YOUR MASS AND YOUR LIFE

CHAPTER ONE

Continued

OBSERVATION

1-2. The indifferent, the slaves to routine, the shallow. These persons may be compared to the [people of Jesus' time]. [They] followed others like sheep: fickle, because deep, inner conviction was lacking--ready to join up with whatever crowd shouted the loudest. Yesterday it was Jesus they acclaimed--"Hosanna to the Son of David!" Today they are howling for His blood. "Let Him be crucified! Let Him be crucified!"

This was the group for whom Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing!" [Luke 23:34]

Catholic of this breed attend all sorts of mundane events--political rallies, the movies, or the races--with considerably more promptness and enthusiasm than they put into their attendance at a religious ceremony. For these, Mass and sermon are always too long. That is why they come to Mass late, and why they leave early!

Still others make it a deliberate point to arrive some time after the hour set for mass to begin, and parade up the full length of the middle aisle to the front of the church in order to show off their new clothes! For such, Mass affords a convenient occasion for staging a style show! Some business men make an act of bodily presence at Sunday Mass, because a reputation for piety helps their business. The customers are favorable impressed! . . . A young man may attend Mass merely to please his fiancee.

[To be continued]