Through the example of others the Holy Spirit can move us to make great decisions!
For many years it never occurred to me to go to daily Mass.
After my parish priest told his congregation that we should all do something to help our community. I realized that included me and I began volunteering locally.
While working there, I was struck by the positive attitude of one particular Catholic volunteer. Despite home-schooling five sons of varying ages, she still found time to go to Mass every morning!
She showed no reproach towards those of us who had plenty of time to attend daily Mass, yet didn’t go.
I felt ashamed of myself.
After my parish priest told his congregation that we should all do something to help our community. I realized that included me and I began volunteering locally.
While working there, I was struck by the positive attitude of one particular Catholic volunteer. Despite home-schooling five sons of varying ages, she still found time to go to Mass every morning!
She showed no reproach towards those of us who had plenty of time to attend daily Mass, yet didn’t go.
I felt ashamed of myself.
Some of us take longer than others to 'get' it!
The Last Straw
However, this still didn’t prod me into following her example. She became pregnant with her sixth child and left our organization for one year.
Her replacement was a Catholic lady who'd worked for decades in D.C. Before driving into the city, she went to daily Mass, and maintained the habit after retiring.
That was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me.
I'd attended Mass every day during the past few Lents and considered myself very wonderful for such heroic effort. But the year this lady joined our organization, I continued to go daily once Easter was over.
The unassuming example of my fellow Catholics had had its effect.
However, this still didn’t prod me into following her example. She became pregnant with her sixth child and left our organization for one year.
Her replacement was a Catholic lady who'd worked for decades in D.C. Before driving into the city, she went to daily Mass, and maintained the habit after retiring.
That was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me.
I'd attended Mass every day during the past few Lents and considered myself very wonderful for such heroic effort. But the year this lady joined our organization, I continued to go daily once Easter was over.
The unassuming example of my fellow Catholics had had its effect.
O.K. purists - I know this is a mosquito. But I couldn't find a photo of a gnat, and I'm sure mosquitoes have short attention spans, too!
The Gnat Needs Reminding
The benefits of daily Mass cannot be overstated.
Our attention spans are becoming ever shorter these days, and this is especially true of anything to do with God. He is so unwelcome in this secular world that there are few, if any, reminders of His existence beyond the church walls. Out of sight, out of mind, once we exit our pews on Sunday.
Attending Mass every morning begins each day with our Creator. His Word supports and encourages us, after leaving the Church building, to carry God to the particular part of the world in which we move and have our being.
That half hour of daily Mass is the most valuable time of day. The priest explains the reading and Gospel message from Scripture, and gives us a message to treasure in our hearts and share with others during the next twenty-four hours.
But our gnat-like attention spans need another boost at Mass the following morning!
I find it helpful to write down in a note book every sermon as it’s being preached – a habit begun with urging from my parish priest. That way I stay focused on what’s being said, as well as producing a useful record of it to look over later.
The benefits of daily Mass cannot be overstated.
Our attention spans are becoming ever shorter these days, and this is especially true of anything to do with God. He is so unwelcome in this secular world that there are few, if any, reminders of His existence beyond the church walls. Out of sight, out of mind, once we exit our pews on Sunday.
Attending Mass every morning begins each day with our Creator. His Word supports and encourages us, after leaving the Church building, to carry God to the particular part of the world in which we move and have our being.
That half hour of daily Mass is the most valuable time of day. The priest explains the reading and Gospel message from Scripture, and gives us a message to treasure in our hearts and share with others during the next twenty-four hours.
But our gnat-like attention spans need another boost at Mass the following morning!
I find it helpful to write down in a note book every sermon as it’s being preached – a habit begun with urging from my parish priest. That way I stay focused on what’s being said, as well as producing a useful record of it to look over later.
Daily Mass Brings Phenomenal Graces!
So many graces and other goodness from God are derived from participating at daily Mass. I think if all Catholics were aware of them, those that could, would attend Mass every day for the rest of their lives.
All 77 graces are listed in Graces Derived from Participating at Daily Mass but here are some of them:
1) The Mass is Calvary continued.
2) Every Mass is worth as much as the Sacrifice of Our Lord's Life, suffering and death.
3) Holy Mass is the most powerful atonement for your sins.
4) At the hour of death the Masses you have heard will be your greatest consolation.
5) Every Mass will go with you to Judgement and plead for pardon.
6) At Mass you can diminish more or less temporal punishment due to your sins, according to your fervor.
7) Assisting devoutly at Holy Mass, you render to the Sacred Humanity of Our Lord the greatest homage.
8) He supplies for many of your negligences and omissions.
9) He forgives the venial sins which you have not confessed. The power of satan over you is diminished.
10) You afford the Souls in Purgatory the greatest possible relief.
