Assisting at Mass

[Scullinius]

What exactly does it mean to “assist” at Mass?

 

[Kielbasi]

Be physically present at the mass, and unite your prayers with that of the priest and the whole church.

 

[msproule]

I think it might be a literal translation of a Latin term that simply means to attend Mass. I am no Latin expert, but I know in Spanish that “asistir a Masa” is normally translated as “to attend Mass”.

 

[rcn]

Kielbasi:

Be physically present at the mass

While this may be the technical definition, it’s one that only a nahdful of people who hang out on web forums are going to understand. To me “assist at Mass” will always refer to the altar servers.

 

[gelsbern]

rcn:

While this may be the technical definition, it’s one that only a nahdful of people who hang out on web forums are going to understand. To me “assist at Mass” will always refer to the altar servers.

It’s too bad because you are missing out on the whole idea which has been stated well above. Remember we are all part of the universal priesthood of the faithful after we are washed at baptism.

vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/audiences/alpha/data/aud19920325en.html

vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_03091965_mysterium_en.html

The Universal Priesthood

1. But there is something else that We would like to add that is very helpful in shedding light on the mystery of the Church; We mean the fact that the whole Church plays the role of priest and victim along with Christ, offering the Sacrifice of the Mass and itself completely offered in it. The Fathers of the Church taught this wondrous doctrine. (24) A few years ago Our predecessor of happy memory, Pius XII, explained it. (25) And only recently the Second Vatican Council reiterated it in its Constitution on the Church, in dealing with the people of God. (26) To be sure, the distinction between the universal priesthood and the hierarchical priesthood is something essential and not just a matter of degree, and it has to be maintained in a proper way. (27) Yet We cannot help being filled with an earnest desire to see this teaching explained over and over until it takes deep root in the hearts of the faithful. For it is a most effective means of fostering devotion to the Eucharist, of extolling the dignity of all the faithful, and of spurring them on to reach the heights of sanctity, which means the total and generous offering of oneself to the service of the Divine Majesty.

Therefore we all assist at Mass, even from the pews.

ewtn.com/faith/teachings/euchb1a.htm

1. How should we assist at Mass?

We should assist at Mass with reverence, attention, and devotion.

(a) There are different ways of assisting at Mass devoutly: using the missal to follow the priest, saying the Mass prayers as found in a prayer book; singing hymns; and the like.

1. What is the best method of assisting at Mass?

The best method of assisting at Mass is to unite with the priest in offering the Holy Sacrifice, and to receive Holy Communion.

(a) It is evident from the words of the priest himself that we do unite with him in offering up the Holy Sacrifice. After the Offertory he turns to the people and says: “Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the Father Almighty.” In the second commemoration of the Canon of the Mass he says: "Remember, O Lord, Thy servants . . . for whom we offer, or who offer up to Thee, this sacrifice of praise . . . "

 

[rcn]

gelsbern:

It’s too bad because you are missing out on the whole idea

And you’ve missed out on my whole idea. There’s no point in using a word with an obscure, uncommon meaning. Don’t use a five-dollar word when a ten-cent word will do the job just as well. Don’t, for example, say “catechesis” when “education” is the word that everyone knows, and don’t say “assist at mass” when most people know it by the phrase “attend mass”.

 

[puzzleannie]

rcn:

While this may be the technical definition, it’s one that only a nahdful of people who hang out on web forums are going to understand. To me “assist at Mass” will always refer to the altar servers.

the altar servers, even in the TLM, represent the faithful, in their responses to the priest in the Tridentine Mass, and in their service functions. But under our fuller understanding of the role of the faithful at Mass which is key to the liturgical renewal, we are all full, active participants when we attend, are fully attentive and prayerful, unite our prayers and intentions with those of the priest, participate in the dialogue with the priest, sing, move, adopt the appropriate posture at each part of the Mass and so forth. It is NOT necessary to take an active ministerial role such as reader, acolyte, etc. in order to be a full, active participant. It is necessary to be there, physically, mentally, spiritually.

 

[msproule]

rcn:

And you’ve missed out on my whole idea.

I do not think this thread was ever about your idea. I think your (name removed by moderator)ut was “missed” because you made a weak argument. The reason these terms are not commonly used anymore is because they came into less and less use due to bad catechesis, or education; whatever you want to call it.

I am surprised you forgot to mention that “gathering space” is a more appropriate term than “narthex”, based upon your idea.

 

[rcn]

msproule:

I do not think this thread was ever about your idea. I think your (name removed by moderator)ut was “missed” because you made a weak argument. The reason these terms are not commonly used anymore is because they came into less and less use due to bad catechesis, or education; whatever you want to call it.

I am surprised you forgot to mention that “gathering space” is a more appropriate term than “narthex”, based upon your idea.

I’ve never heard either term. Assuming you mean “the entry of the church”, in our parish it is referred to as the “vestibule”. See what I mean?

Whatever the reason that words and phrases fall from common usage, the fact remains that they do. And one who insists on holding onto the old meanings is going to find themselves more and more out of step, having to explain what they really mean more and more frequently.

So the answer to the original question should have been ’ “assist as mass” is an archaic phrase that has been replaced in recent times by “attending mass”’. That’s all it means, nothing more and nothing less.

 

[gelsbern]

rcn:

I’ve never heard either term. Assuming you mean “the entry of the church”, in our parish it is referred to as the “vestibule”. See what I mean?

