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The Mystery of Faith, also known as Mysterium Fidei, is a Eucharistic Acclamation that is typically sung during a Roman Rite Catholic Mass. It is said directly after the words of institution that transform the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. The expression The mystery of faith is believed to refer to the entire mystery of salvation through Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension, which is made present in the celebration of the Eucharist.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is it? | The Mystery of Faith is a Eucharistic Acclamation, typically sung, directly after the words of institution transform the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ during a Roman Rite Catholic Mass. |
| Former Name | Memorial Acclamation |
| What does it convey? | One of the deep truths and mysteries of the faith. |
| What does it refer to? | The entire mystery of salvation through Christ's death, resurrection and ascension, which is made present in the celebration of the Eucharist. |
| What does it mean? | Mystery is synonymous with sacrament. |
| What is the translation? | "This is the sacrament of our faith." |
| What is the context? | The words are addressed by the people to Jesus. |
| What is the dialogue? | The priest announces, "The mystery of faith." |
| What is the response? | "We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection, until you come again." |
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What You'll Learn
The Mystery of Faith is a Eucharistic Acclamation
The Mystery of Faith, or "Mysterium Fidei" in Latin, is a Eucharistic Acclamation that occurs during the Roman Rite Catholic Mass. It typically takes the form of a song that is sung directly after the consecration, when the bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ through the words of institution. This acclamation is also known as the Memorial Acclamation, as it commemorates the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, which are central tenets of the Christian faith.
The exact words of the acclamation vary across different traditions within the Catholic Church. In the Liturgy of Saint James, for example, a simple "amen" is said after the bread becomes the Body of Christ. In the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, the acclamation is more extensive: "We show forth your death, O Lord, and confess your resurrection." The Coptic Church in Egypt employs the Liturgy of Saint Basil, where the faithful acclaim the priest's words with "This is true" or "Amen," and later respond more elaborately: "Your death, O Lord, we proclaim. Your holy resurrection and ascension, we confess. We praise you, we bless you, we thank you, O Lord, and we entreat you, O our God."
The phrase "The Mystery of Faith" itself is not found in the Bible but was added to the consecration formula before the 6th century, possibly by Pope Leo I. It expresses the belief that salvation comes through Christ's material blood and participation in the sacrament, utilising a material element. The expression conveys the deep truths and mysteries of the Catholic faith, acknowledging that the Eucharist is not merely about past events but also about the present and future. It signifies the ongoing relationship between Christ and humanity, made possible by Christ's sacrifice and resurrection.
The dialogue between the priest and the congregation during the consecration is a powerful expression of the essence of the Eucharist and the mystery of faith that lies at its heart. While the specific words and rituals may vary, the underlying message of salvation, remembrance, and devotion remains constant across the Catholic tradition.
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The Memorial Acclamation
The phrase "The mystery of faith" is not limited to the Real Presence, but to the entire mystery of salvation through Christ's death, resurrection and ascension, which is made present in the celebration of the Eucharist. The Eucharist, as the mystery of faith, is the making present of God's saving plan through Christ.
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The Real Presence of Christ
The Catholic doctrine of the Real Presence of Christ asserts that during the Eucharist, Jesus is literally and wholly present—body and blood, soul and divinity—under the appearances of bread and wine. This belief is based on the interpretation of various biblical passages (e.g. 1 Cor. 10:16–17, 11:23–29; and John 6:32–71) by the early Church Fathers, who treated the consecrated bread and wine as the Savior’s body and blood.
The question of the nature of the Eucharist became a contentious issue in the 11th century when Berengar of Tours denied the need for a material change in the elements to explain the Eucharistic presence. This sparked a controversy that led to the clarification of the Catholic doctrine during the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215, where the term "transubstantiation" was used to describe the change that occurs during the Eucharist.
The Council of Trent, held between 1545 and 1563, further solidified the Catholic belief in the Real Presence by declaring that the presence of Christ in the Eucharist is "true, real, and substantial". This means that Christ's presence is not merely symbolic or figurative, but objective and independent of the participants' beliefs. The Council stated that through consecration, the entire substance of the bread and wine are converted into the body and blood of Christ, while maintaining all their physical properties.
The doctrine of the Real Presence continues to be a central aspect of Catholic theology and is expressed in the Eucharistic Acclamation, "The Mystery of Faith" (Mysterium Fidei), which is typically sung during the Roman Rite Catholic Mass after the bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ. This acclamation conveys the deep truths and mysteries of the faith, celebrating the salvation achieved through Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension.
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The Mystery of Salvation
The Mystery of Faith is a Eucharistic Acclamation that is typically sung during a Roman Rite Catholic Mass. It follows the consecration of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. The phrase "Mysterium Fidei" or "The Mystery of Faith" conveys deep truths and mysteries of the faith.
The expression "The Mystery of Faith" is not limited to a single event but refers to the entire mystery of salvation through Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension. This is known as the "entirety of the Eucharistic sacrifice". The Eucharist, as the mystery of faith, brings God's saving plan into the present, with each Mass representing the most recent moment in salvation history.
The phrase "Mysterium Fidei" was added to the words of consecration before the 6th century, possibly by Pope Leo I, and is believed to be a reaction to the denial by Manichaeism of the goodness of material things. It expresses the Catholic Church's belief that salvation comes through Christ's material blood and participation in the sacrament.
The memorial acclamations that follow "The Mystery of Faith" declaration during Mass are responses from the congregation. These acclamations speak implicitly of the mystery of the Incarnation and the present relationship with Christ. They refer to the past, speaking of the death and resurrection of Jesus, while also containing clear references to the future.
The Mystery of Faith, therefore, encapsulates the entire mystery of salvation, which is made present in the celebration of the Eucharist.
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The Blessed Sacrament
The Eucharist is considered a sacrament because it was instituted by Christ in the Gospels (Matt 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, John 6). Its outward signs are wheat bread and grape wine, over which the words of consecration are said by a priest as Christ's representative: "This is My Body, this is My Blood". The inward grace is Christ himself. The Catholic Church teaches that the Eucharist, despite still appearing as bread and wine after consecration, is truly the Real Presence of Christ—His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.
The Eucharist is also referred to as "the source and summit of the Christian life". The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that:
> "The Eucharist is the very sacrifice of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus which he instituted to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until his return in glory."
The Eucharist is also the subject of the Mystery of Faith, a Eucharistic Acclamation typically sung directly after the words of institution transform the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ during a Roman Rite Catholic Mass. The Mystery of Faith conveys one of the deep truths and mysteries of the faith.
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Frequently asked questions
The Mystery of Faith, or "Mysterium Fidei" in Latin, is a Eucharistic Acclamation that is typically sung during a Roman Rite Catholic Mass. It comes directly after the consecration of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.
The phrase was added to the words of consecration before the 6th century, perhaps by Pope Leo I. It was added in reaction to the denial by Manichaeism of the goodness of material things. It expresses the Catholic Church's belief that salvation comes through Christ's material blood and participation in the sacrament.
"The Mystery of Faith" is not a puzzle to be solved but a reality that is accepted in faith. It refers to the entire mystery of salvation through Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension, which is made present in the celebration of the Eucharist.
One example is "We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection, until you come again." Another example is from the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom: "We show forth your death, O Lord, and confess your resurrection."
