In order to comprehend the value of the Holy Mass, you must remember that this sublime act is in itself greater than all the good works, virtues, and merits of all the Saints together, the Blessed Virgin Mary not excepted, from the beginning until the end of time.
For each Mass repeats (makes present for us again) the (one-time, once for all) Sacrifice of the God-Man Who, dying as man and as God, raising His death to the dignity of a divine action, gives it thereby an infinite worth.
by Doug Lawrence
It’s been happening more and more, lately! I look up to the altar as the priest recites the words of consecration, and instead of seeing Father Al up there doing the work, I see Jesus Christ, instead.
I look at him. He looks at me. Our eyes meet. Then, I’m instantly transported in spirit, to the Lord’s Day … at the end of time … just as St. John describes it, in the Book of Revelation (See Revelation 1:10).
The church building and the sanctuary within it has literally become Heaven.
The congregation has expanded a bit … now consisting of every angel and saint who ever lived … or ever will live. Surveying its massive length and breadth, I can identify the Blessed Virgin, all of the patriarchs and apostles, the evangelists, the martyrs, the doctors, the mystics, choirs and choirs of angels, even some long-passed family, friends and neighbors. And of course … Jesus.
The Mass has become the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, where Jesus, the spotless victim, is both the divine host and the primary object of worship, receiving glory, praise and honor for his great, finished work of salvation, and where Jesus subsequently presents the Church … fully perfected by his grace … as his beautiful bride … to God the Father. (See Revelation 19:1)
The congregation … which had consisted of the usual assortment of sinful humanity … has now been completely and utterly transformed. Clothed in abject finery, now perfect in every respect … thanks to Jesus … our perfect, holy and spotless bride groom … whose saving grace has made all the difference … just as God always intended.
Then, I’m back!
The bottom line: Every time we attend Mass, we experience a little “slice” of Heaven, right here on Earth … a miraculous preview of wondrous and amazing things to come … thanks solely to the real presence of Jesus Christ … who cherishes us with a holy and inestimable love.
Don’t miss it, for the world!
At the hour of death the Holy, Masses you have heard devoutly,
will be your greatest consolation. Every Mass will go with you
to Judgment and will plead for pardon for you.
By every Mass you can diminish the temporal punishment due to your sins,
more or less, according to your fervor.
By devoutly assisting at Holy Mass you render the greatest homage
possible to the Sacred Humanity of Our Lord. Through the Holy Sacrifice,
Our Lord Jesus Christ supplies for many of our negligences and omissions.
He forgives you all the venial sins which you are
determined to avoid. He forgives you all your unknown sins
which you never confessed.
The power of Satan over you is diminished.
By piously hearing Holy Mass you afford the souls in
purgatory the greatest possible relief; One Holy Mass heard during your life
will be of more benefit to you than many heard for you after your death.
Through the Holy Mass you are preserved from many dangers
and misfortunes which would otherwise have befallen you.
You shorten your purgatory by every Mass.
During the Holy Mass you kneel amid a multitude of holy
angels, who are present at the Adorable Sacrifice with reverential awe.
Through the Holy Mass you are blessed in your temporal goods and affairs.
When you hear Holy Mass devoutly offering it to Almighty God
in honor of a particular saint or an angel thanking God for the favors
bestowed; you afford that saint or that angel a new degree of honor,
joy and happiness, and draw his special love and protection upon yourself.
Every time you assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass, besides other intentions, you should offer it
in honor of the saint of the day.
When the Priest offers the Host
I place upon the paten my heart:
the hearts of all those near and dear to me,
especially the hearts of my relatives:
the hearts of all those for whom
I have promised to pray:
the hearts of all those who have injured me:
the hearts of all those whom I may have injured:
the hearts of all the agonizing.
O Lord Jesus Christ, when Thou changest the bread and wine
into Thy Precious Body and Blood, change our hearts
into hearts pleasing to Thee.
When the Priest offers the Chalice.
I place within the chalice the souls of all my relatives
for whom I should pray: the souls of those for whom
I may have forgotten to pray,
the souls most devout to the Sacred Heart and the Blessed Virgin Mary,
the souls of the most abandoned.
O Lord Jesus Christ, when Thou changest
the wine into Thy Precious Blood change these poor souls
from their place of suffering unto eternal happiness.
Eternal Rest grant unto them O Lord
and let the perpetual light shine upon them.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel! Fruitful vine!
Splendor of Heaven! Blessed Mother of the Son of God!
Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity!
O Star of the Sea, help me, and show me herein thou art my Mother!
O Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth,
I humbly beseech thee from the bottom of my heart,
to succor me in this necessity there are none
that can withstand thy power.
O show me herein thou art my Mother!
O Mary conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee. (3 times)
Sweet Mother I place this cause in thy hands. (3 times)
Question: How do I get myself to focus in church tomorrow and any Sunday?
Answer: The best way to “focus” at Mass is to make sure you understand what’s actually happening up there, on the altar, and why.
During our (properly disposed) participation in the Holy Sacrifice, Jesus becomes present for us, under the auspices of bread and wine, so we might offer him (Jesus, the one time, once for all, perfect and eternal sacrifice, for the sins of the world) up to God the Father, for the needs of the Church and of the whole world.
