Tiber River Cafe--Liturgy of the Eucharist

Hello, and welcome to the Tiber River Café.  My name is Dean Humphreys, and today’s topic is the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the second part of the Catholic Mass.

One of the ways to think about the Catholic Mass is that it is basically a meal, a ritual dinner.  We come together as a faith community, as the family of God, to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Savior.  We gather for the meal that Jesus promised us in the Gospel.  The meal is our spiritual food which is both the Word of God and the Eucharist.  And at the Mass, like any meal-time gathering of friends and family, we first sit and talk, then we move to the dining room table, we say grace and give thanks, we pass the food to everyone present, then we eat and drink, and finally we leave to go home. 

This is the same basic structure of the Mass.  Catholics come together weekly at our local parish church as a faith community.  We talk to God with our prayers and petitions.  We then listen to God talk to us, we listen to God’s word proclaimed to us in the Bible readings.  We then come to the table, which is the altar, to share the bread and wine, which is the Eucharist, the body and blood of Jesus. And then we are sent home, commissioned to go forth and to lead a Christian life and to spread the Gospel message.  This is the basic foundation of the Catholic Mass.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist is the continuation of the conversation with God our Father.  The Liturgy of the Eucharist is the high point of the Mass.  Everything in the Mass is ultimately directed towards the Eucharist; our prayers, the scriptural readings, everything is in anticipation of the Eucharist.  During the Liturgy of the Eucharist we remember that Jesus took bread and wine, he gave thanks, he broke the bread, and then he gave the bread to his disciples, and said, ‘take and eat, this is my body; take and drink, this is my blood.’  This is the Supper of the Lord, this is the celebration of the Eucharist, and we are invited to sit at the table.

Presentation of the Altar and Gifts

As the people sit, members of the congregation will bring to the altar the bread, wine, and water for the celebration of the Eucharist; as well as the gifts, the monetary collection that the people offer for the support of the Church and the poor.  The bread and wine are the same elements that Jesus used that Thursday night 2000 years ago, in the Upper Room at the Last Supper, at the Passover meal with his disciples, which is the night Jesus instituted the Eucharist.  Bread and wine were part of the basic dietary plan of the early Middle Eastern Christians, and in the early church people would bring the bread and wine that they worked to make, for the celebration of the Eucharist.

Preparation of the Bread

The priest, representing Jesus our Lord, will hold the bread slightly raised, saying, “Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you; fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.”  And the people respond, “Blessed be God for ever.”  This simple prayer is from the ancient Jewish Kiddish of the Passover meal which reads, “Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, Creator of the fruit of the earth.  The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.”

Presentation of the Wine

The priest then takes the wine and fills the cup, the chalice, the priest then adds a little water to the wine, and again holds it slightly elevated and says, “Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you, fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.”  And the people again respond, “Blessed be God for ever.”  The priest will then wash his hands, as the Jewish leaders would wash their hands before a ritual meal, and says, “Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”

Invitation to Prayer

The priest will then say to the people gathered, “Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.”  Now the people stand and respond, “May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.”  Amen.

Eucharistic Prayer

 

Next we say the Eucharistic prayer which is a prayer of thanksgiving and sanctification.   The priest will say, “The Lord be with you,” and the people respond, “And with your spirit.”  The priest then says, “Lift up your hearts,” and the people respond, “We lift them up to the Lord.”  And finally the priest concludes the dialogue by saying, “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.”  And the people respond affirmatively, “It is right and just.”  The model for the Eucharistic prayer comes from the Jewish Berakah, or blessing prayer, which praises and blesses God for all his gifts.

Sanctus

Then we pray the ancient Sanctus, “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of host, heaven and earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.”  We pray for our Church, our pope, bishops, priests and deacons, for all the faithful; we pray for Mary and Joseph, the Apostles and Martyrs, and the Saints.   

After the Sanctus we kneel out of respect and honor as we continue in the mystery of the Eucharist.

There are four versions of the Eucharistic Prayer that can be used.  The priest will say the institution narrative recalling the Last Supper, the words Jesus spoke to his disciples in the Upper Room, “For on the night he was betrayed he himself took bread, and giving you thanks, he said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying: take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you.  In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice, and giving you thanks, he said the blessing and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying: take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins, do this in memory of me.”

Then the priest will say, “The mystery of faith.”  And the people respond, “We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.”  The people are not only observers in this mystery but active participants in the celebration.

