THE SAINTS

Let us cherish the traditional form of “silent” Low Mass as one of our greatest treasures. This is the form of Mass developed at a high point of Catholic culture and devotion in an era which we love to call “The Age of Faith”. This is the form of Mass which nurtured the spiritual life of the saints who were the greatest of the true reformers of the Church, Saints Francis, Dominic, Bernard, Ignatius, Catherine of Sienna, Teresa of Avila, etc. Here is how Saint Francis de Sales recommends that we should assist at Mass: To attend Mass properly, either actually or spiritually, make your preparation with the priest from the beginning until he goes up to the altar, by putting yourself in the presence of God, acknowledging your unworthiness and asking pardon for your sins. From then until he begins reading the Gospel, consider quite simply and in a general way the birth and life of Our Lord. From the Gospel to the end of the Credo consider His preaching and resolve to live and die faithful to His word, as a member of the Church. From the Credo to the Pater Noster consider His passion and death actually symbolised by the sacrifice which, with the priest and the rest of the congregation, you offer to God the Father for His honour and your salvation. From the Pater Noster to the Communion stir up countless desires in your heart, long to be united to your Saviour in eternal love. From the Communion to the end thank Our Lord for His Incarnation, His life, His death and for the love He manifests in the Eucharist, begging Him to be always merciful to you, your relatives and friends and to the whole Church. Then with heartfelt humility and devotion receive the Divine blessing which Our Lord gives you through His priest. If you would rather meditate on the mystery you are considering that day, there is no need to set it aside to hear Mass as I have suggested; it will be quite sufficient if, at the beginning of Mass, you make the intention of offering the sacrifice in that way because in every meditation the acts I have suggested are included, either implicitly or explicitly. (Introduction to the Devout Life )

None of the Saints were dissatisfied with the “silent “Mass, as known by them and us, but rather they loved it and there is no evidence that they felt that they suffered any deprivation from their lack of ”active participation “in the worship of Christ’s Mystical Body. Let us also love and be thankful for this grace and “be zealous for the better gifts” (I Cor. XII.31)