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Mass photographs: sources and licenses

33 distinct photographs of real Catholic celebrations. Some photographs illustrate the setting or a related action rather than the exact moment named on the teaching screen. They come from different countries and occasions, including an ordination Mass and Holy Thursday. U.S. posture instructions on the guide describe the current U.S. norms, not every detail pictured.

Photographs are supplied unchanged, using Wikimedia-hosted resized versions where applicable. Their individual reuse licenses remain in force. Historical captions describe written witnesses: no photographs of the early Church exist.

1. Representative view of a Catholic Mass

Westminster Cathedral (5358743286).jpg

Solemn Mass with Ordination of the Revv. Andrew Burnham, John Broadhurst and Keith Newton to the Catholic priesthood. Celebrant and Homilist: The Most Revd Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

Photo: Fr James Bradley · Original source and event details · CC BY 2.0

2. Entrance procession

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Monks, priests and bishops go in procession for the Holy Mass in the Church of the Name of Mary in Novi Sad

Photo: Stebunik · Original source and event details · CC BY 4.0

3. Incensing the altar

Censing the altar (5358908490).jpg

Solemn Mass with Ordination of the Revv. Andrew Burnham, John Broadhurst and Keith Newton to the Catholic priesthood. Celebrant and Homilist: The Most Revd Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

Photo: Fr James Bradley · Original source and event details · CC BY 2.0

4. Representative view of a Catholic Mass

Marcelino Antonio Maralit May 5 2026 Mass entrance procession 07.jpg

Maralit Marcelino Antonio "Junie" Malabanan Maralit, Jr. (5th day Novenario San Agustin Fiesta), 5:30 pm Saint Augustine Parish Church (Baliwag)

Photo: P1898 · Original source and event details · CC BY 4.0

5. Representative view of a Catholic Mass

32nd Blue Mass (55253255423).jpg

U.S. Border Patrol agents attend the 32nd Blue Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., May 5, 2026. CBP Photo by Glenn Fawcett

Photo: CBP Photography · Original source and event details · Public domain

6. Sprinkling with holy water

Asperges rite at opening Mass of Synod on synodality in Tallinn, October 17th 2021.jpg

Asperges rite at opening Mass of Synod on synodality in Tallinn, October 17th 2021

Photo: Indrek Petersoo · Original source and event details · CC BY-SA 4.0

7. Representative view of a Catholic Mass

Archbishop Nichols with his clergy and seminarians (5358772634).jpg

Solemn Mass with Ordination of the Revv. Andrew Burnham, John Broadhurst and Keith Newton to the Catholic priesthood. Celebrant and Homilist: The Most Revd Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

Photo: Fr James Bradley · Original source and event details · CC BY 2.0

8. Representative view of a Catholic Mass

Jf2014Saint Monica Parish Church Minalin Maundyfvf 18.JPG

400-year old Santa Monica Parish Church in Barangay San Nicolas (Poblacion), Minalin, Pampanga - 2015, April 2 Maundy Thursday in the Philippines: Mass of the Lord's Supper and Chrysm Mass Mass (Liturgy) and Washing of Feet Foot washing by Parish Priest in Saint Monica Parish Church in Minalin, Pampanga - Interior or Maundy ceremony Foot washing ceremony for Maundy Thursday in the Philippines, and Procession of the Blessed Sacrament towards the Altar of Repose.

Photo: Judgefloro · Original source and event details · CC BY-SA 4.0

9. Representative view of a Catholic Mass

Heilige Erstkommunion in der deutschen Botschaft in Peking.JPG

Pfarrer Michael Bauer bei der Feier der Heiligen Erstkommunion in der deutschen Botschaft in Peking

Photo: Freinademetz · Original source and event details · CC BY-SA 3.0

10. Reader at the ambo

32nd Blue Mass (55252214792).jpg

Deputy Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol Walter N. Slosar serves as a lector during the 32nd Blue Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., May 5, 2026. CBP Photo by Glenn Fawcett

Photo: CBP Photography · Original source and event details · Public domain

11. Choir at Mass

Jf2158Saint Monica Parish Church Minalin HolyMassfvf 08.JPG

400-year old Santa Monica Parish Church in Barangay San Nicolas (Poblacion), Minalin, Pampanga - 2015, April 2 Maundy Thursday in the Philippines: Mass of the Lord's Supper and Chrysm Mass Mass (Liturgy) and Washing of Feet Foot washing by Parish Priest in Saint Monica Parish Church in Minalin, Pampanga - Interior or Maundy ceremony Foot washing ceremony for Maundy Thursday in the Philippines, and Procession of the Blessed Sacrament towards the Altar of Repose.

