A MASS-ive Change

Many things in life, over time, fall into the category of “second nature” to us. Driving, Addition, Cooking a yummy meal. At some point, we can zone out during these or other tasks and still accomplish them without too much effort. An extremely typical Catholic epidemic is “second nature syndrome” in regards to Mass. How often do we go through the motions, and then realize we dozed through the homily, planned our week during the collection or decided on breakfast during the consecration, and are excited to receive the Eucharist because maybe that will “satiate my hunger for now”. Even if you aren’t a cradle Catholic or raised in an “every Sunday Mass” family, you still have probably been able to pick up the responses and motions and repeat them time and time again without a second thought. And so, very often, we begin thinking or hearing some of the following: Mass is borrrring. Mass is old-school. Mass is so easy to get distracted in. Mass is too long. Mass is too short. Mass is in the middle of the football game. Mass is … Mass is… Mass is… It is probably pretty rarely that we hear anyone say: Mass is so exhilarating! Mass is the most awesome thing on the face of the Earth! Mass totally melted my face off today. Mass just had me completely captivated today. But, guys…isn’t that how it should be? Mass, which contains the Eucharist, is the crux of our faith, the center of our universe. So, why do we just go through the motions? Believe me, I’m in the same boat, I’m totally guilty of this mentality. BUT, on the other hand, HOW UNDERSTANDINGLY FRUSTRATING that something that is deemed so important to our Catholic faith just doesn’t quite seem to thrill us enough. Not that we’re merely in our Catholic faith to be thrilled, but if it is so important and we’re just not buying it…perhaps we are missing some vital information here. So, I remember the day as if it were yesterday, the day I was handed what I deem as this valuable information. It was one of those transitional days from Spring to Summer and I met a friend for lunch. We picked the sunniest café in town and marveled at the “walk-outside-with-shades-on” weather and just chatted about one another’s lives. I couldn’t even begin to tell you how it came up, but she was telling me off-handedly about an article she’d have to send me on the Mass. To be honest, it sat in my inbox for some time, but when I finally took time over a lunch break to read it, I was late back to work because I was so enraptured by what exactly is taking place in the Mass. The article is told from the point of view of a visionary, Catalina, who is walked through the sacrifice of the Mass by Mary and Jesus; it is the most mind blowing read ever. Trust me. After reading it, every Mass transformed, and every Mass was a new experience because every Mass was a new opportunity for me to forgive someone, receive grace, encounter my guardian angel, offer more to Jesus. Mass is where Heaven comes down to meet Earth, guys! All of the saints, angels and even Mary is there alongside the priest. It is the coolest thing ever. And after celebrating Mass in a newly inspired fashion for about a year, I realized that if I could become a saint, I would get the opportunity to be present at every Mass, all over the world, with the entire Church, because that is what it means to live in union with an Eternal being such as Jesus and that is way better than any Earthly existence that I can imagine.

Shortly before writing this post, I was blessed to reflect on the beauty of Holy Week. This week is so important, guys! This is where the central piece of our faith, the Eucharist is instituted! This is the week when the priesthood is instituted! This is the week when Jesus suffered, died, saved us and then rose to give us hope of a life beyond sin. This week is that we were given the Mass! Holy Thursday-Easter Sunday is the celebration of a Mass, and we are called to actively participate in that, and what an honor! A young girl told me…God is outside of time, so for him, when he watches us participate in the Mass, he not only sees us, but he also sees Calvary. It is one and the same. So, every Mass, we have a new opportunity to make a new sacrifice to Jesus and a new opportunity to offer ourselves as a holier version of ourselves as a means of comfort for him on the Cross, hanging there, each and every Sunday. I invite you to read the following article on the Mass and live this Holy Week in a manner worthy of the sacrifice & love Jesus bestows on our souls and hearts. Click here: (( The Holy Mass, explained to Catalina by Jesus and Mary))

Stay on the Salty/Sunny Side, Lailee ______________________________________________________________________________________

Lailee is Philosophy graduate of Benedictine College, 2013. She works and adores her job as full-time nanny and lover of sunshine in Kansas City. State of origin is Texas, but most people think Colorado or California. Perhaps because she has never worn cowboy boots and couldn't have an accent if she tried. She loves smiling, writing, deep conversation, dancing, and good steak. St. Jude is her saint stalker. (It's a thing!)

#mass #Mary #Catalina #Jesus #Eucharist #HolyWeek #SundayMass