Te
Test!!!
The Immaculate Conception
The Dogma
The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin. -Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus, 1854 -Ex Cathedra
Read Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 488-494
The Scriptural Basis for the Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception was foretold in Genesis 3:15;
I will put enmity between you (satan/sin) and the woman (Mary), and between your offspring (sin) and hers (Jesus); He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.”
We know that Jesus was conceived without sin (original sin and personal sin). In the verse above, it mentions the enmity of sin and Jesus & the enmity of sin and Mary. Because both are mentioned in the same sentence and described in the same way, the enmity is the same. If the enmity between Mary and sin were not the same as the enmity between Jesus and sin they would not have been included in the same sentence. If there is a complete enmity between Christ and sin there must be a complete enmity between Mary and sin. Thus, Jesus and Mary were born without sin. The enmity between Mary and sin (at conception) is the Immaculate Conception.
Another reference to the Immaculate Conception in the Bible is done by the Angel Gabriel in Luke 1:28;
And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” (NAB Bible)
And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. (Douay Rheims Bible)
The greeting of Gabriel to Mary was “Χαῖρε, κεχαριτωμένη/Chaire, kecharitomene (Hail, full of grace!)” To be “full of grace” you would have to be empty of sin. Back then it was impossible to be sinless except through divine privilege. The only way to be “full of grace” is after receiving the sacraments of baptism and confession. But the annunciation occurred before baptism and confession were even instituted. At that time the only way to be “full of grace” is through a divine privilege.
Note that the angel’s salutation came before being acquainted with Mary. Mary was already full of grace. God’s grace was not given in time after Mary accepted the angel’s word. God’s grace was given from the very beginning of Mary’s life.
In addition, Mary is the New Testament Ark of the Covenant. The Old Testament Ark of the Covenant was pure and spotless inside and out.
The Church Fathers on the Immaculate Conception
Hippolytus – “He was the ark formed of incorruptible wood. For by this is signified that His tabernacle was exempt from putridity and corruption.” -Orations Inillud, Dominus pascit me (ante A.D. 235).
Origen – “This Virgin Mother of the Only-begotten of God is called Mary, worthy of God, immaculate of the immaculate, one of the one.” -Homily 1(A.D. 244).
Ephraem – “Let woman praise Her, the pure Mary.” -Hymns on the Nativity, 15:23 (A.D. 370).
Ephraim the Syrian “Thou alone and thy Mother are in all things fair, there is no flaw in thee and no stain in thy Mother.” -Nisibene Hymns, 27:8 (A.D. 370).
Athanasius – “O noble Virgin, truly you are greater than any other greatness. For who is your equal in greatness, O dwelling place of God the Word? To whom among all creatures shall I compare you, O Virgin? You are greater than them all O Covenant, clothed with purity instead of gold! You are the Ark in which is found the golden vessel containing the true manna, that is, the flesh in which divinity resides.” -Homily of the Papyrus of Turin, 71:216 (ante AD 373).
Ambrose of Milan – “Mary, a Virgin not only undefiled but a Virgin whom grace has made inviolate, free of every stain of sin.” -Sermon 22:30 (A.D. 388).
Augustine – “We must except the Holy Virgin Mary, concerning whom I wish to raise no question when it touches the subject of sins, out of honour to the Lord; for from Him we know what abundance of grace for overcoming sin in every particular was conferred upon her who had the merit to conceive and bear Him who undoubtedly had no sin.” -Nature and Grace,4 2[36] (A.D.415).
Proclus of Constantinople – “As he formed her without my stain of her own, so He proceeded from her contracting no stain.” -Homily 1 (ante A.D. 446).
Theodotus of Ancrya – “A virgin, innocent, spotless, free of all defect, untouched, unsullied, holy in soul and body, like a lily sprouting among thorns.” -Homily 6:11(ante A.D. 446).
Peter Chrysologus – “The angel took not the Virgin from Joseph, but gave her to Christ, to whom she was pledged from Joseph, but gave her to Christ, to whom she was pledged in the womb, when she was made.” -Sermon 140 (A.D. 449).
