Homework about the Cathlic mass

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I'm just wondering if there is anyone here who is Catholic and would be willing to look over a report that I've written about the Mass if i posted it on here to see if its accurate?

If so I'll never be able to thank you enough everyone around here is protestant and its about the Catholic mass so i have no one to help me

I can help
I used to be catholic
(they call me witch now)
don't mean I dont know though
gimmie a PM shout

For my religious observation I chose St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Christian church. The reason that I chose this church over others is because it was close to where I live and because I generally understand Christianity even tho I'm not really Christian . The Catholic church is the biggest sect of Christians and is the largest religious organization in the world. The church is currently headed by Pope Benedict XVI (16th) who resides in Vatican city, a country within Italy. This is why the denomination is called Roman Catholic.

The summaries of the beliefs of the church are mostly summarized in the Nicene and the Apostles creeds. They believe in a trinitarian God, with God the father, Jesus the son, and the holy spirit all as one God. Jesus was conceived through the holy spirit and was born by the virgin Mary. His teachings eventually were to honer God and to treat others nicely (thats a very quick summery but considering most of the class is Christian I don't think I need to go into more details, and I apologize if that short summery offends anyone). He was crucified and died on the cross and was buried. Three days later he rose again and acceded to heaven, and one day shall return to judge all mortals, living or dead. The sacred text of Christianity is the holy bible, a book consisting of 73 separate books, divided into two sections, the old testament and the new testament with the New Testament describing Jesus' teachings and life.

The Catholic mass is considered within the church the highest form of prayer to God, and as such I upheld the highest amount of respect towards it as possible. Upon entering the church one dips their fingers into a bowl of holy water and blesses oneself with the sign of the cross. Before one sits down at a pew followers generally (but not always) genuflect and the knee and make the sign of the cross and then takes their seat. It is common for one to kneel and collect ones thoughts or pray for a few minutes before sitting back on the pew. During the time before the mass an alter boy or during my mass an alter girl lights the candles around the alter while wearing a white robe.
As the mass begins the opening hymn is sung while a precession of alter server holding a cross followed by a deacon(I think) who carries an ornate holy bible followed by the priest who is singing the hymn. Once the priest reacher the alter the mass begins with everyone making the sign of the cross as the priest recites “In the name of the father, and the son, and the holy spirit” after which everyone replies “amen”.

The priest then read two scriptures, one from the old testament and one from the new testament. This is followed by a lecture explaining the meaning of what the scripture means. The one read during the day I went was about Jesus being asked about a woman having seven husbands who had died and which one would be her husband in heaven in an attempt to trick him. Jesus replied by saying that heaven isn't a place of solid body but of spirit.

The next stage of the mass was the preparation and blessing of the Eucharist. The priest placed the bread which was in an ornate bowl/ plate and a chalice with wine in it upon the alter. He blesses each out loud and then symbolically washes his hands with a bowl of water which was held by the alter boy, as a rite of purification before handling the bread and wine. The priest leads the people in a prayer for over the bread and wine before kneeling as the wine and bread are consecrated. At this point the bread and wine stops being normal bread and wine but the true body and blood of Christ. The people then kneel while reciting the lord's prayer. After this the whole congregation sings the lamb of god (called Angus Dei in Latin). The priest receives the communion as the other people who participate in giving the communion rise and walk up to the alter. As a hymn is sung the people rise in order and walk up towards the alter. When receiving the communion the administer says the body of Christ, or the blood of Christ to which the receiver replies amen. It is important to realize that this is literally the blood and body of Christ and this whole ceremony is a reenactment of the last supper. Upon receiving the Eucharist the people walk back to their seat and generally kneel until the whole congregation has received the Eucharist.

Once this is done the priest gives his final blessing and says the mass have ended may you go in piece along with a few other prayers. A final hymn is sung as the priest and ministers leave. After that the people may slowly leave or may stay and pray by themselves. As I was leaving the church helpers gave out a paper concerning the general happenings of the church, the collection ect.


I just posted it because its something around two here so i'm going to bed but thanks for being willing to help.

wow does that bring back memories
what do you want me to do exactly?

well does that sound about right when describing how a cathlic mass goes? Seriously all i need to know is does it sound accurate? What i had to do was go to church then come home and write about the experience from memory.

oh yeah dude flawless
hence why I asked if I needed to help
you got it all
(surprised I remember with all the fire dancing I do) lol

Thank the gods I got it right, and thank you so much you can't even imagine how much that helps, this is the last paper I need to turn in to pass for the year in college.

well you did a good job
and I was happy to help
its nice to see tolerance in the world
if more christians were like you-then the world would be a bit better

Blessed Be

For Catholics, it isn't really bread (as most of us know it), but rather a thin wheat wafer with a very bland taste. I think that most of the people only get fed the wafer, and don't get to drink any of the wine. I'm not sure, though--I think that I heard of children at their first communions getting to drink wine.

And, it is actual wine (that is, until it becomes the blood of Christ)--many Protestants use grape juice.

And, not just anyone can go and get the communion. I think that you have to have become an official Catholic first, usually through going through some classes called "Catechism."

