Have you ever wondered why we say what we say at Mass? Have you ever questioned why we do “Catholic aerobics” (stand, sit, kneel, repeat) during the liturgy? Did you ever wish you knew why a priest did the things he does during Mass? If you are like me, you have wondered these things most of your life.
I remember as a child, I would repeat all the parts of the Mass – even the priest’s parts. I did this in hopes that I would better understand the Mass. I remember how literal I would take the Mass. I remember praying as a child, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” (Yes, my childhood was before the New Roman Missal.) After saying this, I would listen so intently for God or Jesus to say the word to me, so I did not need to go to communion.
One day, I remember telling my priest that he did not have on his uniform. Can you guess why? He was in civilian clothes. I had seen him at church dressed in robes for the various liturgical seasons of the year or wearing his black collar after church and at CCD, but when I saw him at a restaurant in street clothes, I was in shock. A man of God should always be dressed as a priest, just like a nurse or a doctor.
In life, many of us are confused about the practices of our faith and even about our beliefs. The difficulty is that most of us do not seek answers from other faith-filled people to help strengthen our convictions. Did I ever ask my priest about his clothing? No. Did I ever wonder why God was not personally answering me at Mass? No. It would take many years for me to work up the courage to ask questions about my faith and then find faith-filled people to assist me in my search for answers.
These questions are opportunities for us to grow in relationship with Christ. The Church needs to provide occasions in which everyone – young and old –are comfortable in asking questions about their faith.
The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops has dedicated the next three years to a Eucharistic Revival. During this time, we are called to prayer and education about the meaning of the Sacrament of Eucharist and our Catholic Mass. A recent study done by the Pew Research Center revealed that only 30 percent of Catholics believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
It is the hope of the bishops that the Eucharistic Revival will give each diocese time to educate people about the Eucharist and answer questions they may have about the mysteries surrounding this Sacrament. The goal is to enhance each person’s belief that the bread and wine offered at Mass is truly transformed into the body and blood of Christ.
On November 6, the Office of Faith Events will provide a terrific opportunity for members of the diocese to understand what we as Catholics do during Mass through a performance of The Doug and Dave Show’s Mass Confusion. This performance will walk participants through the Catholic liturgy and enlighten them about why the community does what it does during the Mass and why the priest says what he says. The event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. at St. Bernard School in Uncasville. It will end with Mass celebrated by Fr. Jonathan Ficara, diocesan director of vocations. To join us, tickets can be purchased at https://bit.ly/2Laol7Y
Our hope is that if each of us understands and prayerfully experiences the Mass with new eyes, each of us can grow in a deeper relationship with our Lord in the Eucharist. Please join us.
By Liza Roach