THE MASS AND CATHOLIC ACTION Outline of a Unit Course for STUDY CLUBS LESSONS I. PRAYERS AT THE FOOT OF THE ALTAR. II. TO THE PREFACE. III. FROM PREFACE TO CONSECRATION. IV. THE CONSECRATION TO THE PRAYERS BEFORE COMMUNION. V. TO THE END OF THE MASS. VI. PROPER OF THE MASS. SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EASTER. VII. PROPER OF THE MASS. TRINITY SUNDAY. VIII. PROPER OF THE MASS. SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. NATIONAL CATHOLIC WELFARE CONFERENCE 1312 Massachusetts Ave., N. W. Washington D. C. FOREWORD T HIS OUTLINE is to be used by those who have already studied the earlier N. C. W. C. Study Gub Outline on The Mass (price 5^) ; or who are familiar with the use of the Missal. The Outlines take up first the Common of the Mass, and then the Proper (or varying parts) of the Mass. O UTLINES sent out by the National Catholic Welfare Con- ference Study Club Committee are suggestive only, and not intended to be exhaustive. No one group is expected to cover all points, answer all questions, or read all the books and pamphlets suggested. Only such portions of each unit as are of value to the members of a study club need be selected. NOTE The National Catholic Welfare Conference does not dis- tribute the publications referred to in the Outline, except those issued by the Conference itself. Please write to the publisher or agency mentioned for all others. Dearidiffed PREPARATION FOR THE STUDY OF THE LITURGY The National Council of Catholic Women, at its annual convention, pledged the participation of every component group to a study of the Liturgy—the language of the Church. Advent, the beginning of the Liturgical year, is an auspicious time for inaugurating this program, although it can be taken up at any time. Those who have not heretofore used the Missal will do well to begin with the N. C. W. C. Outline on The Mass (price 5^), to be followed by The Mass and Catholic Action. Those who already use the Missal will wish to learn more of its rich significance. Groups who have advanced beyond the average, having become practiced devotees of the Missal and of the Liturgy and who have given special study to the Mass, will choose from the many books and pamphlets suggested for further study and reading. This outline necessitates the use of a missal by each member— 1. During the study. 2. During attendance at Mass. (Catholics thus assist at rather than attend Mass.) HELPFUL READING God’s Wonder Book—Sister Marie St. S. Ellerker, O. Carm., Corpus Christi Carmel, Middletown, N. Y.—Price, $1.25. Mind of the Missal—C. C. Martindale, S. J.—Macmillan Company. New York City—'Price, $2.50. Words of the Missal—C. C. Martindale, S. J.—Macmillan Company, New York City—Price, $2.00. The periodical published every four weeks, Orate Fratres, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minn.—Subscription, $2.00 per year. Liturgy and the Liturgical Movement—Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minn.—'Price, 10^. Divine Worship—Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minn.—Price, 10^. (An essay on the nature of the Catholic liturgy.) Altar and Sanctuary—Catholic Action Committee of Women, 424 North Broadway, Wichita, Kans.—Price, 25^. Praying the Mass—Catholic Action Committee of Women, 424 North Broadway, Wichita, Kans.—Price, 2Sf. Conferences on Catholic Action—Most Rev. Giuseppe Pizzardo, Titular Bishop of Nice and Director of Catholic Action in Italy — National Catholic Welfare Conference—Price, 25f. (over) Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 \ https://archive.org/details7masscatholicacti00nati LESSON I PRAYERS AT THE FOOT OF THE ALTAR (Pages 4—7) TEXT : Any Missal. Page numbers in outline should be changed to correspond with subject matter in Missal. This outline follows the paging and uses the introduction and notes of The Sunday Missal by Father Lasance. Price, $1.00. Published by Benziger Brothers, New York City. (Cheaper edition, 50^.) A Missal for Every Sunday and Principal Feast Days of the Year— P. J. Kenedy & Sons, New York City. Price, 50^ (cloth binding). The Catholic Missal (for every day)—P. J. Kenedy & Sons, New York City. Price, $3.00 (cheaper edition, $1.50). 1'he Roman Missal—B. Herder Book Co., St. Louis, Mo. Price, $2 .00 . The Daily Missal, by Dom Gaspar LeFebvre, O. S. B.