks the Father to send the Holy Spirit upon the gifts, and then, taking the bread and the chalice, speaks the words of Christ at the Last Supper: 'This is my Body... This is the chalice of my Blood.' By these words the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ, and his one sacrifice on the Cross is made present. The priest raises the Host and the chalice; it is customary to look at them and adore in silence, or to say quietly 'My Lord and my God.' Then: 'The mystery of faith.' R. 'We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again' (or one of the other two acclamations). The prayer continues with intercession for the Church, the Pope and bishop, the living and the dead, and ends with the doxology: 'Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours, for ever and ever.' The people's 'Amen' — the Great Amen — is their assent to everything that has been done.

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   Step 7: The Communion Rite: the Our Father, the peace and the Lamb of God

   All stand and pray the Our Father▾ together, the prayer Christ gave us, asking for our daily bread. The priest continues 'Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil...' and the people answer 'For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever.' After the prayer for peace the deacon or priest may say 'Let us offer each other the sign of peace,' and those nearby exchange a simple greeting of peace — a handshake or a bow — as a sign of the reconciliation Christ has given. Then the priest breaks the Host while all sing the Lamb of God: 'Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us... grant us peace.' In the United States all kneel after the Lamb of God.

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   Step 8: Receiving Holy Communion

   The priest holds up the Host: '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.' All answer: 'Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.' Catholics in the state of grace who have kept the one-hour fast come forward in procession. Bow your head as the person in front of you receives, then step forward; the minister says 'The Body of Christ' and you answer 'Amen' before receiving, on the tongue or on the hand (if in the hand, place one hand under the other, receive the Host, and consume it at once, before stepping away). If the chalice is offered: 'The Blood of Christ.' R. 'Amen.' Return to your place and keep a time of silent thanksgiving; the Anima Christi▾ is a traditional prayer for this moment. The rite ends with the Prayer after Communion, to which all answer 'Amen.'

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   Step 9: The Concluding Rites: blessed and sent

   After any brief announcements, the priest greets the people once more — 'The Lord be with you. R. And with your spirit.' — and blesses them: 'May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.' R. 'Amen.' Then the dismissal, which gives the Mass its name (missa, 'sending'): 'Go forth, the Mass is ended,' or 'Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord,' or 'Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life,' or simply 'Go in peace.' R. 'Thanks be to God.' The priest kisses the altar and leaves in procession. Stay for the closing hymn, and, if you can, a minute of quiet before leaving: the Eucharist you have received is meant to be carried into the week.

Tips

• Arrive a few minutes early. Bless yourself with holy water at the door, genuflect toward the tabernacle before entering the pew, and use the quiet to prepare.
• The postures — standing, sitting, kneeling — are not arbitrary: we stand to pray and to hear the Gospel, sit to listen, and kneel to adore. In the United States the faithful kneel from after the Holy, Holy, Holy until after the Great Amen, and again after the Lamb of God.
• Join in the responses and the singing out loud. The General Instruction says the people's acclamations and responses are not decoration but their proper part in the celebration.
• If you cannot receive Communion, you may still come forward with your arms crossed over your chest for a blessing, or remain in the pew and make an Act of Spiritual Communion.