IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) &? 1.0 I.I us u Hi us 2.5 1^ IIIII2.2 ■ 40 1.8 1.25 III 1.4 1.6 ^ 6" _ ► m ^ 7a ^^ %\^^ v: /^ w.^'^w Photographic Sciences Corporation m 4 ,-\ :\ V \ ^fort on their death-bed those who du- ring life have devoutly heard ...ass, my 'angels shall be there to assist them." * * * Angels and Archangels, Cherubim andSe- raphim stand about our altars during Mass altho- the Sacrifice be not offered fo'rt^em.' 1 o these glorious Spirits the wondrou, love ttn?i?- """ '' ^ "■""^ '"■""'°'d adora- tions. Their reverence extends alike to priest and people so closely linked to Christ. The LUurgy clearly and conclusively establishes .^ n ^ I °'^" personal relation to God they become our Messengers to Him. At one of the most solemn moments 12 of Mass, the priest bowing low before the Holy of holies, offers up his own and the congregation's prayers in these words: Command, we beseech Thee^ oh almighty God, that these, (our prayers) be taken up by the hand of thy blessed Angel and laid on the High Altar of thy presence. Com- pare this with what St John relates in the 8th chapter of his Apocalypse. And thus it is that, if we suppose equal devotion in both cases, prayer is mightier at Mass than else- where. Our Lord once said to blessed Mechtilda : My mystical sacrifice each day on the al- tar for the salvation of souls is an act which I alone can fully comprehend. Nei- ther the Cherubim nor other created in- tellect can compass it. My coming is so full of love that no heart however harden- ed can resist, if it will but meet me. My liberality is such that none, however des- titute, need leave ip^ otherwise than filled (( (( n ii il *3- " from the superabundance of my treasures". Blessed the souls who gathered around Him are made partakers of His gifts ! Consider, dear Reader, how earnestly you should at- tend Holy Mass. Remember that by this Sacrifice Christ ofTers Himself as the one supreme and es- sential Mediator between your unworthiness and the holiness of God. Bear this in mind with its stupendous and comforting conse- quences j let them become as it were a part of yourself. You will then long for daily Mass and accept many an inconvenience ra- ther than miss it. When the awful words of consecration are spoken by the priest, the Holy Ghost com- ing down like fire from Heaven, annihila- tes the substances of bread and wine, and leaving their appearances only, substitutes the Body and Blood of Christ. The hallow- wed hands of God's minister hold the sa- cred Humanity as truly as did Mary in her — H — spotles, womb. Now, had you stood by the crib of Bethlehem on that memorable night and takmg the blessed Child in your arms' offered Him in atonement to the Father, can you possibly doubt but your sin«; should have been forgiven and graces untold have been your's. ? Well, do now as you would have done then. Offer up Jesus to the Father, and I pledge the same graces from the altar as would have come to you at Bethlehem. To blessed Mechtilda agpin Our Lord used to say : " I give you my sacred Body " and the agonies of my Passion that you ,, may present them to me as a gift from you II But I shall return them to you and you I' shall offer them to me again, so that each ** time your merit may be renewed". Now this was not said for Mechtilda alone, but for all of us. A beautiful prayer of the Mass is one im- mediately following the consecration ; it runs thus : wAere/ore, we thy servants and — 15 — thy holy people, mindful of the blessed Pas- sion, the Resurrection and the glorious As- cension of thy Son Jesus Christ Our Lord, do offer Thee a spotless Victim : this Bread of eternal life and this Chalice of ever la sing salvation. The congregation and indeed the universal Church are alluded to as *^ thy " holy people" to signify that thro' Jesus at Mass they are made holy, as it is written : for them do I sanctify myself ; that they also may be sanctified in truth, (John, 17-19) * Together with the Body of the Lord do not forget to offer up specifically His Pre- cious Blood which is in fact the price of our redemption. Ste Magdalen of Pazzi used to offer up continually the Blood of Christ for the conversion of sinners ; and Our Lord was pleased to show her the number she had been instrumental in saving. This offering to God of the Precious Blood may unquestionably be carried on anywhere and at any time ; but it is never .