The following comes from a Sept. 13 story on ChurchPop.org.
1) Daily Mass teaches your family self-discipline
Having to “sit quiet and still” (this is what we aim for with our four year old) at Mass more than just on Sunday helps build the habit of good Mass behavior. It is shorter than Sunday Mass, so it helps children build stamina and self-discipline for the longer Sunday liturgy. I have noticed that at Sunday Mass my children have lost all attention by the middle of the homily, but at daily Mass they last through to the end and notice more things. It also teaches parents how to pray in a different way than they used to, prayer is an internal and external thing, and having to wrangle children through all of Mass definitely builds those interior praying abilities.
2) Repetition makes the liturgy something familiar and loved
More frequent attendance of Mass will familiarize your children with what is going on in the Mass and help them to pay better attention and understand the liturgy more fully. The Mass will become something they look forward to and expect on a daily basis. What is better for anybody than a desire to commune with God in the liturgy He gave us in order to worship Him?
3) Hearing Scripture Everyday
Your family will become familiar with Scripture through hearing it proclaimed in the readings at Mass. I love to see my daughters perk up when they hear a familiar passage. We reinforce the Gospel we hear at Mass by reading it again after dinner. Then we often will discuss the story, as our four year old is full of questions.
4) Sacramental Grace
This one is the most important reason. The opportunity for frequent reception of the Eucharist (when we are free from serious sin) is the best gift given to us by the Church. It makes us better people and better parents. And when our children are of age to receive, they too can receive this grace that will help them spend eternity with God.
5) Family Unity
“A family that prays together, stays together.” That is the phrase, right? Praying in your home together builds unity, but even more-so does the public prayer of the liturgy. In the Mass we pray the along with the same sacrifice that has been made for 2000 years since the Last Supper, uniting the whole Church as one; this same liturgy unites our families together when we go together.
6) Renewing the Church
I have always heard positive comments at daily Mass from the other daily Mass attendees. If others are negative, they have always been charitable enough not to say so. Even the priests saying Mass have always been very encouraging of us coming to daily Masses. In general, those whom I have seen at daily Mass are middle-aged and older; or they are the school children from the parish school. I suspect that for most of the people who attend daily Mass, seeing a family together at daily (not morally-obligated Sunday Mass) gives them hope. Imagine what it would be like if many families were at every daily Mass? It would remind us all that the Mass is a place for public prayer, and that having all ages at Mass is having the whole Church represented. If someone needs a quiet place for private prayer, then a quiet adoration chapel would be a better option than the public worship of the Church. People should not be discouraging others from taking their kids to church; we do not want the Church to be known as a Contraceptive Sanctuary.
Originally posted on Truth and Charity
To read the ChurchPop story, click here.
Hearing Scripture every day is the only way to hear the Word of God in entirety, unless one reads the Bible at Home.
For greater appreciation of the Mass, consider – “The Bible and the Mass” and
“The Lamb’s Supper” by Scott Hahn.
https://www.salvationhistory.com/studies/lesson/the_bible_and_the_mass
The more one knows about the Mass, the more they can explain to children and others, so the Mass can be more greatly appreciated.
When children are disruptive/unruly/uncontrollable one parent should take them out of Church until they settle down.
I disagree with the author: “If someone needs a quiet place for private prayer, then a quiet adoration chapel would be a better option than the public worship of the Church.”
You do not banish people who came to Mass for the purpose of WORSHIPING GOD to some other room or deprive them of Holy Communion – because they are in awe of God.
The Body of our Lord is in the Tabernacle (from the previous Mass) at all times. Everyone (including children) should dress and behave accordingly.
Mass is to worship God, and not intended as a social hour – make that clear to your children.
AVA good comments. God bless you
Because so few people hear about Mortal Sin at Sunday homilies, they rarely hear about the Mortal Sin (Sacrilege) of receiving Holy Communion unworthily.
1 Cor 11:27-30. ” Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.
Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.
That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. ”
Philippians 2:10-11 – ” that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. “
Interesting point Dottie. So what you are inferring is that every single person who receives Communion at Sunday Mass should have gone to confession IMMEDIATELY BEFORE the start of Mass and then, for the 45 minutes prior to Communion, they have to do everything they can to ensure that no impure thoughts enter their minds so that they can receive it? And people wonder why people are moving away from the faith of our fathers….
The quotes from St. Paul, of Dottie’s post, are all true! God is very holy! Our secular society of today, very morally depraved and sinful– does not know God! What is required for proper reception of Holy Communion, is to be in a state of grace. In pre-Vatican II days, most Catholics knew their Faith very well, from childhood! There was a greater respect for God! Not everyone went to Communion, at every Mass, maybe only half the church, or less! We all must go to Mass– but to receive Communion properly, one must be in a state of grace! This is for our own good! God loves everyone! We must also be reasonable, not unbalanced, not fanatical, in the practice of our Faith. Attendance at Mass was mandatory, saying your prayers was mandatory– but to receive Holy Communion, everyone, adults and children– all had to be in a really good state of grace! That’s fine! If we “goofed,” and were not properly prepared to receive Communion– there is always a “next time!” You always have to go to Mass!
Dottie was advocating not receiving Holy Communion while in a state of mortal sin. An impure thought is not a mortal sin, Bob, but rather what one does with that thought – entertaining it or rejecting it.
What you advocate seems to be not teaching the Faith so that folks will stay. That is not the Faith of Our Fathers. That is negation of duty which our Fathers would shun.
Bob, have you never heard of Mortal Sin ?
Do you know what Sacrilege against the Eucharist is?
Do you know what venial sin is?
Get yourself a copy of the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” – so you can learn what the Catholic Faith requires of its members.
