Do you get bored at Mass? Do you sometimes, or more than sometimes, find it a burden to HAVE to go to Mass each week? Does it seem like the Catholic Church has too many silly rituals involved in the Mass and maybe the “fun”, entertaining services of other Christian churches would be better suited for you and your family? Well, to some degree, this is understandable. The Catholic Church in various parts of the world dropped the ball after Vatican II about how we worship. This is not the council’s fault, but how it was interpreted.
Many Catholics in places like America don’t understand enough about what is going on during the Mass. As we will explain at the end of these 10 aspects of Mass that you might be missing- if you know what is going on, you should never leave Mass without being moved to tears, or close to tears. Mass is heaven. Mass is mission. Mass is the only continuing priestly sacrifice dating back to the original Passover. Mass is everything.
Now, these are 10 “things” or observations or illuminations described by only a layperson. However, these are all in line with Catholic teaching and are not controversial in any way. As per Vatican II, lay persons are not only encouraged, but downright required to help others in their faith and in their practice of the faith. This is a humble attempt at that. Let’s get started.
Entrance Procession
Watch almost any big Hollywood production dealing with the Roman Empire, and you will see a procession of the conquering army coming into Rome. Want to know what they were proclaiming? They were, in their own words, proclaiming the “Good News” of a triumphant military victory. Early Christians flipped the script on this with the opening procession. This is an in-your-face act of defiance. Remember, this opening procession was going on when being Christian was off and on punishable by death.
The Romans were proclaiming a victory in what St. Augustine would refer to as the “City of Man”. The opening procession of Mass is the proclaiming of victory of the “City of God”. Christ has won a victory for us. Good beat evil. Instead of a parade of weapons and defeated foes, Christ used nonviolence, forgiveness, and mercy. There are no defeated foes except those that, of their own accord, turn from God.
Consider that when Mass begins and the procession starts, this is the grandest procession in the universe. At your church, in your city, at that moment. Think of the best parade or procession you have ever witnessed- a college football day procession with the band leading the team in, or a wonderful Fourth of July or Thanksgiving parade, or even think of the ticker tape parades in New York City after WWII. These are beautiful, but they are just little specks, little flickers in time. The entrance procession of your Mass, each time, is heaven meeting earth. No matter what you are going through in life, this is the glorious announcement to you that it is going to be ok. God was made flesh, suffered, died, and was resurrected for you- for you specifically, and he is waiting for you each week to join him in heaven. Sing the opening hymn, focus on the words (remember, when you sing at Mass, you pray twice!), and take a second to glance over at the procession and know you are on the winning team.
The Opening Sign of the Cross
We did a deep dive on the Sign of the Cross, which speaks in depth about different ways of using and considering the implications of making the sign. For right now, we want to talk about when the priest instructs the people to make the sign of the cross. You may have been doing this for years without putting much thought into it. If that is the case, perhaps you should take a moment to think about what is going on here.
In the hugely successful show The Chosen, the writers did something very effective. They were able to get audiences hooked in episode 1 by having Jesus quote Isaiah when he “claims” Mary Magdalene. Here is the scene:
Now, keep that quote in mind. You are at Mass. This is not high theology, this is very simple. Jesus called you there. Consider the exact lines from Isaiah 43:1
But now, thus says the LORD,
who created you, Jacob, and formed you, Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name: you are mine.
Now, let’s get back to the Sign of the Cross at this moment and this line of Scripture and the video above. An old practice of making the sign at times is to think of it in this way: make the vertical movement. Think of this as a big “I” as in you, as in your ego, as in your pride. Now, finish the sign. Cross it out. Remove your pride, and give it to the Cross you are staring at. You are HIS, you are not your ego. It’s a beautiful way to start the Mass.
It’s About an Hour!
Much ink has been spilled about the implication of the terms “hour” and “day” in Scripture. Let’s just focus on what Jesus said in The Agony in the Garden in Matthew 26:40:
When he returned to his disciples, he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?
An hour. One measly hour His followers couldn’t give Him while He went through a pain that we will never be able to comprehend. But let’s not condemn his disciples too harshly. Remember, they hadn’t received the “Advocate” – the Holy Spirit yet. Peter denied Him three times, but also remember the other side of this story in John 21:15-19:
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
Jesus said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a third time,
“Do you love me?” and he said to him,
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger,
you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands,
and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go.”
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
Modern readers need to contrast these two moments for Peter. He was trying to be a good disciple, but he couldn’t even give Jesus an hour of his time at Jesus’ most vulnerable moment up to that point. When we are in a bad place spiritually, we don’t go to Mass. We can’t give God an hour of our week.
