The Liturgy Corner - The Dialogue of the Mass Part 5: The Universal Prayer and the First Part of the Offertory

Posted by Peter Grodi on 8/08/22

Following the Creed, we have the Universal Prayer. One curious thing is that there are four (maybe more) commonly used names for this part of the liturgy: the petitions, the intentions, the universal prayer, and the prayer of the faithful. I really don’t know why we have developed so ... Read More »

Liturgy Corner- The Dialogue of the Mass Part 4: The Creed

Posted by Peter Grodi on 8/08/22

The Creed can feel ordinary due to the frequency with which we recite it. But for early Christians, the Creed was anything but ordinary. It was a profession of the faith for which they were willing to die — and many did.

Before any form of the Creed was ... Read More »

Liturgy Corner January 30 2022 - The Dialogue of the Mass: Part 3 Thanks be to God

Posted by Peter Grodi on 1/20/22

There are a few different times during the Liturgy that the congregation responds, “Thanks be to God,” after a prompt from a minister. First, after each of the first two readings, the congregation says it following the reader pronouncing, “The Word of the Lord.” The congregation also uses this ... Read More »

Liturgy Corner January 16 2022 - The Dialogue of the Mass: Part 2 Gloria

Posted by Peter Grodi on 1/20/22

We are all very familiar with these words as we hear/say them at least four times each Mass. But what is the purpose? What does it actually mean? Is it just a formal greeting? Let me ask you a question. If I took a vote at Mass next sunday ... Read More »

Liturgy Corner January 9 2022 - The Dialogue of the Mass: Part 1 "The Lord Be with You" "And With Your Spirit

Posted by Peter Grodi on 1/20/22

We are all very familiar with these words as we hear/say them at least four times each Mass. But what is the purpose? What does it actually mean? Is it just a formal greeting? Let me ask you a question. If I took a vote at Mass next sunday ... Read More »

Liturgy Corner January 2 2022 - The Octave of Easter

Posted by Peter Grodi on 1/20/22

The Feast of Mary, Mother of God, concludes the celebration of the Octave of Christmas. Now, if you ask any person on the street (and most people in our Church), "How many days is Christmas?", you would probably get a variety of answers. Some would say, "Uh, just 1. ... Read More »

Liturgy Corner December 19 - Wrapping up the Past and Looking to the Future

Posted by Peter Grodi on 1/20/22

In the past weeks, I have been writting about the silent prayers of the priest at Mass. If you did not get to read these articles or perhaps missed one or two of them, remember that you can always go to the parish website and read them or share ... Read More »

Liturgy Corner December 12 - The Silent Prayers of the Priest Part 4: Communion

Posted by Peter Grodi on 1/20/22

After the silent prayers of the offertory, the priest prays the prayers of the prelude and the Eucharistic prayer out loud. As a side note, this is a particularly significant change instituted in the Norvus Ordo Mass. Those of a particular age or who have been able to attend ... Read More »

Liturgy Corner December 5 - The Silent Prayers of the Priest Part 3: The Second Half of the Offertory

Posted by Peter Grodi on 12/01/21

Last week, we looked at the first few silent prayers of the offertory. After the priest holds the chalice and says the silent prayer, “Blessed are you Lord God of all creation…”, he places the chalice on the corporal. Now, both elements, the bread and the wine, have been ... Read More »

Liturgy Corner November 9 2021 - The Silent Prayers of the Priest Part 1: The Gospel

Posted by Peter Grodi on 12/01/21

Recently, I wrote about the preparatory prayers the priest says as he puts on his vestments. I hope by writing about them, I have highlighted the fact that the Mass is, indeed, a long and multifaceted prayer itself that we all can try to “sink into” a little deeper ... Read More »