‘My sacrifice and yours.’ What does THAT mean? Today’s Lenten Lesson: The ‘Orate Fratres’ We’re back on our feet again and everyone is praying together. The gifts having been prepared, the priest invites everyone to pray: “Pray brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.” Standing, the people reply: […]Read more

Did you know there are “secret” prayers at Mass? Today’s Lenten Lesson: Secret Prayers Did you know there are some ‘secret’ prayers at Mass? If you watch very closely, you’ll notice that the priest is moving his lips and praying some prayers very, very quietly during the Preparation of the Gifts. The rubrics indicate that […]Read more

Can we give something back to God? Today’s Lenten Lesson: The Offertory Can we give something back to God?  Yes, once we arrive to the Offertory, it’s our turn to give something to God. After the Prayers of the Faithful (Universal Prayer), the Mass enters into a new and profound phase: the ritual of offering […]Read more

Ask and you shall receive… Today’s Lenten Lesson: Prayers of the Faithful “Ask and you shall receive.” That’s what Jesus said, and that’s just what we do at Mass. After the Homily and the Creed come the Prayers of the Faithful.  As Pope Benedict XVI observed, we are “at our most attentive in prayer when […]Read more

It’s One of the 7 Great Prayers Today’s Lenten Lesson: Profession of Faith We stand for the Gospel, we sit for the Homily, and now it’s time to stand up again for the Profession of Faith. On Sundays, Holy Days of Obligation, and Solemnities, the people stand after the Homily and make the Profession of […]Read more