Photo: Judgefloro · Original source and event details · CC BY-SA 4.0

12. Incense at the Gospel

Ile-de-France students mass 2012-11-08 n10.jpg

Altar servant censing during the reading of the Holy Gospel. Île-de-France students' mass in Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris celebrated by Mgr André Vingt-Trois.

Photo: Marie-Lan Nguyen · Original source and event details · CC BY 2.5

13. Reading the Gospel

KFOR takes part in pilgrimage 130815-A-CY863-004.jpg

U.S. Army Maj. Timothy Meier, S.J., the Multinational Battle Group-East Chaplain and a member of the California National Guard, reads the Gospel during Mass outside the Church of the Black Madonna Aug. 15. Meier was able to read the Gospel in English after it had been read in Albanian and Croatian to the large crowd gathered for the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Randy Ready, 4th Public Affairs Detachment)

Photo: Capt. Randy Ready · Original source and event details · Public domain

14. Homily

32nd Blue Mass (55253511295).jpg

Washington Cardinal Robert W. McElroy delivers the homily during the 32nd Blue Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., May 5, 2026. CBP Photo by Glenn Fawcett

Photo: CBP Photography · Original source and event details · Public domain

15. Representative view of a Catholic Mass

32nd Blue Mass (55253109361).jpg

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations interdiction agents attend the 32nd Blue Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., May 5, 2026. CBP Photo by Glenn Fawcett

Photo: CBP Photography · Original source and event details · Public domain

16. Representative view of a Catholic Mass

32nd Blue Mass (55252214747).jpg

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer attends the 32nd Blue Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., May 5, 2026. CBP Photo by Glenn Fawcett

Photo: CBP Photography · Original source and event details · Public domain

18. Representative view of a Catholic Mass

Archbishop Nichols at the altar (5358299229).jpg

Solemn Mass with Ordination of the Revv. Andrew Burnham, John Broadhurst and Keith Newton to the Catholic priesthood. Celebrant and Homilist: The Most Revd Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

Photo: Fr James Bradley · Original source and event details · CC BY 2.0

19. Priests at the altar

Fr Burnham and Fr Broadhurst at the altar (5358920180).jpg

Solemn Mass with Ordination of the Revv. Andrew Burnham, John Broadhurst and Keith Newton to the Catholic priesthood. Celebrant and Homilist: The Most Revd Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

Photo: Fr James Bradley · Original source and event details · CC BY 2.0

20. Preface

Preface (5358311443).jpg

Solemn Mass with Ordination of the Revv. Andrew Burnham, John Broadhurst and Keith Newton to the Catholic priesthood. Celebrant and Homilist: The Most Revd Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

Photo: Fr James Bradley · Original source and event details · CC BY 2.0

21. Representative view of a Catholic Mass

Preface (5358922370).jpg

Solemn Mass with Ordination of the Revv. Andrew Burnham, John Broadhurst and Keith Newton to the Catholic priesthood. Celebrant and Homilist: The Most Revd Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

Photo: Fr James Bradley · Original source and event details · CC BY 2.0

22. Representative view of a Catholic Mass

Jf2158Saint Monica Parish Church Minalin HolyMassfvf 13.JPG

400-year old Santa Monica Parish Church in Barangay San Nicolas (Poblacion), Minalin, Pampanga - 2015, April 2 Maundy Thursday in the Philippines: Mass of the Lord's Supper and Chrysm Mass Mass (Liturgy) and Washing of Feet Foot washing by Parish Priest in Saint Monica Parish Church in Minalin, Pampanga - Interior or Maundy ceremony Foot washing ceremony for Maundy Thursday in the Philippines, and Procession of the Blessed Sacrament towards the Altar of Repose.

