Speaking as Active Participation in Mass

We participate in Mass by: standing, kneeling, bowing, genuflecting, sitting, listening, looking, reading, speaking, being silent, singing, signing, greeting, offering, eating, drinking, smelling. This blog is about speaking. The priest speaks to God and to the people. The people speak to God, to the priest, to the people, and to Mary and all the angels and saints. God speaks to the priest and the people. The stage of every Mass is heaven and earth, and the players are the priest, the people, all the angels and saints, and God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

INTRODUCTORY RITES

Entrance
People to God.

Liturgical Greeting
Priest: “In the name of the Father, . . .”
People: “Amen.”
Priest to people.
People to priest.

Penitential Rite
Priest to people.
Priest and people to God, to people, to Mary, and all the angels and saints.

Kyrie
Priest and people to Christ.

Gloria
Priest and people to God.

Collect
Priest: "Let us pray."
People: "Amen."
Priest to God.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading
God to priest and people.
Priest and people to God.

Second Reading
God to priest and people.
Priest and people to God.

Alleluia
People to God.

Gospel
Priest to people.
People to priest.
God to people.
People to God.
Christ to people.
People to Christ.

Homily
Priest to people.

Creed
Priest and people to God and people.

Prayers of the Faithful
Priest to people
Lector to God and people.
Priest and people to God.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Preparation
People to God.
Priest to God.
People to priest and God.
Priest to people.
People to God in the third person and priest in the second.

Preface
Priest to people (3X).
People to priest (3X).

Holy, Holy, Holy (joining the angels and saints)
Priest and people to God.

Epiclesis, Consecration, etc.
Priest to the Father.

Memorial Acclamation
Priest to people.
People (A) to people? (B,C,D) to Christ.

Prayer concluding with the Great Amen
Priest to the Father.
People: “Amen.”

COMMUNION RITE

Lord’s Prayer
Priest and people to the Father.

Exchange of Peace
Priest to people
People to priest and each other.

Agnus Dei
Priest and people to Christ.

“This is the Lamb of God”
Priest to people.
Priest and people to Christ.

Reception of Communion
Minister to communicant.
Communicant to minister.

After Communion
Priest to people.
Priest to God.
People: "Amen."

CONCLUDING RITE

Priest to people.
People to priest.
Priest blesses people.
People: “Amen.”
Priest to people.
People: “Thanks be to God.”