■aiMWirWuwri — i6 — so fruitful as at Mass since then it is objec- tively present. Whoever, while assisting at Mass, saith sincerely : " Oh Lord, receive from me this divine blood thro' the minis- tration of thy priest", offers to God substan- tially the blood held in the chalice, which oblation is more effective than in any other circumstances. Consequently the altar is to us a mystical Calvary redolent with the same grace that we should have received had we knelt by the material Cross of Christ. No words can begin to unravel this mys- tery of love ; no earthly expressions can do more than outline it. Calvary and the altar essentially one yet essentially distinct ; both for the same glorious purpose : our freedom from sin, our abiding union with God. St Chrysostom says that during Mass the congregation is covered with the Blood of Christ, which means that the sacred Blood IS not only shed but poured out spiritually upon each and every one present. Recall the words of St Paul : you are come to Jesus the mediator of the New Testament, and to --- 'i B a.UAjiiia'jxj ' ^, i ,f «*-^-iy^ — 17 — the sprinkling of blood which speaketh better than Abel's, (Heb). Were our material bodies visibly marked with the Blood of Christ, it would profit us less ^han this invisible sprinkling which cleanses, hallows and beautifies the spirit. Ste Magdalen of Pazzi tells us the touch of the Blood of Jesus transforms the soul into an image of God so pure and radiant that no mortal tongue may describe it. During the celebration of Mass the Blood of Jesus cryeth thro' the wounds of the Blessed Body, from the Sacred Heart, by the divine lips, with all the sorrows and sweet ness and power of the Passion. Thinkest thou, dear Reader, that the Father can ignore such a prayer. No, not even had He already condemned a sinning soul, could God hold out against 'an intercession so mighty ; aye, mighty as Himself. Amen. — i8 — .1 1 Much has been written on the way one should hear Mass and many methods sug- gested. Now, the best method would be no method at all. The true method is the Sacri- fice itself and ourselves who assist at it. But this supposes a purity, freedom and concen- tration of spirit to which few attain, espe- cially in an age where everything is system- atized to suit the debilitated. However the nearer we come to this ideal the better shall our method be. Therefore, all we can advise is this : /earn what Mass is ; be penetrated wi^h its sublimity, its holiness. Its mystical symbolism, it? awful and prac- tical reality, then shall you have no trouble about your methods for hearing it. — 19 — Now, to do this begin by looking up the definition of Mass in the penny Catechism. Reflect on it long and prayerfully until you have realized that of all things in the visible creation Mass is by far the most exalted, miraculous, magnificent, terrible and tender. That it takes in at one sweep of almighty love the Church militant, suffering and tri- umphant ; reaching from the very Heart of God to the lowliest of mortals. That it is Calvary itself, but Calvary glorified and ap- plied. Above all that it is Christ Himself, not the suffering but the risen Christ, who from the Right Hand of the Father mani- fests Himself to us in ways so transcendent as to be apprehended by Faith alone. On the altars of the Church every barrier bet- ween God and man has been swept away by Infinite Love ; invisibly that our Faith may be saved, yet visibly because we are creat- ures of flesh and blood. Get some book, (there are any number in print), that may tell you something on this great subject ; but most of the work must be done by the meditations of your own heart. 20 Then take up any of the multitudinous prayer-books now extant and study the outward form or body of Holy Mass. Become conversant with every vestment, ceremony and especially with every prayer made use of by the priest. You will perceive that the tremendous function opens at the foot of the Altar and advances gradually from the self-abasements of contrition thro' the fervor of ihipetration up to the altitudes of thanks- giving. Every word and motion are full of deepest meaning. Be solicitous in discover- ing it. At the oblation, when the priest un- ve ils the gifts, the Sacrifice begins ; at the Consecration it culminates, at Communion it is consummated as to its outward purpo- se. All this you should thoroughly know and devoutly cherish if you expect ever to hear Mass with profit to yourself and others. Having appropriated these treasures of doctrine and piety, assist at Mass as near to the Sanctuary as you possibly can. On week days this is easily done. Put away for the time all books, beads or other devotion. 