Why get up and go to Mass?Gather us in, the lost and forsaken for·sake tr.v. for·sook , for·sak·en , for·sak·ing, for·sakes 1. To give up (something formerly held dear); renounce: forsook liquor. 2. , Gather us in, the blind and the lame. Call to us now, and we shall awaken. We shall arise at the sound of our name. ("Gather Us In," Marty Haugen Marty Haugen, (born December 30, 1950 in Wanamingo, Minnesota), is an American composer of liturgical music. He creates settings for both Roman Catholic and Protestant congregations. ) One of my favorite My Favorite is an independent synthpop band from Long Island, New York. They released two CDs: Love at Absolute Zero and Happiest Days of Our Lives. My Favorite broke up on September 14, 2005, when singer Andrea Vaughn left the band. childhood memories is returning from the 9 o'clock Mass at St. Symphorosa and Her Seven Sons Parish to the smell of bacon and eggs and the sound of show tunes on the hifi. Dad ushered at 7 o'clock Mass; like all the kids from the parish school, my brother and I went to the 9 o'clock; Mom took the opportunity to sleep in and went to the 10:15. Having fasted since the night before, breakfast tasted fantastic. The show tunes, which I at first found corny corn·y adj. corn·i·er, corn·i·est Trite, dated, melodramatic, or mawkishly sentimental. [From corn1. , equipped me with an impressive repertoire for future parties, piano bars piano bar n. A cocktail lounge featuring entertainment by a pianist. , and the morning shower. Back then there was no question as to whether or not you'd go to Mass. It was the order of things. During the week you got up and went about your business-school, work, housework. On Sundays you went to Mass. St. Syms had seven Masses on Sunday, and they were all jam-packed. In the decades prior to Vatican II Noun 1. Vatican II - the Vatican Council in 1962-1965 that abandoned the universal Latin liturgy and acknowledged ecumenism and made other reforms Second Vatican Council Vatican Council - each of two councils of the Roman Catholic Church , the Catholic Church took a carrot-and-stick approach to encouraging Mass attendance: going was good for you; not going would cause you to bum in hell forever. Some chose to go as some form of fire insurance. Lazying your way through brunch and the entire Sunday New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times might seem like a blissful slice of eternity, but was it worth the certain eternal suffering awaiting you if you stayed away from church? Today, the fear of hell as a motivating force seems to be on the wane. When it comes to whether or not to go to Mass, it seems people are no longer as motivated by the pains of hell. Now less than half of the registered Catholics attend Mass on a given Sunday. In both Chicago and New York the official count is about 23 percent attendance on an average weekend. In some places it's higher; some, sadly, it's lower. Meanwhile, the Sunday-obligation law is still on the books. The Catholic Almanac almanac, originally, a calendar with notations of astronomical and other data. Almanacs have been known in simple form almost since the invention of writing, for they served to record religious feasts, seasonal changes, and the like. includes the following under the heading "Additional Mass Notes": "Catholics are seriously obliged o·blige v. o·bliged, o·blig·ing, o·blig·es v.tr. 1. To constrain by physical, legal, social, or moral means. 2. to attend Mass in a worthy manner on Sundays and holy days of obligation. Failure to do so without a proportionally serious reason is gravely wrong." What's the basis for this serious obligation? On my first day of work at U.S. Catholic 17 years ago, the editors were preparing a Sounding Board/Feedback article in which then-Archbishop Joseph Bernardin Joseph Louis Cardinal Bernardin (originally Bernardini) (April 2, 1928–November 14, 1996) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Chicago from 1982 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1983. argued infavor of retaining the Sunday-mass obligation. His words still make sense today, "Good laws do not create obligations as much as they express them and make them specific." Bernardin's argument harkened back to the experience of the earliest Christians. He explains that "this law came into being as an expression of the seriousness of the obligation which Christians had always felt to participate in the eucharistic celebration. From apostolic times The term Apostolic Times refers to the time encapsulating the lives of the Apostles of Jesus of Nazareth, during the 1st century AD. Christians have found their identity as a church in coming together to celebrate the Paschal Mysteries ''' The Paschal Mystery refers to the suffering, death, Resurrection, and Glorification of Jesus Christ. People of Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christian faiths celebrate this mystery in the sacrament of the Eucharist. of the Lord Jesus on the day of his Resurrection. Even if there were no law, the obligation--the absolute necessity--of doing this would still remain." In arguing for the Sunday-mass obligation, Bernardin wasn't naive. He acknowledged that people who see no value in weekly Mass attendance are not likely to gain an appreciation merely from a law, "but neither will they gain an appreciation by staying away from Mass." Bernardin said regular Mass attendance is a requirement if Catholics are to build their relationships with God. Bishop Richard J. Sklba, auxiliary bishop
