The Center and the Foundation of the Spiritual Life – the Sacrifice of the Mass

In our examination of the spiritual life, we have spoken the last few weeks about prayer. We have seen that prayer is absolutely necessary for anyone who seriously pursues the spiritual life, a deepening relationship with God.

We believe that the means by which God abundantly communicates His life (grace) to us is by the Seven Sacraments that Jesus gave to the Church which are celebrated in the Church’s Sacred Liturgy. In the ”Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy” (Sacrosanctum Concilium) of the Second Vatican Council, the Council Fathers teach us, “For it is in the liturgy, especially in the divine sacrifice of the Eucharist, that ‘the work of our redemption is accomplished’ (cf. St. Augustine) and it is through the liturgy especially that the faithful are enabled to express in their lives and to manifest to others the mystery of Christ and the real nature of the true Church.” (SC 2)

In other words, the center and the foundation of our life as Catholics is where we encounter Jesus Christ as He accomplishes for us our redemption, His Sacrifice made present on the altar at Mass. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reaffirms this truth when it quotes Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, saying, “The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life.” (LG 111 in CCC #1324)

What this means for us is this: Any Catholic who desires holiness, who wants to grow deeper in his or her relationship with God should seek to come to Mass as often as possible, daily if one’s responsibilities in life permits. The following are some reasons for coming to Mass daily if possible.

1. At Mass we are enveloped in the Mystery of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Sacrifice of Calvary is made present in an un-bloody way. Coming to Mass is coming to the well-spring of salvation and drinking deeply of the grace of God, it is entering into the life-giving Sacrifice of the Lamb.

2. At Mass we are before the substantial Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Just as Our Lord did at the Last Supper in anticipation of His sacrifice on the Cross the next day, by His words, “Take this and eat…this is MY Body” and “Take this and drink…this is the chalice of My Blood”, so, too, at Mass through the ordained priest repeating those very words of Christ, the bread and wine offered to the Father become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinty of Jesus.

3. At Mass we are immersed in the Sacred Scriptures every day. Practically every prayer and rite of the Mass are taken from Sacred Scripture or inspired by Scripture. It is the Church’s way of nourishing us with the Word of God from both the Old and the New Testaments arranged in a systematic, or we might even say, symphonic way, to lead us though the saving plan of God that culminates in the coming of the Savior and Redeemer in our midst. It is the Scripture Study par excellence!

4. At Mass we receive into our hearts the Holy Eucharist, the very Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. It leads us into a deeper union of love with Our Lord. He communicates His grace, His very life to us in Holy Communion. Receiving the Holy Eucharist, Christ’s own body and Blood, preserves, increases, and renews the life of grace received at Baptism.

5. At Mass receiving Holy Communion separates us from sin. We must be in a state of grace, that is having no unconfessed mortal sins, in order to approach Our Lord and receive Him in the Holy Eucharist. If that is the case, the Holy Eucharist cleanses us from past venial sins and preserves us from future mortal and veniaol sins. It is a sacred remedy for us to grow in holiness.

6. At Mass when we receive Holy Communion we are more closely united with Jesus Christ and His Church. Through this union with Our Lord we are also more closely united to all of the faithful in Christ’s Body, the Church. We become bound more closely with one another, with all members of the Church, even those we have never met or known.

7. At Mass we become aware that we are surrounded by “so great a cloud of witnesses” (Heb 12:1), the saints. The liturgical calendar of the Church is like a great cavalcade of heroes who have persevered in the race and fought the good fight and are now adoring, praising and loving God in the heavenly Kingdom. The feast days of Our Lady, the angels, and the saints are a means of asking for their intercession before the Throne of God, rejoicing in their example and renewing our companionship with them. For they, too, are members of Christ’s Body the Church. They are the Church Triumphant in heaven.

8. At Mass we participate in the great act of charity of praying for the dead. Every Mass that is offered commemorates the faithful departed who are preparing in Purgatory to enter into the Beatific Vision, God’s Presence in Heaven. This truth gives us tremendous consolation especially as we mourn the death of loved ones or seek to help in some way those who die in violent ways throughout the world. At Mass we can pray for them and offer our reception of Holy Communion for their entrance into the Kingdom.

9. At Mass we are formed in the truth of the Catholic Faith and in the principles of the spiritual life. The Sacred Liturgy itself presents to us by its prayers and rituals what God have revealed that we may know Him, love Him and serve Him. The Sacred Scripture and the Sacred Tradition of the Church form the one source from which we know God intimately and then come to know our own identity and what God calls us to do in our lives. A daily homily serves as a valuable guide in growing in our Faith.

10. At Mass we are gathered together and come to know one another as we truly are- members of Christ’s Body the Church. As we come to Mass daily, if possible, a certain comradery develops are we see one another united in the life of grace and fellow pilgrims on the road from this world to our heavenly homeland. We are formed as true brothers and sisters in Christ. From this bond flows forth a supernatural charity that compels us to pray for one another and for all who who seek meaning and purpose in their life.

11. At Mass we are sent forth in the charity of Christ to proclaim the Gospel and transform the world in His saving love. Receiving Christ in Holy communion and being united with His saving Sacrifice on the altar gives us the grace and the strength to sacrifice ourselves and lay down our lives for others. It enables us to leave behind the egocentric way of life and embrace a way of self-sacrifice love in imitation of Jesus who offered Himself for our salvation. From Mass we are sent forth to serve the poor, those on the margins of society, the forgotten, and those who do not know God’s love.

12. The Sacrifice of the Mass is the Source and summit of our life and the means of growth in holiness. It is indispensable for our becoming saints. If we want to know who we are, what life is all about, how to grow in holiness, and what love looks like, come to mass as often as possible. It is where heaven and earth are united, where we find ourselves at the foot of the cross, where are surrounded by our lady and all of angels and saints in heaven, and where we all have a prime place before the altar of the lamb who once slain, now lives and loves us infinitely.
 

St. John Marie Vianney said, “If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy.”

St Padre Pio said, “It would be easier of the world to survive without the sun than to do without Holy Mass.”

Come to daily Mass. It is the way to the Heart of God!

Most Reverend William J. Waltersheid

Auxiliary of Pittsburgh