Q. 934.  What is the part of the Mass called in which the Words of Consecration are found?  A. The part of the Mass in which the words of Consecration are found is called the Canon.  This is the most solemn part of the Mass, and is rarely and but slightly changed in any Mass.

Q. 935.  What follows the Communion of the Mass?  A. Following the Communion of Mass, there are prayers of thanksgiving, the blessing of the people, and the saying of the last Gospel.

Q. 936.  What things are necessary for Mass?  A. The things necessary for Mass are:  (1) An altar with linen covers, candles, crucifix, altar stone and Mass book; (2) A Chalice with all needed in its use, and bread of flour from wheat and wine from the grape; (3) Vestments for the priest, and (4) An acolyte or server.

Q. 937.  What is the altar stone, and of what does it remind us?  A. The altar stone is that part of the altar upon which the priest rests the Chalice during Mass.  This stone contains some holy relics sealed up in it by the bishop, and if the altar is of wood this stone is inserted just in front of the Tabernacle.  The altar stone reminds us of the early history of the Church, when the martyrs’ tombs were used for altars by the persecuted Christians.

Q. 938.  What lesson do we learn from the practice of using martyrs’ tombs for altars?  A. From the practice of using martyrs’ tombs for altars we learn the inconvenience, sufferings and dangers the early Christians willingly underwent for the sake of hearing Mass.  Since the Mass is the same now as it was then, we should suffer every inconvenience rather than be absent from Mass on Sundays or holy days.

Q. 939.  What things are used with the chalice during Mass?  A. The things used with the chalice during Mass are:  (1) The purificator or cloth for wiping the inside; (2) The paten or small silver plate used in handling the host; (3) The pall or white card used for covering the chalice at Mass; (4) The corporal or linen cloth on which the chalice and host rest.

Q. 940.  What is the host?  A. The host is the name given to the thin wafer of bread used at Mass.  This name is generally applied before and after Consecration to the large particle of bread used by the priest, though the small particles given to the people are also called by the same name.

Q. 941.  Are large and small hosts consecrated at every Mass?  A. A large host is consecrated at every Mass, but small hosts are consecrated only at some Masses at which they are to be given to the people or placed in the Tabernacle for the Holy Communion of the faithful.

Q. 942.  What vestments does the priest use at Mass and what do they signify?  A. The vestments used by the priest at Mass are:  (1) The Amice, a white cloth around the shoulders to signify resistance to temptation; (2) The Alb, a long white garment to signify innocence; (3) The Cincture, a cord about the waist, to signify chastity; (4) The Maniple or hanging vestment on the left arm, to signify penance; (5) The Stole or long vestment about the neck, to signify immortality; (6) The Chasuble or long vestment over all, to signify love and remind the priest, by its cross on front and back, of the Passion of Our Lord.