COMMENTATOR'S

GUIDE
GUIDE AND RESPONSES FOR
THE HOLY MASS

(ENGLISH)

Prepared by: Brylle R. Claveria

Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International
Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

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 COMMENTATOR'S GUIDE
MUST BE SAID 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE MASS

Commentator: Good _______ brothers and sisters in Christ. Before we begin

the Mass, may we request everyone to (turn off your mobile phones) keep
quiet and dispose yourselves for this Sacred celebration.

Commentator: Good_________brothers and sisters in Christ. In the name of

the Christian Community of_____________, welcome to this Eucharistic
Celebration.

Let us include in our prayers at this Mass the following intentions:

Thanksgiving offered by :
For the special intention/s of:
For the safe travel of:
For the speedy recovery of:
For the eternal repose of the soul/s of:
Today is _______ in the ____ week in ordinary time/ advent/ lent / easter
(feast or solemnity of_________)

The Priest Presider for today's Mass is Rev. Fr. __________

Commentator: Please rise for the entrance song.

ORDER OF THE HOLY MASS

Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Commentator: Amen.

Greeting

Then the Priest greets the people: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the
love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

Commentator: And with your spirit.

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PENITENTIAL RITE

Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins,

and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

A brief pause for silence follows. Then all recite together the formula of general
confession:

Commentator: I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and

sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I
have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my
fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore, I ask blessed Mary Ever-
Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for
me to the Lord our God.

or

Priest: Have mercy on us, O Lord.

Commentator: For we have sinned against you.
Priest: Show us, O Lord, your mercy.
Commentator: And grant us your salvation.
or
Priest: You were sent to heal the contrite of heart: Lord, have mercy.
Commentator: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy
Commentator: Christ, have mercy
Priest: You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us: Lord,
have mercy.

Commentator: Lord, have mercy.

The Priest follows: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.

Commentator: Amen.

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The Kyrie – the assembly led by the choir sings the Kyrie

Glory- When indicated this hymn is either sung o said.

Commentator:

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give
you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God,
almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb
of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have
mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For
you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the
Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the
Father. Amen.

THE COLLECT

Opening Prayer:

The Priest says: Let us pray………..

Commentator: Amen.

Commentator: Please be seated for the Liturgy of the Word.

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

INTRODUCTION: (optional)

Commentator:………Let us listen to the First Reading.

FIRST READING:

Lector: A reading from the Book of…………..

Lector: The Word of the Lord.

Commentator: Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
After the First Reading the psalmist or cantor sings or says the Psalm, with the
people making the response.
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SECOND READING:

INTRODUCTION: (optional).............. Let us listen to the Second Reading.

Lector: A reading from the Book of…………..
Lector: The word of the Lord

Commentator: Thanks be to God.

Commentator: Please all rise to honor the Holy Gospel

(Alleluia)

GOSPEL

Priest: The Lord be with you.

Commentator: And with your spirit.

Priest: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to….

Commentator: Glory to you, O Lord.

Priest: The Gospel of the Lord.

Commentator: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Commentator: Please be seated and listen attentively to the Homily.

HOMILY

Commentator: Please rise!

THE CREED
On Sundays and Solemnities, the Profession of Faith or Creed will follow. During
Lent and Easter Time, especially, the Apostles’ Creed may be used.

THE NICENO-CONSTANTINOPOLITAN CREED

Commentaor:
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the
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 Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from
God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For
us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the
Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our
sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was
buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the
Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of
the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord,
the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with
the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken
through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one
Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the
resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

Commentator:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and
in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy
Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into
heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in
the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the
forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.
Amen

Commentator: Please rise for the prayers of the faithful

THE PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

After the introduction by the priest, the deacon or other ministers says the
invocations. At the end, the priest says the concluding prayer:

Priest:………….This we ask through Christ our Lord.

Commentator: Amen.
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Commentator: Please be seated for the offertory.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

When all this has been done, the offertory chant begins. Meanwhile, the
ministers place the corporal, the purificator, the chalice, the pall, and the
Missal on the Altar

It is desirable that the faithful express their participation by making an offering,

bringing forward bread and wine for the celebration of the Eucharist and
perhaps other gifts to relieve the needs of the Church and of the poor.

The Presider, standing at the altar, takes the paten with the bread and holds it
slightly raised above the altar with both hands, saying in a low voice:

Priest: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,

for through your goodness, we have received
the bread we offer you:
fruit of the earth and work of human hands,
it will become for us the bread of life
then he places the paten with the bread on the corporal. If, however, the
Offertory Chant is not sung, the Presider may speak these words Aloud; at the
end, the people may acclaim:

Commentator: Blessed be God for ever.

