| Question Title | Posted By | Question Date |
|---|---|---|
| Mass | Claire | Tuesday, January 11, 2005 |
Question: Hi Br. Ignatius, I have a great Catholic friend (who is also a Catechist) and she asked the question: "I need to know why we call the Mass, Mass? When did we start using the word Mass?" Would you happen to know the answer to this question? Thanks so much and God Bless you, Claire |
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| Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek
Dear Claire, The Catholic Encyclopedia has a good article that has information about the word mass that you may like: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10006a.htm Simply though, the article says that the word was used after the time of Pope Gregory the Great (d. 604). The Latin word is "Missa" which means "sent out" or "released" or "dismissed". In Latin, the last words of the Mass are "Ite missa est" which does not translate easily into English. "The Mass is ended" is not a good translation. You could say something like "Go, it is sent, or simply, "go, it is the Mass" but again these are not good translations. Mr. Slavek Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers. (b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks. (c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively. |
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