Keep Holy the Lord's Day
With the opening of our Parish School of Religion on this Sunday, it is a great time to pray in thanksgiving to God for the gift of our Catholic Faith and for the special people God has chosen to share it with us! First and foremost, thank you God for our great parents, the first and most important teachers of their children in the ways of the Faith. Thank you God for all those who assist parents in this great privilege and responsibility, especially our P.S.R. Teachers and Staff.
As Catholics, we believe the Mass is the heart of our Faith. We rightly refer to the Sunday Eucharist as the source and summit of our Catholic Life. The other Sacraments, our private prayer and devotion, and the good works that flow from our faith are all essentially connected and oriented to the Eucharist. The truth that we proclaim is that Jesus, the risen Son of God, is really present in the Eucharist. Jesus gives Himself to us in the New Covenant as our spiritual food and drink. Our participation in the Mass acknowledges and seals our right relationship with God and with the community. And it is the best thing we can do for ourselves.
When we say that we have “missed” Mass on Sunday, we only acknowledge part of the truth. We have actually chosen to do something else instead, something that is not the right worship of God. Even without intending it, we have placed a false god at the head of the week’s activities and responsibilities. A serious disorder results in the life-giving covenant that God is offering us in the sacrifice of Jesus.
We know that some particular circumstances may prevent us from coming to Mass or excuse us from the obligation. You may need to care for a sick family member. There may be an unexpected change in a work schedule. Anyone who is ill should stay home. Because the pandemic is not fully contained, anyone who feels at risk for contracting or communicating the virus should not come to Mass. Do not be scrupulous; if you are anxious about this, you are excused for the foreseeable future.