The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) states that “there are certain rites that open and conclude the [Eucharistic] celebration” after it states that the Mass “consists in some sense of two parts, namely, the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist ... ” (no. 28). Clearly, GIRM is emphasizing the centrality of the two principal parts of Mass, Word and Sacrament, as it rightly should. At the same time, it would almost seem that GIRM is implying that the beginning and end of Mass are not very important at all. In fact, they are extremely important.
These two presentations will consider the elements and flow of the Introductory Rites and Concluding Rites, how they developed historically, and why we certainly cannot take them for granted. How we celebrate these two structural parts of the Mass help us to surrender ourselves to enter more fully into the Eucharistic celebration and leave it with a clear purpose and mission: to continue Jesus’ saving ministry.