Celebrating the Mass Lesson- Lord, Have Mercy (Kyrie Eleison)

(This lesson is in accordance with the new Roman Missal that is to be implemented on November 27, 2011.)

*Be sure to adjust this lesson to fit the needs of your students.


(Please take in consideration that I am just a Mom and I'm providing these lessons and activities to the best of my abilities. I will try to make them as accurate as possible, but I know I will make a few mistakes and it was not intentional.)



After the Act of Penitence, the Kyrie is always begun, unless it has already been included as part of the Act of Penitence. Kyrie it is a chant by which the faithful acclaim the Lord and implore his mercy. Sometimes it is sung, sometimes it is said.

As a rule, each acclamation is sung or said twice, though it may be repeated several times, by reason of the character of the various languages, as well as of the artistry of the music or of other circumstances.

If the prayer is prayed as the Kyrie eleison and Christe eleison, it is the remnants of an ancient prayer in Greek. Because the New Testament was written in Greek, here we are praying in the language of the early Church.


We are all standing and the Kyrie eleison (Lord, have mercy) invocations follow, unless they have just occurred in a formula of the Penitential Act.

V/: Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.

R/: Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.

V/: Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.

R/: Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.

V/: Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.

R/: Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.


*If the students need extra help:

Say to the students: We are all standing (have students stand up) and each acclamation is usually repeated twice. During this time the priest will say or sing something and then we repeat what he just said.

(Write this below on the board before class. Write what is in English in one color. Write what is in Greek in another color. Stand in front of the Greek language so the students cannot see it at this time.)

Priest: Lord, have mercy. ------ Kyrie, eleison.

People: Lord, have mercy. ------ Kyrie, eleison.

Priest: Christ, have mercy. ---- Christe, eleison.

People: Christ, have mercy. ---- Christe, eleison.

Priest: Lord, have mercy. ------ Kyrie, eleison.

People: Lord, have mercy. ------ Kyrie, eleison.


Say to the students and point to each line accordingly: We are all standing during the “Lord, have mercy”. The priest says, “Lord, have mercy.” What do we say, (“Lord, have mercy.”). Then the priest says, “Christ, have mercy.” What do we say? (“Christ, have mercy.”). Then the priest says, “Lord, have mercy.” What do we say? (“Lord, have mercy.”)

Say to the students: “Lord, have mercy” is in English. What would the priest say in Greek? (Move out of the way so the students can see what is on the board. Point to what the priest says and help the students pronounce each part correctly. Go through each line and help students pronounce the words in Greek.)

Say: I will now say what the priest would say in Greek and I want you to repeat what I say in Greek just like you would in Mass. (Point to what the students should say in Greek.)



Questions:

Are we standing or sitting during Lord, Have Mercy? (Standing)

Is Kyrie, eleison (Lord, have mercy) sung or said? (Either)

How many times are each acclamation usually repeated? (Twice)

What does Kyrie eleison and Christe eleison mean?

(Kyrie eleison- Lord, have mercy)
(Christe eleison- Christ, have mercy)



These activities below are free, however they can only to be used for classroom and personal use. They may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit.


Handwriting:

Lord, have mercy. Kyrie, eleison.



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