Photo: Judgefloro · Original source and event details · CC BY-SA 4.0

23. Elevation of the Host

Elevation of the Host (5358928706).jpg

Solemn Mass with Ordination of the Revv. Andrew Burnham, John Broadhurst and Keith Newton to the Catholic priesthood. Celebrant and Homilist: The Most Revd Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

Photo: Fr James Bradley · Original source and event details · CC BY 2.0

24. Elevation of the chalice

Elevation of the Chalice (5358315507).jpg

Solemn Mass with Ordination of the Revv. Andrew Burnham, John Broadhurst and Keith Newton to the Catholic priesthood. Celebrant and Homilist: The Most Revd Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

Photo: Fr James Bradley · Original source and event details · CC BY 2.0

25. Representative view of a Catholic Mass

Jf2158Saint Monica Parish Church Minalin HolyMassfvf 34.JPG

400-year old Santa Monica Parish Church in Barangay San Nicolas (Poblacion), Minalin, Pampanga - 2015, April 2 Maundy Thursday in the Philippines: Mass of the Lord's Supper and Chrysm Mass Mass (Liturgy) and Washing of Feet Foot washing by Parish Priest in Saint Monica Parish Church in Minalin, Pampanga - Interior or Maundy ceremony Foot washing ceremony for Maundy Thursday in the Philippines, and Procession of the Blessed Sacrament towards the Altar of Repose.

Photo: Judgefloro · Original source and event details · CC BY-SA 4.0

26. Doxology: paten and chalice raised

Per ipsum (5358319779).jpg

Solemn Mass with Ordination of the Revv. Andrew Burnham, John Broadhurst and Keith Newton to the Catholic priesthood. Celebrant and Homilist: The Most Revd Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

Photo: Fr James Bradley · Original source and event details · CC BY 2.0

27. Representative view of a Catholic Mass

Offutt Air Force Base chaplain performs virtual mass during COVID-19 pandemic.jpg

Chaplain 1st Lt. Philip O'Neill prepares for a virtual mass. Following the directions of the President and Governor Ricketts, in response to the CoronaVirus pandemic, the base chapel here is changing the format of all worship services from in-person to virtual worshipping.

Photo: J.B. Artley / U.S. Air Force · Original source and event details · Public domain

28. Sign of peace

Fr Peter Geldard shares the Kiss of Peace with Fr Andrew Burnham (5358276715).jpg

Solemn Mass with Ordination of the Revv. Andrew Burnham, John Broadhurst and Keith Newton to the Catholic priesthood. Celebrant and Homilist: The Most Revd Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

Photo: Fr James Bradley · Original source and event details · CC BY 2.0

29. Representative view of a Catholic Mass

Holy Communion (5358327691).jpg

Solemn Mass with Ordination of the Revv. Andrew Burnham, John Broadhurst and Keith Newton to the Catholic priesthood. Celebrant and Homilist: The Most Revd Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

Photo: Fr James Bradley · Original source and event details · CC BY 2.0

30. Invitation to Communion

Ecce Agnus Dei (5358940760).jpg

Solemn Mass with Ordination of the Revv. Andrew Burnham, John Broadhurst and Keith Newton to the Catholic priesthood. Celebrant and Homilist: The Most Revd Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

Photo: Fr James Bradley · Original source and event details · CC BY 2.0

31. Distributing Holy Communion

Fr Andrew Burnham during Holy Communion (5358946434).jpg

Solemn Mass with Ordination of the Revv. Andrew Burnham, John Broadhurst and Keith Newton to the Catholic priesthood. Celebrant and Homilist: The Most Revd Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

Photo: Fr James Bradley · Original source and event details · CC BY 2.0

32. Prayer after Communion

Prayer after Communion (5358951314).jpg

Solemn Mass with Ordination of the Revv. Andrew Burnham, John Broadhurst and Keith Newton to the Catholic priesthood. Celebrant and Homilist: The Most Revd Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

Photo: Fr James Bradley · Original source and event details · CC BY 2.0

33. Representative view of a Catholic Mass

USS BULKELEY (DDG 84) 131023-N-IG780-126 (10725372443).jpg

GULF OF OMAN (Oct. 23, 2013) Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 2nd Class Angela Kettler, left, assigned to Operations Department, receives communion from Father Josef Hernandez, right, from the French multi-mission stealth frigate Aconit (F 713), during Catholic Mass aboard USS Bulkeley (DDG 84). Bulkeley is deployed as part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Shane A. Jackson/Released)

Photo: U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. Fifth Fleet · Original source and event details · Public domain