Pondering the Mass (8)

"If we knew the value of the Mass, we would die of joy."

St. John Vianney said those words. Do you believe them? What you do will show it.

In truth, there is more value in one reverent assistance at Mass, than in a thousand personal sacrifices outside the Mass that anyone can do. The Mass is the sacrifice of Christ, how can any personal action of ours (prayer, almsgiving, etc.) come even close? If we see the Mass this way, it will effect us. The Mass will "push" us in a certain direction. What do you feel the Mass doing to you? (It is doing something, even if you do not notice it.)

Interestingly, I have met people who converted to Catholicism through a "modernist" Catholic parish. Some have told me specifically they did so because the Mass was "so cool" and one even called it "fun". I also happen to know that many (if not most) of these lose their excitement within a few years (some find a reverent parish, others lose faith); you can only play "churchy stuff" so long before it gets dull.

I have also met people (some are members at St. George right now) who converted through a traditional parish. Quite a few have said they were struck with awe at the reverence for God; a few even noted that the Ordinariate form of the Mass "removes the emphasis on people" that they saw elsewhere. What value do you think these people place on the Mass? If we can see that the Mass is all about Christ, and not about us, then we will be impacted in the way that God wants.