Next we offer another prayer, as the priest says to the people, “The Lord be with you.”  And the people respond, “And with your spirit.” 

Lord’s Prayer

Next we stand, and pray the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, the Our Father.  The Lord’s Prayer is our petition for our daily sustenance, our daily spiritual bread which is the Eucharist, as well as our prayer for the forgiveness of sins.

Sign of Peace

Again, the priest offers the people his peace, saying, “The peace of the Lord be with you always” and the people respond, “And with your spirit.”  Then we offer each other the sign of peace, which is an ancient tradition of reconciliation, of shaking hands and saying “peace be with you.”  Before we continue with the Eucharistic mystery we must first express and restore our peace with our family and neighbors, and we do this with the Sign of Peace, an outward sign of our peace and charity as a faith community.  We shake hands with our family, friends, and neighbors as a sign of unity in our faith.  Although we are many people we are gathering as one community, we are the Body of Christ.

Breaking of the Bread

The early Christians called the Mass, the ‘Breaking of the Bread’, when one load of bread would be broken and shared with those gathered.  Now is the time when the priest will take the bread and break it into smaller pieces.  The priest will then break off a small piece of the bread and add it to the wine, saying quietly, “May this mingling of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.”   The people will then either recite or sing, “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy of us.”  

Next the priest faces the people, and will take the bread, the host, and the chalice with the wine, and holds them raised, and says, “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.  Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.” And the people respond just like the Roman Centurion in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 8 verse 8, responded, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”  Jesus is the Lamb of God as pointed to by John the Baptist, and Jesus is truly present to his people gathered, he is present in his Word, and he is present in the Eucharist, the bread and wine now become his body and blood, our spiritual food.

Next we slowly move forward towards the altar and hold out our hands to receive Communion, the body and blood of Jesus.  Just like Jesus promised us, the bread has truly become his flesh and the wine has truly become his blood. The bread and wine are now fully the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus.  And as Jesus instructed us we are to eat his flesh, to chew his flesh and drink his blood in order to have eternal life.  The priest, or Eucharistic Minister, will hold up the host and say, “The body of Christ” or “The blood of Christ” and we respond, “Amen”, our way of saying “Yes, I believe.”

After receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus, we return to our seats and sit in silence, praying and reflecting.

Next we pray as a community, the priest will say the Prayer after Communion, and all respond, amen.

Concluding Rites

The priest will offer a final blessing and dismisses the people by saying, “The Lord be with you” and the people respond like the early Christians, “And with your spirit.”  And with a final blessing from the priest, “May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”  And we cross ourselves and say one last time, “Amen.” 

The priest or the deacon says, “The Mass has ended”, and we say, “Thanks be to God.”  We are commissioned to go home, we have been nourished and transformed by the Body and Blood of Jesus, and now we are to live a Christian life, to spread the Gospel message with our words and actions.  We continue to stand as the priest and other ministers process out of the Church. 

In the Book of Acts, chapter 2 verse 42, we read how the early Church came together, how they devoted themselves to the Apostle’s instructions and the communal life, to the breaking of the bread which is the Eucharist, and to the prayers.  And 2000 years later we continue this tradition when we gather each Sunday at Mass.   I find it very comforting and reassuring that the same readings are proclaimed throughout the universal Church, that we are a family, brothers and sisters, sitting at the one table.  And it’s amazing to consider that, with 24 time zones encircling the globe; that at each and every moment of every day, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, that there is a Catholic Mass being celebrated somewhere in the world.  In Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians, chapter 5 verse 17, we are instructed to “Pray without ceasing.”  The Mass is truly a constant and universal prayer, a prayer without ceasing.

So there you have it, a rather simple overview of the second part of the Catholic Mass, the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  We bring God our gifts, the bread and wine, as well as gifts for the Church and the poor, and then God gives us the gift of the Eucharist, which is truly the body and blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Something to think about next Sunday at Mass.

I encourage you to check out my blog site, tiberrivercafé.blogspot.com, where I have put together a listing of Bible references for each part of the Mass, as well as complete transcripts for all my videos.  I hope you will see how Biblically saturated the Mass and our Catholic faith really is.

Well, thanks again for stopping by the Tiber River Café, where there is always plenty of room at the banquet table.  I hope to see you next time.  Peace be with you.

Tiber River Cafe--Eucharist

Hello, and welcome to the Tiber River Cafe.  My name is Dean Humphreys, today’s topic is the Eucharist, what we Catholics call the Real Presence or communion.

