DRE, Ibadan Archdiocese

Faith series, Episode 102

 

You may wonder why appraising or reflecting on this topic Holy Mass, Reverence for the house of God.

Let us begin with our preparation/preparedness; to start with; one of the Commandments of God states “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy”. May I ask: When do you start to prepare for the Sabbath Day? What is your Saturday like? Are you conscious of the day after Saturday? In other words, do you attach any importance to the day after Saturday? Perhaps I should mention here, what is your state of preparedness/preparation? Do you think you are in the right state i.e Are you cleansed? Are you washed? Are you well disposed to climb the mountain of the Lord? What is your Saturday night like? Clubbing, partying, lovers’ night, sexually filled pornography night, blue films, late night movie, football etc. you may add to the list of things that aid pseudo preparation (Midnight calls). Every of these have a way we are affected on Sunday – it is either you come late to Mass or you spend a good percentage of the period of Mass sleeping.

On the Sunday itself, do you really ask yourself before you leave your home what you are coming for? At this juncture, permit me to ask; what are you coming for? Some still call it service but what we celebrate is Mass. If you come to terms with the word MASS, then what is Mass to you? A good understanding of Mass enables us to perfect our preparation, enables us to clinch the entire grace of the Mass. But it is noted that most of us decides the percentage of grace we want depending on our preparation and conduct.

What is Mass?

Sacrifice of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the appearance of bread and wine truly present on the altar, offered for the living and the dead.

It is a sacrifice, there must be a victim, who do you consider the victim? Christ is the victim; He is the Pasch or the Paschal Sacrifice.

Permit me to take you down memory lane – have you ever observed traditional worship or sacrifice? Give me 3 things at least you observe: solemnity, serenity, silence, mystery, awe. Do you experience this as an individual before and during Holy Mass? What is your nature of preparation?

• A late comer is not likely to be well prepared (unnecessary gatherings before Mass)
• Harvest committee members
• Security committee
• Exchangers of pleasantries (Greeting ministers)

Best Practice:

Minutes before Mass: Absolute silence and your purpose

Do you get to the Cinema at the dot of the film time?

Do you sit at the TV set at the dot of the match you want to watch? Etc

So with the Holy Mass, be seated before the Entrance Hymn; this preparation goes with Liturgical functionaries as well.

Lay Readers; do you go to the altar to impress? (Lay readers at Odo Oba stopped for late coming)

Do you have mastery of what you profess?

Church Warden late to Mass yet put a rope across for late comers.

Choristers rushing to choir stand, not seated before Mass is distracting

Altar Servers not readily dressed before the Priest vests is not good enough.

Sacristans/Catechists are the mics functioning?