(upbeat music)
KAI: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen,
and welcome to this special addition of Catholic Central.
I'm Kai.
LIBBY: And I'm Libby, coming to you live from beautiful
Saint Monica's church in downtown Santa Monica California.
KAI: Where the crowds are already gathering.
It' the event you've waited for all week.
LIBBY: Sunday Mass and it's about to begin,
so don't go away we'll be right back.
(upbeat music)
LIBBY: Alright everybody welcome back to Catholic Central.
KAI: Any minute now we'll be seeing the opening move of
form of Catholic worship known as the Mass.
LIBBY: Or the Eucharistic Liturgy.
KAI: Or the holy sacrifice of the Mass.
LIBBY: Or the celebration of the Mass.
KAI: It's all happening at Saint Monica's.
A great parish.
I expect good things.
LIBBY: And saying the Mass today is Father David Guffey,
a Holy Cross Priest.
KAI: It's the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time,
and Libby, I could not think of a better day
to bring our viewers a closer look at this
Catholic service that takes place not only weekly,
but daily.
LIBBY: We know some of you are new to this event, so
we'll try to keep you informed by going to the history
and the meaning behind some of these beautiful rituals.
KAI: We got a great showing this morning
of full congregation, a well rehearsed choir.
This promises to be a really
terrific celebration of the Mass.
Okay, everyone's in their seats.
The bells are ringing.
It's time for the entrance procession.
Oh, this crowd knows their stuff Libby.
They're on their feet to show respect for the Celebrants
as they process down the aisle.
LIBBY: We got alter servers looking good today.
We got lectors ready to ready the Word.
Holding it high there, nice and straight
and here is the main player
the presiding Priest.
KAI: Everyone takes their assigned seating
and we are ready to begin the Mass with what is called
The Introductory Rites.
LIBBY: It's purpose is to bring the congregation together,
to let go of the cares of the world
and become present before God, but can they do it, Kai?
KAI: The Priest gives a greeting
with a Sign of the Cross
which is Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
KAI: And now this is where the congregation
needs to show they're here to make this happen.
You only get out of Mass what you put into Mass.
KAI: Here it is, the penitential rite.
It's a humbling prayer, Libby.
A most important start, as they will not be
in right relationship with God the Father
for the rest of this service if they do
not acknowledge what they have done or failed to do.
LIBBY: Yep.
The rest of the Mass really falters if this is
not done with commitment.
KAI: But they nailed it.
I saw the old three strikes of the chest done with feeling.
These folks are publicly sorry for failings
and are ready to praise.
LIBBY: And just in time Kai as the choir has begun
the Gloria, Glory to God in the Highest.
This song of the angels is not meant to be mumbled.
KAI: Indeed Libby would the shepherds in the fields
have heard the angels if they whispered
in half hearted tones?
I think not.
A beautiful start to this service.
A public act of confession
followed by scriptural words of praise.
LIBBY: Oooh, ooh, ooh, the Priest is stepping
for the opening prayer.
KAI: This is, Libby, one of the most ancient parts
of the opening rites. It's a deeply thought out prayer
to express the theme of this day's Liturgy.
LIBBY: This and the silences it includes
are also known as the Collect
because it is intended for the assembly to assemble
their thoughts, and for the presider to collect
these thoughts and prayers
as together they lift them to the Holy Trinity.
KAI: And we've entered into the Liturgy of the Word.
The first lector approaches the ambo to read from the Bible.
LIBBY: That is a fancy word.
Is that different from pulpit?
KAI: Oh, yeah.
Way different.
SPEAKER: A reading from the book of Deuteronomy.
LIBBY: All right, and we're back to the Liturgy
of the Word, which, on Sunday, is made of three readings
and a Psalm thoughtfully put together to reflect a theme.
There is something from the Old Testament, a Psalm,
a New Testament reading and...
KAI: Oh, hold up, Libby, looks like everyone is on their
feet for...
LIBBY: Yep.
It looks like its time for the Proclamation of the Gospel.
KAI: Reason to stand, indeed.
And the faithful are singing a big Hallelujah
to the Word of the Lord.
LIBBY: Ideally.
KAI: Yeah, ideally.
LIBBY: Well, the Priest reads the Gospel and only the Priest
or Deacon proclaims the Gospel at Mass.
Let's talk about what's coming up.
KAI: The homily.
Similar to a sermon, but it is specific
and only to address this day's Scriptures.
LIBBY: Where does the word homily come from?
KAI: I don't know.
LIBBY: No way to know.
(sports theme music)
KAI: Having finished the gospel reading the Priest
or, sometimes, the Deacon, will give us succinct, insightful
commentary on that day's readings in the life of
the community today.
LIBBY: Or he might talk for a half an hour on
giving to the leaky roof fund.
KAI: Or tell jokes from 20 years ago.
Point is here, priests are people,
and they are not all stellar public speakers.
LIBBY: And the point of Mass is not the homily,
it's the communion of us with each other before God.
KAI: And the literal communion the Eucharist
which Catholics believe is
the real presence of Jesus Christ.
See our episode on the Eucharist.
