Why do you go to Mass?

[klm120861]

I go because I breathe. I know I could stay home and sleep in during the week, but I miss it when I can’t go. This summer I have been most blessed because I can start every day in the Chapel and then go to Mass. I go because it feeds me. On every level.

When you pray the Rosary, 6 times you pray, “give us this day our daily bread.” If you add in the Liturgy of the Hours, in the morning and evening, that’s 8 times. How can you pray, “give us this day our daily bread” and know the table is set, the banquet is prepared, and not go and dine? I breathe, I go to Mass. Jesus is there. Physically there. How could I stay home?
Kris

 

[louise23marie]

I think it’'s great to hear you and so many people talking from the heart like that about the mass. What a great question!

 

[Mount_Carmel]

I go because I breathe. I know I could stay home and sleep in during the week, but I miss it when I can’t go. This summer I have been most blessed because I can start every day in the Chapel and then go to Mass. I go because it feeds me. On every level.

When you pray the Rosary, 6 times you pray, “give us this day our daily bread.” If you add in the Liturgy of the Hours, in the morning and evening, that’s 8 times. How can you pray, “give us this day our daily bread” and know the table is set, the banquet is prepared, and not go and dine? I breathe, I go to Mass. Jesus is there. Physically there. How could I stay home?
Kris

Beautifully put, so full of discernment!

 

[pink8888]

I have asked myself this question a couple of times in the past. And then, in the homilies of our priests, i found out that Jesus calls me to go. I have to accept this kind of reasoning since I can get no better answer.

I like going to mass to hear the sermons of our priests. I want to learn the history, background, and application of each and every gospel teaching in the Bible. It makes the Bible easier to understand. And it helps that the priests who deliver these sermons are credible.

And I should say that going to mass has become a habit. I have to start my day with a Mass.

 

[Cat]

I go to Mass to encounter and receive Jesus Christ, Truly Present, in the Word and in the Eucharist, and receive Him in Holy Communion.

I enjoy many aspects of the Mass: the music (good or bad–as long as it is done by parishioners that I know and love), the readings, the homily, the responses, the prayers, the silent times, even the announcements. I like being part of parish life and spending time with my Christian brothers and sisters.

But even if I didn’t enjoy the Mass liturgy, I would go for to see Jesus and receive Him.

 

[MarkInOregon]

I go to worship God. to hear his Word proclaimed, to receive absolution of my venial sins, to receive the Eucharist, to receive grace and to fellowship with other Catholics. I get this regardless of the music or the homily, how the priest says mass, how noisy kids are and regardless of how others dress or participate.

Peace of Christ,
Mark

 

[Marie5890]

Some people go because the Church requires it every weekend, some go because they find peace there, some go primarily to receive Holy Communion, etc.

What is your reason for going? This curious priest would like to know!

For me it’s a 3 fold reason

1)The Eucharist
2)I WANT to worship. By my own choice. I’ve never been good at going anything cause someone told me I have to. That means nothing to me. If anything, I feel like a hypocrite if I am doing something because someone says I “have to” and my heart it not in it.

3)forgiveness

 

[Sariaru]

I do not look on it as an obligation (though it is), but as a happy privilege, and a real gift.

This is it for me, too! I’ve never felt “obligated” to go to Mass on Sundays. Rather, I’m super-excited to be there, even if I’m tired or feeling under the weather. The alternative (nothing at all or worse, accompanying my family to their Protestant church) is genuinely shudder-worthy.

Sometimes I go to extra Masses during the week in order to get away and be with Jesus. It’s a little sanctuary for me.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

I go because I love to go. LOVE is the answer and the only correct answer.

 

[Classicist]

I go to Mass because my experience of the Holy Trinity is subjective when I am alone; at the Holy Sacrifice & Supper of the Lamb, I am objectively in the full presence of the Lord God.

I go to mass to ask for mercy from the King, to glorify God in the highest, to confess my Belief before the world, to worship the Thrice-Holy Lord, and to be embraced by the mercy of the Lamb of God.

I go to Mass because I want to sing to Our Father simultaneously with my brothers & sisters: to lead the rejoicing crowd into the house of God amid cries of gladness and thanksgiving, a throng wild with joy!

I go to Mass to see the pews full with the angels and saints!

Oh, and then there’s receiving the Creator of the universe into my very own self.

 

[bcuster]

I go to Mass to be fed in the Word and the Eucharist. I go to Mass because I am a member of the Mystical Body of Christ and we members offer our prayers and sacrifices with Christ for the salvation of souls and the Glory of God. I go to Mass because others depend on me to be there. I go to Mass to prepare for the Heavenly Liturgy.

 

[DebChris]

I go for the donuts afterward.

I go because I want to go.
I go to be fed by the Word of God. Yes, I can and do read scripture on a daily basis. But when I go to Mass, I hear God’s Word proclaimed, or as as a lector I proclaim God’s Word. I hear God’s Word explained in the homily. I received different insights, or ways of applying ways of applying God’s Word in my life. I have been blessed with excellent homilists throughout my life.

I continue to be fed during the Eucharistic Celebration as I receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Accepting HIs transforming power in my life… I occasionally even receive a small word of encouragement or insight. during the silence that follows Communion.

I go to Mass because I am part of a community of believers. I am not alone. When I am at Mass I am joined by everybody else in attendance. I am joined by the Communion of Saints who have gone before me. I am a part of the Body of Christ.

