Describe a mass in a catholic church

After these prayers are spoken a member of the church-from the congregation makes a stand to the lectern where he/she reads two readings which are the food for the spiritual life of God's people.

After the two reading's the member of the congregation will resume his seat and the deacon, takes his place at the lectern where he reads the gospel and speaks about one of Jesus' teachings.

When the Deacon finishes the reading of the Gospel the priest will then take a rise and explain the readings and Gospel of Jesus' teachings. for example the story of the woman being stoned. Jesus taught us not to judge others ,but instead to treat other people as you yourself would like to be treated so if this story is hard to understand the priest would use it in the modern day world e.g. if someone came from a foreign country and was a different colour or race and couldn't speak the language then that person would feel left out so he would say to treat this person as you would your best friend.

As the priest does the homily he say's the words "let us stand together to express our faith". So everyone in the church at the time stand and say together the Nicene creed which is the statement of belief-"I believe in one God, the Father the Almighty etc. This will strengthen each person's faith towards God knowing there is people all around sharing the same expressions and belief as one another.

After the Creed finishes the same person from the congregation who read the two readings comes out to the lectern again to read the bidding prayers which are said for us to remember the and pray for:-

The sick,

The homeless,

The dying,

The dead,

The community etc.

Then after each bidding prayer is read out, everyone in the church reply's either "Lord hear us", "Lord graciously hear us" or "Lord hear our prayer".

During this time and the offering, the hail Mary is said by everyone in the church because Mary intercedes the prayers as she is the mother of God and she is a mediatrix.

The offering is then followed where the congregation which is where th congregation give money to the baskets which are sent to people all over the world who are less fortunate as well as the priest himself, charities, R.C. schools etc. Jesus taught us to share with other people so that is what Catholics do.

Straight after the offering the bread and wine is brought up from the back of church up to the alter.- this is the start of the liturgy of the Eucharist which is the offering where the priest takes the bread and wine, brakes the bread, thanks the congregation and then shares it out between the congregation. This is sacrificial as it is the body and blood of Jesus, it is done to reenact the last supper during the Passover-why the priest say's "do this in memory of me" which is the consecration and is also to remember Christ through the bread and wine as the body and blood of Jesus. The communions the transubstantion which means "our belief" so it is what Roman Catholics believe. The word "mass" itself comes from the Latin phrase "ite mite est" meaning "to be sent out" in English and the word "Eucharist" means "thanksgiving" is also used for the celebration to God and to praise God.

At the end of the mass the priest will say either "go in the peace of Christ", "the mass is ended, go in peace" or "go in peace to love and to serve the lord. This is the final blessing from the priest and is his dismissal. From one of these dismissals the priest is telling us to take what we have learned about Jesus through the Gospel and spread his "word" to the rest of the community.