Also, Catholics have to go to Confessions--you might want to write about those--I think before they can have the communion, but I don't really know.

Also, you have some mispelled words. Please run your paper through a spellcheck before you turn it in.

I'm a atheist but was brought up a catholic.

You need to elaborate here, not because it is offensive but because it lacks detail. Give it a go then I'll tell you if it is accurate.


It is bread and it can be like 'normal' flat bread but wafer is more common, it has to be made out water and flour only (unleavened). The idea is the bread is broken and shared with the congregation. If they are using wafer the priest just breaks his larger wafer and shares it with the those helping him to conduct the mass then there rest of the congregation gets the the smaller wafers. There is no set practice on this apart from the sharing.

Wine is commonly watered down. You don't have to take the wine many don't. If you are allergic to wheat you don't have to take the bread, if you are an alcoholic you don't have to take the wine, etc.


You have to be baptized. If you are not you can receive a blessing from the priest instead. Anyone can receive a blessing. They assume you are baptized otherwise. The common practice is to cross your arms in front of your chest if you are not baptized. It is common practice for baptized children to wait until late childhood before taking the Eucharist so they can understand the significance of it. This is termed 'first holy communion' and is often combined with the rite of Confirmation which is a sort of renewal of baptism once you can understand.


It is is important to note that not all catholics agree on the details of the sacraments. In fact that is a minority that believe that 'Confession' is a false notion. They confess to god when they pray as you can do anyway.

I know the grammar sucked I just wanted to know if it was the "just" of what happens I've fixed the spelling in the paper.


Thanks it was the first time I ever went to a Catholic mass and I wasn't really supposed to look up the stuff but do by my impressions but I'll change it to reflect your advice, also I'll add a note at the end that I've had friends help me with it.

Anyway thank you all you've helped me so much May the god or gods or no god bless you all lol

Did you get some unleavened bread and watered-down wine?

I personally didn't receive the Eucharist, I just kinda didn't feel right doing it because I'm not really Christian although I believe strongly in what he taught.

The assignment was:
"Each student is to observe a form of worship experience outside of their own faith. This may be a church or mosque service, or any service by a legitimate religious body.

Following the experience the student is to write a brief 2 page summery of how it proceeded and how it reflected the beliefs of the denomination."

Also the teacher told us if it was a Christian mass I didn't have to be as specific as if it had been another religion because the teacher is a priest and most (in other words everyone but me) were Christians of differing denominations.

The paper is to be read to the class and then the class is to ask me questions of which I'm to answer to the best of my ability.

At the end of the paper describing the assignment it said "You are not being asked to actively engage in worship, or participate in and ritual sacramental behavior which your uncomfortable with."

Also the teacher is more concerned that I have went to a church then how good the paper is written.

Also the grammar and spelling will be fixed by me before turning it in so don't worry about that on here.

I am Roman Catholic, was a Eucharistic Minister at one time and have a mass book in front of me right now. The Mass is split into sections.
1. Introductory Rights
A. Entrence Hymn
B. Greeting
C. Penitential rights (group recognises sin and asks forgiveness)
D. Kyrie (Lord have Mercy, Christ have Mercy, Lord have Mercy)
E. Gloria (except lent)
F. Opening Prayer
2. Liturgy of the Word
A. First Reading (Old Testament)
B. Responsorial Psalm
C. Second Reading (New Testament; non Gospel)
D. Alleluia
E. Gospel
F. Homily (simular to a Protestant Sermon)
G. Profession of Faith (ie recite the Apostle's Creed)
H. General Intercessions (prayer of the faithful)
3. Litergy of the Eucharist
A. Offertory Song (this is when collection is taken)
B. Invitation to Prayer (followed by the Prayer Over the Gifts)
C. Eucharistic Prayer
-intoductory dialogue
-preface (praise to the Father)
-Sanctus
-Invocation of the Holy Spirit
-The Lord's Supper
D. Memorial Acclamation
E. The Memorial Prayer
F. Invocation
G. Intercessions
-For the Church, Dead, In Communion with the Saints
H. Concluding Doxology (this isn't the Doxology song used in Protestant Church Services)
4. Communion Rite
A. Lord's Prayer (standing not kneeling)
B. Sign of Peace
C.Breaking of the Bread
D. Communion
E. Communion of the Priest
F. Communion of the People
G. Prayer after the Communion (silent prayer while kneeling)
5. Concluding Rite
A. Blessing
B. Dismissal
C. Recessional Hymn


-There is a lot of kneeling most of which is done in parts 3 and 4 (if your not Catholic or have knee or back problems, can't walk exct. you can remain sitting)
-Eucharist (communion) is done at every mass not just the first church service of the month as common in many Protestant denominations.
-The Catholic and Orthodox churches have a more literal view of holy communion than the Protestant churches, who view it more symbolically, which is why the groups don't partake of communion in the opposite group.
-The Lord's Prayer in the Catholic version does not immediatly end with 'for the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever' there is a break for the priest's mini-prayer and then this is added
-As a nun here once explained "Catholics are more people of the eucharist and Protestants are more people of the word"

Hope you find this helpful.

Wow, that is a lot.