n. The district under an archbishop's jurisdiction. arch  di·oc of Milwaukee, sees the importance of Sunday worship in terms of Christian identity
Many Catholics must see the value in regular Mass attendance. Reading the mail that comes across the desk of U.S. Catholic, I am continually impressed by how much our readers cherish Mass attendance. Better than 90 percent of our readers responding to a recent U.S. Catholic survey said they attend church at least once a week. One reader, Jeanne Karabin, director of religious education at St. Viator Parish in Chicago, captures that feeling in a story: "I was traveling with my family in Europe, visiting all sorts of relatives. In every town we went to, we found a church and often went to Mass. My adult daughter typically found something else to do. One Sunday we were on a city bus traveling across town to find a Mass where we could attend. My daughter asked me, `Why don't you just let go of it? What's your problem? I can't understand why two intelligent people like you and Dad can't get past the legalities and just skip Mass one Sunday." "I told her I was sorry she didn't realize it, but we like to go. We don't go because we have to, we look forward to it. I'm just sorry for her that she doesn't get the same value out of it that we do." So why do people choose to go to Mass? One reason is change. Going to Mass is all about transformation. When you go to Mass, you change--not always, but sometimes, profoundly. "Quite often, nothing much happens to me when I go to church," says Bernie Martin, a La Grange, Illinois La Grange is a suburb of Chicago in Cook County, in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 15,608 at the 2000 census. The area around La Grange was first settled in the 1830s. History The name La Grange is French for "The Barn. attorney. "But when I get into it and listen, when I participate and am aware of the people around me and what we're there for, the Mass is pretty powerful. I reconnect with my values. The parish becomes not a random group of people but a family." Sklba echoes this idea of chance transformation from Mass attendance. "You've heard the term falling into sin?" he asks. "I believe it's also possible to fall into grace. It won't happen every time, but whenever you go to Mass, you run the risk of falling into grace." We need a change of heart Change is at the heart of the Mass just as it was at the heart of jesus' life. It's the hope of change that attracts those who put down the Sunday paper Sunday paper n → (periódico) dominical m Sunday paper n → journal m du dimanche and brave the weather and the terrors of the church parking lot to get to Mass each week. Jesus began his public ministry by changing water into wine. He turned a ragtag rag·tag adj. 1. Shaggy or unkempt; ragged. 2. Diverse and disorderly in appearance or composition: "They're a small ragtag army of racketeers, bandits, and murderers" group of fishermen and drifters into apostles APOSTLES. In the British courts of admiralty, when a party appeals from a decision made against him, he prays apostles from the judge, which are brief letters of dismission, stating the case, and declaring that the record will be transmitted. 2 Brown's Civ. and Adm. Law, 438; Dig. 49. 6. willing to die for their common story. He healed, he forgave for·gave v. Past tense of forgive. forgave Verb the past tense of forgive forgave forgive , he restored. When people encountered Jesus, they came away different. He turned bread and wine into his own flesh and blood. He withstood everything that life had to throw at him and then changed death into life. The actions of the liturgy speak power fury of change: bread broken, wine poured out and shared; timid voices raised in powerful song; the gathered turning to clasp CLASP - Computer Language for AeronauticS and Programming hands, standing together and reciting a common creed. These are potent rituals that in and of themselves transform those who are present. We hear readings from an ancient and sacred book. We sit, stand, kneel, and process with people we would feel awkward