So far, we have examined the overall structure of the Roman Catholic Mass, along with its first two sections. In this installment, we turn our attention to the final three sections, which together make up the second major part of the Mass. This deeper look will help us better appreciate the profound meaning and spiritual richness found in the Liturgy of the Eucharist and its concluding rites.

Biblical Foundations of the Roman Catholic Mass – Part 2

In this second part, we will take a closer look at the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the Communion Rite, and the Concluding Rite. Each of these sections carries profound theological and spiritual significance, forming the heart and culmination of the Roman Catholic Mass. At the end of this installment, we will present a comprehensive table that maps the biblical sources to their corresponding parts of the Mass, helping to illuminate the scriptural foundation of the liturgy.

III. Liturgy of the Eucharist

The Preparation of the Gifts begins the Eucharistic Liturgy, when bread and wine are brought to the altar. This practice recalls Genesis 14:18, where Melchizedek, the priest-king of Salem, brings out bread and wine and blesses Abram. It also mirrors Jesus’ feeding of the multitude in John 6:11, where He takes bread, gives thanks, and distributes it.

During the Prayer over the Offerings, the priest asks God to accept these gifts, which prefigures the prophecy in Malachi 1:11: “from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations.” The Mass fulfills this vision of universal, pure worship.

The central prayer of the Mass is the Eucharistic Prayer, during which the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. The prayer includes the Institution Narrative, drawn directly from the Last Supper accounts in Matthew 26:26–28, Mark 14:22–24, Luke 22:19–20, and Paul’s letter in 1 Corinthians 11:23–26. These words are not merely recalled but made present again through the mystery of the Eucharist.

Before the consecration, the congregation sings the Sanctus: “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.” This hymn comes from Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8, where angels and heavenly beings worship God with these very words.

The Consecration is the moment when the priest speaks the words of Jesus, “This is my Body… This is my Blood,” enacting the sacrifice of Christ in a sacramental, unbloody manner, making Calvary present under the forms of bread and wine.

After the consecration, the faithful proclaim the Mystery of Faith, echoing 1 Corinthians 11:26: “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

The Eucharistic Prayer ends with the Doxology, a prayer of praise to the Trinity: “Through Him, with Him, and in Him…” This final act of glorification is similar to Romans 11:36: “For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”

IV. Communion Rite

The Our Father, or Lord’s Prayer, is then prayed by the whole congregation. This prayer, given directly by Christ in Matthew 6:9–13 and Luke 11:2–4, is the model of all Christian prayer and is the perfect preparation for Holy Communion.

Following the Lord’s Prayer, the priest invites the faithful to exchange the Sign of Peace, a gesture that reflects Christ’s gift of peace in John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you,” and is practiced in the early Church as seen in Romans 16:16: “Greet one another with a holy kiss.”

During the Lamb of God (Agnus Dei), the congregation calls upon Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. This title comes from John the Baptist’s declaration in John 1:29: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

In the reception of Holy Communion, the faithful receive the Body and Blood of Christ. Jesus explicitly teaches this in John 6:51–58, saying, “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53). Paul affirms this in 1 Corinthians 10:16, describing the Eucharist as a true participation in Christ’s Body and Blood.

After Communion, there is a time for silent reflection or music known as the Communion Meditation, which invites the faithful to interior thanksgiving. This is reminiscent of Mary’s contemplation in Luke 2:19: “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

V. Concluding Rites

The priest then gives the Blessing, sending the people forth with God’s grace. This blessing recalls the priestly blessing in Numbers 6:24–26: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you.”

Finally, the Mass ends with the Dismissal, often said as “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.” (There are two other various forms, see three alternative endings for dismissal at Mass.) This sending forth is rooted in the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19–20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

After the final blessing, the deacon (or priest) dismisses the congregation. Interestingly, this dismissal is where the liturgy gets its name. The word Mass is derived from the Latin term “Missa.” In earlier times, the faithful were sent forth with the phrase “Ite, missa est,” which literally means, “Go, she—referring to the Church—has been sent.” The term “Missa” is closely connected to “missio,” the root of the English word mission. This reminds us that the liturgy doesn’t simply conclude; rather, the faithful are commissioned to go out and live the Gospel, carrying the grace of the Eucharist into the world.

Summary Table: Biblical Sources of the Mass

Conclusion

I hope this three-part mini-series has offered you a deeper and clearer perspective on the structure and meaning of the Roman Catholic Mass. By exploring the various rites and their rich scriptural foundations, may you come to see the Mass not just as a ritual, but as a living encounter with Christ rooted in the Word of God.

May this reflection support you in your spiritual journey, strengthen your faith, and enrich your participation in the liturgy. As we grow in our understanding, let us also grow in devotion—so that nourished by the Eucharist and formed by the Scriptures, we may go forth as faithful witnesses and joyful missionaries in the world.

Let us continue to walk together in faith, ever seeking to live out the mystery we celebrate.

Amen.