Liturgical Minute

The Structure of The Mass - Its Elements and Parts

The Different Elements of the Mass

  Reflection for the Week of July 18, 2010   

This Individual Parts of The Mass

The Fraction (Breaking of the Bread) Continued

The priest breaks the Bread and puts a piece of the host into the chalice to signify the unity of the Body and Blood of the Lord in the work of salvation, namely, of the living and glorious Body of Jesus Christ.

The supplication Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) is, as a rule, sung by the choir or cantor with the congregation responding; or it is, at least, recited aloud.  This invocation accompanies the fraction and, for this reason, may be repeated as many times as necessary until the rite has reached its conclusion, the last time ending with the words "dona nobis pacem" (grant us peace.)

(From: General Instruction of the Roman Missal, U.S.C.C.B., p. 43.)

(Next week: The Individual Parts of The Mass, The Communion.)