speaking to in an elevator. Somehow we become more than the sum of our parts. This is transformation, and it's at the heart of why people go to Mass. "A while back there was a popular poster that showed a loaf of bread and a decanter of wine. It read something like, `You are cordially invited to attend the Lord's supper.' You might look at that and say, `Cute,'" says Karabin. "But that invitation is more than an opportunity to spend an hour in church--it's an invitation to change your life, to become more than you are now." According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Karabin, attending mass regularly is a prime way for Catholics to accept that invitation. Sometimes the attraction of Mass is to avoid changing in a way that you don't want to change. Martin finds Mass to be a way of remaining well-grounded, especially after the demands of his job. "The values of the marketplace are different from the values I want to live by," he says. "The marketplace emphasizes speed, a surface approach to life, material success, and competitiveness. Going to church emphasizes introspection introspection /in·tro·spec·tion/ (in?trah-spek´shun) contemplation or observation of one's own thoughts and feelings; self-analysis.introspec´tive in·tro·spec·tion n. , sharing with others, connectedness. It's alienation versus communion. I need to experience the communion." Like much that is supposed to be good for us in life, there's a built-in resistance to regular Mass attendance. Chicagoan Father Dan Reardon has heard his share of opposition. "I hear people say they don't want to go to Mass because religious people are hypocrites," says the associate pastor. "I tell them, `So? And you're not? Why don't you join us?'" "I know my actions don't always match what I profess pro·fess v. pro·fessed, pro·fess·ing, pro·fess·es v.tr. 1. To affirm openly; declare or claim: "a physics major . I'll admit I'm as susceptible to the seven deadly sins (R. C. Ch.) willful and deliberate transgressions, which take away divine grace; - in distinction from vental sins. The seven deadly sins are pride, covetousness, lust, wrath, gluttony, envy, and sloth. See also: Sin as the next person. But my question to those who say they don't go to church because there are hypocrites there is, `How do you deal with the gap in your life between who you are and who you want to be?'" Ray Del Campo, a 71-year-old attorney, can relate to the need to work on that person you are and the one you want to be. "Sure I go to Mass each week. I go because I'm human," says Del Campo. "I tend to forget what I'm here on earth for and how I'm supposed to live. Going to Mass reminds me there's someone up higher than me I need to be thankful to. If I make a mistake, there's someone up there who will forgive me." Unfortunately a number of Catholics stay away from Mass because they feel they're not worthy. Karabin says that she comes across this attitude when working with parents of First Communicants. "They got the message somewhere along the line that you had to be perfect before you are welcome at the table of the Lord. They think, `I want good things like Mass and Communion for my kid. He hasn't blown it yet. But how can I go? I've made such a mess of my life.'" (Somehow they haven't heard the second part of the prayer, "... but just say the word and my soul will be healed." Mike Gorski, a funeral director, knows of the healing t obe found at Mass. "I go for myself and for my soul," he says. "I used to go just because it was the thing to do. Now I go because I want to grow spiritually." After experiencing a time of spiritual emptiness in his life, Gorski had what he calls a spiritual awakening. "Now I really have a desire to listen and learn from the gospels." Chris Gucwa, an office manager, found strength and comfort at Mass during a difficult time, also. "Near the end of my mom's life, being at Mass meant a lot to me," says Gucwa. "People were all very supportive. At her wake, I was very moved to see so many of the people there were people I'd come to know at church." Another one of the attractions of Mass is the possibility of experiencing what Sklba calls a "quiet time in an hour of mystery." "I believe it's important to have some `still time' in our busy lives," says Andrew Lyke, a parishioner from Matteson, Illinois Matteson is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 12,928 at the 2000 census. Geography Matteson (Mat-te-son) is located at (41.509832, -87.739267)GR1. . This appreciation of quiet is something most modern Americans need to cultivate. According to Lyke, "Our family has a time set aside for quiet at home, and Mass together is really an extension of that. At home, mealtime is our still time together. It's our official family prayer time. On our table we have a list of