Now, unfortunately there are some Catholics who don’t fully understand what we mean by the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.  Some Catholics are not clear that the consecrated bread and wine that we receive at each Mass are not only symbols but that the bread and wine, the Eucharist, genuinely and completely changes into the Body and Blood of Jesus, just like Jesus told us in the Scriptures.

So Catholics believe that Jesus, our Lord and Savior, the second person in the Holy Trinity—God himself come down from Heaven in human form—that Jesus is truly and 100% present in the consecrated bread and wine we receive each and every time we attend Mass; that the bread and wine, although it still looks, feels, smells, and tastes like regular bread and wine, have actually and truly become his Body and Blood. 

Catholic Christians do not say that the Eucharist is “like” the body and blood of Jesus, that they are “only symbols”, but rather that the bread and wine “is” the body and blood of Christ—just like Jesus told us in the Gospels.  So let’s take a closer look at what the Bible actually says about this matter.

First we have to remember that God’s word is powerful, His word creates and His word changes things.  In the very beginning of the Bible in the Old Testament, at the very beginning of chapter one verse 3 of the Book of Genesis, we read that God “said” “Let there be light”, and there was light.  God “said” and he created the heavens and the earth, God created everything, and he created us, simply by saying it.  God’s word creates.

In the Book of Exodus, chapter 7 verse 17, we read about the first plague God brought upon the Egyptians to free the Israelites from slavery, and how God “said” to Moses, “this is how you shall know that I am the Lord.  I will strike the water of the river with the staff I hold, and it shall be changed into blood.”  God’s word changes the actual substance, water is changed into blood.  And then later in the Book of Exodus, chapter 16 verse 4, God “said” to Moses, “I will now rain down bread from heaven for you.  Each day the people are to go out and gather their portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not.”  God’s word creates food, nourishment, to sustain his people.  Also in the Book of Exodus, chapter 17 verse 5, we read how the Israelites in the desert were thirsty and how God “said” to Moses, “Go over there in front of the people, along with some of the elders of Israel, holding in your hand, as you go, the staff with which you struck the river. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb. Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink.”  God’s word creates water through the action of a person.

Likewise in the New Testament we continue to see how God’s word has power to create.  In the Gospel of John at the Wedding of Cana, chapter 2 verse 7, we read that the host of the wedding party was running out of wine and that Jesus told them to, “Fill the jars with water.’ So they filled them to the brim.  Then he told them, ‘Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.’  So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine . . .”—God’s word again is shown to change the substance, changing the substance of water into wine.  And throughout the Gospel accounts we read over and over again how Jesus performs many miracles, how with his words he heals the sick, restores sight to the blind, casts out evil spirits, and many other miracles, all with the power of his words.

So let’s now spend a few moments talking about the miracles of Jesus.  All four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, record various miracles that Jesus performed—curing the sick, giving sight to the blind, making the lame walk, people raised from the dead, casting out evil spirits, to name just a few of the miracles.  But besides the ultimate miracle, which we know is the Resurrection of Jesus, the only other miracle that is recorded in all four Gospels is the multiplication of the bread, the feeding of the multitudes.  All four Gospels record how Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, and gave the bread.  This miracle is in all four Gospels—this must be something pretty important—God is trying to tell us something about this miracle.

Let’s begin with the Gospel of Matthew.  In chapter 15 verse 36, we read how the people were following Jesus, how it was late in the day and there was no food, and we read, “Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied.”  And we are told that there were leftovers.   In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 8 verse 6, we again read, “Then taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also.  They ate and were satisfied.”  And there were again leftovers.  In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 9 verse 16, we again read “Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.  They all ate and were satisfied.”  And once again there were leftovers.  And lastly in the Gospel of John, chapter 6 verse 11, we once again read, “Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted.”  And there were leftovers.  Each time Jesus follows the same pattern, Jesus takes the bread, gives thanks, breaks the bread, and then gives the bread to his followers, and all are satisfied; there is repetition, like an academic lesson.

All four Gospels record the miracle of the Resurrection; and all four Gospels record the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and the feeding of the multitudes, all were satisfied, and there were leftovers.  I think God is really trying to tell us something here.  This is vitally important information and we should pay very close attention to what we are being instructed to do.  We have seen that from the very beginning of the Bible, in the Book of Genesis, and all the way through the New Testament that God’s word has power, the power to create, the power to change, the power to heal, and the power to give life. 

