"The Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist are so closely connected with each other that they form one single act of worship."
—Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy # 56
"The Mass of the Christian community includes both the celebration of the Word—the readings of each Mass—and the celebration of the sacrifice of Jesus, that is, the memorial of his death and his resurrection, as well as the meal of Communion in the reception of the Eucharistic bread and wine.
"The altar is not only 'the center of thanksgiving/ the table where the 'Lord's Supper' is celebrated, but at the same time the sign of Jesus Christ in the midst of the community."
- The Mass, Lucien Deiss, C.S.Sp.
(The Liturgical Press, 1992) 11-13