folks, people who have asked for prayers. We mention their names, any special challenges facing any of us, and what we are thankful for." Mass maybe that one hour during a hectic week to slow down and reflect. Allen Tobiaski, a high-school junior, runs track and holds a part-time job at a neighborhood restaurant. That time at Mass is a "chance to relax. For one hour I can be quiet. I get a lot of answers in the silence." My 15-year-old daughter, Judy McGrath Judy McGrath, (born 1952 in Scranton, Pennsylvania)[1]) is the current CEO of MTV Networks. Channels she directs include, other than the music channels, MTV, MTV2, and VH-1, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and TV Land. , likes the quiet, too. "At Mass, I just get this opportunity to not worry about what's going on What's Going On is a record by American soul singer Marvin Gaye. Released on May 21, 1971 (see 1971 in music), What's Going On reflected the beginning of a new trend in soul music. ." What does she usually worry about? "Tests, my friends, my parents bugging me about everything." Oh. Many people cite their children as a main reason to go to Mass. There seems to be something almost instinctive about it. A new couple starts coming to church on Sunday. Pretty soon it's clear that they're expecting their firstborn first·born adj. First in order of birth; born first. n. The child in a family who is born first. Noun 1. firstborn - the offspring who came first in the order of birth eldest . It's exciting to have the Baptism at Mass and to welcome in this newest hope of the future. In his book An Experience Named faith (Thomas More, 1983), Father Jack Shea John Amos Shea (September 7, 1910 – January 22, 2002), better known as Jack Shea, was an American double-gold medalist in speed skating at the 1932 Winter Olympics. writes, "Effective communication within any tradition is always a matter of one generation holding the next to its heart." That literally happens at church, too. Parents hold their children close, sway to the hymns, whisper explanations, and force-feed Cheerios. Jeannie Pitzen recalls the years of attending Mass with her six children. Her parish priest Parish priest may refer to
That setting-an-example business worked for John Torres, a computer consultant, and he hopes it will work for his own children. "My parents never forced us to go," he says. "They simply explained why it was important for us to go, and we ended up going with them." Torres says there are plenty of places in the world where you experience disconnection dis·con·nect v. dis·con·nect·ed, dis·con·nect·ing, dis·con·nects v.tr. 1. To sever or interrupt the connection of or between: disconnected the hose. 2. . But the church is a place he and his family encounter a sense of belonging. "A big reason we go is to make sure that our children--Clare in particular since she's old enoug--have a sense of community, a sense of a broader world brought to their attention." Lyke also enjoys going to Mass as a family. "I believe our being there as a family is a sign to others that families can work." Of course this works both ways, Lyke adds, "We notice other families who are at church together, and they are a sign to us." Lyke and his wife, Terri, are involved in marriage-preparation programs and meet many couples just starting out. He knows how important it can be to see others who are in the same boat. "As an African American African American Multiculture A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. See Race. family, I think it's especially important to be seen as a unit--father, mother, children. There are a lot of negative images about African American families, and this shows another side. There's a real desire to share that gift we have as a family." Of all the reasons cited for going to Mass, the one mentioned most often is the desire for community. "When I go to Mass, I meet my mentors "My Mentor" is the second episode of the American situation comedy Scrubs. It originally aired as Episode 2 of Season 1 on October 4, 2001. Plot Elliot gets on Carla's bad side after telling Dr. Kelso about one of Carla's mistakes. Elliot gets defensive with J.D. and my models," says Gucwa, who heads the contemporary choir at her parish. "For me, church is the community place. It's where my key relationships are and where I find much of my support in life." Connectedness is a key element with both Gucwa and Regina King, an office worker with the National Safety Council. King, who is, ironically, stuck at home recuperating with a broken leg from a car accident, truly misses attending Mass because it's an opportunity to share in the support of the community. "Sunday Mass is my time," she says. "I see the Mass as a meal where we come together to share the Body and Blood of Christ The Blood of Christ in