Prayers and Responses Shared at Every Catholic Mass

Below are the core prayers and responses that are shared at every Catholic Mass. While there may be some variations depending on the liturgical season or the particular parish, these prayers form the consistent foundation of the Mass.

Introductory Rites

Sign of the Cross

Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.

Greeting

Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.

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Penitential Act (Option A - Confiteor)

All:
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,
(striking the breast)
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.

Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.

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Kyrie (Lord, Have Mercy)

Priest or Cantor: Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Priest or Cantor: Christ, have mercy.
All: Christ, have mercy.
Priest or Cantor: Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.

Gloria (Sundays and solemnities only)

All:
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.

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Liturgy of the Word

At the end of each reading:

Reader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.

Before the Gospel:

Priest or Deacon: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
Priest: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to [Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John].
All: Glory to you, O Lord. (Make the Sign of the Cross on forehead, lips, and heart.)

After the Gospel:

Priest or Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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Profession of Faith

The Nicene Creed (Sundays and solemnities)

All:
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,
(bow) 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.

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Liturgy of the Eucharist

Prayer over the Gifts

Priest: Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
All: 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.

Eucharistic Prayer Preface Dialogue

Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right and just.

Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy)

All:
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.

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The Mystery of Faith (said after the consecration)

Priest: The mystery of faith.

All (one of the following):

• We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.

• When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.

• Save us, Savior of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.

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Communion Rite

The Lord’s Prayer

All:
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.

Priest: Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil…
All: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever.

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Sign of Peace

Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
All: And with your spirit.
(Then, offer a sign of peace to those near you.)

Lamb of God

All:
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.

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Communion

Priest: Behold the Lamb of God…
All:
Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

Then the congregation receives Holy Communion or a blessing if not receiving.

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Concluding Rite

Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.

Priest: May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.

Priest: Go in peace.
All: Thanks be to God.