MASS. The name given among Catholics to the Eucharist or Lord's Supper (q.v.) , considered as the highest form of Christian worship, as a sacrifice, and the offering of the body and blood of Jesus Christ under the forms of bread and wine. The proofs adduced to show its institution under this aspect at the Last Supper are the words employed on that occasion ; the teaching of Saint. Paul and of the Fathers of the Church; the practice of the Apostles; the unbroken tradi tion of all Christendom for sixteen centuries; and its retention as a sacrifice in the Eastern churches which separated from Catholic unity. The prophecy of Malachi (i. III is likewise re garded as foretelling it. The teaching of Roman Catholic theologians is that in the Eucharist Christ is 'as it were slain.' It is a quasi-anni hilation. Be is not merely present, but is in a state which is a kind of death. He is there with all the perfections of His Godhead, and all the complete nature, functions. and glory of His manhood; all, in fact, that He is in heaven: but Be does not manifest it: nor does He exercise His powers in the Sacrament as He does in heaven. How much or how little Ills human senses are exerted is still a matter of discussion among theologians. This quasi-annihilation of Christ is evidently the greatest conceivable way of ex pressing subjection to God's dominion, of im petrating, atoning, and rendering thanks, the four objects which are considered to be the purposes of the Sacrifice of the Mass. Necessarily it sup poses transubstantiation (q.v.) and the priestly power. Accordingly it can only he offered by one who is in priest's orders. By the law of the Church he must be fasting. absolutely, from the midnight previous to the celebration of the mass. It is offered in the morning, though this time may he extended, for reasons legislated upon, to a limited time after midday. Each priest is per mitted to offer it once a day; though on Christ ians Day he may offer three masses, and in some countries two on All Souls' Day. In some countries where there is a lack of priests it is permitted to celebrate mass twice on Sundays; otherwise the people would not be able to fulfill the obligation which is incumbent upon them of assisting at mass on Sundays and certain great festivals. (See COMMANDMENTS OF TILE CHURCH.)
Absence from this public worship without suffi cient reason is held to be a grievous sin, The priest who celebrates always communi cates. This is for the integrity of the sacrifice; but the essence of the sacrifice is commonly taught to be in the consecration. Whether some or none of the congregation communicate does not affect the sacrifice; the rule is, however, that some one must be present to make the responses. (For the teaching and details as to communion, see SACRAMENT: COMMUNION IN BOTH I\INDS). The bread must be wheaten bread ; the wine. wine of the grape. In the Eastern Church leavened, in the Western unleavened bread is used. The time of the introduction of unleavened bread in the West is not certain.
Private masses are said in a low tone, and hence called low masses. Those which are sung are called high masses, and if the celebrant is assisted by other ministers, the mass is said to be solemn; if the celebrant is a bishop it is pon tifical. Those celebrated for the dead are called from the first word of the introit, requiems; and the mass at the celebration of marriage is called a nuptial mass. As saints are honored on almost every day of the liturgical year. prayers in which their intercession is invoked are introduced at the beginning and at the end of the service, and also in the part which the priest recites in a tone audible only to himself, and hence called the Secret.
There are certain days not devoted to the commemoration of any mystery or saint, and the priest is permitted to choose one in whose honor he may celebrate according to his devotion; these are termed votive masses. There is no such thing as dry mass: the expression is used to de note the going through, by one who is preparing for the priesthood, of the various prayers and ceremonies in order to familiarize himself with them. The 'mass of the presanctified,' used on Good Friday (see HOLY WEEK), is not a complete mass, lacking the consecration.