Roman Catholic Mass

Roman Catholic Mass

"Holy Communion". In these denominations, the term Mass often colloquially refers to the entire church service in general.In general, Protestants avoid the term "Mass" and use such terms as Divine Service or service of worship, for doctrinal reasons.[5] For the celebration of the Eucharist in Eastern churches, including those in full communion with the Holy See, other terms such as the Divine Liturgy, the Qurbono Qadisho or Holy Qurbana and the Badarak are normal.

The term "Mass" is derived from the Late Latin word missa (dismissal), a word used in the concluding formula of Mass in Latin: "Ite, missa est" ("Go; it is the dismissal")."In antiquity, missa simply meant 'dismissal'. In Christian usage, however, it gradually took on a deeper meaning. The word 'dismissal' has come to imply a 'mission'. These few words succinctly express the missionary nature of the Church". (Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum caritatis, 51)

The Roman Catholic Church accepts Eucharist in the Orthodox tradition as valid while also distinguishing between the Mass in Catholic understanding from that which some Anglicans and Lutherans refer to as the Mass. This is because the Catholic Church considers that those denominations lack the sacrament of orders and therefore "have not retained the proper reality of the eucharistic mystery in its fullness." In the Decree on Ecumenism, produced by Vatican II in 1964, the Catholic Church also notes its understanding that when other faith groups (such as Lutherans, Anglicans, and Presbyterians) "commemorate His death and resurrection in the Lord's Supper, they profess that it signifies life in communion with Christ and look forward to His coming in glory." So further dialogue on the Lord's Supper, sacraments, and worship was recommended. On the other hand, historically, the Lutheran Church has stated that the Lutheran Mass is "the only Mass founded in the Scriptures of God, in accordance with the plain and incontestable institution of the Saviour."