Celebrating the Mass Lesson- Final Blessing & Concluding Rite

(This lesson is in accordance with the new Roman Missal that is to be implemented on November 27, 2011.)

*Be sure to adjust this lesson to fit the needs of your students.


(Please take in consideration that I am just a Mom and I'm providing these lessons and activities to the best of my abilities. I will try to make them as accurate as possible, but I know I will make a few mistakes and it was not intentional.)



Standing at the altar or at the chair and facing the people, with hands joined, the priest says:

Let us pray.

We all stand and pray in silence with the priest for a while, unless silence has just been observed. Then the priest, with hands extended, says the Prayer after Communion, at the end of which the people acclaim:

Amen.


If there are announcements to be made they are made at this time. If there is any other parish business to be taken care of, it usually will happen at this time as well.


Then the dismissal takes place. The priest, facing the people and extending his hands, says:

The Lord be with you.

People: And with your spirit.


The priest blesses the people, saying:

May almighty God bless you:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (The people make the Sign of the Cross when the priest says this.)

People: Amen.

____________________________________________________________

*On certain days or occasions, this formula of blessing is preceded, in accordance with the rubrics, by another more solemn formula of blessing or by a prayer over the people.

____________________________________________________________

In a Pontifical Mass, the celebrant receives the miter and, extending his hands, says:

The Lord be with you.

All reply:
And with your spirit.

The celebrant says:
Blessed be the name of the Lord.

All reply:
Now and for ever.

The celebrant says:
Our help is in the name of the Lord.

All reply:
Who made heaven and earth.

Then the celebrant receives the pastoral staff, if he uses it, and says:
May almighty God bless you,

making the Sign of the Cross over the people three times, he adds:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

All:
Amen.

____________________________________________________________

Then the Deacon, or the Priest himself, with hands joined and facing the people, says:

Go forth, the Mass is ended.

Or:

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

Or:

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

Or:

Go in peace.

The people reply:

Thanks be to God.


Then the Priest venerates the altar as usual with a kiss, as at the beginning. After this he is joined by the other ministers in front of the altar, and after a brief moment they all bow toward the altar. While this is happening the congregation sings the final hymn. The ministers of the liturgy, minus the Book of the Gospels, now exit the church. The congregation should remain in their places until the end of the closing hymn.

When you leave your pew, be sure to genuflect and do the Sign of the Cross. Just before you leave the church bless yourself with Holy Water at the water font or stoup, making the Sign of the Cross.



Questions:

Do we sit or stand during the Final Blessing and Concluding Rite? (Stand)

What do we say after the priest says, “The Lord be with you.” (“And with your spirit.”)

May we sit down when the priest sits down? (Yes)

When the priest stands and says, “Let us pray” what do we do? (We stand.)

When the priest blesses us what should we do? (Make the Sign of the Cross.)

At the end of Mass, the priest reminds us to “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” (Or, “The Mass is ended. Go in Peace.”) What do we say then? (“Thanks be to God.”)

When can we leave our seats? (The congregation should remain in their places until the end of the closing hymn and then they can leave.)

What do you do when you leave your pew? (Genuflect and make the Sign of the Cross.)

What do you do before you leave the church? (Bless yourself at the water font or stoup.)



Activities:

catholicicing.com- A Picture Book of the Mass! (For Children AND Adults!)

portlanddiocese.org- My Book of New Mass Responses

fatherbrowning.com- The Catholic Mass Booklet

liturgyoffice.org.uk- The Order of Mass

scsba.ca- Mass Prayers and Responses (printable pamphlet)

web.archive.org- Parts of the Mass Printable


This activity is free; however it is only to be used for classroom and personal use. It may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted. All graphics/images/clipart etc. used on this activity are not my own and are from various internet sources.

Mass Booklet for Children- For you to print out. Make a cover or better yet, have your children make one to make it more personalized.



Crafts:

The Catholic Toolbox- Church Building Crafts

The Catholic Toolbox- People at Mass Crafts

catholicicing.com- Craft a Mass Kit

Liturgical Objects Used in Mass- Activities, coloring, crafts, games, puzzles, quizzes, worksheets, etc.



Games:

studylib.net- The Parts of the Mass (Game 1 & Game 2)

jeopardylabs.com- Parts of the Mass

bingobaker.com- Parts of the Mass Bingo

looktohimandberadiant.com- Order of the Mass Activity Cards

loyolapress.com- Order of the Mass Game
Students identify what happens during Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist.

thereligionteacher.com- Interactive Catholic Mass Powerpoint Game



These games below are free, however they are only to be used for classroom and personal use. They may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted.


The Holy Mass Game- Directions and questions.


Actions Speak Louder Than Words Game- A fun review game about actions during Mass.

Mass Review File Folder Game- For 2 Players or 2 Teams

* The idea is to answer questions about Mass so you can trap one or more opponents’ pieces between two of your pieces. Those opponents’ pieces then change color to become your pieces.

* The game ends when both you and your opponent cannot play another piece, or if every square on the board is filled, the game is over. You count up the number of black pieces and the number of white pieces and the winner is the one with the most pieces.



Puzzles:

mycatholicsource.com- Word Search with answers

crosswordhobbyist.com- The Catholic Mass Crossword Puzzle

wordmint.com- Several Mass puzzles posted

whenwecrosswords.com- Catholic Mass Crossword Puzzle

weebelievers.com- Celebrate Mass Crossword Puzzle



Worksheets:

thegomom- Order of the Mass Worksheet
Above are parts of the mass. Choose which part of the mass is described in the sentences below. Write the letter only.

looktohimandberadiant.com- Teaching about the Mass Activity Sheets

thereligionteacher.com- The Religion Teacher Catholic Mass Worksheets


The worksheets below are free, however they can only to be used for classroom and personal use. They may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted.

Behavior In Mass- Draw a smile face next to the good things to do during Holy Mass. Draw a sad face next to the things not to do during Holy Mass.

The Church is God’s House (for younger students)- Ask your child the following questions about the lesson today and have them circle the answer.

Mass Etiquette Worksheet- Write True or False in the spaces provided.