21 tudinous tudy the , Become eremony nade use that the ot of the rom the he fervor f thanks- e full of iiscover- riest un- > ; at the [imunion i purpo- now and to hear ers. sures of as near can. On way for evotion. al adjuncts and fix both heart and eye on the altar alone : this is a point of para- mount importance. Follow the priest ; he is there to be looked at, since he is the neces- sary link between the seen and the unseen. If your mind wanders and your attention flags, which may occur a thousand times, bring them back without impatience or dis- couragement to the main object of your ado- rations. Mass is aliving myster y that reveals itself to prepared souls. Had you stood with Our Lady on Mount Calvary you would sure- ly have required no book to tell you what to think or do. No more shall you require it during the short half- hour of Mass, pro- vided you know what is going on. As to your outward demeanor needless to say that levity, staring about the Church and unnecessary talking during Mass amount almost to sacrilege which thought- lessness alone can excuse ; but you must no longer be thoughtless. T^ke the bodily post- ure you find most conducive to devotion. It were well to kneel from the oblation to 22 he communion if i, can be done without undue fatigue. In any case kc your whole being be centred upon what is taking place on the altar ; you will be highly Javored if you are steadfast in that. At first sight the foregoing method may seem somewhat vague, but if you take it up seriously you will think differently. It is the only substantial, enlightened, spiritual and practical method we know of. It brings Mass home to the heart, where Christ intends it should be. If earnestly followed it would soon make saints of us all. 23 — without r whole ig place ^ored if i:0lg or0mmtttti0tt* od may te it up t is the lal and js Mass ends it would As far as God is concerned Holy Com- munion exhausts the possibilities of divine love ; as far as we are concerned it is the highest visible expression of Faith, Hope and Charity. It seems almost out of placp to speak of it as a duty, so sacred is the privilege, so astounding the favor, so exalt- ed and pressing the invitation. And yet Holy Communion is a duty, the very first we owe to ourselves as rational beings : Ameftf amen I say unto you : unless you eat thefle'^h of the Son of man and drink His bloody you shall not have life in you, (John. 6-54). Christ made it a precept out of the abundance of His love, that here as else- where fear might be the beginning, bt4t only the beginning of wisdom. _-Jl — 24 — Holy Communion is the sovereign means of grace, the truly royal road to holiness, the heart-blood of the Mystical Body. Fre- quent even daily Communion should be the aspiration of every soul nowadays as it was in the primitive Church. As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Fa- ther, he who eateth me liveth by me, (John. 6-58). We have here the sum total of spirit^ ual life. By Holy Communion we are made partakers of the very life of God Himself thro' the veiled substance of His Humanity Now this divine life has nothing in common with the senses nor even with the merely natural operations of the soul, altho' by re- flex action it sanctifies them all. It is a pure- ly supernatural life, absolutely inaccessible to the unassisted powers of nature and im- measurably above them however great we may suppose them. This is a standing cause of trouble and anxiety even to pious souls. Many persons desire sincerely to receive Holy Communion with devotion and yet> 1 means loliness, iy. Fre- 1 be the < as it e iizting the Fa- (John, spirit- made limself nanity. )mmon merely by re- i pure" essible nd im- 2at we cause souls. ^ceive i yet» — 25 — after receiving it, they seem to " feel no- thing". They are moved neither by tears of joy nor other emotions and they conclude there must be something very wrong with them. Irritation and discouragement follow. Now there is a simple way out of all this. Go to Holy Communion with the liveliest faith, hope and love you can produce and leave the rest to Our Lord. He it is who operates ; you who are operated upon. The quieter