Christian theology refers to (a) the physical blood actually shed by Jesus Christ on the Cross, and the salvation which Christianity teaches was accomplished thereby; and (b) the Eucharistic wine used at Holy Communion Salvation The Kings would enjoy meeting the Lykes. "They have to kick us out each Sunday," says Andrew. "Mass can be pretty powerful, but over time we come to know the service so well it can become familiar. But each week the fellowship is different. There's always something new going on in the lives of the people I meet with after Mass. I love talking with other Christians., getting those hugs, catching up with their lives." Martin feels the same way. "If I'm on a trip and in a strange church, the Mass may be interesting, but it's not the same as when I'm in my own community worshiping with people I know and care about. I look around and see my kids' friends and their parents, some of whom have become my friends. There's a feeling of belonging that I otherwise lack." When Karabin works with young people preparing for Confirmation, she recommends they reflect on the final scene of the movie "Places in the Heart" for a sense of the true spirit of Communion. In this scene all the characters are in church passing around the Communion plate. Everyone is there--the heroes and the villains, the living and the dead. They all take Communion. "When we go to church, I don't believe that God comes down to meet us," she says. "I believe that we reach out to each other, and when we find one another, we find God is already there as well." It used to be that the Real Presence of the Eucharist was perceived as limited to the consecrated con·se·crate tr.v. con·se·crat·ed, con·se·crat·ing, con·se·crates 1. To declare or set apart as sacred: consecrate a church. 2. Christianity a. bread and wine. Now, the action of the liturgy encourages worshipers to see and experience the presence of Christ in the readings and in the gathered group itself. Gucwa sees Mass as one way the church can bring generations together. Because of her work with the teenagers who have joined the choir, she thinks that "having some teenagers actively involved in such a noticeable way influences many of the kids in the parish. It shows that they have a place in the work of the church as well." I asked a group of my daughter's teenage friends if seeing some of their contemporaries on and around the altar encouraged them to be more involved in the worship at their parishes. Teresa Marino, a high-school sophomore, was certain. "When you get involved and see other kids involved, you get to know people," says Marino. "Then it's not like going to church is some big chore. It's like going to see everybody you want to see anyway." What, besides other teenagers, brings teens to church? Mike Guidi says, "I go because I was raised to think it's right to go. It's something my household just does. And the school I go to reinforces it." Some teens go for the quiet and peaceful prayer time. And, of course, as Missy Wade adds, "Oh, and the music. I like the music." What's these teens' favorite hymn? The response was unanimous: "On Eagles' Wings." The Word at work Good liturgy is an important work of the church. And when done well, it supports people, such as King, as they do the work of the church throughout the week. "There are times when I leave church thinking I didn't even hear the homily--it had so little impression on me," says King. "But then maybe something happens during the week to jar me, and the words of the reading or sermon come back to me and help me in some substantial way." Dick Gillespie, an insurance agent, says it was through his attendance at church that he got involved in the homeless ministry at his parish. "They announced at church that they were looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. volunteers. A friend and I signed up, and we've been doing this for a couple of years now. I'd been hearing about the problems of the homeless on TV but never thought I could do anything about it. Now it affects the way I vote and the way I look at people who are down and out." Sklba says it's not surprising that Mass attendance would change not only your Sunday but also the rest of the week as well. "I once estimated that there were over one million Christians--in Wisconsin alone-hearing the same scripture readings on Sunday. I presume if they are really listening, then Monday is going to be different." He says the split between what goes on at church and what goes on in the rest of life is really a false reading of reality. "Saint Catherine of Siena Catherine of Si·en·a , Saint 1347-1380. Italian religious leader who mediated a peace between the Florentines and Pope Urban VI in 1378. once said, `All the way to heaven is heaven.' A friend of mine alters that to, `All the way to church is church.'" Some have complained, and rightly so, that the hour in church may be the most segregated hour in the week. But church, at its best, can bring people together the way no other institution can. Jesuit Bryan Hehir thinks the Catholic Church is in a unique position to address society's problems in the years to come because Catholics are both insiders and outsiders, corporate executives as well as migrant workers A migrant worker is someone who regularly works away from home, if they even have a home.[] Although the United Nations' use of this term overlaps with 'foreign worker', the use of the term within the United States is more specific. , and solidly upper class as well as those on society's fringes. How can Catholics--those in power and those with little-make a difference in bringing about the kingdom? By making real during the week what happens on Sunday. In a speech he gave to the Texas Catholic Conference, Father Rosendo Urabazzo, C.M.F., of the Mexican American Mexican American n. A U.S. citizen or resident of Mexican descent. Mex  i·can-A·mer Cultural Center, talks about what he sees when he celebrates Mass: "They enter and sit where they may. The haves and the have-nots sit side by side on the same bench. In God's eyes A God's eye is a yarn weaving and spiritual magic: see also Namkha, Ojo de Dios and yarn cross. IntroductionThe Ojo de Dios or Eye of God is a ritual tool, magical object and cultural symbol evoking the weaving motif and its spiritual associations. we are all equal as human beings." The church serves as a refuge for many, Urabbazo says. "Would that it would be that way outside of church. Some of my people would be politely but firmly asked to leave other large buildings in our city, like hotel lobbies, theaters, ballparks, and stadiums. Without the price of admission, they are not welcomed. Only in the church can they come and find rest." Torres once felt the church was more like an exclusive club than a welcoming family. He stayed away from church for a number of years when he was in high school and college. "Around the age of 22, I felt that maybe there was something philosophically right about religion. But I was trying to do it on my own as an individual," he says. Torres' future wife suggested he try a local parish known for its welcoming style of worship. "What I liked about St. Clement's was they preached a very special message about inclusion, not exclusion. This was something I was looking for. The exclusive attitude I had experienced in the church had kept me away for a while. The new parish showed a welcoming attitude. It was a place to connect and to attend again on an ongoing basis." Catholic churches would be fuller if they went out of their way to be more welcoming, believes Torres. "I appreciate the small things that can help people feel more welcome. Some parishes have people greet the people around them before beginning the Mass. It's a small thing, but it breaks down barriers." Another way to fill the churches and welcome back those who have left is through something as simple as a personal invitation. Lyke was away from the church for a number of years, and he remembers, "I was angry with the church. It was a flawed institution that let me down." Though not married in the church, the Lykes decided to attend a Marriage Encounter, and it was a turning point for them. "Marriage Encounter brought us back to prayer and a sense of church. One of the couples we met extended an invitation to Terri and I to attend Mass with them. This simple gesture was very profound. It touched me deeply. I later told these two people how important their invitation was for us. They didn't even remember it. I think a lot of folks are just waiting for an invitation." People often say they nourish nour·ish v. To provide with food or other substances necessary for sustaining life and growth. their spiritual lives in ways other than attending Mass. King agrees that's quite possible. "I love being in different kinds of prayerful prayer·ful adj. 1. Inclined or given to praying frequently; devout. 2. Typical or indicative of prayer, as a mannerism, gesture, or facial expression. situations with other people. I know I get a lot out of that." But as for reliability, King can count on Mass. "It's there for me week after week. The other experiences just don't happen that often." Martin likes the regularity of weekly Mass attendance, too. "As I get older, I find I'm more and more a creature of habit Creature of Habit may refer to:
