I
n the Roman Rite of the
Catholic Church, Mass typi-
cally starts with a procession,
whether it starts from the en-
trance of the church or the sacristy.
While it may appear to be a prac-
tical consideration, the procession
does have a spiritual aspect to it.
During the first few centuries
after Christianity was legalized in
Rome, the pope would frequent-
ly gather with his little flock at
various points in the city and then
process to a different “stational”
church. The Catholic Encyclopedia
offers a brief description of this
early version of the procession.
The pontiff, the clergy, and the
people assembled in the appointed
church, where the clergy vested
and the office was begun…As the
procession moved along to the
stational church where the Mass
was to be offered the Kyrie Eleison
and the litanies were sung, from
which the procession itself was
often called litania.
It was often called a “penitential
procession,” and was used as a way
to prepare the hearts of those who
were to participate in Mass. The
physical act of moving from one
place to another gave the faithful a
chance to get away from the world
and enter into something very
solemn and moving.
While this action was shortened
over the centuries, Mass was always
preceded by a smaller procession
within the church building. It still
retained many of the same features
and also became a symbolic gesture
that reminded the faithful of their
procession or “pilgrimage” to
Heaven.
The Catechism of the Catholic
Church explains the spiritual sym-
bolism of a pilgrimage.
Pilgrimages evoke our earthly
journey toward heaven and are
traditionally very special occasions
for renewal in prayer. (CCC 2691)
The sanctuary of the church is
naturally a place that symbolize
heaven, with the presence of Jesus
in the Eucharist.
Furthermore, often the sanctuary
is elevated by a number of steps.
This too has symbolism, lifting
up our eyes (and hearts) to God,
but also reminding us of Jesus’
ascent to Mount Calvary. The priest
assumes this role and ascends to a
“mystical” Mount Calvary to offer
the sacrifice of the Mass, partici-
pating in the one sacrifice of Jesus
on the cross.
The next time you attend Mass,
try to internalize the entrance pro-
cession and use it as an opportu-
nity to prepare your heart for what
is about to happen, transporting
yourself from this world into the
mystical “Supper of the Lamb,”
where we hope to be fully united
with God for all eternity
During the first few
centuries after Chris-
tianity was legalized
in Rome, the pope
would frequently
gather with his little
flock at various points
in the city and then
process to a different
“stational” church.