The Deacon, or the Presider, pours wine and a little water into the
chalice, saying quietly:

By the mystery of this water and wine

May we come to share in the divinity of Christ
Who humbled himself to share in our humanity.
The Presider then takes the chalice and holds it slightly raised above the
altar with both hands, saying in a low voice:

Priest: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,

For through your goodness, we have received
The wine we offer you:
Fruit of the vine and work of human hands,
It will become our spiritual drink.
Then he places the chalice on the corporal.

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If, however, the Offertory Chant is not sung, the Presider may speak these
words Aloud; at the end, the people may acclaim:

Commentator: Blessed be God for ever.

After this, the Presider, bowing profoundly, says quietly:

With humble spirit and contrite heart
May we be accepted by you, O Lord,
And may our sacrifice in your sight this day
Be pleasing to you, Lord God.

If appropriate, he also incenses the offerings, the cross, and the altar. A Deacon
or other ministers then incenses the Presider and the people.

The Presider, standing at the side of the altar, washes his hands, saying quietly:

Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity

And cleanse me from my sin

Standing at the middle of the altar, facing the people, extending and then
joining his hands, he says:

Commentator : Please rise!

Priest: Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters), That may sacrifice and yours May
be acceptable to God, The almighty Father.

The people rise and reply:

Commentator: 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.

PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS

Presider: ………..Through Christ our Lord.

Commentator: Amen.

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 EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

Priest: The Lord be with you.

Commentator: and with your spirit

Priest: Lift up your hearts.

Commentator: We lift them up to the Lord.

Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

Commentator: It is right and just.

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation …

And so we glorify you with countless Angels,

As with one voice of praise we acclaim:

SANCTUS
The Choir and assembly sing the Sanctus (it can also be recited) .

Commentator: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full
of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name
of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Commentator:
Please remain standing and observe silence for the consecration.
Or
Commentator: Please kneel.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER II

The Priest, with hands extended, says:

You are indeed Holy, O Lord,

The fount of all holiness.

He joins his hands and holding them outstretched over the offerings, says:

Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray,

By sending down your Spirit upon them like dewfall,

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He joins his hands and, making the sign of the cross once over the bread and
chalice, together, saying:

So that they may become for us

The Body and Blood

He joins his hands.

Of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the formulas that follow, the words of the Lord should be pronounced clearly
and distinctly, as nature of these words requires.

At the time he was betrayed

And entered willingly into his Passion,

He takes the bread and, holding it slightly raised above the altar, continues:

He took bread and, giving thanks, broke it,

And give it to his disciples, sayings:

He bows slightly.
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT:
FOR THIS IS MY BODY
WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.

He shows the consecrated host to the people, places it again on the paten, and
genuflects in adoration.

After this, he continues:

In a similar way, when supper was ended,

He takes the chalice and, holding it slightly raised above the altar, continues:

He took the chalice and,

Once more giving thanks,
He gave it to his disciples, saying:

He bows slightly:

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Take this, all of you, and drink from it,
For this is the chalice of my Blood,
The blood of the new
And eternal covenant,
Which will be poured out for you
And for many
For the forgiveness of sins.

Do this in memory of me.

He shows the chalice to the people, places it on the corporal, and genuflects in
adoration.

Priest: The mystery of faith

The choir and the assembly sing the acclamation:

Commentator:
A) We proclaim your death O Lord, and profess your resurrection until
you come again.
B) When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, O
Lord, until you come again.
C) Save us, savior of the world, for by your cross and resurrection you
have set us free.
D)
Then the priest, with hands extended, says:

Therefore, as we celebrate
The memorial of his Death and resurrection,
We offer you, Lord,
The Bread of his life and the Chalice of salvation,
Giving thanks that you have held us worthy
To be in your presence and minister to you.

Humbly we pray
That, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ,
We may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.

Remember, Lord, your Church,

Spread throughout the world,
And bring her to the fullness of charity,

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Together with [N. our Pope and] Leopoldo, our Bishop,
And all the clergy

Remember also our brothers and sisters

Who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection.
And all who have died in your mercy:
Welcome them into the light of your face.
Have mercy on us all, we pray
That with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
With the blessed Apostles,
And all the Saints who have pleased you
Throughout the ages,
We may merit to be coheirs to eternal life,
And may praise and glorify you

He joins his hands.

Through your Son, Jesus Christ.

