What is Sunday Mass?

Sunday Mass is the centre of the practice of faith for Catholics. It is not the only thing we do, by any means, but it is our main act of worship. Everything else is connected with it in some way. In the past twenty-five years, there have been great efforts to make the Mass more understandable and even enjoyable. But, with all the changes that have taken place, the Sunday Mass continues to be difficult for very many people. The single biggest weakness of our celebration of Mass is that people are not prepared for what is going to take place. This book is presented to help families and individuals to come together on a Sunday really searching for what God wants to give.

Is it always the Same?

A mistake a lot of people make is to think that the Mass is always the same. In fact, every Sunday there is a special theme, some particular way of thinking about Christ and ourselves and our world. Very specific graces are prayed for, very definite direc­tions established for the week ahead. We need to be prepared for this.

How long should Mass last?

Answer: For life. The main reason for any individual to go to Mass is to be sent out again to live what has been received. Week by week we are entrusted with the Word of God and empow­ered to make that word live in our world. We are fed with the Body and Blood of Christ so that we can have the strength and confidence to live for the salvation of our world. The purpose of the Mass is ‘that by eating the Body of Christ, we can become the Body of Christ.’

Whose Mass is it?

Each person is an individual. Christ forms us into one Body. We need to be prepared constantly for this. Unity does not just happen. It has to be made happen by us as we surrender to Christ and learn to love one another.

Sunday Mass is given to us as the major on-going source of renewal of faith, hope and love for the whole church. Even in places where Mass is not possible every Sunday because of the shortage of priests, the liturgy is celebrated often in eucharistic services led by lay women and men. In this part of the world there is still a strong view that the Mass somehow belongs to the priest. It is up to him to put everything into it. If he turns us on by how he does it, or by what he says, we are glad. If he doesn’t come up to our expectations, we complain. Of course, the priest has a very special place in the celebration of Mass. A lot does depend on what he puts into it. But the Mass will not really be what it was meant to be until people begin to take responsibility for it. This can best be done by taking time each week to prepare for the Sunday Mass that is coming up.

How might we prepare for Sunday Mass?

There is no one way to prepare for Sunday Mass. If you find a better way than using Living the Sunday Liturgy, then please go that way — and let us know about it! The following suggestions are made for getting the most out of this book:
• It can be used by an individual, a couple, a family, a group.
• Establish a regular time each week when you will work on the questions in the book. Friday or Saturday would seem the best days to aim for.
• Each person should take time first to answer the questions on the page. This is best done by writing down the things that strike you in response to each question.
• Together, as a couple, a family, a group, choose one of the questions that you especially want to get into. Spend most of the time on that. Read the particular passage under which that question is found. Share what you hear from that passage and talk about your answers to the question. Then take some time with the other readings and questions.
• End with the prayer theme for the Sunday. Share a little of your answer to the question under this. Then pray the prayer together.

 
Each individual can carry the Sunday Mass right through the following week:
 
a) By making the response to the psalm — and the psalm itself —part of your prayer through the week.
b) By taking one of the questions each day and developing your response to it more fully. For example:
1) Sunday: Reflect on the Focus for the Mass.
2) Monday: Work on the Questions for Action.
3) Tuesday: The Prayer Theme and question.
4) Wednesday: The First Reading and question
5) Thursday: The Second Reading and question.
6) Friday: The Gospel Reading and question.
7) Saturday: Prepare for next week.
• In these ways your whole week can be filled with the power of the Sunday Mass. If it is, you will find great growth in your life; great peace in your heart; great joy in your love.

Johnny Doherty CSsR