Mass with Our Lady
...by Cyprian
How can we sufficently prepare ourselves for Mass? Sinful men are unworthy to be present. Recall in the Old Testament how only the high priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies, to offer blood sacrifice that could not remit sin. Today, we are all present when the High Priest, Christ Himself, offers the True Sacrifice that remits sin. How can this be?
There is One of our race who is worthy to enter the Holy of Holies, Mary Immaculate, "our tainted nature's solitary boast." She alone pleased the good God, and she is the one who can make us presentable to Him.
According to St. Louis Marie de Monfort, we should strive to do all things through Mary, with Mary, in Mary, and for Mary. If we come to Mass with Our Lady, she will make us pleasing to her Son. We can borrow her Immaculate Heart so that her Son won't be offended by our soiled and distracted hearts. St. Louis provides excellent examples in his book True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin.
Recognizing one's unworthiness is difficult for modern man, for he has been taught differently. The new Mass, defined as an assembly and a celebration, has shifted the focus more toward man. There is less need to call upon the Saints for help. The inventors of the new Mass saw fit to omit references to Our Lady in the confiteor, the offertory, the breaking of the Host, and in various "eucharistic prayers." These things and more make it difficult to conceive the true spirit of Divine worship at the new Mass.
Fortunately, the true spirit of Divine worship, maintained in the Traditional Latin Mass, is becoming available again. Come to the immemorial Mass, come with Mary, and enter the Holy of Holies in the same heart and mind as did the Saints before us.
Comments (1)
Cyprian, it is very good advice to come to Mass with Mary. Saint Padre Pio had tremendous devotion to Our Blessed Mother, and encouraged all to do the same, lest they be considered fools. He was given the special favor by God to be accompanied by Mary to the altar when he said Mass. In his sufferings, he claimed that she never left him alone. Our Lord has given us the perfect place to put our own sufferings --- at the Foot of the Cross, where we may also sanctify our sorrows by joining them to those of His Dolorous Mother during the sacrifice of the Mass. She has wonderful effects on our unworthy offerings.
Posted by Felicitas | September 22, 2007 9:55 PM
Posted on September 22, 2007 21:55