It should come as no surprise anyone, especially those who have listened to my homilies, that I am a strong proponent of participation in daily Mass. This started long before I had the privilege of celebrating Mass everyday (except Good Friday) as a priest.
As a youngster going to St. John's Catholic School in Hot Springs we went to Mass everyday. I admit it was nice to have a "break" from classes to attend Mass before we went to lunch, and when it switched to the first thing we did as we arrived at school, I grew to appreciate what a blessing it was to begin the school day by encountering Jesus in Word and Sacrament. I was also privileged in my sixth grade year to help lead the singing at daily Mass. When I, and some of my siblings, went to early daily Mass on non-school days, we were given great encouragement and kudos from my fifth grade teacher, Sister Laurene (who is now 102 years old). I also had (and still have) a wonderful example of the blessings of participating in daily Mass from my mother who has been going for as long as I can remember (which is still a long time). Even when she was working the night shift as a Registered Nurse at St. Joseph Hospital, she would go to Mass after she got off work - before going home and going to bed. I realize, I have a wonderful background in participating in daily Mass, and I know it surely fed my desire to serve the Lord on the altar, first as an altar boy and now as a priest for 32 years.
While I know it takes some effort and discipline to start participating in daily Mass every day, or at least once or twice a week, I pray that more of you will join the ranks of those who could testify to the blessings that come from it for their lives. This includes, of course, the opportunity to "celebrate" the saints on the calendar and be reminded of the blessings they were in their lives and the blessing they are to us now with their intercession for us. Come worship the Lord!!
P.S. This week would be a good one to join us for daily Mass as we celebrate some wonderful saints, the martyrs, Saint Sixtus and his companions (Tuesday), Saint Dominic (Wednesday), Saint Theresa Benedicta of the Cross (Thursday) and Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr (Friday) AND the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord on Monday.
As a youngster going to St. John's Catholic School in Hot Springs we went to Mass everyday. I admit it was nice to have a "break" from classes to attend Mass before we went to lunch, and when it switched to the first thing we did as we arrived at school, I grew to appreciate what a blessing it was to begin the school day by encountering Jesus in Word and Sacrament. I was also privileged in my sixth grade year to help lead the singing at daily Mass. When I, and some of my siblings, went to early daily Mass on non-school days, we were given great encouragement and kudos from my fifth grade teacher, Sister Laurene (who is now 102 years old). I also had (and still have) a wonderful example of the blessings of participating in daily Mass from my mother who has been going for as long as I can remember (which is still a long time). Even when she was working the night shift as a Registered Nurse at St. Joseph Hospital, she would go to Mass after she got off work - before going home and going to bed. I realize, I have a wonderful background in participating in daily Mass, and I know it surely fed my desire to serve the Lord on the altar, first as an altar boy and now as a priest for 32 years.
While I know it takes some effort and discipline to start participating in daily Mass every day, or at least once or twice a week, I pray that more of you will join the ranks of those who could testify to the blessings that come from it for their lives. This includes, of course, the opportunity to "celebrate" the saints on the calendar and be reminded of the blessings they were in their lives and the blessing they are to us now with their intercession for us. Come worship the Lord!!
P.S. This week would be a good one to join us for daily Mass as we celebrate some wonderful saints, the martyrs, Saint Sixtus and his companions (Tuesday), Saint Dominic (Wednesday), Saint Theresa Benedicta of the Cross (Thursday) and Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr (Friday) AND the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord on Monday.