Meaning of the Ceremonies at The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

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The Meaning of the Ceremonies at

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Adapted from

Fr. John Young’s (SSPX) Sermon

1. The priest going into the sanctuary with the acolytes and praying at the foot of the altar represents Christ praying in the Garden of Olives with His selected Apostles.

2. The priest bowing low during the Confiteor represents Christ prostrating Himself on the ground and sweating blood.

3. The priest ascending and kissing the altar represents Judas betraying Our Lord with a kiss.

4. The priest reading the Introit represents Our Lord asking the Romans: “Whom do you seek?”

5. The thrice repeated Kyrie Eleison represents Peter’s threefold denial of Our Lord.

6. The Gloria in Excelsis Deo represents Christ telling Pilate that He is a King.

7. The first Dominus Vobiscum represents Christ looking at Peter and converting him.

8. The reading of the Epistle represents Christ questioned by Pilate.

9. The reading of the Gospel represents Christ being questioned by Herod.

10.The reading of the Creed represents Christ telling Pilate that He is the only-begotten of God and that He shall come again in the clouds to judge the world.

11.The uncovering of the chalice represents Christ being stripped of His garments.

12.The offering of the host represents Christ being scourged.

13. The offering of the chalice represents Christ being crowned with thorns.

14.The washing of the priest’s fingers represents Pilate washing his hands before the people and proclaiming that he is innocent of the blood of this just Man.

15. The priest turning and saying: “Orate Fratres” represents Pilate taking Christ before the crowd saying: “Behold the Man”.

16. The priest reading the Preface represents the death sentence of Christ read by Pilate.

17. The silent recitation of the Canon represents Christ’s silence when interrogated by Pilate.

18. The priest extending his hands over the chalice at the Hanc Igitur represents Simon of Cyrene extending his hand to help Jesus carry His Cross.

19. The consecration of the host represents Christ being nailed to and elevated on the Cross.

20. The consecration of the wine represents Christ’s blood flowing from the Cross.

21. The priest breaking the silence of the Canon with the words “Nobis quoque peccatoribus” represents the good thief asking to be remembered by Our Lord.

22. The priest reciting the Our Father represents the Seven Last Words on the Cross.

23. The breaking of the Host represents Christ’s death upon the Cross and the earthquake that followed.

24. The dropping of the piece of Host into the chalice represents Christ’s soul going down to Limbo.

25. The Agnus Dei represents the conversion of the Roman soldier who pierced the side of Christ.

26. The “Domine non sum dignus” represents the bystanders beating their breasts and confessing that this Man is the Son of God.

27. The priest receiving Communion represents Our Lady receiving the Body of Jesus into her arms.

28. The Communion of the faithful represents the Apostles putting the Body of Jesus into the sepulcher.

29. The priest cleansing the chalice represents Christ being anointed by the holy women.

30. The priest cleansing the chalice represents Christ being anointed by the holy women.

31. The priest saying the Ite Missa Est represents Christ telling His Apostles to go preach the Gospel.

32. The final blessing represents Christ blessing His Apostles before His Ascension.

33. The Last Gospel represents the Apostles preaching the Gospel to the whole world.