The power of the Mass is for you. It's the power of the crucifixion on Calvary, which isn't repeated, but entered into through time and space.You can have 2 intentions for every Mass - One for the entire Mass itself, and one during the prayers of the Faithful. When you first get into Church and kneel down and pray, tell Jesus what your personal intention is for that Mass. During the Prayers of the Faithful, tell Him what your other intention is. Of course, you can always call the Parish secretary to have specific Masses said for loved ones and other intentions too. The poor souls in purgatory really feel consolation and comfort in their misery when you have Masses said for them. Don't forget them, even if they've been dead a long time, because time has no meaning in eternity. If you don't have intentions for the Mass, you are missing out on a lot of spiritual benefits.
At the hour of death the Holy Masses you have heard devoutly will be your greatest consolation.
Every Mass will go with you to Judgment and will plead for pardon for you. By every Mass you can diminish the temporal punishment due to your sins, more or less, according to your fervor.
By devoutly assisting at Holy Mass you render the greatest homage possible to the Sacred Humanity of Our Lord.
Through the Holy Sacrifice, Our Lord Jesus Christ supplies for many of your negligence through acts or omissions.
He forgives you all the venial sins which you are determined to avoid. He forgives you all your unknown sins which you never confessed. The power of Satan over you is diminished.
By piously hearing Holy Mass you afford the Souls in Purgatory the greatest possible relief.
Through Holy Mass you are preserved from many dangers and misfortunes which would otherwise have befallen you. You shorten your Purgatory by every Mass.
Through the Holy Mass you are blessed in your temporal goods and affairs.
When you hear Holy Mass devoutly, offering it to Almighty God in honor of any particular Saint or Angel, thanking God for the favors bestowed on him, you afford that Saint or Angel a new degree of honor, joy and happiness, and draw his special love and protection on yourself.
Every time you assist at Holy Mass, besides other intentions, you should offer it in honor of the Saint of the day.
In holy Mass, in obedience to Christ's command, "Do this in remembrance of me," we of the Church offer perfect praise to the heavenly Father, and sanctify ourselves and the world by the power that flows from the priestly office of our eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ.
The benefits of even one holy Mass are infinite and include the whole world. The blood of the new and everlasting covenant was "shed for you and for all."
In every Mass that is offered the Church remembers before God "those who take part in this offering, those here present and all your people, and all who seek you with a sincere heart." In a special way those who have holy Mass offered and those for whom a Mass is offered partake of the grace of the Eucharistic sacrifice.
The Church which offers Mass each day includes not only the faithful on earth, but the saints in heaven, as well as the suffering souls still awaiting entrance into heaven.
It is a pious and praiseworthy custom for the faithful to have Masses offered for their particular intentions, and especially for departed friends and loved ones. It is a laudable Catholic practice when requesting Mass for a special intention to make an offering both for the support of the priest who will celebrate the Mass and to provide for the needs of the altar as well as the materials required for the holy Sacrifice.
It is very sad that so many non-Catholic Christians consider the Mass to be an abomination. It is just the opposite. It is the one-time sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross recreated, through time and space, in an dignified fashion, just like Jesus did during the Last Supper.
QUOTES FROM THE SAINTS
"The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer" Pope Paul VI
"For each Mass we hear with devotion, Our Lord sends a saint to comfort us at death." (revelation of Christ to St. Gertrude the great).
A great doctor of the Church, St. Anself, declares that a single Mass offered for oneself during life may be worth more than a thousand celebrated for the same intention after death. St. Leonard of Port Maurice supports this statement by saying that one Mass before death may be more profitable than many after it.
"The Holy Mass would be of greater profit if people had it offered in their lifetime, rather than having it celebrated for the relief of their souls after death." Pope Benedict XV
Once, St. Teresa was overwhelmed with God's Goodness and asked Our Lord "How can I thank you?" Our Lord replied, "attend one mass"
The Blessed Virgin Mary once told Her faithful servant Alain: "My Son so loves those who assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that, if it were necessary He would die for them as many times as they've heard Masses."
"When we receive Holy Communion, we experience something extraordinary - a joy, a fragrance, a well being that thrills the whole body and causes it to exalt." St. Jean Vianney
"If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy." St. Jean Vianney
"There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us." - St. Jean Vianney
"When we have been to Holy Communion, the balm of love envelops the soul as the flower envelops the bee." - St. Jean Vianney
"The celebration of Holy Mass is as valuable as the death of Jesus on the cross." - St. Thomas Aquinas
"It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do without Holy Mass. " St. Padre Pio
"The Mass is infinite like Jesus. Ask an angel what the Mass is, and he will reply to you in truth,"I understand what it is and why it is offered, but I do not, however, understand how much value it has." One angel, a thousand angels, all of Heaven know this and think like this." St. Padre Pio
"If we only knew how God regards this Sacrifice, we would risk our lives to be present at a single Mass." St. Padre Pio
"Renew your faith by attending Holy Mass. Keep your mind focused on the mystery that is unfolding before your eyes. In your mind's eye transport yourself to Calvary and meditate on the Victim who offers Himself to Divine Justice, paying the price of your redemption." St. Padre Pio
"Every Holy Mass, heard with devotion, produces in our souls marvelous effects, abundant spiritual and material graces which we ourselves, do not know." St. Padre Pio
"The heavens open and multitudes of angels come to assist in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass." St. Gregory
"The angels surround and help the priest when he is celebrating Mass. " St. Augustine
"When Mass is being celebrated, the sanctuary is filled with countless angels who adore the divine victim immolated on the altar." St. John Chrysostom
Download this free ebook - 101 Questions About The Catholic Mass.
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2 comments:
Hear Mass daily; it will prosper the whole day. "All your duties will be performed the better for it, and your soul will be stronger to bear its daily cross. The Mass is the most holy act of religion; you can do nothing that can give greater glory to God or be more profitable for your soul than to hear Mass both frequently and devoutly. It is the favorite devotion of the saints." St. Peter Julian Eymard
I read an interview with the Archbishop concerning this book. I was impressed with the simple and beautiful way he talked about the Mass and it's origins. This book is not loaded down with theology. This book is written in a way that makes it a an interesting read. The new language that is going to be used starting this Advent makes sense. This is definitely a must read for Catholics, but I would also recommend it to others because it explains why Catholics do what they do.
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