The Mass

The Mass is the central act of Catholic worship — the celebration of the Eucharist — in which the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary is made sacramentally present and offered to the Father, and the faithful receive Christ himself in Holy Communion. It is "the source and summit of the Christian life" (CCC 1324).

The Structure of the Mass

The Mass has two main parts. The Liturgy of the Word includes readings from Scripture, the homily, the Creed, and the Prayer of the Faithful. The Liturgy of the Eucharist includes the Offertory, the Eucharistic Prayer (including the Consecration), and the reception of Holy Communion (CCC 1346–1355).

Sacrifice and Banquet

The Mass is simultaneously a sacrifice — the one offering of Christ on the cross made sacramentally present at every Mass without being repeated — and a sacred banquet — the meal in which the faithful receive Christ himself (CCC 1382–1405).

The Sunday Obligation

Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. Missing Mass on Sunday without serious reason is a grave sin. This obligation flows from the Third Commandment and from the centrality of the Eucharist to the Christian life (CCC 2180–2182).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mass the same sacrifice as Calvary? Yes — it is the same sacrifice, not a new one. Christ's one sacrifice on the cross is offered once for all (Hebrews 10:14) and is made sacramentally present at every Mass. The Mass does not add to or repeat Calvary — it makes it present (CCC 1366–1367).

What is the difference between the Traditional Latin Mass and the Novus Ordo? Both are valid forms of the Roman Rite — the Ordinary Form (Novus Ordo, promulgated 1969) and the Extraordinary Form (Traditional Latin Mass). Both celebrate the same sacrifice (CCC 1345).