When we have opened ourselves up to the Holy Spirit (like Peter and others received at Pentecost), we can give him that hour joyfully. The thing here is that we shouldn’t give God just an hour on God’s day. That is a sort of commandment thing. What is key is to try to give God an hour EVERY DAY. This can be prayer, a Rosary, theological study, etc. Start slow, but think about how much time is wasted each day on folly. Can’t we all just give God an hour a day, considering what He has given to us?
The Catholic Mass is Sort of the Story of the Road to Emmaus
If you have ever been confronted by a non-Catholic asking about where in the Bible the Catholic Mass is mentioned, the simple answer is “the whole thing”. But that can take a while. You can refer them to Exodus chapters 25 through 40, or 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, or talk about how the earliest Christians practiced the Mass as per St. Justin Martyr, St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. Irenaeus of Lyons, St. Cyprian of Carthage, and on and on. However, perhaps there is no clearer description of the Catholic Mass than in Luke 24:13-35 in the story of the Road to Emmaus.
Before we give the quote (and we put it in paragraph form so it is easy to read), consider what is the Catholic Mass. It is split into two parts. The first part is discussing Scripture. The second part is receiving the Eucharist. The Eucharist is everything. It opens our eyes to Christ.
Here are two videos by Dr. Brant Pitre that discusses the story of the Road to Emmaus and the Catholic Mass followed by the story as written in Scripture:
Now, on that same day, two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Catholic Mass is the Continuation of God’s Covenant in Exodus
Every Catholic should know the importance of the Catholic Mass as the only continuation of God’s covenant He made with His people after the Exodus. To be clear, this doesn’t exist today with Jewish worship, and it certainly doesn’t exist in Protestant services.
God saved Israel via the Passover. He then implemented through Moses the Passover meal. At first, households could conduct the Passover meal themselves. Then remember, the people rebelled and started worshiping a golden calf. God was not pleased. So, God said from now on, the sons of Aaron, the Levites, would be the priests that would have to conduct the Passover meal. It also shifts to where it has to be conducted at first in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. So you have a very, very long time of the Passover meal being conducted only by priests in the Tabernacle and then the Temple.
Fast forward to Jesus. It is important to understand that the Last Supper was a Passover meal. It is the new Passover. It has the new priest (Jesus, obviously), and it has the sacrifice (Jesus, obviously). Now, remember, the source and summit of the Catholic faith is the Eucharist. This is the fact that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist and not just some symbol. It is all understood that Jesus is the new Temple. Now you have the priest, the sacrifice, and the Temple.
Since the Romans destroyed the Temple in 70 AD, the sacrifice of the lambs is not done in the Temple. That age is over. They now live in a Rabbi/Synagogue world with no Temple. Finally, Protestants do not believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist and also do not have that Apostolic Succession similar to the tribe of Levi that exists in the Catholic Church.
So, when you attend Mass, think back to the story of Exodus. You are participating in the continuation of that Covenant with God.
Peace Be With You
Can you imagine what the Apostles and other disciples of Christ were thinking when He walked back into the room after the Crucifixion and Resurrection? Yes, Peter did fight back a bit when they were apprehending Him, but then denied Jesus three times. The youngster of the group, John, did go to Mary and join her at the Cross, but he wasn’t there defending Him while he was being unjustly prosecuted. Judas despaired and killed himself. The rest of the Apostles fled, and we don’t hear about them.
Let’s now add to this something very important- the followers of Christ were being sought out. The original term “Christian” was given as a label to associate you with a criminal and was punishable by death. The Apostles and others present in that room when Jesus appeared to them must have been terrified and racked with guilt. They must have felt alone and full of remorse and fear.
And, could you imagine how these followers of Christ must have felt before they saw Jesus resurrected? God became man, and they watched as man killed God. You could even surmise that Jesus had to have been God simply by the fact of His approach to His followers as he walked through the door. He said to them… Peace. Peace be with you. Shalom in Hebrew. We killed God. We abandon Him all the time, but he comes back time and time again and says, “Peace be with you.”.
Someone once said that Christianity is not a religion where we go up to the mountaintop to find something; it is the mountain that is coming after us. We killed God, and He walks through the door and says Peace be with you.
This is what Jesus wants from us- to continue that sharing in the Divine Grace. That is not just us saying “Peace be with you” to our family and friends and others close by at Mass, but this is just a fraction of what is expected of us as Catholics. Every action and every word of ours during our life should be reflective of this greeting.
Holy Holy Holy
Drawn from both Revelation 4:8 and Isaiah 6:3, “Holy Holy Holy” to many (ok, maybe most) is a trigger for us to kneel. It is part of the Sanctus, and it is fair to say that when hearing those three words repeated, we sort of stretch our legs and get ready to get that kneeler out. That is perfectly ok, as it is a very memorable line, but this is so much more than that.
