Catholic Massterclass: All About Holy Mass

Priests wear different colors during the year when offering Holy Mass. What do those colors mean? Why do we have different colors?

Catholics commonly genuflect when they come into a church. Why is that? The same Jesus is present in the Eucharist as was in the Gospels, so it is appropriate that we show Him similar honor and reverence as we see in the Gospels. When we genuflect before the Eucharist, we acknowledge the presence of the One who has the power of creation and rules our lives.

Catholics instinctively know to dip our hands into the holy water at the entrance of the church and bless ourselves with the sign of the cross. Do we know why we do it?

This is a reminder of our baptism, an expression of being open to receiving grace from God, a bid for divine protection from evil, and a great way to prepare for worship.

Catholics a required to fast from food and water for one hour prior to receiving Holy Communion. Why is that a law? How long have Catholics done this? This Massterclass session explores this practice and the reasons for it.

The Lord gives instructions about the bread of the presence in the Old Testament (Exodus 25:30 and Leviticus 24:5-9), which is a sign of God's presence among the people and of the covenantal relationship they share. Jesus gives us a New Bread of the Presence in the Eucharist, which is more than a sign - the reality of His Presence among us and the New Covenant. Incredible!

Sometimes you may see the tabernacle with a veil over it or in front of it. There may be something similar in front of the altar. What is that all about?

An integral part of our worship is lifting our voices in song and chant. This has been part of liturgical worship since the time of David the king and has been a vital part of Christian worship from the beginning.

In the Temple worship, the priest would receive the offering from the people and then turn to offer the sacrifice to God on their behalf. He would face the same direction, the same Person in worship, as the people. The priest in Mass offers the sacrifice of the Eucharist on behalf of the people, which may be done facing the same direction as the people, ad orientem.

This week we look more closely at incense. It is found in Old Testament worship and in the Heavenly liturgy. It is also found in Catholic Mass.

It points us to sacrifice.

It symbolizes prayers rising to God.

It brings greater dignity to worship.

It engages the senses.

It veils the holiness of God.

There were sacred vessels used in the Temple to carry out the particular sacrifices and offerings. We also use sacred vessels for Mass, which are truly holy and help us to recall the dignity of the Eucharist and of Mass.

We take a look at some of the core furnishings of the Temple and how they compare with some of the core furnishings of a Catholic Church.

This episode looks at the Jerusalem Temple and how itcompares to any Catholic church. There are some remarkable similarities.

In Exodus 28, God gives Moses some instructions about the vestments that the priests were to wear during their worship. The vestments of the High Priest were meant to be "for glory and for beauty" and they were. Catholic priests, sharing in the High Priesthood of Jesus, are also meant to wear vestments for beauty and for glory. They are meant to point to the beauty and glory of God.

How did the priests know what to say and do? Where did they get their instructions for worship? Surely they wanted to offer something that would be both acceptable and pleasing to God. Indeed they did! Jewish documents reveal that there were necessary parts of the worship, including what to say, what to do, what to wear, etc. Our Catholic documents reveal the same thing about our own worship offered to God.