FR. DAVID GUFFEY: Trusting in God, who loves us so very much,
I invite you to stand as we profess our faith in God,
who loves us.
LIBBY: And look at that.
A smooth transition into the Profession of the Faith.
Which will be either the Nicene Creed or the Apostles' Creed.
KAI: Fun fact, Libby, the Creed is pretty much accepted
across all Christian denominations.
LIBBY: Looks like we're getting through
the Creed with conviction.
Oooh!
Someone forgot consubstantial, take a point away for that.
SPEAKER: For the Church,
that we may be humble before the Lord.
KAI: But we have made it to the Prayers of the Faithful.
Prayers said for the world, for the Church,
and for the needs of the congregation.
LIBBY: And I do believe here we are at
the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
KAI: Never thought we'd make it Libby.
LIBBY: And it really looks like the faithful here today
have been well prepared by the introductory prayers,
praises and holy Scriptures to encounter Jesus in
the Holy Eucharist.
KAI: This being the central reason and component of the Mass
we might stop here for a quick history lesson.
LIBBY: Good thinking, Kai.
The Mass was instituted by Christ himself at
the Last Supper when --
KAI: Jesus said "Take and eat, this is my body".
LIBBY: And also said "Do this in memory of me".
KAI: But to fully understand the implication of
what Jesus was instituting you should...
(clink clink)
LIBBY: And look out, here come the ushers with collection
of the faithful and the gifts of bread and wine.
Just a beautiful symbol of what the people bring to
the celebration.
This is the fruit of the work of their hands.
KAI: It is not always recognized just how much
this is a participatory event, Libby.
Designed over 2,000 years with great thought
and prayer behind it.
LIBBY: And worth repeating, Kai.
One only gets as much as one puts in.
KAI: That could be argued, Libby,
as you are actually getting the Eucharist
no matter how lame your participation.
And now the Priest is saying the prayer over the offering.
LIBBY: Did you know those prayers come from Jewish
table prayers?
KAI: Did not know that, Libby.
Nice.
The Priest is a pro moving at a good clip
and yes I think --
LIBBY: -- The people are kneeling out of reverence
so it must be at...
BOTH: The Eucharistic Prayer.
KAI: (whispers) The center
and high point of this celebration.
LIBBY: (whisper) And now this is when the Lord becomes present in
the bread and the wine.
KAI: (whisper) The source and summit of the faith.
LIBBY: (whisper) The second half of this prayer is on
the unity of people.
We thank God for bringing us together.
We ask God to keep us together.
We ask God to make us one with the Saints.
(holy music)
KAI: Beautiful.
Never fails.
FR. DAVID GUFFEY: At the Savior's command and the...
KAI: Back on their feet for the Lord's prayer,
the faithful are not quite sure
what to do with their hands at this point.
LIBBY: Now this prayer is one that Jesus himself
taught his disciples.
And this at last is said with gusto
as every living Christian knows these words.
KAI: And now we'll see the priest invite everyone to
share a sign of peace.
LIBBY: See most folks going for the ol' handshake.
Oh, some just giving the old head nod.
KAI: There is no wrong way
to extend peace to a fellow believer.
LIBBY: Did you know this use to be the kiss of peace?
KAI: That sounds like a wrong way.
LIBBY: Peace be with you, Kai.
KAI: And the peace of Christ with you, Libby.
♪ Lamb of God. ♪
KAI: Oh! We're at the Lamb of God.
LIBBY: A prayer to acknowledge that Christ is
the Lamb of God who has taken our sins
and brings us peace.
KAI: And the congregation is ready to head to the altar
to receive the consecrated bread and wine, which has
become the body and blood of the Savior.
LIBBY: We have about two thirds going up today, Kai
and I give this congregation points for knowing
when not to approach the altar.
KAI: Indeed.
The Eucharist is a solemn Sacrament, Libby,
and it would be a definite foul to the soul
to receive this gift outside the Church's guidelines.
(soothing piano music)
LIBBY: Looks like we have entered
into the reflection period after Communion.
A favorite moment for most participants.
A sweet, peaceful commune with God.
KAI: Yes, this assembly is definitely reaping the
reward of their efforts in attending, in repenting,
in praising, and in receiving.
LIBBY: Amen.
KAI: And there it is.
The presider, Father Guffey himself, has taken a seat
which means the host has been returned to
the tabernacle, which means it no longer requires
the physical reference of the assembly to kneel or stand.
LIBBY: Now Father Guffey is on his feet to deliver
the final blessing and the dismissal.
(whimsical music)
KAI: Nicely done.
The sending forth of the faithful having confessed,
praised, and basking in the glow of Heaven received
Jesus Christ.
They are now ready to step outside
and be the light of the world.
LIBBY: Well, yet another 2,000 year old ritual where
the covenant between man and God has been met
and renewed.
KAI: Well done, Saint Monica.
You live to praise another week.
LIBBY: For Catholic Central, I'm Libby.
KAI: And I'm Kai, and that's it for the Mass.
Ite missa est.
LIBBY: Go in peace.
(upbeat music)