The repeating of the word “Holy” three times just in terms of composition has a couple of meanings. First, it is an allusion to the Trinity. God is one in three persons. It is also important to know that in this instance, the repetition of Holy three times as per ancient Hebrew, is that it declares a sort of superlative. This is similar to when Jesus says “Amen, Amen”, a double repetition, which means, “Hey, listen up, this is super important.”. But repeating this three times is that much more powerful, as it means what we are signing here is the ultimate, it is the most important.
So what is the significance of Holy, Holy, Holy? It is what we will be doing for eternity if we make it to Heaven. When we sing the Sanctus, we are joining heaven and earth. John tells us that is what heaven is like, and that is what Mass is like. Mass is heaven, and Holy Holy Holy is the soundtrack.
Amen to the “Body of Christ”
The most important word you say every week and for your whole life is said at Mass. We do it ritually, and often without thinking too much about it. It is the “Amen” when the Eucharist is in front of us and the word “Body of Christ” is said to us. Perhaps it would be good that from time to time the “Body of Christ” should be asked as a question!
We are answering and declaring “Amen” to the cornerstone of our Catholic faith. It is not just a formal response. The Real Presence of Jesus Christ is offered to us, and we are saying, “Yes!!! I believe this is Jesus Christ!” We have a deep dive on the importance of the Eucharist, so that doesn’t need to be reviewed here, but it might be good to have a little refresher on how the Eucharist is central to the entire Catholic faith. When we say “Amen,” we really should say so from the depth of our faith and our heart and our mind. This is the most important word said at the most important time of your life, every time you receive the Body of Christ.
Epiclesis and Elevation
Most Catholic Masses have the ringing at the moment of Epiclesis and understand that this is the moment of the miracle- when the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. This should be fairly well understood by most Catholics.
After this, the priest will raise the Eucharist and display it with arms outstretched. This is formally associated with the Last Supper when Jesus told the Apostles that this bread is His body and the wine is His blood. Less understood is that this is an expansion of sorts of an ancient tradition when priests in Israel would (rarely) show the Bread of Presence, which was hidden from the people most of the time, and which was more literally known as “the face of God”.
As the epiclesis is a miracle, the elevation is often overlooked. Here is a wonderful time to perform an ancient tradition that is not very well known and not talked about too much in Catholic teaching. When the priest performs the elevation, it is a perfect time to perform a simple prayer for someone who needs it. Use your own words, and when the Host is elevated, say something like “Father, please accept the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus Christ, for…”. This isn’t some magic trick where you are trying to force God’s hand. It doesn’t work that way. It is you- in a moment of right praise before Jesus Christ, the Father, and the Holy Spirit- asking humbly for help for someone who needs it. This is a beautiful prayer you can say at every Mass.
End of Mass
“Mass” means “To Send”. Mass is not just an hour obligation we have to say we are “good Catholics”. Have you ever noticed that Catholic churches (until they started this arena-type layout, yuck!) are cathedral-shaped, which is the shape of a boat? That was not by accident. The Catholic church should remind people that the Church that was founded by Jesus Christ is an ark. The “world” is the chaotic sea that Noah was surrounded by.
To keep on the Noah theme, even the word “church” in Greek means to be “called out from”. What are we called out from? The world. We are called out from the world to go to Mass, to meet Christ, and then we are be “sent out” back into the world. Mass, then, should be viewed much more as a refuge and a “recharge” at the same time. We come to Mass to get ready to meet the world again and to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.
When the Mass ends, it is just the culmination of everything that just happened in the last hour, not just a formal declaration that you can go now. When the priest states that the Mass has ended, and the people say “Thanks Be To God”, that means essentially get out of here and start being amazing Catholics! That does not mean just going about your lives. Your Catholic faith is not meant for you; it is meant for participating in the Divine Mercy by loving God and loving your neighbor ACTIVELY.
So, when the priest says Mass is over, and the words “Thanks Be To God” come out of your mouth, think of it much more like you have been given a mission, and you have just chosen to accept it!
Bonus – Tears
As we mentioned at the start of this long post, if you are going to Mass and have a good understanding of what is going on, which we hope we helped with, you should come close to or have the tears every time you attend. If you don’t, keep trying; you will get there.
St. Thomas Aquinas couldn’t get through administering the Eucharist without crying. Every single time. He had medical issues at times because of how emotionally he reacted to the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. He knew what it meant. It wasn’t a symbol, it was Jesus Himself.
If we start to surrender our ego and go into Mass with more and more humility and less and less pride, the magnitude of what is going on will start to take over. Let it. Mass isn’t something we do for an hour to fulfill an obligation. For a Catholic, Mass is everything.