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Understanding the Mass

The Mass is the central act of worship in the life of a Catholic. We believe that heaven and earth meet in the Mass. As we lift our hearts to God, He comes to meet us,accompanied by the angels and the communion of saints.  We offer our praise and worship, and we receive grace - we partake in the divine life of God. This spiritually fills us so we can live out the gospel in our daily lives.  The name 'Mass' comes from the final blessing said by the priest in Latin ‘Ite missa es’ meaning “to send out” as Jesus Christ sent his disciples out to the world to take his teaching to them.

 

St. Damian offered a Teaching Mass in the Fall of 2021, offering a narration of the Mass, citing the scriptural basis of our prayers and movements.  You can find that compilation here in PDF.

 

Elements of the Catholic Mass is designed to help the faithful better appreciate the beauty of the Mass. Featuring experts from the Liturgical Institute, the program consists of beautifully produced short videos of 2-5 minutes. These are available online for free. They are ideal for personal faith formation or group discussion.  Click here to access the YouTube Channel. 

Here is an example: