The Beauty of Daily Mass

Every day all over the world, priests get up to pray and do the most important job in the world at least in my view. Depending on the church and area, the beauty of Daily Mass will be said.

There is something to be said to watch the 90 year old woman sitting next to me kneeling and praying the Rosary on her worn-down beads. Then, in front of me is the 85 year old man reading from his torn prayer cards. The prayer cards that have seen much love over the years. There is the 75 year old sitting in the very front pew speaking in Latin and having a conversation with her Christ. Yet, most importantly, each morning I find comfort in walking into the church and seeing Father sitting in the front pew praying before Mass will even begin. While praying and furthering my own relationship with Christ, for some reason every time I look over and see Father reflecting or looking over the Daily Readings, there is joy that I came to Mass today.

During Daily Mass, the sense of community comes out strong. Hearing the man say the responses three beats off and the woman saying everything in Latin, somehow in a crazy way of life makes me appreciate the Daily Mass. Listening to the Homily and watching the community of believers shake their heads to some extend brings me a sense of peace. Father not rushing the prayers and allowing his flock to soak in the words of the "Our Father" and the consecration of the Eucharist brings a sense of calm.

After Daily Mass, there is always a sense of love listening to the parishioners speak with Father about life in the back of the church. While listening to the laughs and cries of his flock, it always brings me to a deep sense of love as Father acts as each one is the only one who has problems. There is a sense of community as Father knows every single one by name and what is going on in their lives. More importantly, there is the spark in the eyes of the parishioners as Father asks about the children and grandchildren. And no matter how much I try to slide under the pew or slip out the back door, Father always seems to find me. There are days where Father will plop right down next to me to ask about my business, where my faith is, or just to talk sports and news. At times I need Father to be that mentor and person who continues to tell me that Jesus needs me. It is like no matter what Father has all the time in the world to just chat with that person.

Daily Mass has done wonders for me and my life. And, yet it has become discouraging to me to go to Daily Mass to find that on most days, I am the youngest person in Mass. Even though it can be discouraging, I have found peace in the older people who know my name. From going to Mass every day, I found the most important piece of advice that I never learned in all of my years of being a Catholic.

My elders taught me to take others concerns and distresses to the alter. So every day before Mass and depending on what church I am attending, I take the concerns of everyone around me to the alter. Not once will I ask God to help me make an important decision. Not once will I ask God to bless me. I found that by having others concerns go to the alter, will give me the peace and love of the day.

So every day you will find me in the second to last row in Daily Mass. I will continue the ritual as I find the comfort and love surrounded by my elders and being the youngest person in Daily Mass. I have learned that my faith family will allow me to leave with a smile.