Note: the following notes were compiled by Michael Copfer. This was provided as a handout during What is really going on during the Mass?
“As the Mass moved on, however, something hit me. My Bible wasn’t just beside me. It was before me-in the words of the Mass! One line was Isaiah, another from the Psalms, another from Paul. The experience was over whelming. I wanted to stop everything and shout, “Hey, can I explain what’s happening from Scripture?” (Scott Hahn describing his first Mass in “The Lamb’s Supper”)
(The following list is not meant to be all inclusive but a representation):
OPENING RITE
“worship the LORD with cries of gladness; come before him with joyful song.”
Procession Song – Revelations 15:3-4
“and they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and wonderful are your works, Lord God almighty. Just and true are your ways, O king of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, or glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All the nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Penitential Rite – Psalm 51:12
“A clean heart create for me, God; renew in me a steadfast spirit.”
Gloria – Luke 2:14
“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Psalm 92:2
“It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praise to your name, Most High,”
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Mathew 4:4
“He said in reply, “It is written: ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”
Alleluia – Revelations 19:1
“After this I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying: “Alleluia! Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God”
Romans 10:17
“Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.”
Homily – 1 Peter 4:11
“Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God”
Homily -1 Thessalonians 2:13
“And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe.”
Profession of Faith – Hebrews 11:6
“But without faith it is impossible to please him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Profession of Faith – Mathew 10:32
“Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.”
Profession of Faith – Romans 10:9
Prayers of the Faithful – Hebrews 7:25
“Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them.”
THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Presentation of the Gifts – Malachi 3:10
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, That there may be food in my house, and try me in this, says the LORD of hosts: Shall I not open for you the floodgates of heaven, to pour down blessing upon you without measure?”
Priest Washes Hands – Psalm 51:4
“Wash away all my guilt; from my sin cleanse me.”
Holy, Holy, Holy – Isaiah 6:3
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!” they cried one to the other. “All the earth is filled with his glory!”
Holy, Holy, Holy – Revelations 4:8
“Day and night they do not stop exclaiming: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.”
Hosanna – Mark 11:9-10
“Those preceding him as well as those following kept crying out: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! Hosanna in the highest!”
Hosanna – Mathew 21:9
“The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.”
Eucharist – Mathew 26:26-28
“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Eucharist – Luke 22:17-20
“Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you (that) from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.”
The Lords Prayer – Mathew 6:9-13
“This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one.”
Sign of Peace – John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
Breaking of the Bread – John 1:29
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
1 Corinthians 5:7
“For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.”
Revelations 19:9
“Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These words are true; they come from God.”
Luke 7:6-7
“And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed.”
THE DISMISSAL
Mathew 28:19-20
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
OTHER
Alter – Revelations 8:3
“Another angel came and stood at the altar … on the gold altar that was before the throne.”
Robed Clergy – Revelations 4:4
“Surrounding the throne I saw … elders sat, dressed in white garments and with gold crowns on their heads.”
Candles – Revelations 1:12-13
“I saw seven gold lampstands 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest.”
Incense – Revelations 5:8
“gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones.”
Incense – Revelations 8:3-4
“Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a gold censer. He was given a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones, on the gold altar that was before the throne. The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel.”