Now let’s also remember that Jesus told his disciples that he would be with them always and that he will bring them with him to heaven for eternity.  In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 18 verse 20, Jesus tells us “For where two or more are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”  And also in the Gospel of Matthew, in chapter 28 verse 20, after the Resurrection of Jesus, he tells his disciples “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”  Jesus will always be with us, he will never leave us alone.  And Jesus wants us to be with him in heaven.  In the Gospel of John, chapter 14 verse 3, we hear Jesus telling his disciples, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.”  Heaven.  Jesus wants us to be in heaven with him.

In the Gospel of John, in the same chapter 6 that we read about the multiplication of the loaves and the feeding of the multitudes, we now read beginning in verse 22, how the people were looking for Jesus because they were hungry and wanted to be fed again.  But now Jesus tells them that he will be their bread, that he is the bread that has come from heaven.  Jesus told them, “Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:  ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat (6:31)’”.   Jesus goes on to say, “For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world (6:33)”, that his flesh and blood will be their nourishment “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst (6:35)”—pretty harsh and disturbing words back 2000 years ago and these words are still disturbing today.  But Jesus says it over and over again . . . “I am the bread of life (6:48)” . . . “Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world (6:49)” . . .  And Jesus says it again that he is the new manna, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world (6:51).”  Even when the people around him strongly objected what he was saying he continued -- and again, Jesus says, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you (6:53)” . . . and Jesus says it again, but now he ramps up the words, for now he uses the Greek verb gnaw (like an animal gnawing on a piece of meat) or chew (like an animal chewing on a piece of meat) to really drive home his message , “Whoever eats (chews) my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day (6:54)” . . . these are very strong and disturbing words from Jesus, but he doesn’t back down and once again he says, “For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink (6:55)” . . . and again, “Whoever eats (chews) my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him (6:56)”; so Jesus promises that he will always be with us . . . and again Jesus says, “Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me (6:57)” . . . then Jesus says, “Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever (6:58)”.   Eat his flesh and have eternal life, over and over Jesus tells us this.

Again, again, and again, Jesus keeps saying the same thing.  We must eat his flesh and drink his blood.  Pretty strong words, but Jesus did not change his words, even when some of his disciples left . . . “As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him (6:66).”

So by now you are probably asking yourself, okay Dean, what does all this have to do with the Eucharist, the bread and wine that we as Catholics believe is the real body and blood of Jesus, the bread and wine we receive each time we attend Mass, the bread and wine that the priest at the altar takes in his hands, says the blessing, breaks it and gives it . . . boy, oh, boy, does that sound familiar?

In the 26^th chapter of Matthew, in the Upper Room at the Passover meal, on the night before Jesus was killed, the Last Supper, we read, “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, ‘Take and eat; this IS my body.’   The same formula that Jesus used in the multiplication of the loaves and the breaking of the bread—he took the bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave the bread now become his body, his flesh, to his disciples.  Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you, for this IS my blood of the covenant’; again Jesus uses the pattern of taking the wine, saying the blessing, and giving the wine now become his blood, to his disciples -- Jesus was pulling it all together, this is how he would be with us forever, this is how we would be nourished.   Jesus knows that we are not able to eat human flesh or drink human blood.  But now the bread will be his body, the wine will be his blood.  Although they look and taste like bread and wine because we can eat bread and we can drink wine, that through the action of the priest during Mass, the bread has become the real body of Jesus, the real flesh that we will eat, that we will chew; the wine that we drink has become the real blood of Jesus.

And after the Resurrection of Jesus we read in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 24 verse 30, that on the road of Emmaus how Jesus was walking with two others who didn’t recognize him “but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.”  Later that day they were gathered around the table, “And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.”  Again Jesus uses the same pattern, taking the bread, saying the blessing, breaking the bread, and giving the bread to his disciples.  “With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him”.    Jesus was recognized in the breaking of the bread, and Jesus will always be present in the bread, the Real Presence, the Eucharist.  In the Book of Acts, chapter 2 verse 42, we read about the early church, how “They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.”

Jesus is the bread of life, the bread is how he will be with us forever, the bread is how we will have eternal life in heaven.  Bread is real simple, only two basic ingredients are necessary, flour and water.  These basic ingredients are found throughout the world, in every culture, ingredients that even the poorest of societies have access to, bread becomes a truly universal food.

