Mass

What is the Mass? What happens during it?

The Mass is the principle act of public worship in the Catholic Church, during which the sacrament of Holy Eucharist is celebrated.

The Mass primarily consists of two parts: the Liturgy of the Word, during which passages from the Bible are read, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, during which bread and wine are consecrated by a priest or bishop. Catholics believe that at consecration, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. (See "Transubstantiation" for an explanation of this doctrine.) The consecrated elements — called the Eucharist — are then distributed.

Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.

Style notes:

Always capitalize "Mass."

Mass is "celebrated," not "said."

The priest who celebrates Mass is called the "celebrant" or "presider." Note: There is some contention about whether the latter term should be used interchangeably with "celebrant" or whether it should only be used to refer to the main celebrant at a Mass with more than one priest concelebrating.

In the Eastern Catholic churches, the Mass is called the Divine Liturgy.