Jacob of Sarug – “[T]he very fact that God has elected her proves that none was ever holier than Mary, if any stain had disfigured her soul, if any other virgin had been purer and holier, God would have selected her and rejected Mary.” (A.D. 521).
Theotokos of Livias – “She is born like the cherubim, she who is of a pure, immaculate clay.” -Panegyric for the feast of the Assumption, 5:6 (ante A.D. 650).
Andrew of Crete – “Today humanity, in all the radiance of her immaculate nobility, receives its ancient beauty. The shame of sin had darkened the splendour and attraction of human nature; but when the Mother of the Fair One par excellence is born, this nature regains in her person its ancient privileges and is fashioned according to a perfect model truly worthy of God…. The reform of our nature begins today and the aged world, subjected to a wholly divine transformation, receives the first fruits of the second creation.” -Sermon I, On the Birth of Mary (A.D. 733).
Germanus of Constantinople – “[T]ruly elect, and superior to all, not by the altitude of lofty structures, but as excelling all in the greatness and purity of sublime and divine virtues, and having no affinity with sin whatever.” -Marracci in S. Germani Mariali (ante A.D. 733).
John of Damascus – “O most blessed loins of Joachim from which came forth a spotless seed! O glorious womb of Anne in which a most holy offspring grew.” -Homily I (ante A.D. 749).
Justin Martyr – [Jesus] became man by the Virgin so that the course that was taken by disobedience in the beginning through the agency of the serpent might be also the very course by which it would be put down. Eve, a virgin and undefiled, conceived the word of the serpent and bore disobedience and death. But the Virgin Mary received faith and joy when the angel Gabriel announced to her the glad tidings that the Spirit of the Lord would come upon her and the power of the Most High would overshadow her, for which reason the Holy One being born of her is the Son of God. And she replied, “Be it done unto me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) -Dialog with Trypho 100 (A.D. 155).
Irenaeus – Consequently, then, Mary the Virgin is found to be obedient, saying, “Behold, 0 Lord, your handmaid; be it done to me according to your word.” Eve . . . who was then still a virgin although she had Adam for a husband — for in paradise they were both naked but were not ashamed; for, having been created only a short time, they had no understanding of the procreation of children . . . having become disobedient [sin], was made the cause of death for herself and for the whole human race; so also Mary, betrothed to a man but nevertheless still a virgin, being obedient [no sin], was made the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race. . . . Thus, the knot of Eve’s disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. What the virgin Eve had bound in unbelief, the Virgin Mary loosed through faith. -Against Heresies 3:22:24 (A.D. 189).
Origen – This Virgin Mother of the Only-begotten of God is called Mary, worthy of God, immaculate of the immaculate, one of the one -Homily 1 (A.D. 244).
Hippolytus – He [Jesus] was the ark formed of incorruptible wood. For by this is signified that His tabernacle [Mary] was exempt from defilement and corruption -Orat. In Illud, Dominus pascit me, in Gallandi, Bibl. Patrum, II, 496 ante (A.D. 235).
Ephraim the Syrian – You alone and your Mother are more beautiful than any others, for there is neither blemish in you nor any stains upon your Mother. Who of my children can compare in beauty to these? -Nisibene Hymns 27:8 (A. D. 361).
Ambrose of Milan – Come, then, and search out your sheep, not through your servants or hired men, but do it yourself. Lift me up bodily and in the flesh, which is fallen in Adam. Lift me up not from Sarah but from Mary, a Virgin not only undefiled but a Virgin whom grace had made inviolate, free of every stain of sin. -Commentary on Psalm 118:22-30 (A.D. 387).
Gregory Nazianzen – He was conceived by the virgin, who had been first purified by the Spirit in soul and body; for, as it was fitting that childbearing should receive its share of honor, so it was necessary that virginity should receive even greater honor. (Sermon 38 d. A.D. 390).
Theodotus of Ancrya – A virgin, innocent, spotless, free of all defect, untouched, unsullied, holy in soul and body, like a lily sprouting among thorns -Homily 6:11(ante A.D. 446).