11) One Mass heard during life will be of more benefit to you than many heard for you after your death.
12) You are preserved from dangers and misfortunes which otherwise might have befallen you.
13) You shorten your stay in Purgatory.
14) Every Mass wins for you a higher degree of glory in Heaven.
15) You receive the Priest's blessing which Our Lord ratifies in Heaven.
16) You kneel amidst a multitude of holy angels, who are present at the adorable Sacrifice with reverential awe.
17) You are blessed in your temporal goods and affairs.
18) For you Christ offers Himself as the all-powerful Victim, reconciling you to the GOD that you have offended.
19) He pardons you all your venial sins, provided you are firmly resolved to forsake them.
20) He also makes reparation for many of your sins of omission, when you did leave undone the good that you might have done.
21) He removes many of the imperfections attached to your good deeds.
22) He forgives you the sins, unknown or forgotten which you have never mentioned in confession.
23) He offers Himself as a Victim to make satisfaction at least of your debts and transgressions.
24) Each time you hear Mass you can do more to pay the penalty due to your sins than by the work of the severest penance.
You see why this precious opportunity should not be wasted!
So many graces and other goodness from God are derived from participating at daily Mass. I think if all Catholics were aware of them, those that could, would attend Mass every day for the rest of their lives.
All 77 graces are listed in Graces Derived from Participating at Daily Mass but here are some of them:
1) The Mass is Calvary continued.
2) Every Mass is worth as much as the Sacrifice of Our Lord's Life, suffering and death.
3) Holy Mass is the most powerful atonement for your sins.
4) At the hour of death the Masses you have heard will be your greatest consolation.
5) Every Mass will go with you to Judgement and plead for pardon.
6) At Mass you can diminish more or less temporal punishment due to your sins, according to your fervor.
7) Assisting devoutly at Holy Mass, you render to the Sacred Humanity of Our Lord the greatest homage.
8) He supplies for many of your negligences and omissions.
9) He forgives the venial sins which you have not confessed. The power of satan over you is diminished.
10) You afford the Souls in Purgatory the greatest possible relief.
11) One Mass heard during life will be of more benefit to you than many heard for you after your death.
12) You are preserved from dangers and misfortunes which otherwise might have befallen you.
13) You shorten your stay in Purgatory.
14) Every Mass wins for you a higher degree of glory in Heaven.
15) You receive the Priest's blessing which Our Lord ratifies in Heaven.
16) You kneel amidst a multitude of holy angels, who are present at the adorable Sacrifice with reverential awe.
17) You are blessed in your temporal goods and affairs.
18) For you Christ offers Himself as the all-powerful Victim, reconciling you to the GOD that you have offended.
19) He pardons you all your venial sins, provided you are firmly resolved to forsake them.
20) He also makes reparation for many of your sins of omission, when you did leave undone the good that you might have done.
21) He removes many of the imperfections attached to your good deeds.
22) He forgives you the sins, unknown or forgotten which you have never mentioned in confession.
23) He offers Himself as a Victim to make satisfaction at least of your debts and transgressions.
24) Each time you hear Mass you can do more to pay the penalty due to your sins than by the work of the severest penance.
You see why this precious opportunity should not be wasted!
For Those Who Can’t Go to Daily Mass
Not everyone can get to Mass every day and for those who can’t, there is the Spiritual Communion Prayer, which also carries a partial indulgence if said three times (according to the Pieta Prayer Book):
“Oh Jesus, I turn toward the holy tabernacle where You live hidden for love of me. I love you, O my God. I cannot receive you in Holy Communion. Come, nevertheless, and visit me with Your grace. Come spiritually into my heart. Purify it. Sanctify it. Render it like unto Your own. Amen.
“Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”
Here is the other Spiritual Communion Prayer (to be found on the same website):
“My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You have already come, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.”
Satan, the prince of this world, is trying his hardest to drive God out of our lives. We must work our absolute hardest against him to keep God firmly in our whole hearts, minds and souls.
Not everyone can get to Mass every day and for those who can’t, there is the Spiritual Communion Prayer, which also carries a partial indulgence if said three times (according to the Pieta Prayer Book):
“Oh Jesus, I turn toward the holy tabernacle where You live hidden for love of me. I love you, O my God. I cannot receive you in Holy Communion. Come, nevertheless, and visit me with Your grace. Come spiritually into my heart. Purify it. Sanctify it. Render it like unto Your own. Amen.
“Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”
Here is the other Spiritual Communion Prayer (to be found on the same website):
“My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You have already come, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.”
Satan, the prince of this world, is trying his hardest to drive God out of our lives. We must work our absolute hardest against him to keep God firmly in our whole hearts, minds and souls.
If you can attend daily Mass, you'll begin every day in Christ's peace
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