The procession is a sign of triumph and royalty as well as a reminder of our own Christian pilgrimage from this life to our eternal reward
Once we have readied ourselves for the sacred mysteries through interior prayer and commitment, the first thing we witness is an entrance procession accompanied by music.
In Scripture, we find examples of processions with the Ark of the Covenant (2 Samuel 6, 1 Kings 8 ) and in Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11, Matthew 21, Luke 19, and John 12). In these examples, the procession is a sign of triumph and royalty as well as a reminder of our own Christian pilgrimage from this life to our eternal reward.
Procession is a pilgrimage. God commanded Abraham to make a pilgrimage to the land of Moriah to offer him a sacrifice (Genesis 22: 2); Moses made a pilgrimage, lead the Israelites to the promised land (Exodus 14-19); and Jesus made a pilgrimage to Calvary carrying his Cross (Matthew 27: 31-33, Mark 15: 20-22, Luke 23: 26-33, and John 19: 16-18). Just like Abraham, Moses and Jesus we too make a pilgrimage during the entrance procession in the Mass to the Sanctuary, the Sanctuary represents Moriah, Sinai, and Calvary.
As such, it is fitting that the procession marks the beginning of the celebration of the Mass. We witness the triumphal entry of the standard of our salvation – the cross – and are reminded that this life is fleeting and is a preparation of the life to come.
Our posture during this procession is standing, which is drawn from sacred Scripture when the people of Israel “would rise up and worship” each time Moses entered the Tent of Meeting where the Tabernacle was located (Ex 33: 7-11). Therefore, it is a unifying sign of reverence.
The entrance hymn that accompanies this liturgical procession has as its purpose the idea of movement toward the great sacrifice that is about to take place. Here, we see the entrance hymn unifying the faithful who gather together in a sense of pilgrimage.
Cf. - MJ Lopez
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