The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-05-24
THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE
MASS.

MASS.
The mass is work to which the sal
Natlon of the worth is attached-St
oden, Abbot of Cluny
1t is to the mass that the earth owes
| Its preservation-witho this sacrifice
1t would long ago have been annihilated
on account of the sins of men.-Tim-
othy Of Jerusalem
Every time that the Lord is immo-
lated on our altars he confers no less
favor on the world than which he gave
| 1t in becoming man.-St Bonaventure.
The sacrifice of the altar, being but
! the application and the renewal of the
! sacrifice of the cross, a mass is. in re-
( gard to the well-being and salvation
OF men, as efficacious as the sacrifice
OF CalVary.-St Thomas Aquinas
A mass is worth just as much as the
death of Christ on the cross.-St John
Chrysostom.
Should anyone die on the day on
which he has piously assisted at mass.
without being able to receive the sac
ramentS. he is considered to have re-
ceived them, provided he had at his
death contrition for his sins.-St. Au-
gustin.
He who hears mass in the state of
grace, for a greater reason, the priest
who celebrates in piety merits more
than II he went on a pilgrimage all
over the world, and gave all his pos
sessions to the poor.-St Bernard.
Without doubt God will grant us all
that we ask of him during the mass.
and very often ne grants us more than
we ask for.-St. Jerome
The sacrifice of the mass is so ex-
cellent that nothing created can give
al
gether all the merits of the incompar-
able Mary, all the alterations of the
Angels. all the sufferings of the Mar,
tyrs, all the austerities of the Anchor
cts, all the purity of the Virgins. all
the virtue of the Confessors: in a
word, all the merits of the Saints who
were, who are, or who will be. from
the beginning of the world to the con-
summation of ages; then join to all
these merits the virtues and merits of
millions and millions of supposed
worlds still more perfect than ours
and still you cannot have the exact
idea of the value OF one mass. A mass
in value is infinitely beyond all these.
and never can there be a comparison
between the finite and the infinite Rea-
son itself is not slow in comprehending
this All the hOnors. all the homages
can give to God, even though they
should be incalculably more perfect
than they now are, have but finite
value, whereas the honor given to God
from mass is infinite. Faith proclaims
all this, and there can be no question
on this matter The sacrifice. consid-
cred in itself, is of value infinitely. be-
yond the conception of the highest
angel in heaven,
Hence there is no action that is more |
dear to God than the holy mass. none |
that renders him so much glory: that !
disarms so efficaciously his wrath: that |
obtains more successfully his favors:
that is more succoring to the church on |
earth, or more comforting to the souls |
in purgatory, or gives more Joy to the
church triumphant in heaven.
And the fruits the holy mass are
simply innumerable. Those especially
mentioned in ,he Sayings of Saints"
above will suffice to give you a fair
idea of them.
Always then hear mass when an op-
Dortunity is given you, not only on y
Sunday, but also on other days. even
though the church be far away and
he weather somewhat unpleasant. and
make il a point 10 be in time. And.
when attending. avoid all willful dis
racuons and sinful behavior such as
aughing, talking. gazing about, dis
urblng others. Comply with the cere-
monies, and do it reverently; when
allied for stand erectly. kneel devoutly.
n sit decently. Always remember
hat while mass is going on, you are
present at the same spectacle that the
Iews witnessed when Christ was cruel
led on Calvary, then mass Will be for
'ou strong means of salvation.
Without Thee, Lord things be not
what they be,
Nor have they been, when compared
with Thee.
n having all things, and not Thee,
what have 1?
Not having Thee, what have my la
bors got?
let me enjoy but Thee, what further
crave /?
And having Thee alone, what have 1 {
not? ,