Dismissal Rite
The word Mass comes from the old Latin, dismissal rite, ite, missa est,
“Go, the Mass is ended.” The word Mass is quite appropriate for World
Mission Sunday. The Encyclopedia of Catholicism states that the word
mission, is “the purpose for which the Church has been sent.” The
dismissal rite at Mass is a sending forth, not simply from Church but to go
and share the Good News. The mandate received from Christ is to go and make
disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). The Church’s mission is to go and
proclaim the faith both in word and action. The word Catholic is a noun but
could be considered a verb, since without taking action in the mission of
the Church we are not truly Catholic. |