Romanos the Melodist – Then the tribes of Israel heard that Anna had conceived the immaculate one. So everyone took part in the rejoicing. Joachim gave a banquet, and great was the merriment in the garden. He invited the priests and Levites to prayer; then he called Mary into the center of the crowd, that she might be magnified. -On the Birth of Mary 1 (d. ca A.D. 560).
Responses to Arguments Opposing the Immaculate Conception
“Romans 3:23 clearly says ‘All have sinned. . . .’ The dogma of the Immaculate Conception is clearly contradicting the Bible!”
The meaning of the verse lies in context. St Paul is telling the Jewish Christians that they have no supremacy over Gentile Christians. He is saying “You are both equal! All have sinned.” If the meaning of the verse was strict, it would have to include babies, the mentally disable, and even Jesus! All have sinned except for Jesus and Mary. This is said in Genesis 3:15.
It is possible that Paul was talking about mankind in general. And that Jesus, Mary, infants, and the mentally disabled would be excluded but not singled out. He might have also meant that everyone is subject to original sin (except Jesus). Unborn babies, infants, mentally disabled people, and even Mary are subject to original sin. Mary was subject to original sin, but through God’s grace she was preserved from it.
“Mary is not equal to God! No one is equal to God!”
Catholics agree with the statement above 100%! No one is equal to God!! Adam, Eve, and the angels were created without sin (personal and original sin) yet they are not equal to God! The Angels and Saints in Heaven are without sin and are not equal to God!
“What about St Stephen? The Bible says that he was “filled with grace” (Acts 6:8), but why wasn’t he immaculately conceived?”
St Stephen was already baptized, and therefore he could easily have been as “full of grace” as Mary at that point (through confession or baptism). But he was not “full of grace” from conception.
“The Bible says that Mary needed a savior (Luke 1:47). Only sinners need a savior!”
Let’s take the second citation first. Mary, too, required a Savior. Like all other descendants of Adam, she was subject to the necessity of contracting original sin. But by a special intervention of God, undertaken at the instant she was conceived, she was preserved from the stain of original sin and its consequences. She was therefore redeemed by the grace of Christ, but in a special way—by anticipation.
Consider an analogy: Suppose a man falls into a deep pit, and someone reaches down to pull him out. The man has been “saved” from the pit. Now imagine a woman walking along, and she too is about to topple into the pit, but at the very moment that she is to fall in, someone holds her back and prevents her. She too has been saved from the pit, but in an even better way: She was not simply taken out of the pit, she was prevented from getting stained by the mud in the first place. This is the illustration Christians have used for a thousand years to explain how Mary was saved by Christ. By receiving Christ’s grace at her conception, she had his grace applied to her before she was able to become mired in original sin and its stain. (Catholic Answers)
“The Greek word “κεχαριτωμένη/kecharitomene” could also mean “full of honor”, this is referring to the honor of being the mother of Jesus!”
“Kecharitomene” is a perfect passive participle of charitoo, meaning “to fill or endow with grace/special honor.” Since this term is in the perfect tense, it indicates that Mary was graced in the past but with continuing effects in the present. So, the grace/honor Mary had is not because she was the mother of Jesus (Jesus was not yet conceived (Luke 1:31,35)) or being visited by an angel. If the greeting was referring to a special honor, the greeting would have been reffering to the Immaculate Conception. The only special honor that Mary received was the Immaculate Conception.
Martin Luther on the Immaculate Conception
“But as the Virgin Mary was herself born of a father and mother in the natural way, many have been disposed to assert that she was also born in original sin, though all with one mouth affirm that she was sanctified in the maternal womb, and conceived without concupiscence.” (On the Day of the Conception of the Mother of God).
Scripture
Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” . . . Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” (John 3:3, 5)
Here Jesus says that Baptism is done with water and The Holy Spirit. And Jesus also said that Baptism is necessary for salvation, not conversion.
John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. (John 1:32 -- The Baptism of Our Lord)
At Baptism the Holy Spirit come down onto the person receiving Baptism and his/her body becomes a temple of the Holy Spirit. This happens at Baptism, not a conversion moment.
Peter (said) to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)
Peter commands them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ in order to be actually forgiven of sin, not just to partake of a symbolic ritual.
Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he (Paul) regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, . . . (Acts 9:18)
Even though Paul, chosen directly by Christ and converted, still had to be baptized to be born again.
After these people were converted they were instantly baptized. if belief is all one needs to be saved, why is everyone instantly baptized after learning of Jesus?
Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name.’ (Acts 22:16)
Ananias tells Paul, “arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins,” even though Paul was converted directly by Jesus Christ. This proves that Paul’s acceptance of Jesus as personal Lord and Savior was not enough to be forgiven of his sin and saved. The sacrament of baptism is required.
Further, Ananias’ phrase “wash away” comes from the Greek word “apolouo.” “Apolouo” means an actual cleansing which removes sin. It is not a symbolic covering up of sin. Even though Jesus chose Paul directly in a heavenly revelation, Paul had to be baptized to have his sins washed away.
Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. (Rom. 6:3-4)
In baptism, we actually die with Christ so that we, like Him, might be raised to newness of life. This means that, by virtue of our baptism, our sufferings are not in vain. They are joined to Christ and become efficacious for our salvation.
But when the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)
Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: “Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.” (CCC 1213)
That is what some of you used to be; but now you have had yourselves washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:11)
Through the washing of Baptism we are born again, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19).
You Must Carry Your Cross!
Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ~Luke 9:23
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. ~Luke 14:27
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
(click on the pictures to view them full-size)
Can We Be Saints? By Servant of God, Frank Duff
What is a Saint?
- Servant of God, Frank Duff
In the heart of every right-thinking Catholic, God has implanted the desire to become a Saint. Yet few make a serious attempt to realise the ambition. The cause for this is to a large extent discouragement, due to the misunderstanding of what a Saint really is.
What is a Saint? The answer usually returned to this question is: One who does extraordinary penances and works miracles. Now, this is an incorrect description, for neither miracles nor great penances are essential. The man who works a miracle does not raise himself in God’s eyes by it; and, while penance in some shape is necessary, still the teaching of the Saints on this difficult question is encouraging.
What they direct is not bodily penances of a terrifying kind, but rather the strict avoidance of delicacies, softness, comfort. We are told to beware of injuring our health, and to eat enough plain food to enable us to work and pray without hindrance. There is ample opportunity for the severest mortification in the restraint of eyes and tongue, and in a warfare against the seven Deadly Sins.
Thus, there is another definition of what a Saint is. It is this: One who, with the object of pleasing God, does his ordinary duties extraordinarily well. Such a life may be lived out without a single wonder in it, arouse little notice, be soon forgotten, And yet be the life of one of God’s dearest friends.
It is obviously an encouragement to look on Sanctity in this way. When we see that those things which so terrified us in the lives of the Saints, because we felt we could not do them ourselves, are not the important part of their sanctity at all, we should feel, therefore, heartened to begin today and make a serious effort for great holiness. Believe this: it is only the first few wrenches given to the will that really hurt.
Perhaps the following words of Cardinal Newman will tempt us to take a step forward on the road:
“If you ask me what you are to do in order to be perfect, I say, first, do not lie in bed beyond the time of rising; give your first thoughts to God; make a good visit to the Blessed Sacrament; say the Angelus devoutly; eat and drink to God’s glory; say the Rosary well; be recollected; keep out bad thoughts; make your evening meditation well; examine yourself daily; go to bed in good time, and you are already perfect.”
The Biblical Basis for the Holy Mass
The Last Supper
Mark 14:22-24 - “While they were eating, he (Jesus) took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.’ ”
Matt 26:26-28 - “While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’ “
Luke 22:17, 19-20 - “Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves;…’ Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.’ “
The First Mass, Celebrated by Jesus
Liturgy of the Word:
Luke 24:17-27 – He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?”
They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?”
And he replied to them, “What sort of things?”
They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.”
And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures.
Liturgy of the Eucharist:
Luke 24:30-31, 33, 35 - “When he was at table with them, he took bread, blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight… That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together… Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.”
The Breaking of Bread by the Apostles
1 Cor 11:23-26 – “For I (Paul) received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
1 Cor 10:16-17 – “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.”
Acts 2:42, 46 - “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,to the breaking of bread and the prayers… Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts…
Acts 20:7, 11 - “On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul was holding a discussion with them; since he intended to leave the next day, he continued speaking until midnight… Then Paul went upstairs, and after he had broken bread and eaten, he continued to converse with them until dawn; then he left.”
