When the people are gathered, the Priest approaches the altar with the ministers while the Entrance Chant is sung.
[Entrance Antiphon of the day is spoken]
When he has arrived at the altar, after making a profound bow with the ministers, the Priest venerates the altar with a kiss and, if appropriate, incenses the cross and the altar. Then, with the ministers, he goes to the chair.
When the Entrance Chant is concluded, the Priest and the faithful, standing, sign themselves with the Sign of the Cross, while the Priest, facing the people, says:
In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
The people reply:
Amen.
Amen.
Then the Priest, extending his hands, greets the people, saying:
Grátia Dómini nostri Iesu Christi, et cáritas Dei, et communicátio Sancti Spíritus sit cum ómnibus vobis.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
Or:
Grátia vobis et pax a Deo Patre nostro et Dómino Iesu Christo.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Or:
Dóminus vobíscum.
The Lord be with you.
The people reply:
Et cum spíritu tuo.
And with your spirit.
In this first greeting a Bishop, instead of “The Lord be with you” says:
Pax vobis.
Peace be with you.
The Priest, or a Deacon, or another minister, may very briefly introduce the faithful to the Mass of the day.
Then follows the Penitential Act, to which the Priest invites the faithful, saying:
Fratres, agnoscámus peccáta nostra, ut apti simus ad sacra mystéria celebránda.
Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
A brief pause for silence follows. Then all recite together the formula of general confession with striking breast with right fist three time in unison with the “mea culpa…/through my fault…”:
Confíteor Deo omnipoténti et vobis, fratres, quia peccávi nimis cogitatióne, verbo, ópere et omissióne: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa.
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, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault;
Then they continue:
Ideo precor beátam Maríam semper Vírginem, omnes Angelos et Sanctos, et vos, fratres, oráre pro me ad Dóminum Deum nostrum.
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.
The absolution by the Priest follows:
Misereátur nostri omnípotens Deus et, dimíssis peccátis nostris, perdúcat nos ad vitam ætérnam.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
The people reply:
Amen.
Amen.
Or:
The Priest invites the faithful to make the Penitential Act:
Fratres, agnoscámus peccáta nostra, ut apti simus ad sacra mystéria celebránda.
Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare our-selves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
A brief pause for silence follows.
The Priest then says:
Miserére nostri, Dómine.
Have mercy on us, O Lord.
The people reply:
Quia peccávimus tibi.
For we have sinned against you.
The Priest:
Osténde nobis, Dómine, misericórdiam tuam.
Show us, O Lord, your mercy.
The people:
Et salutáre tuum da nobis.
And grant us your salvation.
The absolution by the Priest follows:
Misereátur nostri omnípotens Deus et, dimíssis peccátis nostris, perdúcat nos ad vitam ætérnam.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
The people reply:
Amen.
Amen.
Or:
The Priest invites the faithful to make the Penitential Act:
Fratres, agnoscámus peccáta nostra, ut apti simus ad sacra mystéria celebránda.
Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare our-selves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
A brief pause for silence follows.
The Priest, or a Deacon or another minister, then says the following or other invocations with Kýrie, eléison – Lord, have mercy:
Qui missus es sanáre contrítos corde: Kýrie, eléison.
You were sent to heal the contrite of heart: Lord, have mercy.
The Priest:
Qui peccatóres vocáre venísti: Christe, eléison.
You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy.
The people:
Christe, eléison.
Christ, have mercy.
The Priest:
Qui ad déxteram Patris sedes, ad interpellándum pro nobis: Kýrie, eléison.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us: Lord, have mercy.
The people:
Kýrie, eléison.
Lord, have mercy.
The absolution by the Priest follows:
Misereátur nostri omnípotens Deus et, dimíssis peccátis nostris, perdúcat nos ad vitam ætérnam.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to ev-erlasting life.
The people reply:
Amen.
Amen.
The Kyrie eleison (Lord, have mercy) invocations follow, unless they have just occurred in a formula of the Penitential Act.
V. Kýrie, eléison.
R. Kýrie, eléison.
V. Christe, eléison.
R. Christe, eléison.
V. Kýrie, eléison.
R. Kýrie, eléison.
V. Lord, have mercy.
R. Lord, have mercy.
V. Christ, have mercy.
R. Christ, have mercy.
V. Lord, have mercy.
R. Lord, have mercy.
When this hymn is concluded, the Priest, with hands joined, says:
Orémus.
Let us pray.
And all pray in silence with the Priest for a while.
Then the Priest, with hands extended, says the Collect prayer, at the end of which the people acclaim:
Amen.
Amen.