drift apart over time. I'd rather keep the habit of going, so I'm there for the good times." Karabin puts her commitment to weekly attendance this way, "It's like a thread. I feel I am one small part of a tapestry tapestry, hand-woven fabric of plain weave made without shuttle or drawboy, the design of weft threads being threaded into the warp with fingers or a bobbin. of faithful people." People miss a lot when they don't go to Mass. Sklba says that "they miss a source of energy to get them through the humdrum of the week; they miss being connected to a group of people whose lives are exciting because of the underlying truth they've discovered about life." But sometimes it's so bad There are times in my own life when being at Mass is anything but exciting. The music is banal, the sermons are trite. The people in the pews around me are irritating, and I couldn't utter a decent prayer to save my life. And then, there are times when it's the perfect place for me to be. The music is uplifting, I hear just what I need to hear. I feel a sense of oneness with my fellow parishioners and in communion with my God. And sometimes both of these sets of feelings occur at the same Mass! Why go to Mass? Certainly not to participate in an empty charade charade (shərād`), verbal, written, or acted representation of a word, its syllables, or a number of words. The object is to guess the idea being conveyed. Winthrop M. or a mere feel-good exercise. And I don't believe the purpose is to placate pla·cate tr.v. pla·cat·ed, pla·cat·ing, pla·cates To allay the anger of, especially by making concessions; appease. See Synonyms at pacify. an angry God. Eucharist is a gift. What is the nature of that gift? What good is it? While interviewing people who attend Mass regularly, I found a trait common to all. It's a characteristic of openness and expectation. People who go to Mass faithfully truly expect that God can and will meet them at the place where people gather in faith. It's not theory but fact for them. It doesn't matter for them that the service is poorly executed, the sound system fuzzy, or the ushers grumpy grump·y adj. grump·i·er, grump·i·est Surly and peevish; cranky. grump i·ly adv. . It doesn't even matter that most of these people have deep and sometimes painful disagreements with a fundamental element of church teaching or practice. None of that can negate ne·gate tr.v. ne·gat·ed, ne·gat·ing, ne·gates 1. To make ineffective or invalid; nullify. 2. To rule out; deny. See Synonyms at deny. 3. the value of coming into intimate contact with Jesus and the people who strive to follow his way. The essential consideration is to take to heart the words Jesus spoke to the woman at the well: "The water I give will become in them a spring of water gushing gush v. gushed, gush·ing, gush·es v.intr. 1. To flow forth suddenly in great volume: water gushing from a hydrant. 2. up to eternal life." Why do I go to Mass? At Mass I get fed. I know I am weak. I want to be more selfless self·less adj. Having, exhibiting, or motivated by no concern for oneself; unselfish: "Volunteers need both selfish and selfless motives to sustain their interest" Natalie de Combray. , more charitable, more kind. I want to be braver when I hear a racist remark, stronger when my children need a firm response, purer of heart when tempted "Tempted" was the second single released from Squeeze's fourth album, East Side Story. Though it failed to crack the Top 40 in the UK or the U.S., over the years "Tempted" has become one of Squeeze's most well known songs, especially in North America. to take an easier, softer way. I want to absorb the patterns of the life of Jesus. The Host on the tongue gives strength to run the race. The wine gives heart and willingness to continue. Does it feel too difficult to go to Mass, too boring, too burdensome? Think of the Russian proverb proverb, short statement of wisdom or advice that has passed into general use. More homely than aphorisms, proverbs generally refer to common experience and are often expressed in metaphor, alliteration, or rhyme, e.g. , "Bread on a journey is no burden." Better yet, think of the words of Jesus, "The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood will have life everlasting (Bot.) a plant with white or yellow persistent scales about the heads of the flowers, as Antennaria, and Gnaphalium; cudweed. See also: Life ." Now if that won't get you out of bed, what will? Reprints of this article are available at the following costs: 500 or more, 20[cts.] each; 100-499, 30[cts.] each; 10-99, 40[cts.] each. To order, phone Sylvia Sanchez at 1-800-328-6515. By Tom McGrath For other uses, see Thomas McGrath. Thomas B. McGrath (born 1956, married, two children) though little known outside Hollywood, has been an important, behind-the-scenes player in reshaping modern media throughout his entertainment career. , executive editor of U.S. Catholic and Salt of the earth magazines, who learned to appreciate regular Mass attendance in third grade from Miss Betty Schmidt. |
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