Why I go to Daily Mass

It seems every week someone will come up to me and ask me "Why do you go to Daily Mass?". I know that I am the youngest person in Church on most occasions. I get the comments from friends such as "You don't need a church to pray." Or my favorite comment of how can the priest be Jesus. You can talk to Jesus anywhere. Yes, they have valid points and I can quote Bible versus to them to make a point.

Yet, somehow, my response to them is always the same. "It is a very personal question." However, I am willing to answer your question with the response of "Go thank Father Bob." My favorite part is always watching the face. What do you mean Thank Father? Where can I find this priest if I am at a different parish?

To me the reason I go to Daily Mass changes just as much as I change my outfit (and I change into six outfits a day!) It can be to bring a friend's concern to the Lord or to pray for peace in the world. Whatever the reason I felt the need to go to Daily Mass, for me it is being a part of a community. It is watching the bread and wine be turned into the Body and Blood. It is about Christ being a present force in my day.

Trust me, as a young person it can be frustrating to have the older people ask me why I am the only young person at Daily Mass. Then, to have my friends, question why I need to go can add to the frustration. Yes, Jesus would always disappear somewhere to pray to his Father. I can pray anywhere, but sometimes I just need to see the Jesus picture staring at me. Sometimes, I just want that sense of community. Sometimes, I just want to have my need fulfilled. Sometimes, I just want Father to plop down next to me and start talking about life.

My friends are right. God is everywhere and present every minute of every second. Yet, walking into a church and making the Sign of the Cross with the Holy Water brings me a sense of calm. It forces me to think about the sacrifices Christ made for me. More importantly, it gives me a chance to bring the calmness into my own life. It allows me to really think about the Passion of our Lord and how Christ could really give us the almsgiving of Himself on Good Friday. To think that in all of his almsgiving, He gave the greatest gift of himself.

I can pray anywhere, whether it is in the car going to work, in the grocery store, or on a run. However, I do not get my mind quiet enough to truly listen to what the Lord is saying to me. Church gives me that chance to quiet my thoughts, to allow God in, and gives me the ability to have a relationship with God. Most importantly, no matter what the struggle, I know that I can always find God staring back at me telling me to continue to have a zest for life.

So, you will find me each morning in my daily seat. I will always be in the second to last pew bringing my intentions to my Lord and listening to what God needs from me. To the people who will continue to ask me why I go to Daily Mass knowing I am the only young person sitting in the church, "Go thank Father."