 

[rfournier103]

Short answer: “The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer!” ~ Pope Paul VI.

Longer answer:

Where else can a Christian go to get an Old Testament reading, a responsorial Psalm, a New Testament reading, a Gospel reading, AND the Body of Christ in ONE PLACE, in about ONE HOUR???

:::I hear the sound of crickets chirping:::

That’s right!!! NOWHERE ELSE!!! I think that the Mass is fantastic!!! Love to go!

 

[Topaz1128]

I go because I want to worship God and receive the Body and Blood of Christ through the Eucharist.

 

[OraLabora]

I go because I want to go.

Most of the time I do want to go but I have my periods of serious doubt where I have to drag myself kicking and screaming, thinking it’s all a waste of time, irrelevant, and probably not true.

But I drag myself anyway and it’s often when I do that I receive special graces.

Really for me, the best cure for periods of doubt is to persevere, go to Mass every Sunday (and in my case recite the LOTH every day). I went through a very dark period a couple of years ago, and certainly had no desire to go to Mass, and felt utterly abandoned by God. But I went anyway. I’m pretty sure if I’d stopped, I would have dropped out of the Church altogether. In fact I’m still amazed that I persevered at all through that period. I’m giving credit to God and the Eucharist for that though (well that and a pretty darned good confessor…)

 

[DebChris]

Most of the time I do want to go but I have my periods of serious doubt where I have to drag myself kicking and screaming, thinking it’s all a waste of time, irrelevant, and probably not true.

But I drag myself anyway and it’s often when I do that I receive special graces.

Really for me, the best cure for periods of doubt is to persevere, go to Mass every Sunday (and in my case recite the LOTH every day). I went through a very dark period a couple of years ago, and certainly had no desire to go to Mass, and felt utterly abandoned by God. But I went anyway. I’m pretty sure if I’d stopped, I would have dropped out of the Church altogether. In fact I’m still amazed that I persevered at all through that period. I’m giving credit to God and the Eucharist for that though (well that and a pretty darned good confessor…)

II can understand this. I have a friend who doesn’t why Sunday mass is called and obligation when it is such a privilege.
Living in the Middle East, the weekend (or (Sunda0 Mass begins on Friday and is referred as the Obligation Mass.
Years ago when I studied Karate, my best workouts were on those days when I felt so tired I really didn’t really want to go to practice. Yes, there are days when I don’t feel like going to Mass, when I don’t want to make the effort to get dressed and walk to the bus stop. Once and object is in motion…
It is much easier to get ready for mass than to get ready for work, and what excuses am I going to allow for skipping work?
I go to Mass because I want to go to Mass. I just don’t necessarily want to get out of be in the morning. but if I don’t get up, I will miss out on all the blessings.

 

[AnnaRose]

I go to mass to worship Our Lord. For spiritual growth, to receive the Eucharist and to get the many graces I need for daily life. Husband and I go to an 8:00 A.M. mass which has no music so there is an opportunity to concentrate on the mass. I also go to daily mass 2 or 3 times a week and enjoy it so much better because you are with people that want to be there and everyone responds to the priest with much joy!

I (and our pastor) dislike people who every Sunday arrive late or just barely before mass begins and those that leave early immediately after Communion. What is so wrong with arriving early to spend quiet time with Our Loving God and staying awhile after mass in thanksgiving for our many blessings?

I also go because God wants me to.

 

[Tigg]

Some people go because the Church requires it every weekend, some go because they find peace there, some go primarily to receive Holy Communion, etc.

What is your reason for going? This curious priest would like to know!

Father:
Thank you for the awesome threads you have recently started. You will be a true shepherd and very conscious of the spiritual path of the souls entrusted to your care.

:tiphat:

Sunday Mass attendance is of course, a responsibility that one could not even dream of reneging. But it goes deeper than obligation and last week was for me the perfect example of what happens when one doesn’t receive Communion or participate in the highest prayer possible – the Mass, more frequently than once a week. Discombobulated – unbalanced and out of sorts are good descriptives when extenuating circumstances prevent one from frequent Mass. And the realization (and guilt) that with just a little more effort, I could have managed to go the 2-3 times per week as is my norm. Faith life needs constant feeding and grace. How easy to get caught up in the daily grind without realizing we have somewhat sabotaged our day if we haven’t allowed time for the most important preparation for facing what may come that day, communion with the Lord, first and foremost – in order to stand firm and calm with daily annoyances.

 

[Jkita]

I was baptized this past Easter and I go to Mass because I love it. I find Mass to be peaceful, calming and the homily is what I need to start my week. I also attend Mass every Wednesday and every 1st Friday.

 

[Convert2013]

I go because (no particular order)…

• I have the priviledge of going …its not an obligation to me
• I get to show Jesus that I remember Him and his sacrifice for me and for all
• I can experience Heaven on earth and feel the power of the Holy Spirit
• I can worship with others and sing songs of praise
• It is peaceful and I feel at home
• I get to receive the Body & Blood of Jesus Christ to heal my soul
• I can be in close communion with the Father, Son & Holy Spirit with my family and brothers and sisters in Christ
• I can relive the day that I had a spiritual awakening about a year ago and it feels wonderful to know that I get that every time I go.
• I can thank God for taking my life and turning it around and keeping me from despair while in His house separated from the busy world

I could write a lot more but I think you get the idea!