Catholic Mass Prayers and Responses: A Guide to the Order of Mass

The Holy Mass is the central act of worship in the Catholic Church, where the faithful gather to celebrate the Eucharist—the Body and Blood of Christ. The Mass is filled with prayers, responses, and sacred rituals that unite us with God and the Church.

Active participation in the Mass requires knowing the prayers and responses that structure the liturgy. These include:

• Introductory Rites (Greeting, Penitential Act, Gloria)
• Liturgy of the Word (Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, Creed, Prayers of the Faithful)
• Liturgy of the Eucharist (Sanctus, Mystery of Faith, Great Amen, Communion Rite)
• Concluding Rites (Blessing and Dismissal)

As Jesus said:

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20, NIV)

Below is a guide to the Mass prayers and responses for full participation.

Catholic Mass Prayers and Responses

I. Introductory Rites

1. Sign of the Cross (At the beginning of Mass)

Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.

2. Greeting

Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.

II. Penitential Act (Confession of Sins)

Option 1: The Confiteor

I confess to Almighty God,
And to you, my brothers and sisters,
That I have greatly sinned,
In my thoughts and in my words,
In what I have done and in what I have failed to do,

(Strike your breast while saying:)
Through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.

Therefore, I ask blessed Mary, ever-Virgin,
All the angels and saints,
And you, my brothers and sisters,
To pray for me to the Lord our God.

Option 2: The Kyrie (Lord, Have Mercy)

Priest: Lord, have mercy. (or Kyrie, eleison.)
People: Lord, have mercy. (Kyrie, eleison.)

Priest: Christ, have mercy. (Christe, eleison.)
People: Christ, have mercy. (Christe, eleison.)

Priest: Lord, have mercy. (Kyrie, eleison.)
People: Lord, have mercy. (Kyrie, eleison.)

III. Gloria (Hymn of Praise – Said on Sundays and Solemnities)

Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise You, we bless You, we adore You, we glorify You,
We give You thanks for Your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
You take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.

For You alone are the Holy One,
You alone are the Lord,
You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
With the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.

IV. Liturgy of the Word

1. First and Second Readings (From the Old and New Testament)

After the reading:

Lector: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

2. Responsorial Psalm

(The congregation responds after each verse, as led by the cantor or lector.)

3. Gospel Acclamation

Before the Gospel:

People: Alleluia, Alleluia! (During Lent: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!)

4. Gospel Reading

Priest/Deacon: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.

Priest/Deacon: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to [Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John].
People: Glory to You, O Lord. (Make the Sign of the Cross on your forehead, lips, and heart.)

After the Gospel:

Priest/Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.

V. The Nicene Creed (Profession of Faith – Sundays & Solemnities)

I believe in one God,
The Father almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
Of all things visible and invisible… (Continues until the end.)

VI. Prayers of the Faithful (General Intercessions)

Priest: We pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, hear our prayer.

VII. Liturgy of the Eucharist

1. Preparation of the Gifts

Priest: Blessed are You, Lord God of all creation… (The people remain silent.)

2. Preface and Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy)

Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.

Priest: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.

Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right and just.

All:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

VIII. Mystery of Faith (Acclamation)

Priest: The mystery of faith.
People (Choose One):

• We proclaim Your Death, O Lord, and profess Your Resurrection until You come again.
• When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim Your Death, O Lord, until You come again.
• Save us, Savior of the world, for by Your Cross and Resurrection, You have set us free.

IX. Communion Rite

1. The Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)

Our Father, who art in heaven… (Continues until the end.)

2. The Sign of Peace

Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
People: And with your spirit. (Exchange a sign of peace.)

3. Lamb of God (Agnus Dei)

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

X. Concluding Rites

Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.

Priest: May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.

Priest: Go in peace.
People: Thanks be to God.