ASSISTING AT MASS

ASSISTING AT MASS

Alas, an informal survey among Catholics might reveal that a great number of well-meaning Catholics have but a vague knowledge of what the Mass is, and how to participate in it (essentially). Thus a little reminder for all of us might be in order: (Though surely there's more in this wonderful treasure Jesus bequeathed to us).

1. The Mass is the Sacrifice of Christ. At Mass the sacrifice of Calvary is made present ACTUALLY. Time and distance are annihilated in a mystical sense and we stand at the foot of the cross, so we can plug into this 'action of Christ' which is of infinite value. Since Jesus is God, as well as man, His actions participate in the divine eternity (eternal now) and can be made present in the here and now through the power of the Holy Spirit; such is what happens in the Mass (cf. CCC #1085).

2. Our Lord instituted it to perpetuate the Sacrifice of the Cross and communicate the fruits of His redemption to us in the here and now, as well as that we may be able to participate in His work of Redemption and Intercession.

3. We participate by offering Jesus and offering ourselves in union with Him as He offers Himself to the Father for us. The essence of our participation therefore is in the "INTERIOR ACT OF OFFERING OURSELVES", all that we are, our prayers, works, joys, sufferings, even our struggles and weaknesses, in union with Jesus. All this we do for the 4 ends of the Mass: to adore/worship God, to thank Him, to atone for our sins, and to petition for graces, all through the intercession of Jesus.

4. This act of offering is a will-act, an intention that is very powerful. This is the essence of participating, whether verbalized inaudibly, or just mentally, saying: "Take me O God, I am all yours". This is what it means to pray the Mass more than praying in the Mass.

5. Perhaps we can liken it to the unspoken intention (will) of a mother in caring for her sick child, no matter how difficult; that unconditional offering (out of love). It is not necessarily felt emotionally, but willed, that is, that we are offering (giving) all that we are, in union with Jesus, to the Father.

6. We make this interior act beginning at the offertory, when we put ourselves on the paten, along with the bread and wine, soon to be changed into the Body and Blood of our Lord at Consecration, the crux of the Mass, at which we stir our hearts into acts of faith, love, and adoration for our Lord now truly and substantially present on the altar. We join silently in the prayers of the priest from then on, replete with acts of offering, climaxing in the doxology: "Through Him, with Him....", to which we respond, "AMEN".

7. It may be that we are not as yet ready to make the full act of self-surrender to God upon the altar with complete honesty. Then we can instead say: "Take me, O God, and give me the courage to want to be all yours". God will be pleased with our partial victimhood and will build us up with His grace to that level of self-giving which at the moment is still lacking.

8. Some spiritual benefits from this offering: As we renew our offering throughout the day, it will render our activities easier despite difficulties and inconveniences, our trials bearable and even sweeter knowing we have offered it to God. It will help us conquer temptations and avoid sin, since we cannot offer sin. It will empower us to do acts of charity. In all these the graces of the Mass is already kicking in. In a word, from Mass to Mass we will grow in our self giving to God and neighbor (less and less selfish), and the worship level of our lives increased.

9. We can offer the Mass (Jesus' Sacrifice and now ours, too) for various intentions, both spiritual and temporal, leaning on the powerful intercession of the one Mediator between God and man, Jesus.

10. As we offer ourselves to the Father, He in turn offers Himself to us in Jesus, truly present, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, in Holy Communion, so that we will gradually be transformed into Him. Let us then make our holy communion, sacramental or spiritual, with all the powers of our heart, mind, and soul.

11. Let us also, at the beginning of the Mass, make our most fervent act of contrition at the penitential rite so as to worthily offer ourselves, and deepen our conversion.

12. It is also very important to prepare/dispose ourselves before Mass, as well as savor its fruits/converse with Jesus intimately after.

May all priests offer the Mass most reverently (and preach about it, too), aiding the Faithful's essential interior participation in this most Holy Sacrifice. [There seems to be an unfortunate presumption among priests that the Catholic Faithful already know; maybe many don't. Besides, a reverently offered Mass is itself one powerful homily towards an ever deepening love for God and neighbor.] For only then will the Mass be for us truly the source and summit of our Christian life! This is perhaps one of the keys, along with the promotion of a deeper Marian Devotion, to the much desired renewal in the Catholic Church, or the so-called New Evangelization. We wouldn't even need the so-called "synod on synodality", or the suppression of the Traditional Latin Mass. Instead, the Novus Ordo Mass ought to be enriched by the Traditional Latin Mass with its reverence, Sacred Music, and theologically rich prayers.