We also have the opportunity to personally receive Jesus in Holy Communion, becoming (for a time) a living tabernacle, perfected in God’s awesome power and grace.
It doesn’t get any better than that, this side of Heaven.
Asked and answered today on Yahoo!Answers. Edited for clarity and content.
The obligation to attend Sunday Mass exists. It is a commandment of the Church which binds under the penalty of grave sin. It exists for a specific reason and should be known and loved, so that the soul feels a need to fulfill it. The fact that it is a law helps to create a religious consciousness of this need, which, in turn, makes it easier to fulfill the obligation.
At the hour of death the Holy, Masses you have heard devoutly,
will be your greatest consolation. Every Mass will go with you
to Judgment and will plead for pardon for you.
By every Mass you can diminish the temporal punishment due to your sins,
more or less, according to your fervor.
By devoutly assisting at Holy Mass you render the greatest homage
possible to the Sacred Humanity of Our Lord. Through the Holy Sacrifice,
Our Lord Jesus Christ supplies for many of our negligences and omissions.
He forgives you all the venial sins which you are
determined to avoid. He forgives you all your unknown sins
which you never confessed.
The power of Satan over you is diminished.
By piously hearing Holy Mass you afford the souls in
purgatory the greatest possible relief; One Holy Mass heard during your life
will be of more benefit to you than many heard for you after your death.
Through the Holy Mass you are preserved from many dangers
and misfortunes which would otherwise have befallen you.
You shorten your purgatory by every Mass.
During the Holy Mass you kneel amid a multitude of holy
angels, who are present at the Adorable Sacrifice with reverential awe.
Through the Holy Mass you are blessed in your temporal goods and affairs.
When you hear Holy Mass devoutly offering it to Almighty God
in honor of a particular saint or an angel thanking God for the favors
bestowed; you afford that saint or that angel a new degree of honor,
joy and happiness, and draw his special love and protection upon yourself.
Every time you assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass, besides other intentions, you should offer it
in honor of the saint of the day.
When the Priest offers the Host
I place upon the paten my heart:
the hearts of all those near and dear to me,
especially the hearts of my relatives:
the hearts of all those for whom
I have promised to pray:
the hearts of all those who have injured me:
the hearts of all those whom I may have injured:
the hearts of all the agonizing.
O Lord Jesus Christ, when Thou changest the bread and wine
into Thy Precious Body and Blood, change our hearts
into hearts pleasing to Thee.
When the Priest offers the Chalice.
I place within the chalice the souls of all my relatives
for whom I should pray: the souls of those for whom
I may have forgotten to pray,
the souls most devout to the Sacred Heart and the Blessed Virgin Mary,
the souls of the most abandoned.
O Lord Jesus Christ, when Thou changest
the wine into Thy Precious Blood change these poor souls
from their place of suffering unto eternal happiness.
Eternal Rest grant unto them O Lord
and let the perpetual light shine upon them.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel! Fruitful vine!
Splendor of Heaven! Blessed Mother of the Son of God!
Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity!
O Star of the Sea, help me, and show me herein thou art my Mother!
O Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth,
I humbly beseech thee from the bottom of my heart,
to succor me in this necessity there are none
that can withstand thy power.
O show me herein thou art my Mother!
O Mary conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee. (3 times)
Sweet Mother I place this cause in thy hands. (3 times)
In order to comprehend the value of the Holy Mass, you must remember that this sublime act is in itself greater than all the good works, virtues, and merits of all the Saints together, the Blessed Virgin Mary not excepted, from the beginning until the end of time. For each Mass repeats (makes present for us again) the (one-time, once for all) Sacrifice of the God-Man Who, dying as man and as God, raising His death to the dignity of a divine action, gives it thereby an infinite worth.
by Doug Lawrence
It’s been happening more and more, lately! I look up to the altar as the priest recites the words of consecration, and instead of seeing Father Al up there doing the work, I see Jesus Christ, instead.
I look at him. He looks at me. Our eyes meet. Then, I’m instantly transported in spirit, to the Lord’s Day … at the end of time … just as St. John describes it, in the Book of Revelation (See Revelation 1:10).
The church building and the sanctuary within it has literally become Heaven.
The congregation has expanded a bit … now consisting of every angel and saint who ever lived … or ever will live. Surveying its massive length and breadth, I can identify the Blessed Virgin, all of the patriarchs and apostles, the evangelists, the martyrs, the doctors, the mystics, choirs and choirs of angels, even some long-passed family, friends and neighbors. And of course … Jesus.
The Mass has become the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, where Jesus, the spotless victim, is both the divine host and the primary object of worship, receiving glory, praise and honor for his great, finished work of salvation, and where Jesus subsequently presents the Church … fully perfected by his grace … as his beautiful bride … to God the Father. (See Revelation 19:1)
The congregation … which had consisted of the usual assortment of sinful humanity … has now been completely and utterly transformed. Clothed in abject finery, now perfect in every respect … thanks to Jesus … our perfect, holy and spotless bride groom … whose saving grace has made all the difference … just as God always intended.