He takes the chalice and the paten with the host and, raising both, he says:

Through him, and with him, and in him,

O God, almighty Father
In the unity of the Holy Spirit,
All glory and honor is yours,
for ever and ever.

Commentator: Amen.

Commentator: Please rise!

COMMUNION RITE

The LORD’S PRAYER

The Presider:

At the Savior’s Command

And formed by divine teaching,
We dare to say:

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The assembly will sing or recite the Our Father.

Commentator: Our Father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil.

The Presider with hands extended, continues alone:

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,

Graciously grant peace in our day
That, by the help of your mercy,
We may be always free from sin
And safe from all distress,
As we await the blessed hope
And the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Commentator: For the kingdom, the power,

And the glory are yours, now and forever.

SIGN OF PEACE

The priest:

Lord Jesus Christ,

Who said to your Apostles:
Peace, I leave you, my peace I give you.
Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church,
And graciously grant her the peace and unity
In accordance with your will
Who live forever and ever.

Commentator: Amen.

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Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

Commentator: And with your spirit.

The presider or one of the concelebrants invites the graduates to thank their
parents and teachers and friends as they make a sign of peace in his own words
and he concludes with:

Priest: Let us offer each the sign of peace.

All present make an appropriate sign of peace.

BREAKING OF THE BREAD

AGNUS DEI

The assembly sings or recites the Agnus Dei.

Commentator:

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:

Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world:
Grant us peace.

Commentator: Please kneel.

Meanwhile, the Presider takes the host and breaks it over the paten. He places
a small piece in the chalice, saying, inaudibly:

May this mingling of the body and blood

Of our Lord Jesus Christ
Bring eternal life to us who receive it.

PRIVATE PREPARTION

The Presider says inaudibly:

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Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God,
Who, by the will of the Father and the work of the Holy Spirit
Through your death gave life to the world.
Free me by this, by the holy Body and Blood,
From all may sins and from every evil;
Keep me faithful to your commandments,
And never let me be parted from you.

COMMMUNION

The Presider genuflects. Taking the host, he raises it slightly over the paten and,
facing the people, says aloud.

Behold the Lamb of God

Behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamp.

Commentator: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under

My roof, But only the word and my soul shall be healed.

The Priest says inaudibly:

May the body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.

He reverently consumes the body of Christ. Then he takes the challice and says
inaudibly:

May the body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.

He reverently drinks the blood of Christ.

After this he takes the paten or other vessel and goes to the communicants. He
takes a host for each one, raises it a little, shows it saying;

Priest: The Body of Christ.

People: AMEN

Commentator: Please be seated for the communion.

While the faithful receive Holy communion, Eucharistic Hymns are sung.

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Then all stand for the prayer after communion.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Commentator: Please rise.

Presider: ……… Through Christ our Lord.

Commentator: Amen

Commentator: Please be seated for some announcement

Commentator: Please rise for final the blessing

CONCLUDING RITE

Final Blessing

Priest: The lord be with you.

Commentator: and with your spirit.

Dismissal

Priest: Go and announce the gospel of the Lord.

Commentator: Thanks be to God.

RECESSIONAL

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 AN INTRODUCTION TO THE MASS

The Mass has 4 distinct parts.

1. INTRODUCTORY RITES

GREETING – we start (and finish) Mass with the sign of the cross, and the priest
usually greets us and introduces the theme of the Mass

PENITENTIAL RITE – this is the section of the Mass when we seek reconciliation
with God for the times we have failed to love God by failing to love our
neighbour, saying sorry for what we have and have not done.

(GLORIA – because we know we can be forgiven, we praise our God with joy.
The Gloria is usually only used on Feast Days and on Sundays.)

2. LITURGY OF THE WORD

THE WORD – we listen to God’s word given to us through and New the old and
the the Old and New Testament books of the Bible, all inspired by God.

CREED – having heard the word of God we can confidently proclaim the basis
of our faith. The Creed is one of the oldest statements of the Church – we are
maintaining the central components of the faith that has sustained the Church
for 2000 years. The Creed is followed by the Bidding Prayers for our
community and for the wider world, usually written and led by students.

3. LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

OFFERTORY – gifts of bread and wine are brought to the altar, and we
symbolically offer ourselves.

HOLY, HOLY – composed of verses from both Old and New Testaments, in the
most solemn part of the Mass this response reminds us that we are
participating in the eternal sacrifice of the Lord, a quiet and reflective moment

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER - the most solemn part of the Mass as the priest echoes
Jesus’ words over the bread and wine at the Consecration, where the bread
and wine become the body and blood of Christ.

