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E, F, i vomaMMfiiiMMM d. aciameit.BeEiJctne.

FOR SALE :

In Montreal, at M. de la Rousseliere, 319, Sherbrooke St.

In Pointe-aux-Trbmbbs : Sanctuary of Atonement.

'° ^ ?csm'm°' ^^^^'^^ • ^°'^^"* °f ^^« Servant Sisters of

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«M

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ife'^^*^!"!**.}.";**!:*'

d<^^M,»1[^t»f^f^f^*^*-*^*.9M

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HOLY MASS

HOLY MASS is the Feast of feasts.
Thro' its divine flesh and blood we are
made one with Christ in His fulness.
Of Mass the Psalmist sang prophetically :
'' 2^ou hast spread a table before nte against
them that afflict me. With oil hast Thou
anointed my head, and hoiv glorious is my
inebriating chalice'', (Ps. 22). And yet this
astounding mystery is overlooked by reason
of its familiarity and practically unknown
to most Catholics by reason of its very ex-
cellence. Because with human nature in its
fallen state, familiarity breeds contemnt and
invisible things can be known only by spirit-
ually contemplating their greatness. It is

— 4 —

indeed more than wonderful that we can be
present so often at the mystical death of a
God, at the outpouring upon us of His
blood, at His atonement for us to the Father,
and still be so cold, so unconcerned, so far
away from Jesus.

St Leonard of Port-Maurice, impressed by
indifference of Christians, used to say : '*Why
** may I not go into the high-ways and cry
*' out^: misguided people, what are you
** doing, where are you going ? Wake up
*' once for all fiom your death-like sleep
** and let the hearing of Holy Mass be your
'* cherished and daily devotion".

Great indeed is thy power, oh heavenly
Sacrifice ! Many a hardened sinner hast thou
rescued from everlasting night ; many a lost
soul mightest thou have saved had it come
to thee in the proper spirit.

But alas, most people hear Mass without
inward attention or reverence. There is next
to no appreciation of God's transcendent

— 5 —

gift, no practical knowledge of what is im-
plied by the shedding of Christ's blood ; and
all thro' want of preparation. Why, Our
Lord Himself was thirty-three years prepar-
ing for the celebration of His single Mass
in the Supper Room.

One of the devil's favorite tricks is to
keep our thoughts away from Mass. This
accounts for the wide-spread indifference on
so important a matter.

If every morning for one half-hour the
sky were to send us a shower of gold, would
you not, dear Jleader, find time to gather in
some of it. Well, each day there falls a
shower of supernatural gold, not from the
clouds, but from the altars of H jly Church.
This golden shower is increase of grace, for-
giveness of sin, remission of punishment
and fellowship in the merits of Christ. Spir-
itual wealth or poverty are at your back.

If thro' negligence you omit the hearing
of daily Mass, your loss is« simple infinite.
Labour is sweeter, success more telling, di-
vine protection more extended, health of

— 6

soul and body greater to one who assists at
morning Mass.

By Mass alone is Godc on earth, adequa-
tely and absolutely honored ; He receives
therein a gift equal to Heaven itself. Of all
devotions Mass is by far the holiest, in fact
it is above being ranked as a devotion. It is
the living Sun that quickens all our works.
To neglect it is to cut off the well-spring of
godliness.

A holy soul used to say : "Would I had
*' as many hearts and as many tongues as
** there are leaves in the forest and drops
'* in the sea to love and praise Thee, oh
"Lord, as thou deservest"! And one day
Our Lord Himself answered her thus : '*re-
'' member, my daughter, that a single Mass
" heard with devotion gives me all the glory
" you aspire to and infinitely more besi-
'' des".

Thus it is that by assisting piously at one
Mass there is more glory to God and merit
for ourselves that any other prayers or good

'»

're-

— 7 —

works can effect, while more sins are atoned
or than by the severest penitence. In the pre-
sence of that living fire our venial and even
our mortal sins disappear like snow before
the noon-day sun, and if our love be strong
enough, punishment goes with them.

