Divine Worship: Ritual Actions Of The Congregation
Divine Worship is a form of the Roman Rite celebrated with solemnity, sacred music, and the hallowed cadence of traditional liturgical English. This sacred liturgy is not simply a rite, but a profound encounter with the living God, drawing souls into the mystery of Christ and the worship of the Church through time-honored forms. St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne Catholic Church
The Ordinariate Form of the Mass, Divine Worship, is especially rich in symbolism and gesture. Divine Worship: The Missal, approved by the Holy See, draws from the rich liturgical and spiritual heritage of the English and Anglican traditions, incorporating elements from the Use of Sarum, various editions of the Book of Common Prayer, and the English and Anglican Missals. Divine Worship is a miraculous assertion of the authentic liturgical renewal desired by the fathers of the Second Vatican Council.
Humans can communicate in a variety of beautiful and meaningful ways that capture and orient intention to God. Ritual actions help the worshipper avoid the temptation of a disembodied religion. Ritual actions are silent spiritual art that can bring the mind and body into harmony to cooperate with grace to glorify God.
The Patrimony, or spiritual, theological, liturgical and cultural heritage honoured in the Personal Ordinariates, preserved in the Personal Ordinariates, is a gift to the wider Church.
In the liturgy of the New Covenant every liturgical action, especially the celebration of the Eucharist and the sacraments, is an encounter between Christ and the Church (Catechism 1097).
God's invitation to a loving communion is illustrated by religious symbols and gestures that visually accompany what is said and sung during Mass. This continual communion with God, Saint John Henry Newman maintained, is “not necessarily expressed in words but is evident in actions done for God's glory and in a consistent reference to His will.” Newman emphasized the necessity of proper dispositions for prayer, such as recognizing one's dependence on God's grace, acknowledging sinfulness, and desiring holiness.
This summary is meant to help guide people toward a more intentional worship that aligns with the teachings of the Church.
Learn as you go. Observe others to learn when to stand, bow, genuflect, cross yourself, etc. Unified liturgical prayer affirms the unity of the Body of Christ.
Do as you are physically able. If genuflecting is awkward or painful, offer a bow instead. Likewise, substitute a head bow for a moderate bow if bending over is difficult. If you are unable to kneel, be seated.
THE INTRODUCTORY RITES
The Entrance Hymn and Procession: 
stand when the bell is rung. Bow as the Altar party passes.
stand when the bell is rung. Bow as the Altar party passes.The Prayers of Preparation | Said or Low Mass: kneel.
If the following is prayed at the foot of the altar, the People may join in saying the responses and praying the Confiteor, kneeling. The Sign of the Cross is made with the Priest.
Priest: + In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.Ministers/People: Amen.
Priest: I will go unto the altar of God.
Ministers: Even unto the God of my joy and gladness.
At Masses for the Dead and during Passiontide, the following Psalm is omitted.
Psalm 43. Judica me, Deus.
Priest: Give sentence with me, O God, and defend my cause against the ungodly people; O deliver me from the deceitful and wicked man.Ministers: For thou art the God of my strength; why hast thou put me from thee? and why go I so heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me?
Priest: O send out thy light and thy truth, that they may lead me, and bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy dwelling.Ministers: And that I may go unto the altar of God, even unto the God of my joy and gladness; and upon the harp will I give thanks unto thee, O God, my God.
Priest: Why art thou so heavy, O my soul? and why art thou so disquieted within me?Ministers: O put thy trust in God; for I will yet give him thanks, which is the help of my countenance, and my God.
Bow with the Priest: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;Upright Ministers: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
Priest: I will go unto the altar of God.Ministers: Even unto the God of my joy and gladness.
Priest: Our help is in the + Name of the Lord. The Sign of the Cross is made with the Priest.Ministers: Who hath made heaven and earth.
Profound Bow Priest: I confess to Almighty God, to Blessed Mary ever-Virgin,... .
Ministers: May almighty God have mercy upon thee, forgive thee thy sins, and bring thee to everlasting life.Priest: Amen.
Bowed Ministers: I CONFESS to Almighty God, to Blessed Mary ever-Virgin, to Blessed Michael the Archangel, to Blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the Saints, and to thee, Father, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, deed; (striking the breast thrice) by my ❎ fault, by my own ❎ fault, by my own most ❎ grievous fault. Wherefore I beg Blessed Mary ever-Virgin, Blessed Michael the Archangel, Blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, all the Angels and Saints, and thee, Father, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
Priest: May almighty God have mercy upon you, forgive you your sins, and bring you to everlasting life.
Ministers: Amen.
Upright
Priest: The almighty and merciful Lord grant unto us pardon, + absolution, and remission of our sins.Ministers: Amen.
Bowed
Priest: Wilt thou not turn again and quicken us, O God?Ministers: That thy people may rejoice in thee.
Priest: O Lord, show thy mercy upon us.Ministers: And grant us thy salvation.
Priest: O Lord, hear my prayer.Ministers: And let my cry come unto thee.
