Fasting from Mass Brings Forth a Deeper Gratitude

As the coronavirus threat continues to spread, public Masses are being suspended around the country and throughout the world. Our own diocese suspended public Mass starting this past weekend and, although I was greatly saddened, I understood. Thankfully, our bishop and our parish priests continue to say daily and Sunday Masses privately and have made them available to us via YouTube.

This Sunday, my husband and I watched our parish Mass at home for the first time. We participated as if we were at church, including using holy water, kneeling, saying the prayers and responses, and making a spiritual communion. I was amazed at how intimate and deeply spiritual it was.

I was aware that our our bishop had given us a dispensation relieving us of the obligation to attend Sunday Mass, but I was not expecting to feel the grace and power of that dispensation. Even though I was not able to receive the Eucharist personally, I felt enveloped by that grace and blanketed in the love and protection of Christ through His Holy Church in a way I have never experienced before.

As a convert, I must say, what a difference there is between being unable to able to receive the Eucharist when outside the church and now being inside as a confirmed Catholic. It’s like the difference between being on a lifeboat leaving the Titanic and being safely on the rescue ship Carpathia, not being terribly hungry and just having to wait a bit longer than usual for dinner!

When I was considering becoming Catholic, I became aware that I was outside looking in. One day I was praying at the St. Anne’s chapel at the Shrine of Our Sorrowful Mother, alongside a friend who had recently returned to the Church. At that moment, I sensed that she was “inside” the grace and protection of the Church and I was outside, and suddenly, I wanted in so badly. I felt Mary calling to me to “come inside.” And that was the moment I decided to join the Church.

After going through RCIA, I couldn’t wait to receive Holy Communion. At Easter Vigil Mass, when the priest anointed my head with chrism oil and I received the Eucharist for the first time as a Catholic, I felt as if an invisible veil had been lifted and I was suddenly inside the protection and grace of the Church. It was a profound experience.

We may be fasting from personally receiving the Eucharist, but what a blessing it is to be inside the grace and protection of the Church!