Whatever the reason that words and phrases fall from common usage, the fact remains that they do. And one who insists on holding onto the old meanings is going to find themselves more and more out of step, having to explain what the really mean more and more frequently.

So the answer to the original question should have been ’ “assist as mass” is an archaic phrase that has been replaced in recent times by “attanding mass”’. That’s all it means, nothing more and nothing less.

But you aren’t just supposed to simply attend, like you would a play or a concert, you are supposed to be actively assisting, that means to be offering your prayers up with the priest’s prayers. There is a big difference between attending and assisting.

 

[jrabs]

rcn:

While this may be the technical definition, it’s one that only a nahdful of people who hang out on web forums are going to understand. To me “assist at Mass” will always refer to the altar servers.

While your interpretation of assisting at mass is literal, assisting at mass does indeed mean being prayerfully present at the mass.

This selection of the word “assist at mass” may be obscure to you - however those are the words used commonly to refer to attendance at mass.

According to the Blue Pieta Booklet, the graces of assisting at mass are as follows:

olrl.org/pray/pieta/gmass.shtml

Graces Derived from Assisting at Mass

1. 
   *]The Mass is Calvary continued.
   *]Every Mass is worth as much as the sacrifice of Our Lord’s life, sufferings and death.
   *]Holy Mass is the most powerful atonement for your sins.
   *]At the hour of death the Masses you have heard will be your greatest consolement.
   *]Every Mass will go with you to judgement and plead for pardon.
   *]At Mass you can diminish more or less temporal punishment due to your sins, according to your fervor.
   *]Assisting devoutly at Holy Mass you render to the humanity of Our Lord the greates homage.
   *]He supplies for many of your negligences and omissions.
   *]He forgives the venial sins which you have not confessed. The power of Satan over you is diminished.
   *]You afford the souls in Purgatory the greates possible relief.
   *]One Mass heard during life will be of more benefit to you than many heard for you after your death.
   *]You are preserved from dangers and misfortunes which otherwise might have befallen you. You shorten your Purgatory.
   *]Every Mass wins you a higher degree of glory in Heaven.
   *]You receive the Priest’s blessing which Our Lord ratifies in Heaven.
   *]You kneel amidst a multitude of Holy Angels, who are present at the adorable Sacrifice with reverential awe.
   *]You are blessed in your temporal goods and affairs.
   
   In eternity, we shall fully realize that it was certainly worthwhile to have assisted at Holy Mass daily.

 

[rcn]

jrabs:

those are the words used commonly to refer to attendance at mass.

“Used commonly?” No, and that is my point. Ask 100 people at a Sunday Mass how they’d define the term, and 98 or them will say something about the servers. That is reality. Don’t use a five-dollar word when a ten-cent word will do the job just as well.

According to the Blue Pieta Booklet

I’d be curious to know the copyright date on that.

 

[gelsbern]

So that means that 98 out of 100 have had a poor catechesis.

It’s not a difference between a 5 dollar word and a 10 dollar word, it is the difference in what you are supposed to do as compared to what too many people actually do.

Too many people simply attend mass, and there are a lot of reasons this trend has started, but at Mass we are supposed to assist!

 

[fix]

That so few people are familiar with assisting as mass does not mean the word is obscure, it only means we all need to be better informed as we call ourselves faithful Catholics.

 

[jrabs]

“Used commonly?” No, and that is my point. Ask 100 people at a Sunday Mass how they’d define the term, and 98 or them will say something about the servers. That is reality. Don’t use a five-dollar word when a ten-cent word will do the job just as well.

I’d be curious to know the copyright date on that.

WOW -since you asked, I’ll dig it out of my purse right now…My Pieta book has a 2004 copyright date. Pick one up - you’d enjoy it! It is an awesome prayer booklet. I could spend an hour at Adoration alone just reading from this prayer book and meditating on it’s contents.

But back to your point about commonly used - I should have said commonly used terminology by the Catholic Church. Let’s put it this way, commonly - like the word indulgence is used, or Eucharistic Adoration.

We do not need to use nickle words and dumb down the Cathlic population. We just need education and I believe that is the whole point of this excellent question.

Maybe the population on whole does not understand the wording selection because they are not that fervent in their faith, or for a number of reasons, but this does not negate the fact that it may be a common term in the church.

 

[rcn]

jrabs:

My Pieta book has a 2004 copyright date.

OK, thanks. The reason that I asked, was that the web site you pointed to was not one that I wanted to spend time on.

I should have said commonly used terminology by the Catholic Church.

Again, I don’t agree. I’ve never heard the term used, except on web forums. Nobody ever says “hey, let’s go assist at mass”. “Let’s go to mass” or even “go to church” are the terms today. I see no harm in pointing that out to someone who inquires about the older terminology.

 

[jrabs]

rcn:

Again, I don’t agree. I’ve never heard the term used, except on web forums. Nobody ever says “hey, let’s go assist at mass”. “Let’s go to mass” or even “go to church” are the terms today. I see no harm in pointing that out to someone who inquires about the older terminology.

But then again, I am sure you don’t often hear, “hey let’s go get our indulgence” either.

I guess you just learned something new - about assisting at mass - and now can go educate others.

I think you misunderstood what I said. I did not say “street terminology”, I said commonly used Catholic terminology - priests, prayer books. Just because you have not hear it doesn’t make in less common - just less common for you.