IN principle, a youth Mass sounds great as a way of encouraging young people to attend Mass with people of a similar age and it’s good to see that people are prepared to do something to achieve this.
But the event being organised in the Redlands area (CL 8/7/01) gives rise to a number of concerns.
From apostolic times the structure of the Mass has been what we have today – readings from Scripture, preaching and the Eucharist. While the language may have changed over the centuries, the form has remained and for the prime purpose of giving praise and glory to God, to draw closer to Him and to reflect on His goodness to us.
In order to do this properly our minds must be focused on God. Swapping stories and experiences, and sitting around on cushions is not going to be conducive to this.
Those activities are more properly left until after the Mass and then shared over a cup of coffee.
During the Mass we should be receiving the Word of God written (in the Gospels) and the Word of God Incarnate (in Holy Communion).
It is stated in the article that “… the Eucharist would be more intimate”. I cannot see how. It is already the most intimate sacrament. When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, we receive Him entirely – Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. He unites Himself with us in a way which not even the angels share.
Removing “a bit of the formality” is not a means of making the Eucharist more intimate.
I also know people who unfortunately don’t go to Mass because “… they say it’s boring” (yet they’ll sit for hours watching the cricket).
That statement, though, indicates that they have no idea of what the Mass is. Could anyone standing at the foot of the Cross on Calvary with Our Lady, St John and Mary Magdalen say “it’s boring”?
The Mass is a re-presentation (ie a presentation again) of the once-only sacrifice of Calvary. It transcends time and space and is where heaven meets earth.
For an excellent and very readable description of this, I’d recommend The Lamb’s Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth by Scott Hahn, published by Doubleday.
So the reason we should be going to Mass is not to be entertained, but to give praise to God and to receive Jesus in the Eucharist.
MICHAEL BYRNE Caboolture, Qld
