A lot of times I had been asked how late one can be for mass and still be considered as having attended it? At what point must one make sure that he is already in the church so as not to be guilty of having missed it? Are there reasons that are valid enough to be excused for being late? May we make up for the missed parts of the mass in the next mass? Related questions like; How grave is the sin committed in being late? What if he is in a place when there is no church? When one is sick or suddenly has some important things to attend to, is he excused?
I believe these are very dangerous questions. They are questions that are usually proposed by those whose attitude, in this case, whose worship, are determined more by having attended rather than experienced and celebrated the liturgy in its essence (presence more than essence). For someone who is serious about his faith and considers it as necessary in his life, being late is not an issue.
In the first place, there is no reason to be late. Exceptional cases are legitimate excuses. The assumption is that one had prepared well for the celebration. Enough time and anticipation of unexpected delays had already been considered. Therefore, if one is late because of too much traffic, helping somebody in need on the way to the church, an emergency, flat tire etc., he is excused. It really does not matter at what part of the mass he arrived. The point is if he really intended to be present on time but did not make it because of unanticipated delays. Without the anticipated delays, however, there is no excuse to be late.
This brings us to the very meaning of the mass in our lives. It is the summit of Christian worship. It is also the center of our Christian life. We can not be a Christian without celebrating the mass. There was a time when attendance in a mass is not really a celebration because of meager participation (if it can be called as such) from the congregation. The priest faced the tabernacle with his back towards the people. The congregation responded depending on the gestures made by the priest. That was the only way they could determine at what part of the mass they were already in. They were practically reduced to being watchers to the mass. Vatican II paved the way for the renewal of Christian worship. The mass is now being celebrated the way we have it now. Priest and congregation are now having a dialogic celebration. There is greater participation on the pat of the people. Now, worship is more alive and active.
The mass is the continuation of the act of Jesus in Calvary. His death on the cross was the bloody event that merited forgiveness of sin and salvation to all. The saving action of Jesus did not end in Calvary. When He instituted the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, He commanded the apostles to do the meal in remembrance of Him. He told them that every time they do the meal, He is being remembered and that it effects the salvation of all. Therefore, every mass that is celebrated is not a repetition or mere intellectual remembrance of the event in Calvary, but a continuation of that same event in an unbloody manner. (“Remember” in the Jewish tradition and the Christian meaning is not only an exercise of the mind but an experience of that that happened in the past.) In the mass, it is still the Lord Jesus who is the Victim. The priest, by virtue of his ordination, represents Christ, the true Lamb of God.
It follows too that if we really value our salvation, then, the mass is a necessary event. More than any other commitment, the mass should rank the highest. Because of its unfathomable worth, it can not be taken for granted. It can not be compromised. It can not be forgotten. It can not be set aside. It can not be missed. We can not be late for it.
At the mass, we believe that Jesus is present in Himself (mismo). He is actually present in so many ways in a mass. He is present in the priest (His alter Christus). He is present in the gathered community. He is the Word of God read before the congregation. But He is perfectly present (par excellence) in the Eucharist. When we receive communion, the priests says, “Body of Christ!” He means to tell the communicant that he is giving Jesus Himself. The communicant responds with “Amen!”. It is a response of faith, meaning, “Yes,, I believe it is the Lord Jesus I am receiving.” Nowhere in the world could we best find and meet the Lord than in the Eucharist. Therefore, the necessity for the mass can never be overemphasized. Its meaning and significance extends beyond it.
The more relevant questions should be; Why should we go to mass? How must we prepare for it? How should we participate in it? What do we miss or lose when we fail to participate in it? Can we live without it?
So, do not be late! Rather, anticipate it with excitement!
I believe these are very dangerous questions. They are questions that are usually proposed by those whose attitude, in this case, whose worship, are determined more by having attended rather than experienced and celebrated the liturgy in its essence (presence more than essence). For someone who is serious about his faith and considers it as necessary in his life, being late is not an issue.
In the first place, there is no reason to be late. Exceptional cases are legitimate excuses. The assumption is that one had prepared well for the celebration. Enough time and anticipation of unexpected delays had already been considered. Therefore, if one is late because of too much traffic, helping somebody in need on the way to the church, an emergency, flat tire etc., he is excused. It really does not matter at what part of the mass he arrived. The point is if he really intended to be present on time but did not make it because of unanticipated delays. Without the anticipated delays, however, there is no excuse to be late.
This brings us to the very meaning of the mass in our lives. It is the summit of Christian worship. It is also the center of our Christian life. We can not be a Christian without celebrating the mass. There was a time when attendance in a mass is not really a celebration because of meager participation (if it can be called as such) from the congregation. The priest faced the tabernacle with his back towards the people. The congregation responded depending on the gestures made by the priest. That was the only way they could determine at what part of the mass they were already in. They were practically reduced to being watchers to the mass. Vatican II paved the way for the renewal of Christian worship. The mass is now being celebrated the way we have it now. Priest and congregation are now having a dialogic celebration. There is greater participation on the pat of the people. Now, worship is more alive and active.
The mass is the continuation of the act of Jesus in Calvary. His death on the cross was the bloody event that merited forgiveness of sin and salvation to all. The saving action of Jesus did not end in Calvary. When He instituted the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, He commanded the apostles to do the meal in remembrance of Him. He told them that every time they do the meal, He is being remembered and that it effects the salvation of all. Therefore, every mass that is celebrated is not a repetition or mere intellectual remembrance of the event in Calvary, but a continuation of that same event in an unbloody manner. (“Remember” in the Jewish tradition and the Christian meaning is not only an exercise of the mind but an experience of that that happened in the past.) In the mass, it is still the Lord Jesus who is the Victim. The priest, by virtue of his ordination, represents Christ, the true Lamb of God.
It follows too that if we really value our salvation, then, the mass is a necessary event. More than any other commitment, the mass should rank the highest. Because of its unfathomable worth, it can not be taken for granted. It can not be compromised. It can not be forgotten. It can not be set aside. It can not be missed. We can not be late for it.
At the mass, we believe that Jesus is present in Himself (mismo). He is actually present in so many ways in a mass. He is present in the priest (His alter Christus). He is present in the gathered community. He is the Word of God read before the congregation. But He is perfectly present (par excellence) in the Eucharist. When we receive communion, the priests says, “Body of Christ!” He means to tell the communicant that he is giving Jesus Himself. The communicant responds with “Amen!”. It is a response of faith, meaning, “Yes,, I believe it is the Lord Jesus I am receiving.” Nowhere in the world could we best find and meet the Lord than in the Eucharist. Therefore, the necessity for the mass can never be overemphasized. Its meaning and significance extends beyond it.
The more relevant questions should be; Why should we go to mass? How must we prepare for it? How should we participate in it? What do we miss or lose when we fail to participate in it? Can we live without it?
So, do not be late! Rather, anticipate it with excitement!
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