Help to
understand the importance of Mass and why you are missing
it, from Newsletter 26th April 2020:
My dear
People, I know we all miss being at Mass so much. I know also that
very many of you do go on the internet and live-stream Masses and
other Devotions from all over the world. It is great that we are
able to do that today. But nothing can replace that coming together
and being with the Lord. Virtual reality is fine, except … that you
don’t have a virtual reality breakfast or dinner. It won’t satisfy
you for very long!
One
reason, among many, why we miss Mass is that it is what Jesus asked
us to do, and it is Jesus giving himself to us in his physical body
and blood, which feeds and nourishes us. I know every year in
Easter time I remind you that all the sacraments flow from the
Easter Mystery, especially The Mass. Vatican II referred to The
Liturgy as “the source and summit of the Christian life,” from
which the whole of Christianity flows, and to which it returns. All
parts of The Mass come from the scriptures and from Jesus
himself.
The Mass begins with the Opening Rite, the Gathering of the People,
and the very start says why we are missing it; we are unable to
gather. Normally we come together as the Catholic community,
beginning with either the Entrance Hymn to join in, or the Entrance
Antiphon, (always used on weekdays, which is a verse from a psalm
or scripture), after which follows The Greeting. As we gather we
are invited to look into our hearts and acknowledge our sins.
Think of the first Easter Night, as the disciples are gathered in
the upper room, and the Risen Lord comes, “Peace be with you.”
(When a/the bishop is present, as a successor of the apostles, that
is also his greeting) Jesus knew how uneasy the disciples were, so
he reassures them, saying peace again, and commissioning them to
forgive sins (Jn. 20:19ff)
We then
pray the Kyrie, Eleison (Lord, have mercy) The disciples were glad
when they saw the Lord; we sing Gloria in excelsis Deo (Glory to
God in the highest; This is song of the angels at Christ’s birth)
Then the Collect (the collected prayer of the people) The Ministry
of the Word; Readings from the Old Testament, always answered by a
Psalm, a second reading from the New Testament; the preparation for
the Gospel, Alleluia acclamation, and a reading from the Holy
Gospel.
Then just
as Jesus did on the road to Emmaus, the priest is to ‘break open
the scriptures,’ opening our hearts, recalling God’s great works
for us, and feeling our hearts burn within us! On Sundays we
profess our faith, Credo, following Thomas, who on meeting the
risen Jesus made his great statement of faith, ‘My Lord and my
God.’
Then in our Bidding Prayers we pray for all of humanity; The
Church, the world, the living, and the departed.
The
Ministry of the Eucharist; we fulfil the Lord’s command to ‘Do this
in memory of me.’ (It is good to recall it is a command of the
Lord, not just to love God and one another, but to ‘do this’.) The
Gifts are offered, Thanksgiving is made in the Preface, the
Sanctus, (Holy, holy) sung, and the bread and wine consecrated,
become the Body and Blood of the Lord. The Lord’s Prayer and Agnus
Dei (Lamb of God) are sung, All this happens as the bread is taken,
blessed, broken and given, all as Jesus did at the Last Supper, and
also at Emmaus. We receive the Lord and then the Concluding Rite.
After a prayer, we are blessed and sent out, rejoicing, re-charged
for His service. ‘Go on your mission,’ (Mass is ended, we are fed
and nourished by Word and Sacrament)
This is a
great reminder that what we celebrate Sunday-by-Sunday, day-by–day,
is not what we’ve made up. It is what Jesus left us, and has been
continued since He was with the disciples. The 1st Reading last
Sunday from Acts 2:42-47 says “The whole community remained
faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the brotherhood, to
the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.” (In Easter time the
1st Readings are from the Acts of the Apostles) All that we do is
from the scriptures.
Dr Scott Hahn in his book “The Lamb’s Supper,” tells how all we do
at Mass is there in the scriptures, and esp. in Apocalypse/
Revelation. The references are here: Sunday Worship 1:10; a high
priest 1:13; An altar 8:3-4, 11:1, 14:18. Consecrated celibacy
14:4. Priests (presbyeroi) 4:4, 11:15, 14:3, 19:4. Vestments 1:13,
4:4, 6:11, 7:9, 15:6, 19:13-14. Lamp stands/Menorah/candles 1:12,
2:5. Penitence Chapters 2 & 3. Incense 5:8, 8:3-5. The book or
scroll, readings 5:1 Eucharistic Host 2:17. Chalices 15:7 Ch. 16,
21:9 Sign of Cross 7:3, 14:1, 22:4. Gloria 15:3-4. Alleluia 19:1,
3, 4, 6, Holy, Holy, 4:8. Lift up your hearts 11:12, The Great Amen
19:4, 22:21. Lamb of God 5:6 & throughout. Virgin Mary 12:1-6,
13-17. Intercession of Angels and Saints; 5:8, 6:9-10, 8:3-4.
Michael, Archangel 12:7.
Readings from Scripture Ch. 2-3,5: 8:2-11. Antiphonal chant 4:8-11,
5:9-14, 7:10-12, 18: 1-8. Priesthood of all the Faithful (the
people) 1:6, 20:6. Catholicity/Universality 7:9. Silence 8:1. The
Marriage Supper of the Lamb 19:9, 17.
At the Office of Readings for most of Eastertime the 1st Reading is
from Apocalypse. John says it was on the Lord’s Day, Sunday, when
he had this vision which is of the Mass. He mentions trumpets and
harps, which in his day were the standard instruments for
liturgical music, as the organ is today. Scott Hahn also says, “If
you read the book from end to end, you’ll notice that all of God’s
great historical interventions–plagues, wars, and so on–follow
closely upon liturgical actions; hymns, doxologies (that is Glory
be) libations and incensing. Scott also notes that Apocalypse, like
the Mass, divides rather neatly into half: Chapters 1-11 is a
Proclamation; Liturgy of the Word. The first 3 chapters form a sort
of Penitential Rite, and then the second half, chapter 11v 19 –end
of the book, The Liturgy of the Eucharist. It opens with God’s
Temple in heaven, with the chalices at the banquet /supper of the
Lamb.
I hope
all this helps you understand the importance of Mass, and why you
are missing it. Fr. Philip
SEE ALSO
Corpus Christi homily 2020 and
links
Parousia: The Bible and the Mass. A Lent 2021 journey through
scripture, hosted by Scott Hahn to uncover why all God’s action, in
creation & redemption, is ordered to the Mass.