Acts 27:35 - “After he had said this, he took bread; and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat.”
Biblical Background of Liturgical Texts:
The words spoken by the priests and the people during the Catholic Mass and other Christian liturgies are not only based loosely on the Bible; many of them are direct quotations from particular biblical texts:
Introductory Rites:
- Sign of the Cross: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
(see Matt 28:19; cf. John 14:13-14; Acts 2:21) - Formal Greeting:
- “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (2 Cor 13:14)
- “The grace and peace of God our Father…” (Eph 1:2)
- “The Lord be with you.” (2 Tim 4:22; cf. Matt 1:23; 28:20)
- Rite of Blessing and Sprinkling Holy Water (see Ezek 36:25; cf. Num 8:7a)
- Penitential Rite:
- “I confess to almighty God…” (cf. Lev 5:5; Neh 1:5-9; Dan 9:3-19; James 5:16)
- “Lord, Have Mercy” ( Matt 15:22; 17:15; 20:30-31; cf. Ps 123:3)
- “Glory to God in the highest…” (Luke 2:14; cf. Rev 4:11; 5:11-14)
- Prayers concluded by “Amen” (Neh 8:6; Ps 41:13; Rom 16:27; Heb 13:20-21; Rev 7:16)
Liturgy of the Word:
- Introductory/Concluding Dialogues:
- “A reading from the book/letter of…”
- “The Word of the Lord” – “Thanks be to God”
- “A reading from the holy Gospel according to…” – “Glory to you, O Lord”
- “The Gospel of the Lord” – “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ”
- Acclamations before the Gospel:
- “Alleluia” (many Psalms, esp. Ps 146-150; Rev 19:1-6)
- “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!” (cf. Ps 24:7-10; 1 Thess 2:12; 2 Tim 4:18)
- “Praise and honor to you, Lord Jesus Christ!” (cf. Dan 4:34, 37; 1 Peter 1:7)
- “Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!” (cf. Phil 1:11)
- Profession of Faith:
- “We believe…” (Mark 9:24; John 11:27; cf. John 14:1; 1 John 5:10)
- General Intercessions:
- “We pray to the Lord” – “Lord, hear our prayer”
Liturgy of the Eucharist:
- Preparation of the Gifts: “Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation…” (cf. 1 Chron 29:10; Ps 72:18-19; 119:10; Luke 1:68)
- Eucharistic Acclamations:
- “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might…” (Isa 6:3; Rev 4:8)
- “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” (Ps 118:26; Mark 11:10)
- Words of Institution: “Take, eat, this is my body…” (Mark 14:22-24; Matt 26:26-28; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor 11:23-25)
- Memorial Acclamations:
- “Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.” (cf. 1 Thess 4:14-15; 1 Cor 15:3-23)
- “Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory.” (cf. 1 Cor 16:22)
- “When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus, until you come in glory.” (cf. 1 Cor 11:26)
- “Lord, by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free. You are the Savior of the world.” (cf. Luke 4:42)
- Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father in heaven…” (Matt 6:9-13; cf. Luke 11:2-4; Mark 14:36; Gal 4:6)
- Doxology: “For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours…”
(found only in some biblical manuscripts after Matt 6:13; cf. Rev 4:11; 1 Chron 29:11)
- Doxology: “For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours…”
- Greeting of Peace: “The peace of the Lord be with you always.” (cf. John 14:27; 16:33; 20:19-20; 20:26)
- Breaking of the Bread: “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world…” (cf. John 1:29, 36; cf. Rev 5:6-13; 22:1-3)
- Preparation before Communion: “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.” (cf. Luke 7:1-10)
Concluding Rite:
- Final Blessing (cf. Gen 28:3; Deut 14:29; Num 6:23-27; Ps 29:11)
- Dismissal:
- “Go in the peace of Christ.”
- “The Mass is ended; go in peace.”
- “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” (cf. Deut 10:11-13; Judg 18:6; Luke 7:50)
