Mass

Definition and Meaning

The Mass is the public worship of the Catholic Church, with the Eucharist at its center. The name comes from the Latin missa. It is generally understood to derive from the words "Ite, missa est," spoken by the priest when dismissing (sending forth) the congregation at the close of worship.

The Catholic Church divides the Mass into two main parts. The first is the Liturgy of the Word, in which the Scriptures are read and a homily (sermon) is preached. The second is the Liturgy of the Eucharist, in which bread and wine are consecrated (set apart as holy) and shared.

Biblical and Historical Background

The Catholic Church grounds the Mass in two biblical sources:

• Jesus' words at the Last Supper, when He shared the bread and the cup and said, "This do in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
• The early Christians' practice of breaking bread together (Acts 2:42)

In the medieval Western church, the Mass was celebrated in Latin. The Catholic Church has understood the Mass as a sacrifice that makes present Christ's sacrifice on the cross. The Council of Trent (1545–1563) reaffirmed this understanding.

During the Reformation, the Reformers criticized this understanding. Martin Luther and John Calvin held that regarding the Mass as a sacrifice conflicts with Christ's once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10). The Westminster Confession of Faith likewise rejects the notion of the Mass as a sacrifice. In response, the Catholic Church maintains that the Mass does not repeat the sacrifice of the cross but re-presents that single sacrifice as a sacrament (a rite that conveys grace through visible signs).

In the Augsburg Confession, the Lutherans declared that they had not abolished the Mass, and they retained the general framework of the order of worship. Debates among the churches over the Eucharist are treated in detail in Eucharistic controversies.

In the twentieth century, the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) permitted the Mass to be celebrated in vernacular languages. The Catholic Church in Korea subsequently began celebrating the Mass in Korean.

Practice in Korean Churches

The Catholic Church in Korea celebrates Mass on Sundays and weekdays and teaches that attendance at Sunday Mass is an obligation for the faithful. Receiving the Host, the consecrated bread of the Eucharist, is called Holy Communion (yeongseongche).

Most Protestant denominations in Korea do not use the term "Mass." Churches differ in their terminology and practice as follows:

• Presbyterian, Methodist, Holiness, Baptist, and Full Gospel churches: These hold sermon-centered Sunday worship services. The Eucharist is called the Lord's Supper (seongchansik, "communion service") and is often observed a few times a year or on festivals such as Easter.
• The Anglican Church of Korea: Its Eucharist-centered worship is called the Holy Eucharist (gamsa seongchallye, "thanksgiving Eucharist"), and it is normally celebrated every Sunday.
• The Orthodox Church: The corresponding service is called the Divine Liturgy (seongchan yebae, "Eucharistic service").

Among Protestants, "Mass" generally refers to Catholic worship.