Then, I’m back!
The bottom line: Every time we attend Mass, we experience a little “slice” of Heaven, right here on Earth … a miraculous preview of wondrous and amazing things to come … thanks solely to the real presence of Jesus Christ … who cherishes us with a holy and inestimable love.
Don’t miss it, for the world!
by Doug Lawrence
Celebrating Sunday Mass, I couldn’t help but notice that the priest (one that I had never seen before) closely resembled the late, wild and wacky, Saturday Night Live TV show comedian, Chris Farley.
Of course, I couldn’t wait to hear the homily, which I feared, might be based on one of the old, SNL “Matt Foley” sketches. “Matt” was a fictional SNL inspirational speaker, “the man who lived in a van, down by the river” who couldn’t seem to pull his own life together, let alone help others to do so.
Watch the SNL video clip on Hulu.
As things turned out, I had nothing to fear. Our young priest read masterfully from the Word of God, and delivered a powerful homily. Nothing at all was mentioned about a van … or a river.
The fact that my priest did not at first, appear too formidable was simply due to a genetic coincidence. Had he resembled a famous pope, bishop, theologian or evangelist, I probably would not be writing this.
The point is … once that young man donned his vestments, entered the sanctuary, and began to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, there was little doubt about who he was … and more importantly, precisely for whom he was standing in: Jesus Christ … our Lord and Savior … the one time, once for all, perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world … and the one who would … at the hands of that priest … according to the awesome power of the Holy Spirit … shortly become present for us … body, blood, soul and divinity … on the holy altar.
Reflecting on all of the above, I soon realized that God manages to transcend mere sinful humanity in many profound ways, none more important than the Mass and the Sacraments.
At Mass, thanks to Christ, we’re treated to an earthly preview of heavenly worship, where the ideal and the mundane routinely come together in divine perfection,
for the salvation of the world:
1) The Mass is the most basic and essential exercise in Christian unity. Every hour of every day, every day of every year, in virtually every country on earth, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is being offered up to God for the needs of the church, and the world.
2) The priest, properly consecrated, trained and suitably vested, is set apart by the church for holy service to God and to man. In this, his personal looks or his age mean nothing, since he “stands in” for none other than Jesus Christ, who is God. (This is also why the priestly abuse scandals hurt so much!)
3) Leading us through the various parts of the Mass, the priest helps to prepare our souls (which are hopefully, not in a state of mortal sin) for the imminent arrival of Jesus Christ, on the altar.
4) Soon, there is the consecration, where the King of Kings and Lord of Lords … Jesus Christ … our brother, High Priest, Heavenly Mediator, our Savior and our God, appears in our midst … not as an ethereal vision … but as true flesh and true blood … under the sacramental auspices of bread and wine.
5) Then, at the “Great Amen” we all solemnly offer Jesus, the only perfect and acceptable sacrifice, up to God the Father, for the sins of the whole world, and for the good of the whole Church.
6) Having faithfully “lined up” behind Jesus and claimed God as our Father, we are privileged to consume Jesus Christ as our heavenly food. Then, we are sent out to share our divine gifts with the world.
As I like to say …
it doesn’t get any better than that,
this side of heaven!
While it’s extremely difficult for us humans to give much more than lip service to God’s ideal, it’s just the opposite for God, since he has absolutely no problem taking a world filled with sin and corruption … much of it directly affecting the Catholic Church and the People of God … and by the power of his grace … perfectly accomplishing all that he originally intended for us, at the Last Supper and at Calvary.
Catholics believe all this to be true
because Jesus Christ personally declared it
in front of at least 12 eye-witnesses,
who later confirmed it
in the Holy Bible.
One last thing … Word has it that Jesus also has a little place, down by the river:
And he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street thereof, and on both sides of the river, was the tree of life, bearing twelve fruits, yielding its fruits every month: the leaves of the tree for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no curse any more: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it. And his servants shall serve him. And they shall see his face: and his name shall be on their foreheads. And night shall be no more. And they shall not need the light of the lamp, nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall enlighten them. And they shall reign for ever and ever.
(Revelation 22:1-5)
I hope to see all of you there. But for now, in this present age, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the next best thing. Don’t miss it, for the world!
by Doug Lawrence
I just got back from morning Mass, where around 300 of the nicest people you’re ever likely to meet … this side of heaven … voluntarily came together, early on a beautiful Thursday morning … to give God thanks and praise, to ask forgiveness for our sins, to hear the Gospel powerfully proclaimed, to obtain healing and peace for our friends and neighbors all around the world, to offer ourselves up to God, and to personally receive Jesus Christ, our high priest, king, savior, and mediator … as he became present for us, on the altar.
Then we all had a divine breakfast together.
The Holy Sacrifice was of the standard Novus Ordo type, in English, reverently and properly celebrated, by a wonderful, missionary priest. It couldn’t have been any better in any other language, or in any other rite. It was as perfect as any Mass could be.
All in all, a totally faith-affirming, Catholic experience.
Praise God!
Doug Lawrence's Catholic Site 