So this is what Catholic Christians believe, and the Catholic Church has believed this truth for the past 2000 years.  The Eucharist is not only a symbol, but we also believe that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, the bread and wine.  Sure it still looks, and it still smells, and it still tastes like simple bread and wine, but the reality is that the bread and wine have become the real body of Jesus and real blood of Jesus our Lord and Savior, the Real Presence . . . just like Jesus promised.

So there you have it, a rather simple explanation of the Eucharist.  Something to think about next Sunday at Mass when you hold out your hands and hear “the body of Christ” . . . and you respond “Amen.”

Thanks for stopping by the Tiber River Café, where there is always plenty of room at the banquet table.  I hope to see you next time.  Peace be with you.

Tiber River Cafe--Catholic Church, Biblically Saturated

I have compiled the following list of scriptural references to illustrate how biblically saturated the Catholic Mass really is.  Virtually everything we say and do has a scriptural basis.

The Catholic Church is the universal church that encircles the world.

Revelation 7:9, After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue.  They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.

The Catholic Mass is a biblical prayer to God and is offered on a daily basis in every time zone.  Therefore every moment of every day there is a Catholic Mass being celebrated somewhere in the world. 

Matthew 28:20, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Luke 24:52-53, They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising God.

Psalm 1:2, Rather, the law of the Lord is their joy; God’s law they study day and night.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17, Rejoice always.  Pray without ceasing.

In the Gospel of Luke we read about Anna who prayed in the temple day and night

Luke 2:37, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.  She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.  

Also in the Book of Acts we read about the early apostles who met daily at the temple

Acts 2:46, Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their home.  They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart.

We come together as a faith community on Sunday morning, the day of the Lord.

Acts 20:7-8, On the first day of the week when we gathered to break bread, Paul spoke to them because he was going to leave on the next day, and he kept on speaking until midnight.  There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were gathered,

Exodus 20:11, In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them; but on the seventh day he rested.  That is why the Lord has blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy,

For Jesus is truly present in Word and Flesh.

Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

John 6:48, “I am the bread of life.”

We gather at our local parish church.

Matthew 16:18, “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”

Luke 16:27, “He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house,’

John 2:16-17, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”  His disciples recalled the words of scripture, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

As we walk into the sacred space the first thing we may notice is the sweet aroma of incense.

Luke 1:9, according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.

Revelations 8:3-4, Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a gold censer.  He was given a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones, on the gold altar that was before the throne.  The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel.

Genesis 8:21, When the Lord smelled the sweet odor, he said to himself: “Never again will I doom the earth because of man, since the desires of man’s heart are evil from the start; nor will I ever again strike down all living beings, as I have done.”

And we will cross ourselves with holy water which reminds us of our baptism.

John 3:5, Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.”

We are greeted by the parish priest and deacon.

Genesis 14:18, Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine, and being a priest of God Most High, he blessed Abram with these words:

1 Timothy 3:10, Moreover, they should be tested first; then, if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons

The priest and deacon will be wearing their vestments for the celebration of the Mass.

Exodus 28:4, These are the vestments they shall make: a breast piece, an ephod, a robe, a brocaded tunic, a miter and a sash.  In making these sacred vestments which your brother Aaron and his sons are to wear in serving as my priests,

Exodus 40:13-14, Clothe Aaron with the sacred vestments and anoint him, thus consecrating him as my priest.  Bring forward his sons also, and clothe them with the tunics. 

Leviticus 8:7-9,Then he put the tunic on Aaron, girded him with the sash, clothed him with the robe, placed the ephod on him, and girded him with the embroidered belt of the ephod, fastening it around him.  He then set the breastpiece on him, with the Urim and Thummim in it, and put the miter on his head, attaching the gold plate, the sacred diadem, over the front of the miter, at his forehead, as the Lord had commanded him to do.

As we enter the sanctuary we see the altar.

Revelation 11:1, Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff and I was told, “Come and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count those who are worshiping in it.

Revelation 14:18, Then another angel [came] from the altar, [who] was in charge of the fire, and cried out in a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and cut the clusters from the earth’s vines, for its grapes are ripe.”

We will see the tabernacle where the Blessed Sacrament is preserved.

Hebrews 9:2, For a tabernacle was constructed, the outer one, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of offering; this is called the Holy Place.

Revelation 21:3, I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race.  He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them [as their God].

And a candle will always be burning near the tabernacle.