OUR FATHER – we have been made a community within Christ’s sacrifice, and
we now pray using the words that he taught us.
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SIGN OF PEACE AND COMMUNION – we are about to receive the Lord and we
seek to be transformed into the body of Christ, but first we need to recognise
that we must be at peace with the world, beginning in our own community.
This peace is a special grace from the Lord. It will permeate the world through
our actions.

At Communion we become united in the most special way with the Lord.

4. CONCLUDING RITE

DISMISSAL – we have heard the word of God and received the Lord in Holy
Communion. We are now tasked to go out to be disciples in our community
and in the world, renewed to live joyfully in the peace of Christ.

To sum up the Mass: in the Liturgy of the Word Jesus feeds us with his
Word, and we respond in faith and action. And in the Liturgy of the Eucharist
Jesus feeds us with himself, and we then go out into the world, nourished with
Christ and his Word, to live out the Gospel in our communities.

BIBLICAL BACKGROUND OF THE EUCHARIST

The word "Mass" comes from the Latin word, " Missa." In the Latin, the faithful
were dismissed with the words "Ite, missa est" (literally meaning "Go, she—
meaning you, the Church—has been sent"). The word "Missa" is related to the
word "missio," the root of the English word "mission." The liturgy does not
simply come to an end. Those assembled are sent forth to bring the fruits of
the Eucharist to the world. The Mass is not only based on the "Last Supper"
that Jesus had with his disciples, but is also influenced by a long history of
special meals celebrated by ancient Jews (including Jesus) and early Christians,
both before, during, and after the lifetime of Jesus:

• Abraham and Melchizedek share bread and wine (Gen 14:18-20)

• Abraham provides a meal for the Three Visitors (Gen18:1-8)

• Israelites in Egypt celebrate the first Passover (Exod 12:1-28)

• Israelites annually share Passover meals (Exod 12:43-51; Lev 23:4-14; Num
9:1-14;28:16-25; Deut 16:1-8)

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• Israelites annually celebrate the feast of Unleavened Bread (Exod 12:14-20;
13:3-10; 23:14-15; 34:18; etc.)

Prophet Elisha feeds 100 men with very little food (2 Kings 4:42-44)

• Jesus feeds 5000 people in Galilee (Mark 6:30-44; Matt 14:13-21; Luke 9:10-
17; John 6:1-14)

• Jesus feeds another crowd of 4000 people (Mark 8:1-10; Matt 15:32-39)

• Jesus tells many parables involving meals and banquets (Matt 22:1-14; 25:1-
13; Luke 12:35-40; 14:15-24; etc.)

• Jesus has many meals with disciples and others (Mark 2:15-20; 14:3-9; Luke
14:1-14; etc.)

• Jesus shares his Last Supper with his disciples (Mark 14:12-27; Matt 26:17-
30; Luke 22:7-39; cf. 1 Cor 11:23- • 25)

• The Risen Jesus shares a meal with two disciples at Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)
• The Risen Jesus has breakfast with disciples at the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-
14)

• Early Christians in Jerusalem share in the "Breaking of the Bread" (Acts 2:42-
47)

• Early Christians in Troas "break bread" with Paul (Acts 20:5-11)

• Early Christians in Corinth celebrate the "Lord's Supper" (1 Cor 10:16-17;

11:17-34; cf. Rev 19:9)

USE OF SCRIPTURE IN EARLY CHRISTIAN WORSHIP

From the very beginning, Christian worship has not only involved the sharing of
bread and wine in a ritual meal, but also included readings from the sacred
scriptures (as was and is also done in Jewish synagogue services). Early
Christians not only read from the Jewish scriptures, but soon also included
some writings of Christian leaders:

• James says the books of Moses have been read aloud in Jewish synagogue
services for many generations (Acts 15:21)

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• Jesus reads from the book of the prophet Isaiah during a synagogue service
(Luke 4:16-22, citing Isa 61:1-2)

• The risen Jesus explains the meaning of the scriptures to two disciples on the
road to Emmaus (Luke 24:25-47)

• The apostles base their preaching on the scriptures (Acts 2:14-36; 7:2-53;
17:1-11)

• Christians read from the books of “the Law and the Prophets” (Acts 13:15-
44) • Christians sing the Psalms and other hymns in their worship (Col 3:16;
Eph 5:18-20)

• The scriptures are applied to all aspects of Christian life (1 Tim 4:13; 2 Tim
3:16-17)

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