What the people respond at Mass
At each moment of the Mass, in small type what the priest says and, highlighted, what we all respond.
At the beginning
We stand when the priest enters.
The priest says: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
We respond: Amen.
The priest says: Peace be with you. (or “The Lord be with you.”)
We respond: And with your spirit.
The priest says: We ask forgiveness. All together:
We respond: I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
The priest says: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
We respond: Amen.
The priest says: Lord, have mercy.
We respond: Lord, have mercy.
The priest says: Christ, have mercy.
We respond: Christ, have mercy.
The priest says: Lord, have mercy.
We respond: Lord, have mercy.
The priest says: On Sundays and feast days, all together (or sung):
We respond: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
The priest says: Let us pray… Through our Lord Jesus Christ… for ever and ever.
We respond: Amen.
The readings
Seated, we listen to the Word of God; we stand for the Gospel.
The priest says: At the end of the first and second readings: The word of the Lord.
We respond: Thanks be to God.
The priest says: The Lord be with you.
We respond: And with your spirit.
The priest says: A reading from the holy Gospel according to N.
We respond: Glory to you, O Lord.
The priest says: At the end of the Gospel: The Gospel of the Lord.
We respond: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The priest says: On Sundays and feast days, we all recite the Creed:
We respond: I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The offerings
The priest prepares the bread and the wine at the altar.
The priest says: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you… it will become for us the bread of life.
We respond: Blessed be God for ever.
Only if the priest says it aloud.
The priest says: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you… it will become our spiritual drink.
We respond: Blessed be God for ever.
The priest says: Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
We respond: May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.
The priest says: Prayer over the offerings… Through Christ our Lord.
We respond: Amen.
The Eucharistic Prayer
The central part of the Mass: the bread and the wine become the Body and Blood of Christ.
The priest says: The Lord be with you.
We respond: And with your spirit.
The priest says: Lift up your hearts.
We respond: We lift them up to the Lord.
The priest says: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
We respond: It is right and just.
The priest says: At the end of the Preface, all together (or sung):
We respond: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
The priest says: After the consecration: The mystery of faith.
We respond: We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
One may also answer: “When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.”
The priest says: Through him, and with him, and in him… for ever and ever.
We respond: Amen.
Communion
We prepare ourselves to receive Jesus.
The priest says: At the Saviour’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
We respond: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
The priest says: Deliver us, Lord, from every evil… as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
We respond: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever.
The priest says: …who live and reign for ever and ever.
We respond: Amen.
The priest says: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
We respond: And with your spirit.
The priest says: While the bread is broken, all together (or sung):
We respond: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
The priest says: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
We respond: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
The priest says: At Communion, the priest or minister: The Body of Christ.
We respond: Amen.
The priest says: Prayer after Communion… Through Christ our Lord.
We respond: Amen.
The dismissal
We receive the blessing and go out to live what we have celebrated.
The priest says: The Lord be with you.
We respond: And with your spirit.
The priest says: May the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you for ever.
We respond: Amen.
The priest says: Go in peace. (or “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.”)
We respond: Thanks be to God.