Mass

Meanings

Noun

• The principal liturgical service of the Church, including a scripture service and a eucharistic service, which includes the consecration and oblation (offering) of the host and wine.
• A similar ceremony offered by a number of Christian churches.
• A musical composition set to portions of the Mass.

Proper Noun

• Alternative of Mas

Origin

• From Middle English messe, from Old English mæsse and Old French messe, both from Late Latin missa, from Latin mittō ("to send, dismiss"), compare French messe.
• In the ancient churches, the public services at which the catechumens were permitted to be present were called missa catechumenorum, ending with the reading of the Gospel. Then they were dismissed with the words: "Ite, missa est", the congregation is dismissed. After that the sacrifice proper began. At its close the same words were said to those who remained. So the word gave the name of Mass to the sacrifice in the Catholic Church. Compare Christmas, Lammas, Mess a dish, missal. missa.
• Short forms.