Upright
Priest: The Lord be with you.Ministers: And with thy spirit.
Priest: Let us pray.
When the Preparation is prayed at the foot of the altar, the Priest concludes with the Collect for Purity.
The Introit is sung or said, and Mass continues with the Kyrie.
GLORY be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, moderate bow we worship thee, we glorify thee, moderate bow we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son, head bow Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, head bow receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, + art Most High in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Kneel The Collect of the Day
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Seated The Lesson, Gradual, Epistle (Sequence)
The Introduction to the Holy Gospel Triple Sign of the Cross + + +
Head bow Glory be to thee, O Lord.
Head bow At the conclusion. Praise be to thee, O Christ.
Seated The Homily. Homilist: I speak to you in the Name of the + Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Stand The Nicene Creed
I BELIEVE in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible; And in one Lord head bow Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, genuflection and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; stand and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is moderate bow worshipped and glorified; who spake by the Prophets. And I believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church; I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, + and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Remain kneeling The Penitential Rite
ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker of all things, judge of all men: We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, which we from time to time most grievously have committed, by ❎ thought, ❎ word, and ❎ deed, against thy divine majesty, provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous unto us, the burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; for thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life, to the honour and glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Stand The Offertory Hymn
If the Hymn or an anthem continues, be seated until beckoned to rise for the censing.
Stand The Incensing of the Congregation: moderate bow before and after the censing.
Stand The Pray Brethren May the Lord accept the sacrifice at thy hands &c.
Bow The Sanctus
HOLY,
Kneel The Roman Canon
It is a common and laudable custom to silently pray ‘My Lord and my God’ as you cross yourself at the
THE COMMUNION RITE
The Peace is omitted during a Requiem Mass.
Kneel The Pascha Nostrum
Priest: Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. (Alleluia).People: Therefore, let us keep the feast. (Alleluia).
Remain kneeling; Bow The Agnus Dei / Lamb of God
O LAMB of God, that takest away the sins of the world, ❎ *have mercy upon us.O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, ❎ have mercy upon us.O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, ❎ **grant us thy peace.* Requiem Mass ‘grant them rest’ (twice); and **‘grant them rest everlasting.’
Bow The Prayer of Humble Access
We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not ❎ worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy. Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his Blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his Body, and our souls washed through his most precious Blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.
Upright The Behold the Lamb of God (Ecce Angus Dei). The Celebrant shows the Eucharist +
Lord, I am not ❎worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof, but speak the word only, and my soul shall be healed.
Genuflect when leaving the pew to receive Holy Communion at the altar rail.
Kneel at the Altar Rail The Holy Communion The act of kneeling serves as our ‘Amen’.
Kneel The Almighty and Everliving God / The General Thanksgiving
Remain kneeling The Post-Communion Prayer
THE CONCLUDING RITES
The Blessing + and The Dismissal: Depart in peace. R. Thanks be to God.
Stand The Last Gospel
Introduction of the Gospel: + + + Triple Sign of the CrossHead bow Glory be to thee, O Lord.Genuflect And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.After the Gospel: Thanks be to God.
At Low Mass The Leonine Prayers for the Church: kneelMost Sacred Heart of Jesus. R. Have ❎ mercy on us. Said thriceAt Sung Mass The Angelus (or Regina Caeli): standAnd the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us: genuflectMay by his + passion and cross &c.
Stand The Closing Hymn and Procession Bow as the Altar party passes.
DESCRIPTIONS
Hand Bells. Handbells are rung during Mass at the consecration to acknowledge the Body and Blood of Christ, to echo the jubilation of the angels, and at the Celebrant’s communion.Bow. A bow is a gesture of respect and acknowledgement.
- Simple or head bow at the Name of Jesus. It is certainly permissible to tip the head slightly at the mention of the name of Mary or the name of a saint on his or her feast day.
- Moderate or shoulder bow.
- Waist or profound bow.
The degrees of bows match the kind of intention that should accompany a given prayer.
Genuflection. Keep the upper body upright while touching the right knee to the ground.
Kneeling. Kneeling expresses deep reverence, humility, and adoration before God (Acts 9:40). Double genuflection: made before entering and when leaving the pew during Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Incense. The smoke of incense is symbolic of sanctification and purification. It also symbolizes the prayers of the faithful. It is an outward sign of spiritual realities, which is why it has its place in Christian liturgy. Gretchen Filz, O.P.
Proscribed actions: The orans position—arms extended in prayer, for example during the Preface Dialogue or the Lord’s Prayer—is reserved for priests and bishops, as stated in Ecclesiae de Mysterio, Article 6 §2.
+ The Sign of the Cross is made with the right hand. Some communicants make the Sign of the Cross at the reception of Holy Communion as a personal devotion.
❎ Strike the Chest (cf. St Luke 18:13; 23:48). Tapping the left side of one’s chest above the breast, or the sternum, with a closed right hand, signifies sorrow and humility.
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