you are the better shall it be for you. Concentrate your whole attention on the di- vine Person now substantially united with your's j make yourself one wi^h Him so far as your will is concerned ; let Him direct your understanding, mei .ory, imagination, emotions and senses. On Our Lord's entering the temple of your body hand Him the key of the Holy of holies which is your will. He might enter there without your leave for all creation is His ; but Here quires your con- sent because love to be complete must be mutual. Then let Him act according to His — 26-- good pleasure. If He leaves you dark and cold, be dark and cold. If He floods you with light and reveals His wondrous secrets receive them with holy joy and humble gratitude. If your imagination runs riot thro no fault of your's, let it run. If your flesh hangs about you like a wert blanket, let it hang ; what is born of the Spir It is a^ove the flesh. In a word forget your wretched self and be wholly attentive to Our Lord, with peaceful acquiescence in what- ever He may do. This is one of the meanings of 8t Paul's famous text ; I beseech you, Bre- thren, by the mercy of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God ; your service a reasonable one, (Rom. 12-1) . By reasonable service is meant a surrendering of the mind to God. What we have said is of vital importance to spiritual progress. In fact no progress is possible without this giving up of oneself. At Holy Communion, the more passive the soul is the more is it active, because the rk and ou with jecrets, bumble IS riot run. If a wert le Spir. t your to Our what- anings ,Bre- resent casing one, neant tance ess is eself. e t^ XXV, i the — 27 — more it is acted upon by grace. Those good people who, during thanksgiving, worry themselves to stir up semi- hysterical piety or rack their brain for sublime conceptions or fly to a book to help imagination are simply putting as many obstacles in the way of grace. They are substituting self for Christ and nust ever remain of earth earthy. But, will someone say, if this be so, and if Our Lord is to do everything, what need can there be of preparation on our part ? Banish that thought, dear Reader, it covers a most dangerous illusion. Know and re- member that never, at Holy Communion, shall you be able to effect the surrender of yourself to God unless your whole being be thoroughly prepared. Every sin venial or other, every imperfection, idle word or cul- tivated sensuality clogs the spirit, burdens it, weakens it and makes it less fit for the operations of Christ upon which its entire sanctification depends. It becomes unres- ponsive, filled with self, empty of Him ; — 28 — whereas He would have us empty of self and filled with Him, which is the highest form of love and the end of all religion. They who aspire to it make their daily life a prepara- tion for their daily Communion. ^\ro — 29 — elf and form of y who repara- cf iriyltttttl dimmmim. Deal with spiritual as you would with Sa cramental Communion. If you have learnt to hear Mass after the method suggested above you will naturally participate spiritually in the Sacrifice when you are not doing so sa- cramentally. Never omit this holy practice. As there is a baptism of desire so is there communion by desire ; since desires are the expression of the will, and, before God, to will deliberately is to accomplish. The grace of spiritual communion is not sacramental, but it is none the less precious for that, God has innumerable ways of communicating with those He loves. Consequently, when the time for commu- nion is at hand prepare your soul for the spiritual reception of Him who is being re- ceived sacramentally by others. Surrender your whole being to the action pf the Holy — 30 — Ghost. Detest and disown whatever in you offends His sight. Believe, hope, .'ove ; He will do the rest. No Mass can be heard to much advan- tage without Communion of some kind. The Sacrifice was instituted for us, and by ne- glecting to assimilate it, either sacramental- ly or spiritually, we are defeating one of its main objects. — 31 — mutiny ttf mx ^Uma fa^ij. Oh Blessed Mother, I beg of you to ac- cept as your own whatever may accrue to me from the Mass I am about to hear and from my Communion. Dispose of such according to your pleasure. Obtain for me and for all the faithful an increase of love for your Divine Son, and may sinners re- turn to Him in all sincerity. Amen. .«