The purifying term of Purgatory is cur-
tailed for ourselves ond others by every
Mass devoutly heard. If you are poor and
cannot give the usual stipend for Masses,
you may help your beloved dead just as
well and better by hearing Masses yourself.
One Mass heard during life is worth a
number said for you after death.

Make it a cherished practice to assist at
Mass for the holy souls in Purgatory. Re-
member how dear they are to God, how

NOTE : — What is said of mortal sin refers to the
many forms of Contrition, one of the principal fruits
of the Sacrifice. Perfect Contrition, as we all know,
justifies the soul and carries away every vestige of
temporal punishment due to sin even before sacra-
mental absolution, which, however, must be sup-
plied as soon as may be.

— 8 —

intense their love of Him, how secure their
holiness, how helpless thier condition, how
unutterable their expiation. Perhaps at this
very moment there may be amongst them
friends of yours once loved on earth. Be not
remiss in communicating with them thro'
the Holy Sacrifice. As you will have done to
others so shall it be done to you. St Jerome
tells us that during Mass many a soul flies
from Purgatory to the embrace of its Heav-
enly Father.

* *

But Holy Mass is not only a prayer, it is
a living, substantial action. It is adoration
thro' sacrifice in its highest conceivable form
This sacrifice is offered to God by the Con-
gregation together with the priest and thro'
him. We earnestly commit this great subject
to your prayerful consideration. It is in
truth " a deep calling unto deep". St Bona-
venture tells us that Mass holds mysteries
as countless as the drops of ocean, the
atoms of air, the angels of Heaven.

!»

— 9 —

During Mass you have the fullest right
to offer God the Father all the merits of His
Son. These merits are your's by the best
of titles since they are the solemn and irre-
vocable gift of God Himself. Be not listless
or neglectful of a privilege so sacred. Your
mystical priesthood challenges you to a holy
activity for yourself and others. This univer-
sal priesthood, which belongs to the hum-
blest of God's children, is held in lamenta.
ble abeyance by those who do not hear Mass
or who hear it negligently or who, while
they are hearing it, busy themselves with
other devotions. For your own sakes, dear
souls, and for the honor of Our Lord put
aside during Mass every prayer, practice or
thought save Mass itself. ''I offer Thee
this Sacrifice" whispered to God from the
heart means this : " I worship Thee as Thou
" deservest, I love Thee tj the full measure
" of my capacity, I .atone for every sin

** against Th'^« Thv ^r^i-*!t~f — •^--
«g_.ij^t 1 .1^,^, in/ noiiest gms are mine,

'* and suffering souls that wait for Thee are
" more than ransomed".

10 —

Do not then, we repeat it, be distressed
if you have no money at hand for the sti-
pend. The best stipend is yourself. Go and
hear the Mass you may not appropriate
with gold or silver ; the priest is offering it
for ail mankind. It will reach you and yours
and be applied according to the power and
grasp of your faith. Fear not, open wide the
gates bf Hope ; Christ and His Sacrifice are
infinite.

This is no small comfort to those who by
illness or infirmity or other causes are de-
barred from hearing Mass in the flesh. They
can do it in the spirit. They are aware, for
instance, that at such a time Mass is going
on at a neighbouring Church : let them unite
spiritually with the Sacrifice during that
solemn half-hour. The blessed Victim will be
their's as truly as if they were kneeling at
His altar. And do not be confined to one
Church. Let your spirit expanded by faith
take in every Mass being offered throughout
the length and breadth of earth. If you can

— II —

compass this tremendous fact, you may share
in every Mass said in the universal Church
during that single half-hour of inward recol-
ecfon. Now, the mightier your act of Faith
the greater shall your grace and glory be.'

Our Lord once told Mechtilda, a sweet
niedi^val samt : " I shall specially help and
„ '=«">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

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

((
((

*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.

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.

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

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.

.«