Bulletins

November 15, 2015

Sometimes people worry that they are not "getting a lot out of Mass". To paraphrase the famous inauguration speech, "Ask not what your Mass can do for you. Ask what you can do for your Mass".

Consider the possibility that our daily prayer life, in large part, determines how we experience "Sunday Mass".

11. But in order that the liturgy may be able to produce its full effects, it is necessary that the faithful come to it with proper dispositions, that their minds should be attuned to their voices, and that they should cooperate with divine grace lest they receive it in vain (Cf. 2 Cor. 6:1 ) . Pastors of souls must therefore realize that, when the liturgy is celebrated, something more is required than the mere observation of the laws governing valid and licit celebration; it is their duty also to ensure that the faithful take part fully aware of what they are doing, actively engaged in the rite, and enriched by its effects.

12. The spiritual life, however, is not limited solely to participation in the liturgy. The Christian is indeed called to pray with his brethren, but he must also enter into his chamber to pray to the Father, in secret (Cf. Matt. 6:6 ); yet more, according to the teaching of the Apostle, he should pray without ceasing (Cf. 1 Thess. 5:17 ). We learn from the same Apostle that we must always bear about in our body the dying of Jesus, so that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our bodily frame (Cf . 2 Cor. 4:10-11 ). This is why we ask the Lord in the sacrifice of the Mass that, "receiving the offering of the spiritual victim," he may fashion us for himself "as an eternal gift" (Secret for Monday of Pentecost Week ).

What do we do at Mass? We pray. Christ offers up His Sacrifice of the Cross. We accompany Him through our prayer. If someone doesn't know how to pray, I would expect him to feel strange at Mass. Think of prayer like any other activity. If you feel like you are not good it, you won't want to do it with other people. If I can't catch a fly ball I don't want to play in the outfield. If you are good at it or getting better at it, you are more likely to enjoy doing it with other people.

If you pray in a significant way every day you will want to come to Mass. If your teenagers pray seriously every day, they will want to pray with several hundred people on Sunday morning. You will realize that you are combining your prayers to those of everyone else, to the Church, to the angels and saints. You will be eager to make your irreplaceable contribution. Therefore, pray. Meditate on the Paschal Mystery. You will want to witness It.

God bless you.

Fr. Christopher J. Pollard

On the Air:

• 1160AMWXDMEWTN