Enter into the Mass

So another crazily busy Saturday for me yet again. I was out of the house from 10am - 3:30pm; I had rowing, Mass, a meeting, lunch. (& then I came home & revised for the rest of the evening).

Today was the feast day of St. Charles Borromeo (1538-1584). He's a pretty amazing & humble guy.

He was the son of a count and a nephew of Pope Pius IV!!

He was made a papal secretary of state and Bishop, but despite these high ranks and affluent surroundings he demonstrated exceptional simplicity, piety, generosity, and self-sacrifice. In fact, he even used to live (as a Bishop) in worse conditions than the servants.


I also went to a little talk today on the Mass. It was so beautiful; all about how we can really enter into Mass, and not just 'be there'.

Let's never forget that Mass is JUST LIKE being at Calvary in the year AD33.
It's not an imitation, or a re-enactment....we are really and truthfully there!!

THROUGH THE HOLY MASS WE ARE ABLE TO BE PRESENT AT JESUS'S DEATH


The speaker made a few little suggestions for how one could really enter more fully into the Mass
("participating at Mass" primarily doesn't mean doing things like reading or being an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. "Participating at Mass" is what every single person present at Mass is called to do...to LIVE the Mass, and really enter into it with your whole heart, mind and being. Not just passively sitting and standing, day-dreaming and looking at one's watch, but to actively reply to the Priest's replies and to be conscious of where we are in the Mass, and what is going on. Live it!)


* At the start of Mass we could spiritually kiss the altar in our hearts with the Priest as he kisses the altar (as a sign of love and reverence for that holy altar where Jesus Himself will soon arrive)


* As the priest lifts up the paten with the bread up ('Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, through your goodness we have this bread to offer...etc') we could think of some little things we want to offer to God in union with the offering of the bread & wine which will become Christ's body and blood. In that way we are perfectly uniting our own offerings to that one eternal offering of Calvary.


* As the Priest says the words of consecration ("...This is my body, which is given up for you.." "This is my blood...etc" ) and raises the Host and the Chalice, that is when Jesus is definitly truely present on the altar, BODY, BLOOD, SOUL & DIVINITY, so we should welcome Him in our hearts and tell him how thankful and joyful we are that He is here! Jesus has arrived!


* At the sign of peace we could look at Jesus on the altar and say to Him (in our hearts) how we always want to be at peace with Him.


* As we are queing up to recieve communion we could be saying some acts of contrition in our heart, to ensure that our souls are as ready and sin-less as possible to recieve Our Lord, and all dust has been swept away (nb: do not ever recieve communion in a state of mortal sin!).
The speaker said a beautiful prayer that one can say in preparation for communion. I have forgotten it exactly, but it went something like "My sweet Jesus, I desire to recieve you with the same humilty, confidence and joy that your Holy Mother recieved you. Please grant me that grace."
As Mary is the most perfect and pleasing creature in God's eyes, telling God that you want to recieve Him into your body as Mary did is sure to bring Him much joy! (and you much grace!)


* As we are about to recieve communion and the Priest holds up Jesus in the Host and says "The Body of Christ", we should say 'AMEN' clearly and confidently! 'Amen' actually means 'Yes! I agree! I am in accordance with what you've just said!'.
"The Body of Christ"
"AMEN!" Yes! I believe! That is My Lord!


* After we have recieved Communion we have those special 10 minutes or so where Jesus is still literally truely present within us (till the host dissolves completely), and so we should use that intimate precious time with our Lord well.


* Finally, remember, there is no time in Heaven....so cease caring about the time while in Mass!! It will take as long as it takes, and if it takes longer, then rejoce that you got to spend those extra minutes at the most holy event in the history of humankind!