Leviticus 24:3-4, In the meeting tent, outside the veil that hangs in front of the commandments, Aaron shall set up the lamps to burn before the Lord regularly, from evening till morning.  Thus, a perpetual statute for you and your descendants, the lamps shall be set up on the pure gold lampstand, to burn regularly before the Lord.

We genuflect before the altar and the Blessed Sacrament.

Romans 14:11, for it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.”

Philippians 2:10, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Upon the altar will be burning candles.

Revelation 4:5, From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder.  Seven flaming torches burned in front of the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.

Revelation 1:12-13, Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest.

And below the altar in some churches there may be a relic of a saint.

Revelation 6:9, When he broke open the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the witness they bore to the word of God.

We will also see the holy oils used in the sacraments.

Exodus 31;11, the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense for the sanctuary.  All these things they shall make just as I have commanded you.

James 5:14, Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord,

We hear the choir and people singing hymns of praise.

Ephesians 5:19, addressing one another [in] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts.

Colossians 3:16, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

As the Mass is to begin we hear bells briefly rung.

Zechariah 14:20, On that day there shall be upon the bells of the horses, “Holy to the Lord.”  The pots in the house of the Lord shall be as the libation bowls before the altar.

Exodus 28:33-35, All around the hem at the bottom you shall make pomegranates, woven of violet, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen twined, with gold bells between them; first a gold bell, then a pomegranate, and thus alternating all around the hem of the robe.  Aaron shall wear it when ministering, that its tinkling may be heard as he enters and leaves the Lord’s presence in the sanctuary; else he will die.

The Catholic Mass is permeated with sacred scripture and is truly a biblical form of prayer.  The first part of the Mass we talk to God through our prayers and then God speaks to us through his Word.  The second part of the Mass we offer God our gifts in the form of bread and wine and then God gives us the gift of the Eucharist; the body, blood, soul, and divinity of his Son, Jesus Christ.

Now it is our turn to actively participate in the greatest prayer offered to God, the Almighty Father. 

Matthew 16:24, Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

Tiber River Cafe--Liturgy of the Eucharist, Scriptural References

I have compiled the following listing of scriptural references regarding the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  I hope you will see how truly saturated the Catholic Mass is with scripture.

Liturgy of the Eucharist

We have completed the first part of the Catholic Mass, the Liturgy of the Word, our conversation with God.  We talk with God with our prayers and petitions, and then God talks to us with his Word.  Now we begin the second part of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  We bring to God our gifts, our financial gifts for the Church and the poor, as well as the gifts of bread and wine.  God then gives us the gift of the Eucharist, the bread and wine become the body and blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  We are then commissioned to go out into the world, to lead a Christian life as best we can, and to spread to joy of the Gospel message.

Revelation 2:17, “Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To the victor I shall give some of the hidden manna; I shall also give a white amulet upon which is inscribed a new name, which no one knows except the one who receives it.

[People sit]

Luke 9:14-17, Now the men there numbered about five thousand.  Then he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of [about] fifty.”  They did so and made them all sit down.

Preparation of the Gifts

Offertory Song

The bread and wine for the Eucharist, with our gifts for the Church and the poor, are gathered and brought to the altar.  The people will sing a song or sit in silence as the Lord’s table is being prepared by the priest and deacon.

Preparation of the Bread

The priest will hold the bread up and say, “Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation, for through your goodness we have this bread to offer you; fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.” 

Ecclesiastes 3:13, For every man, moreover, to eat and drink and enjoy the fruit of all his labor is a gift of God.

1 Chronicles 29:10, Then David blessed the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, praying these words: “Blessed may you be, O Lord, God of Israel our father, from eternity to eternity.

Psalm 72:18-19, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wonderful deeds.  Blessed be his glorious name forever; may all the earth be filled with the Lord’s glory.  Amen and amen.

Luke 1:68, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people.”

John 6:35, Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

And the people respond, “Blessed be God for ever.”

Psalm 68:36, Awesome is God in his holy place, the God of Israel, who gives power and strength to his people.  Blessed be God!”

Preparation of the Wine

The priest will then hold up the chalice of wine and say, “Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you, fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.”

Luke 22:17-18, Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves, for I tell you [that] from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

And the people respond, “Blessed be God for ever.”

1 Chronicles 16:36, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, through all eternity!  Let all the people say, Amen! Alleluia.

Invitation to Prayer

The priest will then say, “Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.”

