The other day I stumbled upon an old book on my “non-theology” shelf in my library. It is entitled A Wrinkle In Time. The story aside, I was thinking that we can think of the Mass as a wrinkle in time. In every Mass, Jesus opens a corridor through history, linking three things:
• the here-and-now of our normal, everyday lives, with all of our struggles, joys, and sorrows;
• the historical sacrifice of his own body and blood on the cross at Calvary, by which he repaired the damage done by Adam and Eve's disobedience to God;
• and his everlasting self-offering as it continues now in heaven, where he is always interceding for us, as our leader and high priest, in the presence of God the Father.
The Catholic Church teaches, "it is Christ himself, the eternal high priest of the New Covenant who, acting through the ministry of the priests, offers the Eucharistic sacrifice. And it is the same Christ, really present under the species of bread and wine, who is the offering of the Eucharistic sacrifice.” (Catechism #1410)
At Mass, in other words, we plug our earthly lives into eternity; we have the chance to apply Christ's grace to our unique network of experiences, projects, and relationships, like applying oil to hinges or medicine to wounds.
This is why Catholics throughout the centuries have made so many sacrifices in order to attend holy Mass. Today, the Church requires that we fast for at least one hour before receiving Holy Communion. Before the Second Vatican Council, however, the required fast was longer; it lasted from midnight until whenever you would receive Communion. During World War II, soldiers on the front lines, exhausted physically and emotionally from the grueling conditions and horrors of battle, would often fast from midnight until the following evening, just so they could receive Communion at Mass, when the chaplain was unable to celebrate in the morning.
Blessed Pierina Morosini is a beautiful example of an ordinary Catholic woman who was so devoted to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. She was a woman from northern Italy who died after being assaulted in 1957. When she was only 26 years old, she had to help support her poor family by working in a factory when her father became ill. She still found time to teach catechism, visit the sick, and stay involved in her parish youth ministry. She also found time to go to Mass every day. She would get up at 4 o'clock in the morning so that she could attend Mass before having to show up at the factory for work. This devotion is not often seen today. We are lucky to have a half dozen people in attendance at daily Mass.
If only we Christian would realize what God is giving us at each Mass. The Holy Mass links our lives here on earth with the life of heaven, giving it a meaning beyond any we could give it by ourselves. It is an encounter with the One who should be the love of our lives. I want to encourage all Catholics and invite all people of faith to join us in prayer on Sunday and every day but Monday. Come to our Holy Hour each Wednesday from 6-7pm. Don’t neglect the Love of your life. Neglected relationships tend to fade away.
Prayerfully,
Father Mike