Remember that it is a free choice to be or not be Catholic..
Here is a site to get you started, including quotes from Popes John Paul II, Benedict, and Francis.
“What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE”
https://whatcatholicsreallybelieve.com/
In response to what Bob mentioned, regarding “impure thoughts”— a sudden unwilled, unwanted thought, that pops up into our minds; is not a sin. However, to deliberately, willfully focus one’s mind on impure thoughts, is a different case! That is a sin! To cultivate good daily habits, to try to daily practice our Faith and Morals sincerely, with frequent, good reception of Communion, plus weekly or monthly Confession, helps Catholics to grow very close to God! Frequent, well-prepared reception of Holy Communion, not only removes venial sins, it also helps people to stay close to God in a state of grace, and lessens strong, unwanted impulses and desires that are of the body, as well as the mind and emotions. Frequent recitation of the Rosary helps, likewise! It takes a lot, to be a good, practicing Catholic, just as it takes a lot, to do anything well! Many people of long ago, were very good, practicing Catholics, who dearly loved their Church!
“Dressing Modestly (especially at Mass)”
Very nice…
…because it is a divine blessing to be made use of to honor Our Blessed Lord and obtain the graces necessary to retain the Faith. To understand the true nature of mass (a tremendous grace), is to desire (another tremendous grace) to attend daily mass when possible.
It is important that the Church be HOLY,
rather than be large in numbers and unfaithful to the Words of Christ.
In his book, “Faith and the Future” Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict) wrote:
” The church will become small and will have to start afresh more or less from the beginning. ”
https://www.knightsofdivinemercy.com/2012/03/15/cardinal-ratzinger-the-church-will-become-small-and-will-have-to-start-afresh-more-or-less-from-the-beginning/
Jesus said – Not Many will get to Heaven. Mt 7:13-14; Lk 13:22-28.
If you are not being taught to read the Bible and CCC at your parish, do it on your own, and encourage others.
For all who are LITERATE – – – – – CCC: ” 1791 …ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility.
This is the case when a man takes little trouble to find out what is true and good,
or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin.
In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.”
I agree TED. Since I was a little girl, every time we had some sufferings, I always heard “offer it up and go to mass”. Mass is also offered up for special intentions as well. Sometimes you may have to ask in advance because it can get filled up for months sometimes, because there are many people who request to offer a mass as well.
For frequent reception of Holy Communion, only three things are necessary: 1. Good intention 2. Freedom from mortal sin 3. The Eucharistic fast. “Good intention” includes a proper preparation at Mass, and being prayerfully focused on the Mass, with your heart desiring to be united with Christ. After reception of Communion, one makes a thanksgiving. To receive Holy Communion knowingly in a state of mortal sin, would be a serious sacrilege. When very young, I recall a few times after Saturday Confession, and then, the Eucharistic Fast– I “goofed up” a bit, with some VERY strong, angry thoughts, or angry words, in church, or on the way to church. If my lack of charity BADLY needed correction, in my heart, I would then say, “well, not this time, but maybe at the next Mass, when I have gotten things fixed– then I will try to be ready, again, for Communion!” Then, I would just kneel, tell God I am sorry, and focus on my prayers, and the Mass! There is always a “next time!”
Actually, it is not required that one even attend Mass to receive Communion.
For times when it is not possible to receive Holy Communion, we can make a Spiritual Communion.
Is the picture a Catholic Mass or Protestant service? I have never seen anyone hold hands like this at any Mass I have been to. I think it is a Protestant thing.
It is a protestant thing and it needs to stop along with many other habits that have been promoted for the past 40 plus years.
Holding hands at Mass is a Protestant thing that some Catholics do in violation of GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal).
In addition some mimic the Priest and hold up their arms during the Lord’s Prayer.
Neither of these actions are approved by the Church, and can serve to distract others.
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2011/11/bishops-decree-stop-holding-hands/
(A link to the decree is included in the linked post.)
Unfortunately, it is a Catholic Mass. Pope Paul VI wanted to reform the Mass, and make it more ecumenical. Six protestant ministers contributed to the creation of the Novus Ordo Mass. I could go on and on about the abominations. I have been going to The Traditional Latin Mass exclusively for the past three years, and will never go back to the Protestant Novus Ordo. The prayers in the Latin Missal alone, will move you and draw you so much closer to Our Lord, and deepen your spiritual life substantially.
C spreads falsehoods with his/her comment.
A long time ago, good Catholics frequently offered up little mortifications to God, along with prayers, for a special intention. They also had Masses said for special intentions, and would give their prayer intentions to priests and nuns, especially contemplative monks and nuns. But little mortifications were a part of a Catholic’s spiritual way of life. I recall, in some cases, some of the nuns I knew, confiding that they would offer up little mortifications, themselves, along with prayer intentions given to them, especially for people who had struggles, temptations, and sins, in regards to the flesh. That includes such things as alcoholism, gluttony, etc., along with sexual temptations and sins. Also, deep vices, abusiveness, violence, and criminal behaviors. All sins are flesh-related, to some degree, they believed. And mortification always helps, along with prayers, to request that God purify someone of sin! I always admired the good nuns, who cheerfully would pray and offer up a mortification, big or small, secretly, to help a struggling soul, suffering with sin!
Catholics and religious still do this, Linda Maria. Suffering willingly borne for love of God and neighbor is a tremendous way to draw down God’s grace. Would to God, such realities were preached in every parish..
https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/upload/September-28-2014-Day-of-Prayer-for-Synod.pdf
If this isn’t a protestant service, it’s very sad what has happened to our beautiful Mass since Vatican II.
Who cares about hands, focus on the Eucharist and leave the rest to God.