Hebrews 12:28, Therefore, we who are receiving the unshakable kingdom should have gratitude, with which we should offer worship pleasing to God in reverence and awe.

And the people respond, “May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.”

Psalm 50:23, “Those who offer praise as a sacrifice honor me; to the obedient I will show the salvation of God.”

Prayer over the Gifts

The priest, speaking in our name, asks the Father to bless and accept these gifts.  And the people respond, “Amen.”

Revelation 7:12, and exclaimed: “Amen.  Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever.  Amen.”

Eucharistic Prayer

[People stand]

Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, [then] I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.”

The priest will say, “The Lord be with you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:28, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And the people respond, “And with your spirit.”

 

The priest will say, “Lift up your hearts”

And the people respond, “We lift them up to the Lord.”

Lamentations 3:41, Let us reach out our hearts toward God in heaven!

And the priest will then say, “Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.”

Colossians 3:17, And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

And the people respond, “It is right and just.”

Hebrews 13:15, Through him [then] let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.

Eucharistic Acclamation

The priest and people will say, “Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of hosts.  Heaven and earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest.” 

Isaiah 6:3, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts!” they cried one to the other.  “All the earth is filled with his glory!”

Revelation 4:8, The four living creatures, each of them with six wings, were covered with eyes inside and out.  Day and night they do not stop exclaiming: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.”

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest.”

Mark 11:9-10, Those preceding him as well as those following kept crying out: “Hosanna!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!  Hosanna in the highest!”

Psalms 118:26, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  We bless you from the Lord’s house.

[People kneel]

Romans 14:11, for it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.”

The priest will say, “For on the night he was betrayed he himself took bread, and giving you thanks, he said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying: take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you.  In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice, and giving you thanks, he said the blessing and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying: take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins, do this in memory of me.”

Matthew 26:26, While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, ‘Take and eat: this is my body.’      

Mark 14:22, While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.”

Luke 22:19, Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this is memory of me.”

1 Corinthians 11:23-24, For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.”              

Matthew 26:27-28, Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Mark 14:23-25, Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.  He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many.  Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’

Luke 22:20, And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.”

1 Corinthians 11:25-26, In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.  Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”  For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

Memorial Acclamation

Then the priest will say, “The mystery of faith.”

And the people respond, “We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.”

1 Thessalonians 4:14-15, For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep.  Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep.

OR

And the people respond, “When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again.”

Hebrews 2:14-15, Now since the children share in blood and flesh, he likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life.

1 Corinthians 16:22, If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed.  Marana tha [O Lord, come!]

OR

And the people respond, “Save us, Savior of the world, for by your cross and resurrection you have set us free.”

1 Corinthians 11:26, For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

The Memorial Prayer

The priest will say, “In memory of his death and resurrection, we offer you, Father, this life-giving bread, this saving cup.  We thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you.”

John 6:51, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven, whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

Invocation of the Holy Spirit

The priest will say, “May all of us who share in the body and blood of Christ be brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit.  Lord, remember your Church throughout the world; make us grow in love, together with our Pope, our bishop, and all the clergy.  Remember our brothers and sisters who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again, bring them and all the departed into the light of your presence.  Have mercy on us all, make us worthy to share eternal life with Mary, the virgin Mother of God, with the apostles, and with all the saints who have done you will throughout the ages.  May we praise you in union with them, and give you glory through your Son, Jesus Christ.  Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.”

May all of us who share in the body and blood of Christ be brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit. 

1 Corinthians 10:17, Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

Lord, remember your Church throughout the world; make us grow in love, together with our Pope, our bishop, and all the clergy.  Remember our brothers and sisters who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again: bring them and all the departed into the light of your presence,

2 Maccabees 12:45-46, Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin.

Have mercy on us all; make us worthy to share eternal life with Mary, the virgin Mother of God, with the apostles and with all the saints who have done your will throughout the ages.  May we praise you in union with them, and give you glory through you Son, Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:4-5, Accordingly, we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God regarding your endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions you endure.  This is evidence of the just judgment of God, so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God for which you are suffering.

Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours almighty Father, for ever and ever.

Romans 11:36, For from him and through him and for him are all things.  To him be glory forever.  Amen.

And the people respond, “Amen.”

Revelation 19:4, The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen.  Alleluia.”

