The Concluding RIte

“In The Twinkling of An Eye”

The Concluding Rite is very short and consists simply of the Greeting, the Blessing and the Dismissal. On some occasions like major feasts there are special forms for the Blessing and on other occasions there might be what is called a Prayer over the People. 

The  priest pronounces the Blessing over the people as befits his role as president of the Assembly. As we begin our celebration in the name of the Trinity so we also seek the blessing of the same Trinity as we depart from the celebration.  It is often customary in parishes to also have notices just before the Blessing.  This is certainly the best place to announce events and pass on information vital to the life of the community.

The Dismissal

"The deacon or priest dismisses the people ‘so that each may go out to do good works, praising and blessing God." (GIRM 90) Why so short an end we might ask? Simply put, once the Eucharist has been celebrated and we have been renewed and refreshed at the Table of the Lord, we are equipped once again to engage in the mission of the Church. 

Our task then is to take the fruits of what we have received in Christ and share them with others.   This will be done in many ways depending on who we are and what we do in our ordinary everyday lives. 

All of the baptised are called to live the mystery we have celebrated in the Mass. This means particularly caring for the poor and disadvantaged of our community, caring for the sick showing compassion to those whose lives are oppressed, and those who are on the edge of our society. 

In one sense the celebration of Christ’s redeeming love through his self-offering on the cross never ends as we bear that sacrificial love to the world. 

This is so well expressed in the words of a hymn by the Dutch writer Fred Kaan.

Now let us from this table rise

Renewed in body, mind and soul;

With Christ we die and live again,

His selfless love has made us whole.

With minds alert, upheld by grace,

To spread the Word in speech and deed,

we follow in the steps of Christ,

at one with all in hope and need.

To fill each human house with love,

It is the sacrament of care;

The work that Christ began to do

We humbly pledge ourselves to share.

Then give us grace, companion God,

To choose again the pilgrim way,

And help us to accept with joy

The challenge of tomorrow’s day.

 © Stainer & Bell. Reprinted under Word of Life International License No. 1636

Recessional Hymn or Not?

There has been a tradition in many parishes over the years to sing a recessional hymn.  In fact the liturgical documents make no provision for such a hymn. Why?

The Mass finishes with the Dismissal and in the Roman Church of the 5th century people would immediately disperse once the deacon had given the dismissal. Some people like to sing before departing as an act of thanksgiving, but it is perfectly all right also for people to leave immediately once the priest and the other ministers have processed out and resume the task of witnessing to Christ in the world.

This article was originally published in Let’s Walk Through The Mass. © Diocese of Parramatta.  1999, 2000, 2007. Reprinted with permission.