Heaven on Earth

[jheii]

I had a wonderful experience at mass today. It was an EF mass, so we were celebrating the Feast of Christ the King. Monsignor has decided that, in addition to chanting the ordinary, the schola will chant the propers of the mass on “special occasions” – today being the first such occasion. From the very beginning, as the schola chanted the entrance antiphon as the priest said the prayers at the foot of the altar, I felt an immediate sense of majesty and awe.

This got me to thinking about some of the debates about what the mass “is”: the mass as sacrifice vs. the mass as “community meal.” I realized that seldom is mentioned the fact that the mass is our participation in the heavenly worship of God. I was acutely aware of this at mass today. I could feel my soul united with the choirs of angels and saints singing songs of glory before the throne of the Almighty.

How often do any of you have experiences like this? Isn’t it amazing that we get to participate in the heavenly liturgy every week? I just wanted to share my thoughts because I’m feeling overwhelmed with joy and love for God. Deo Gratias!

 

[Shirley_Bite]

God bless you. And thank you for sharing this most awesome Sunday with us.

I try to close my eyes during Mass. It shuts out the children playing the pew ahead of me or the 2 teens over to the side punching one another. But, when I close my eyes and imagine that we, the congregation are standing before the throne of God with all the saints and angels, it is, as you say ‘awesome’! I listen to the other voices and rejoice in the off-key singing - it proves I don’t have to be perfect to participate. I also rejoice in the babies crying, it proves that the parents believe enough in the power of the Mass to make sure even the infants are present.

 

[jheii]

Rather than closing my eyes, I look up. There are four angels at a certain point of the ceiling in our Cathedral, and I think its quite appropriate to look at them .

Edit:
And God bless you,as well