Communion Rite

The priest will say, “At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:”

The Lord’s Prayer:  “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, they will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Matthew 6:9-13, “This is how we are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Luke 11:2-4, He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.  Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”

Mark 14:36, he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you.  Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will.”

Galatians 4:6, As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

The priest will say, “Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”

And the people respond, “For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever.”

Revelation 4:11, “Worthy are you, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things; because of your will they came to be and were created.”

1 Chronicles 29:11, “Yours, O Lord, are grandeur and power, majesty, splendor, and glory.  For all in heaven and on earth is yours; yours, O Lord, is the sovereignty; you are exalted as head over all.”

Sign of Peace

The priest will say, “Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your apostles: I leave you peace, my peace I give you.  Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. Who live and reign for ever and ever.”

John 14:27, “Peace I have with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give it to you.  Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”

And the people respond, “Amen.”

Psalm 106:48, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!  Let all the people say, Amen!  Hallelujah!

The priest will say, “The peace of the Lord be with you always.”

John 16:33, “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.  In the world you will have trouble, but take courage.  I have conquered the world.”

John 20:19, On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

John 20:26, Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them.  Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”

And the people respond, “And with your spirit.”

And the priest will say, “Let us offer each other the sign of peace.”

1 Thessalonians 5:24-25, The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.  Brothers, pray for us [too].

Breaking of the Bread

The people will say, “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.  Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.”

John 1:29, The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

John 1:36, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”

Revelation 22:3, Nothing accused will be found there anymore.  The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.

[People kneel]

Acts 9:40, Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed.  Then he turned to her body and said, “Tabitha, rise up.”  She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.

Prayers before Communion

We pray in silence and then voice words of humility and hope as our final preparation before meeting Christ in the Eucharist.

Acts 15:12, The whole assembly fell silent, and they listened while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them.

Reception of Communion

The priest holds the host elevated and will say, “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.  Blessed are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb.”

Revelation 19:9, Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”  And he said to me, “These words are true; they come from God.”

Revelation 5:12, and they cried out in a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.”

And the people respond, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

Matthew 8:8, The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.”

Luke 7:6-7, And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.  Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed.”

The priest will say, “May the Body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.”

And the people respond, “Amen.”

The priest will then say, “May the Blood of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.”

And the people respond, “Amen.”

When receiving Body and Blood of Jesus;

“The body of Christ.”

As we receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, we say, “Amen”.

Galatians 1:3-5, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins that he might rescue us from the present evil age in accord with the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory, forever and ever.  Amen.

“The blood of Christ.”

As we receive the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, we say, “Amen”.

Hebrews 13:20-21, May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord, furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will.  May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever [and ever].  Amen.

[People kneel]

Psalm 95:6, Enter, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the Lord who made us.

Period of Silence / Song of Praise

Revelation 8:1, When he broke open the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

Prayer after Communion

[People stand]

Galatians 5:1,  For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

The priest will say, “Let us pray.”... and the people respond, “Amen.”

Romans 15:33, The God of peace be with all of you.  Amen.

Concluding Rite-Dismissal

                We have heard God’s Word and eaten the body of Christ.  Now it is time for us to leave, to do good works, to praise and bless the Lord in our daily lives.

[People stand]

Matthew 9:6-7, “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”  He rose and went home.

The priest will say, “The Lord be with you.”

Galatians 6:18, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers.  Amen.

And the people respond, “And with your spirit.”

The priest will say, “May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

Luke 24:51, As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.”

Genesis 28:3, May God Almighty bless you and make you fertile, multiply you that you may become an assembly of people.

Numbers 6:24-26, The Lord bless you and keep you!  The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!  The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!

Psalms 29:11, May the Lord give might to his people; may the Lord bless his people with peace!

The priest or deacon will say, “Go forth, the Mass is ended.”

2 Chronicles 35:3, He said to the Levites who were to instruct all Israel, and who were consecrated to the Lord; “Put the holy ark in the house built by Solomon, son of David, king of Israel.  It shall no longer be a burden on your shoulders.  Serve now the Lord, your God, and his people Israel.”

Deuteronomy 10:11, “he said to me, ‘Go now and set out at the head of your people, that they may enter in and occupy the land which I swore to their fathers I would give them.”

Judges 18:6, The priest said to them, “Go and prosper: the Lord is favorable to the undertaking you are engaged in.”

Luke 7:50, But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

And the people respond, “Thanks be to God.”

2 Corinthians 9:15, Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

Worthy is the Lamb, Amen