by Mrs. Lucille Flynn
Since I am not a psychologist or psychiatrist, and have no medical background, the thoughts I offer are from my own personal experience and observations over a long eventful life. Our present age can certainly qualify as one of the most perilous, ominous eras in the history of this world. The moral, economic, and yes, survival crises that confront us, reflect the godless, materialistic society by which ego-driven man has chosen to live.
Many post Vatican II Cathlics, victims of the Age of Reason, look to scientific and natural reasoning to solve the multiplying symptoms of an ailing society and a decaying government. For each one of us, encountering daily challenges can be unnerving and defeating. With all this said, how wonderful to know that we have at our disposal the one remedy that fits all! As Traditional Catholics, we are blessed, not only with the comfort of our daily Low Mass, but with the spiriutal renewal of Sunday High Mass.
If you are near, or able to locate to a traditionally oriented Catholic Church, enter and greet The Lord with a humble genuflection. Also, you may want to pause a moment and reflect on the glorious heritage and meaning of our Christian architecture. Our eyes are drawn to the Main Altar, (usually facing East), which houses the Tabernacle, home of Consecrated Hosts. This area, the Sanctuary depicts the Head of Christ. The section immediately below, and extending to the sides is the Transept, which depicts the arms of Our Divine Savior. On the other side of the Communion Rail is the Nave or main body of the Church where the faithful worship. This area signififies the Body of Christ.
If we have arrived early for the celebration of the Liturgy we can recollect ourselves with the recitation of the Rosary. In speaking to Our Lady, our heavenly connection has been made. Our Lady receives us as her children and becomes our mentor. Now, Holy Mass begins. Along with the priest at the foot of the altar, we silently review our sins and failings and submit them to the Lord.
The priest intones, "Christ have Mercy, and the Choir sings Kyrie Eleison, as we too ask for God's mercy. After the opening prayers, if we are not in Advent or Lent, our hearts soar as we join in glorifying God by listenting to the Gloria in Excelsis Deo. We now have a period of reflection to profit from the readings of the Epistle, Gradual and the Holy Gospel. The Gospel and Epistle are repeated in the vernacular by the priest. In the sermon that follows, the priest will clarify and explain the Holy Text as it applies to our daily lives.
We have now passed through the Mass of the Catechumens. Our minds and hearts are uplifted as we look forward to the Mass of the Faithful. We have asserted our Faith in the recitation of the Credo. Having done this, we enter the Canon of the Mass with its multiple prayers for all orthodox believers. We commemorate the memories of the Saints, we ask to be made part of Christ's family, that we may be united with Him, just as He will become part of us when we are brought together in Holy Communion.
It is the moment of the sublime Sacrifice. The elevation of Christ's Body and Blood to the Heavenly Father is enjoined to the elevation of our own soul, mind and body. We are witnessing anew the weight of our burdens being taken on by the God-Man willing to atone for our indifference and self-absorption.
From the singing of the Sanctus before the Consecration, to the time after the Elevation, when we will hear the recitation of the Pater Noster and the chanting of the Agnus Dei, we find ourselves equally in a restful mood as well as a period of expectation. We are awaiting our meeting with the Divine Physician! Are we prepared for this awesome encounter?
Once more, we humbly confess and beg forgivenmess for our sins. The priest asks that our souls receive life everlasting. We plead for God's mercy as we approach the altar rail to partake of the Bread of angels and to be made one with Christ. We are overwhelmed with thanksgiving, gratitude, peace and love. What sublime therapy for our soul and body!
The Communion and Post Communion prayers are sung and recited. We may be attentive, or we may find ourselves on an entirely diffrent mental plane as we kneel for the final blessing. But Wait! Before the end of our celebration, there is one last Gospel reading to seal and reaffirm our Christian belief. It is the Gospel of John, Chapter 1, verses 1-14 and it is my very own favorite biblical text from the New Testament.
Whatever the reason or expectation that led us to the Mass for All Ages, our reaction to this profound experience is ever new, the language, words, ceremony ever changeless. This is the assurance and comfort offered by the Tridentine Liturgy. Surely, this time with Our Savior, a time of respite from daily routine, response to Heavenly guidance, resurgence of spirit, re-organization of priorities, will be sufficient to make us resolve to seek the benefits of this reliable heavenly therapy every Sunday of the year!
Never again shall we approach Our Blessed Lord with the question, "What can God do for me?" but rather, "What can I do to please and thank Our Heavenly Father for the bountiful blessings and endless mercy He so lavishly bestows upon us when we are open to His Grace.
Our Sunday Mass has ended. We bless ourselves, gaze at the Cross, genuflect and in our hearts murmur, "Deo Gratias."
Mrs. Flynn is the mother of eight children and is the organist at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel in Still River, MA. Mrs. Flynn has also been published in New Oxford Review.
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