This week, we continue our journey through the Mass by looking at the other options for the Penitential Rite at Mass. In our last column on the Mass, we looked at the first option, the Confiteor. This week, we’ll look at the other options, more commonly known as the Kyrie.

  The Kyrie is prayed at every Mass. If it is prayed along with the Confiteor, then we simply say the “Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord have mercy,” part. If it is prayed on it’s own, then there are invocations that precede each response. The Roman Missal, the official prayer book of the Mass, gives us some options of the invocations & sometimes others are composed that invite reflection based upon the Scripture readings that we will hear that day.

  We say, “Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy,” because it’s the only way, the only avenue, through which any of us can ever hope to be forgiven. When we talk about mercy, we’re not just talking about a stronger being forgiven a weaker one, we’re talking about God extending His love towards us. We can call out for mercy for ourselves or even for someone else. Now we aren’t talking about bringing other people’s sins before God. We’re not meant to be saying “Lord have mercy,” as we drudge through all the sins that have been committed against us that week as a way of asking God to punish those people who’ve hurt us. But, we can ask for God to extend His mercy & love towards those who have hurt us in the light of asking God to help soften their heart as we, at the same time, invite & beg Him to help soften our own hearts for our sins.

  After the Penitential Rite, we sing the Gloria. Having asked God for His mercy & forgiveness, we now praise Him for His goodness & His glory. The beginning words of the Gloria come straight from the Gospel & the message of the angels to the shepherds at Jesus’ birth. We don’t sing the Gloria during the Advent season as we wait for Jesus to come & hold off our great joy until that celebration. We also don’t sing the Gloria during Lent because, in light of our sins, we restrain our joy until we celebrate the joy of Jesus’ resurrection. There may be certain feast days during those times where the Gloria may be said, but for the most part during those seasons, it’s omitted.

  Have a blessed week & we’ll conclude our journey through the Introductory Rites of Mass next week with a brief look at the Collect (what is that?).