—Bruce Publishing Company, Milwaukee, Wis. Price, $3.00 and up. 1. Discuss why the sign of the cross is an act of preparation for Mass. 2. The server at Mass represents the congregation. Show how this signifies that though the priest alone consecrates, the congregation joins in the Mass as a joint offering and joint prayer. 3. The priest says he will “go into the altar of God” ; the response is, “to God Who giveth joy to my youth.” Discuss what the joy of the young means in terms of innocence, faith, obedience, health and strength of body, interest in doing things, kindness, fervor of affection towards God and one’s family and friends, the hope and determination to “make something of myself,” willingness to makfe sacrifices, unselfishness, honesty in confronting facts, dreams of great accomplishments. 4. Consider the psalm “Judge me, O God,” as a preparatory prayer to the Mass in which priest and people ask hopefully together that through the Mass they be helped to withstand temptations and dangers that come from “the nation that is not holy,” from “the unjust and deceitful,” against the joy of one’s youth. 5. Discuss the elements of the “joy of my youth” in relation to Catho- lic Action. Note how the psalm ends on the note of hope and is followed b^ the Great Doxology of Glory to the Trinity in the Beginning, now and forevermore. Following the Psalm the same note of God- giving joy continues and is reinforced by the joint prayer to priest and congregation who declare their help is in God Who created not alone the Heaven of our reward after life, but the earth of our present life. (over) Then comes the “I confess,” the confession of the commission of sins said first by the priest with the prayer of the congregation that God give him mercy and salvation ; and then by the people and the priest’s prayer for the mercy of God upon them and their salva- tion and for the forgiveness of sins of all present, priest and people. 6. Why is “I confess” a preparation for Mass? 7. Note to whom the confession of the commission of sins is directed and to whom the prayer for further prayers is made (i. e., the Blessed Virgin, St. Michael, St. John the Baptist, Sts. Peter and Paul and all the Saints, and in the case of the congregation to the priest as well.) Discuss this as an example of our communion with the Saints, our association with them, our prayers to them for help, our confidence that they will help us, 8. Discuss the Saints as heroes of life. 9. Discuss the “I confess” as an act similar to but not reaching the confession of sins in the Sacrament of Penance. 10. Following the “I confess” the same note is continued, of joy to be gained through God’s help, mercy and salvation. Discuss how forgiveness of sins is a necessary condition of “the joy of my youth” and the best Catholic Action. SUGGESTED PAPERS Review of Why the Mass? Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minn. Price, 10^. Review of If I Be Lifted Up. Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minn. Price, 10^. LESSON II TO THE PREFACE (Pages 7-15) Before going up to the Altar the priest says : “Dominus vobiscum/' as a salutation to the people and a prayer. They answer similarly: “And with Thy Spirit,” or “And with Thee.” “Dominus vobiscum” can be translated “The Lord be with you,” or “God be with you.” This latter was a common expression once in English. Our phrase goodby comes from it, the “good” being origi- nally “God” and “bye” being “be wi’ ye.” It and the answer of the congregation, said frequently during the Mass, bring priest and people closer together in the saying of the Mass. Ascending the altar, the priest prays in the plural (for self and congregation) for worthiness to go to the altar ; at the altar he kisses the stone in which relics of the saints are enclosed and asks that by their merits his sins be forgiven. 1. Discuss the insistent repetition of the prayer for worthiness to say and take part in the Mass. (Introit, a part of the Proper of the Mass, discussed later.) 2. Kyrie. Discuss evidence of — (a) Universality of Church and followers of Christ in thus using the Greek language ; (b) Awe, solemnity and desire for worthiness and help in the nine-fold prayer; (c) Community of priest and people in the alternate responses. 