Here is a link to my favorite novena to her! Please consider joining me in prayer...and keep an eye out for roses ;-)
Reflection on the Mass: The Mass is the MOST important and sacred act of worship in the Catholic Church.
The Mass incorporates the Bible (Sacred Scripture), prayer, sacrifice, hymns, symbols, gestures, sacred food for the soul, and directions on how to live a Catholic life — all in one ceremony. Through time and space, we connect with the original Last Supper.
The Church teaches that the Mass is the re-presentation of the sacrifice of Calvary. This is misunderstood by many non-Catholics who claim that the Mass is a re-crucifixion of Christ. It is not.
Jesus Christ celebrated the first Mass with His disciples at the Last Supper, the night before He died. He commanded His disciples, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). The celebration of the Mass then became the main form of worship in the early Church, as a reenactment of the Last Supper, as Christ had commanded.
Each and every Mass since commemorates Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross through the Holy Eucharist. Because the Mass “re-presents” (makes present) the sacrifice on Calvary, Catholics all around the world join together to be made present in Christ’s timeless sacrifice for our sins. There is something fascinating about continuing to celebrate the same Mass—instituted by Christ and practiced by the early Church.
If you are Catholic, you are obliged to go to Mass every Sunday – not just on Sundays when you wake up early enough, it’s convenient, or when you feel like it. You love and feed your family whether you feel like or not right? You need to feed yourself and your family spiritually whether you feel like going or not too. (Legitimate reasons to miss Mass would be along the lines of illness, needing to care for the ill, and lack of an available Mass within a reasonable distance.)
A lot of Catholics don’t attend Mass as they should, perhaps because we do not realize it is a requirement and a mortal sin to miss it, or possibly because we take for granted what is really happening at the Mass, and it is not a priority in our lives. But if you really understood and knew what was happening, you wouldn't just go on Sundays, you would want to go every day.
Attending Mass is not just an obligation, it’s a privilege. God knows we need it, and it is His gift to us. Mass should be the highlight of our week. We should look forward to it and want to go. And when we don’t, it’s a reminder that we need to work harder to more fully understand the reality of what happens at Mass.
Think about the hours you spend on Sundays watching sports, sleeping in, or going to the gym to get physically fit. What if you went to the gym just one hour per week? How physically fit would you be with just one hour? God asks for only one hour per week at Mass. (Please give him many more hours of this throughout the week in prayer, reading the Bible and other Catholic books, or at daily Mass.) Mass will help bring us closer to Him, bring grace in our souls and is a great start for your week in getting spiritually fit.
It's human and natural to forget, get lazy, take it for granted, or become numb to it, but we have to continually work to overcome that trap. The devil is real and loves it when you stay home. At Mass we are being offered the greatest gift God has to offer –the source and summit of our Faith, Jesus Christ Himself. Go whether you feel like going or not. Love God always, even when you don't feel like loving Him. Love is much more than feelings. Love is a sacrifice and putting others before yourself.
When we receive the Eucharist, we truly, physically receive the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ, of God Himself – at every Mass. If you're looking for a personal relationships with Jesus Christ, you can't get any more personal than when you receive Him in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith.
Staying home thinking missing Mass doesn't matter, or that watching it on tv, or being a good person is enough - is wrong. If you are a Catholic, you are supposed to go to Mass every week, and on Holy Days of Obligation. If you don't understand the Mass, or are bored, and are looking for better "entertainment" - then pray for understanding. We go to Mass to worship God. We get down on our knees at Mass to humble ourselves before our King. It's not about "us" remember. We don't go to Mass to be entertained, or demand that the priest's homily be exciting, or if it isn't we aren't going back. We go to Mass to worship God, hear His word in the Liturgy of the Word, and receive Christ's body, blood, soul and divinity in the Eucharist. We go to worship, not be entertained.
At Mass today try to really listen to the readings. Better yet, read them before Mass, and then really listen to the readings. We can all get distracted, but if we really try to be really present, listen and participate, the Mass will be even that more beautiful.
An inspiring homily and beautiful music absolutely add to the beauty of the Mass, but even without these things, remember - Christ is there in the Eucharist. Christ is truly present. That alone should make you want to never skip Mass, be there on time, not leave early without a good reason, and thank God for this wonderful gift.
Read, study, seek more understanding, and most of all, pray that you will come to a better appreciation and love for this most beautiful gift that Jesus Christ Himself (not man) gave to you over 2000 years ago.
Wishing you all a beautiful Sunday!
