(Q): Why is going to mass every week so important?
(A): If your parish priest sent out an announcement that on a certain Sunday he would be giving away $500.00 to each parishioner who was in attendance at church, would you go? Yes of course you would go! What might you do to assure that you would be at this particular service? One thing you might do is re-arrange your schedule. You might say to yourself, "The kids can miss the soccer game this Sunday, we need the money!" Or, perhaps you might say, "This Sunday I am not sleeping in, I will be at 9:00 AM mass, I will set my alarm, etc."

The announced Sunday has arrived and you show up for church. You go to the altar and the priest hands you your check for $500.00 and then he informs you that if you come back next week you will receive the same amount (you of course will make sure that NOTHING prevents you from making it to church the next Sunday).What is the point about being offered money to go to church? The point is that some Catholics do not understand that there is something more valuable than money at church and that is Jesus Christ (see Eucharist). Your Lord and Your Savior transforms himself, Body, Blood, soul and divinity at every mass under the appearances of bread and wine. As a Catholic we believe that Jesus Christ is present in the tabernacle and also when the priest proclaims the words of consecration over the hosts. The white host turns into the actual Body and Blood of Christ, NOT in the symbolic form but the actual presence (See Eucharistic Miracles). If you truly believed that Christ was present then you would try to make it to as many services (during the week and on Sunday) as possible in order to receive your beloved Christ, body, blood, soul, and divinity into your mouth, into your heart and into your soul.Throughout the history of the Catholic church there have been many people, both religious and lay, who have either denied the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist or have lacked faith in His presence. Our Lord knew that it would be difficult for some to understand so he allowed miracles to happen as to strengthen those who doubt. Some of these miracles have actually happened during mass as the priest elevated the Eucharist for all to view. The actual white host, in many instances, began to bleed or ooze blood. When the medical professionals have examined such Eucharistic miracles, it was found to be true human blood from the heart muscle.If you have a hard time understanding the mystery of the Eucharist, it is highly suggested that you purchase Bob and Penny Lord's book on Miracles of the Eucharistic. This book will bring about a new understanding of Jesus' presence in the Eucharist.

(Q): Why can't we miss mass, Protestants do not go to service every week?
(A): For a Catholic, the mass is the "central act of worship." Skipping mass without a good reason such as illness, problems with finding transportation, caring for the sick, dying, etc., is a grave wrong. Any Catholic that deliberately skips mass, knowing that it is a grave wrong has committed a mortal sin. To be forgiven by God for this sin, one must repent and promise never to do this act again. The sin then must be confessed to a priest for absolution and removal of the sin.

(Q): Why is Sunday an Obligation?
(A): The Catechism of the Catholic Church states the following:

(2180) The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass." "The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day."

(1389) The Church obliges the faithful "to take part in the Divine Liturgy on Sundays and on feast days" and, prepared by the sacrament of Reconciliation, to receive the Eucharist at least once a year, if possible during the Easter season. But the Church strongly encourages the faithful to receive the holy Eucharist on Sundays and feast days, or more often still, even daily.In justice, we must give to God what is due Him. When God led the Hebrews out of Egypt through the dessert, He formed them into a nation. During this time, He revealed Himself to them and He gave them the Ten Commandments and a covenant that He would be their God and they would be His people. The people saw the mighty works of God. God had prescribed the ritual of the Passover to the people through Moses. When the lamb was sacrificed none of his bones were broken; his blood was placed on the doors of the Hebrew homes. When the angel of death came to slay the first born of the Egyptians, he passed over the homes marked by the blood of the lamb. God directed the people to celebrate this "memorial feast" of the Passover, the saving action of God when the Hebrews passed over from slavery to freedom. How is this connected to the Mass? Just as in the Passover mentioned above, Jesus is the sacrificial lamb; none of his bones were broken and his blood was poured out. By His death we pass over from the slavery of sin into the freedom He purchased for us with His life. At the Last Supper Jesus was celebrating the Passover the "memorial feast" (the first Mass). When He consecrated the bread and wine into His body and blood, a new covenant was formed. Jesus told us, "Do this in memory of me." He then gave His life for the salvation of mankind.

The Mass is offered for the following purposes:

1. To adore God as our Creator and Lord
2. To thank God for his many favors
3. To ask God to bestow His blessings on all people
4. To satisfy the justice of God for the sins committed against Him.

 

HOME