The CatholiCity Message
Volume XI, Number 8 – August 29, 2007
"Celebrate this Mass as if it was your first Mass; celebrate this Mass as if it were your only Mass; celebrate this Mass as if it were your last Mass." On the Wall Leading to Chapel of the Sisters of Charity in Rome
Dear CatholiCity Citizen,
The next few minutes of reading could change your life. And if your life changes, it becomes impossible not to change the lives of others. So take heart. We have a simple prayer at the conclusion.
1. GETTING MORE OUT OF MASS
Here are a few simple suggestions to help make Mass the most powerful activity in your life. These are not so much about theological insight as nuts and bolts suggestions based on human nature. Although we focus on daily Mass, much of what follows applies to Sunday Mass as well.
-Commit to daily Mass. One of the best ways to "get started" is to promise yourself to attend for a month, or a few months, or until a specific date ("I'm going every day until my birthday in November" or "I'm going until my daughter graduates from college".)
Contrary to popular misconceptions, studies show that people who make radical changes are more successful in changing major habits than people who make gradual changes. This is because the benefits from big changes are more dramatic and immediate. In this sense, it is easier to begin by going every day than shooting for once or twice a week. So go for it.
-Mark your first day on a calendar. Mark your "goal" day on a calendar. Check off the days in between.
-Use Catholic calendars that bring special feast days and saints days to your attention. It's a tradition for most parishes to distribute Catholic calendars at Christmas, but we've found that the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC has a beautiful, well-annotated calendar, which you can order online for a small gift:
http://www.nationalshrine.com/site/pp.asp?c=etITK6OTG&b=1993583
-Ask Saint Pius X to help you. On August 21, the Church celebrated the life of Saint Pius X, who was pope in the early 1900s. He is known for encouraging frequent reception of Communion. Let's ask for his help now: "Dear Saint Pius X, ask God to give me the grace to desire to attend Mass every day so I can enjoy the benefits of Communion with Jesus Christ. Amen."
-In some ways, we are all less selfish than we think. Go to daily Mass for the benefit of someone else. Offer your Communion for a friend who is sick, a dad who needs a job, for one of your children to attain holiness; for your grandchildren, godchildren, nieces or nephews; for your spouse; for a particular priest or a seminarian; for graces to help a woman resist the temptation to have an abortion; to protect the life of a soldier you know, etc. For most people, the more specific you are about the Who and Why, the better it works as motivation.
-Unfortunately, your own parish may not have a daily Mass that fits your schedule. Make a list of all the daily Masses (and Confessions) at all the churches near your home and/or office and put it on your refrigerator or on the wall in your office. Don't forget to look up local religious monasteries such as the Poor Clares.
-If you can, find a Mass that fits your life or personality. Some people like to start the day with Mass because it sets a spiritual tone. Others find an "anchor" in the middle of the day with a noon Mass--a spiritual interlude, if you will. Others find that evening Mass is best because it prepares us for family time after work.
-Bring your young children to daily Mass. Don't be afraid to teach them during Mass by whispering explanations, helping them form good habits of comportment, and reminding them to pay attention. Talk about the readings and homily on the way home. If you have more than one child, try taking one child at a time for a week, or a different child each day.
-Refresh your theological basics about the Mass. We recommend these three powerful, riveting, and effective recordings, all available free from the Mary Foundation:
"The Mass Explained" by Father Larry Richards
"Seven Secrets of the Eucharist" by Vinny Flynn
"Marriage and the Eucharist" by Christopher West
-Prepare ahead of time. As you fall off to sleep, ask Our Lady to help you receive all available graces from her son at Mass the following day. When you open your eyes in the morning, ask Jesus to help you get to Mass and to help prepare your heart for Mass. On your drive to Mass, turn off your car radio and ask the Holy Spirit to prepare your heart. Let the distractions of the day fade in silence before you physically arrive in church.
-Do your best to arrive a few minutes early to orient your mind, body, and soul.
-As Mass begins, ask the Holy Spirit to teach you something special during the readings, gospel and homily. Ask Jesus to help you pay attention. God is the God of all possibilities and potentialities--He has a plan for what He wants to show you during Mass.
-Use a missal. Most of you know that this is a publication that provides the parts of the Mass (such as opening prayers, the various Eucharistic prayers, etc.) and the daily Scripture readings along with short commentaries and other helpful guides (such as traditional prayers for after Communion and so on).
Although missals can be a wonderful help before going to Mass as preparation, they are most commonly used during Mass to help you pay attention. It takes a few weeks to get the hang of flipping to the various sections, but it soon becomes second nature. The following three links include a good article by George Weigel on a very popular monthly missal called Magnificat, a link for ordering (note the free sample offer on the left menu) the Magnificat missal, and a link for ordering a "yearly" missal from the Daughers of St. Paul:
Weigel Article:
http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0631.html
Magnificat Monthly Missal (with Free Sample):
http://www.magnificat.net/english/index.asp
Pauline's Monthly Missal:
http://www.pauline.org/store/moreinfo/weekdaymissal.html
-Pray for each person who is at Mass with you. Over the months and years, even if you don't know their names, a supernatural bond develops through your common love for Jesus. They need you. You need them.
-Refuse to allow "liberalism" to mar your participation in Mass. Error-filled homilies, atrocious music, incorrect rubrics--calmly allow these distractions to flow by you. Keep your eyes on the prize, so to speak. Given the craziness of the past few decades, it is foolish to expect human perfection from a Church founded by Christ to save sinners, although we can all pray and work for improvements. Depending on the severity of the situation, and if you have a choice in your area, it is not unreasonable to seek a Mass that respects your sensibilities.
-Pay attention to paying attention. Doesn't it seem that the most common hurdle to benefiting from Mass is allowing our minds (and eyes) to wander? Distractions are caused by our fallen natures, the evil one, our laziness, our lack of preparation, the circumstances of a particular day (Not enough sleep last night? Difficulties at the office?), or any of the above and more in combination. Saint Thomas Aquinas taught that we merit more or fewer graces depending on our own disposition (desire and receptivity). Because it is the "source and summit" of our faith, Mass is also a spiritual battle. Fight.
-Pray after Mass. It used to be commonplace for Catholics to make what is called "Thanksgiving" for a few moments or minutes after the "official" conclusion of Mass. Prayer so close in time to the reception of Jesus Himself, is, in fact, the ideal time to pray. You are literally in physicial Communion with Christ. If you can, extend these few moments into a few minutes, or ten minutes, or half an hour. Address the Eucharistic Jesus directly within you. No daily opportunity can be more spiritually intimate. These moments are pure gold for storage in heaven.
-Smile and say hello as you leave Mass. It's simple. It works.
2. TEXAS VERSUS IRELAND
A Texan takes a trip to Ireland. He wears his boots, the 10 gallon hat, and a bolo tie the whole time. He's amazed at how tiny the farms are on the Old Sod. He goes up to a farmer and says in a thick twang. "You know somethin', I kin get in my car an' drive all day, an' all night, an' all day, an' all night agin', an' still not get to the back border of my ranch."
"Aye, I know," the old Irishman replied sagely. "I used to have a car like that once, too."
3. LET US PRAY
There are tens of thousands of us reading this message. Let's pray together, and with our need for Mass in mind, paying special attention to the sixth line of the prayer that Jesus taught us...
Our Father,
Who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Thanks. We'll be back soon.
With Christ,
Your Friends at CatholiCity