3. Gloria. Read. Discuss — (a) Beauty of its praise of God; (b) Cooperation with God through Catholic action in taking away the sins of the world, in showing forth the mercy of God, and in giving praise to God. (The Prayers (collects), Epistle and Gospel with the common prayer before the Gospel will be considered later. ) 4. Nicene Creed. Read. Discuss — (a) Faith as a basis of right morals; (b) Right morals as a guide of Catholic action; (c) General acceptance of faith and morals as a final purpose of Catholic action. (The first offertory prayer is in the Proper of the Mass and will be discussed later.) 5. Offering the Host. Read. Mindful of the coming consecration, discuss — ( over ) (a) For whom the prayer is said; (b) For whom Catholic action is performed. 6. Pouring of wine and water in chalice. Read. Mindful of the coming consecration discuss — (a) Greatness of man’s nature as created; (b) Partial renewal of man’s nature in redemption; (c) Prayer for union with God since man’s nature was united with God’s nature in the person of Christ; (d) Symbolism of union of wine with water. 7. Offering of Chalice. Read. Discuss — (a) The first prayer’s petition (for personal salvation and the salvation of the whole world) in its relation to the pur- poses of Catholic action ; (b) The second prayer’s appeal to God’s favor and the accepta- bility of the sacrifice; (c) The third prayer’s renewal of the petition for the accepta- bility of the sacrifice ; 8. Lavabo. Read. Discuss the psalm as — (a) A second “I confess;” (b) A prayer that we not be with the wicked, those guilty of shedding blood ; bribe-givers ; and (c) A declaration of our love for God and His Church. 9. Prayer to the Trinity. Read. Discuss our communion on earth in faith and morals with God and the saints as a purpose of Catho- lic action. 10. Orate Fratres. Read. Discuss it as a further sign of the union of priest with people in the Mass. SUGGESTED PAPERS Review of True Basis of Christian Solidarity (the Liturgy an aid to the solution of the social question). Central Bureau of Central Verein, St. Louis, Mo. Price 12^. Review of More Joy , by P. W. Von Keppler. B. Herder Book Company, St. Louis, Mo. Price, $1.25. LESSON III FROM PREFACE TO CONSECRATION (Pages 16-21) On weekdays the common Preface is generally used. On Sundays the Preface of Trinity Sunday is used . . . except on special feasts, as for example—Christmas, Easter, Blessed Virgin, for the Dead, etc. All begin the same and all lead up to the Sanctus which is common to all. Secret prayers are found in the Proper. 1. Beginning of Prefaces. Discuss — (a) Joint offering of Mass seen in responses; (b) Note of joy; (c) Note of thanksgiving. 2. Weekday Preface. Discuss our union with the angels in praising God in the Sanctus, affirming the glory of God in heaven and on earth, and announcing the coming of Christ in the Consecration. 3. Sunday Preface. Discuss the song of thanks to the Trinity and our joining with the angels in praising the Trinity and in the hymn of the Sanctus. 4 . Pentecost Preface (p. 264) —same, except that special praise is given the Holy Ghost. 5. Preface of Masses for the Dead (p. 398). Discuss the prayer of thanks for our possession of immortality and our joining with the angels to praise God for this gift. 6. Canon “Wherefore We.” Read. Discuss peace and unity within Christ’s Church and ultimate conversion of all peoples as an aim of Catholic action. 7. Commemoration of the Living. Compare things prayed for and one or more things done by your organization in the field of Catho- lic action. 8. “Having communion with.” Discuss again communion of saints and our part in the communion of saints in praying for and working in the field of Catholic action. 9. “Wherefore we beseech Thee” . . . Discuss the aims of this prayer (the peace of Christ on earth and salvation in Heaven). 10. “And do thou” . Note how quick is the turning to the Consecra- tion. (The Consecration consists of four parts, which together re-enact the scene of the First Consecration and close with the (over ) words of Christ leaving behind Him with His Apostles the power to change, as He had changed, bread and wine into Himself, body and blood, soul and divinity.) This is the center of the Mass. 11. Discuss — (a) The grace we may obtain from this Sacrifice; (b) The example to us of the humility of Christ; (c) The example to us of the love of Christ; (d) Our submission to the purpose of our life just as Christ submitted Himself to the purpose of His life though it meant His death and an unbloody repetition of His death through His submergence beneath the forms of bread and wine. SUGGESTED PAPERS The Christian Way to Peace (N. C. W. C.