219 WE ATTEND MASS ON SUNDAYS AND HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION

YOUCAT Lesson 219

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

219  How often must a Catholic Christian participate in the celebration of the Eucharist?

A Catholic Christian is obliged to attend Holy Mass on all Sundays and holy days of obligation.  Anyone who is really seeking Jesus’ friendship responds as often as possible to Jesus’ personal invitation to the feast.  [1389, 1417]

Photo: …..Holy day Mass attendance at the Marian shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, Champion, WI.  The people are participating in the August 15 11:00 a.m. outdoor service commemorating Mary’s Assumption into heaven.  Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay is the celebrant.  The altar is out of view to the right of the photo. …..219

Actually, for a genuine Christian, “Sunday duty” is just as inappropriate an expression as “kiss duty” would be for someone who was truly in love.  No one can have a living relationship with Christ without going to the place where he is waiting for us.  Therefore, from ancient times the celebration of Mass has been the “heart of Sunday” and the most important appointment in the week.

Doxology (Greek doxa=glory): A doxology is the solemn, formulaic laudatory conclusion of a prayer, for instance the conclusion of the Eucharistic Prayer, which reads:  “Through him and with him, and in him, to you, O God almighty Father , in the unity of the Holy Spirit, is all honor and glory, for ever and ever”.  Often doxologies are addressed to the Holy Trinity, for instance, “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end”, the formula that usually concludes a Christian prayer.

THE PASCHAL BANQUET

"Take this and eat it, all of you": communion

…….1388   It is in keeping with the very meaning of the Eucharist that the faithful, if they have the required dispositions, receive communion when they participate in the Mass. As the Second Vatican Council says: "That more perfect form of participation in the Mass whereby the faithful, after the priest's communion, receive the Lord's Body from the same sacrifice, is warmly recommended."(Sacrosanctum Concilium 55)^{223 –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition}

IN BRIEF

…….1417   The Church warmly recommends that the faithful receive Holy Communion when they participate in the celebration of the Eucharist; she obliges them to do so at least once a year.