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THE DIVINE THEATRE
The Mass is a mystery. It is not possible for us to understand the infinite goodness God shows us in the great mystery of transubstantiation.
But there is nothing secret about it. Everyone, even the smallest child, may hear or read every word of it and see every action.
The method prescribed by the Church for celebrating Mass makes it into a wonderful drama, as in some heavenly theatre.
This is because Christians naturally gave outward expression to their great faith. In commemorating the life of the Saviour and in their desire of God, they would meet together to pray, sing and worship. They collected the most beautiful words and the noblest actions that sincere devotion could inspire. That is why the Mass is a representative action and became fixed in consecutive, unified parts, like the acts and scenes in a great drama, the drama of Redemption.
But the priest is not the only actor; no, the Mass is above all the action of Christendom, of the CHURCH. The Church is not made up of priests only, but of all Catholics, and so the people have their part in the Mass.
The congregation at Mass do not merely look on; they are actors in the drama. When the priest speaks, the people answer him; when he prays, the people unite themselves with him. The feelings of love, expectation and gratitude expressed by the priest officiating at the altar are re-echoed in the hearts of the people. They all become one thing together, one single voice, lifted up to Heaven.
THE PARTS OF THE MASS
The whole Mass is divided into two parts: The Mass of the Catechumens (or Mass of instruction) , and the Mass of the Faithful.
The first part culminates in the reading of the Gospel: that is, in the Word of God. Then on Sunday the priest adds to this reading a sermon of his own, explaining the Gospel and so instructing the people.
This first part commemorates the Living Jesus, from the time of His birth, during His tender childhood, and ends by showing Him preaching to the crowds in Palestine.
The second part culminates in the Consecration and in the Elevation of the Host and Chalice-the Body and the Blood of Christ.
It commemorates the Passion of Christ and the great sacrifice made by God for the salvation of men.
In this way the whole Mass recalls the whole life of Christ.
And, indeed, before Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice on the Cross, He instructed men, teaching them by word the doctrines of His Heavenly Father.
The principal part of the Mass is the second, because it recalls the redemption of all mankind which was brought about by the sacrifice offered by Christ.
(The Mass of the Faithful is, in its tum, divided into three parts. The first part is the offering of the bread and wine to be consecrated, together with the offering up of all hearts to God.
The second part is the Consecration, in which God made man is really present and offered.
The third part is the Mass of peace, in which men, through Holy Communion, become united with God.)
THE REPRESENTATIVE OBJECTS
The representative objects of the two main parts of the Mass are:
In the Mass of the Catechumens: the Book.
In the Mass of the Faithful: the Host and the Chalice.
(To these may be added: in the Mass of the Catechumens, the pulpit for preaching, where the speaker can be seen and from which his voice resounds.
But in the Mass of the Faithful there is no preaching. The soul is recollected and expectant, waiting for God, who is hidden under the appearances of bread and wine.
If a typical object may be added to those of the Mass of the Faithful, it is that in which are reserved the additional particles used in the communion of the faithful. These particles are consecrated during Mass together with the Host used by the priest, and they are reserved in the Ciborium, a vessel closed tightly by a lid and then covered with a little veil. The word "Ciborium" means a vessel in which food is stored. It is kept hidden in the Tabernacle, a receptacle closed by doors with a lock and key, or bolted and padlocked. There dwells the Most Holy, really and ever present with us.
The open pulpit from which man's speech resounds: the closed Tabernacle where the Body of Christ is reserved: these are what bear witness in the Church to the two different parts of the Mass, as it is celebrated in every Catholic country.)
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