CONCLUDING RITES – Prayer over the People

   (The first of the concluding rites of the Mass is a prayer of blessing by which the celebrant calls down God’s help and protection upon the congregation as they go back to their work. This prayer, the Oratio super Populum, was once an integral part of every Mass; later it was only to be found in Masses during Lent.)

   In Lenten Masses, following the Post-Communion Prayer, the celebrant prays the Prayer over the People (proper to the Mass).