—Price, 10^.) The Visible Church (N. C. W. C.—Price, 10^). LESSON IV THE CONSECRATION TO THE PRAYERS BEFORE COMMUNION (Pages 21-25) 1. “Wherefore, 0 Lord .” Discuss — (a) How God’s gifts are offered to Him again and humble things like bread and wine are put to such great use; (,b) How similarly our talents and our life may be so offered and put to great use. 2. " Vouchsafe .” Discuss how our talents and life may be offered up to God. (a) In the family; (b) In our work; (c) In our organizations. 3. “We humbly pray .” Prayer for those receiving Communion. Dis- cuss — (a) Holy Communion as a means of fuller participation in the Mass ; (b) Spiritual Communion (or communion of desire) as an ap- proach to this. 4. Prayers for the dead. Discuss this as evidence of the communion of people living and dead in so close an association among them- selves and with Christ that they are called His Mystical Body. Note the connection with the aims of Catholic action. 5. “To us sinners also.” Have the members of the club report briefly on the lives of the saints listed here and in the prayer “Having communion with” before the Consecration. (Consult any Lives of the Saints or the Catholic Encyclopedia.) 6. “By Whom, O Lord.” Discuss the gifts we receive from God and our thanking Him by word and by putting His gifts to right use. 7. “Through Him.” Discuss the glory due to the Trinity for the Mass. 8. The Our Father. Discuss — (a) Our praise of God; (b) Catholic action and the coming of God’s Kingdom; (c) Our prayer for our own and others’ bodily needs; (d) Our prayer for forgiveness as we also forgive; ( over ) (e) Catholic action and prevention of persons from being led into temptation ; (f) Catholic action and deliverance from evil. 9. “Deliver us.” Discuss the suggestions for work presented by the N. C. C. W. or N. C. C. M. in relation to — (a) Peace in our days; (b) Freedom from sin; (c) Security from all disturbance. 10. “May t the Peace” Discuss various kinds of peace ; inward peace, family peace, neighborhood peace, economic peace, civil peace and international peace. Discuss one or two in relation to Catholic action. 11. “May this Communion.” Prayer for a good Communion. 12. Agnus Dei. Threefold prayer to Christ, the Redeemer, for the mercy of God and peace. In Masses in black the prayer is for the eternal rest of the dead. Compare the petitions in the two Masses. SUGGESTED PAPERS Preparation for Holy Communion—Communion at Mass in Orate Fratres, February 23, 1930, pages 164—169. The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minn. Single copy, 20^. LESSON V TO THE END OF THE MASS (Pages 26-29) 1. The three prayers before Communion— First, for the peace and unity of the Church ; Second, for forgiveness of sins and a good life ; Third, that the Communion not turn to our harm but help us body and soul. Discuss the fact that both spiritual and physical benefits are sought. 2. During Communion— Note the solemn beauty of the prayers. Discuss the value of frequent Holy Communion in helping one to make the most of one’s life for the love of God and our neighbor. 3. Note the emphasis in these prayers wholly upon help for the soul— Discuss the relation between the soul and the mind and will. 4. Discuss its relation to the body. 5. Discuss its relation to our action. 6. Discuss its relation to our surroundings— (The Communion prayer and the Postcommunion prayers are in the Proper and will be considered later.) 7. Discuss the meaning of the frequency here just after Communion of the salutation and prayer, “The Lord be with you,” and the people’s response. 8. “Go, the Mass is ended” — Note the simplicity of the ending of the Mass and the response of the people. 9. “May the lowly” — Prayer to the Trinity that the Mass be acceptable and may avail those for whom it has been offered. Sum up the intentions of the Mass thus far noted. 10. Last blessing- — Discuss the value to us in all our work of a blessing from the priest in the Mass. (over ) 11. Last Gospel— Discuss the coming of Christ after ages of darkness and the effect on the world if men accepted the light of His glory. 12. “Thanks be to God” — Discuss the reasons for gratitude both from the solely personal and from the whole Catholic action position. 13. Prayers after Mass (said after low Mass). SUGGESTED PAPERS The Mystical Body of Christ—published by the Paulist Press, New York City—'Price, 5