[I have shared this post before. Its content is forever relevant and worthy of our consideration.]
The gifts of the Magi - gold, frankincense,
and myrrh - were expensive and very significant physical gifts. But they pale
in comparison to the spiritual gifts we can give our Infant, Crucified, and Risen
Lord – if we would but choose to do so.
The gifts I am about to describe,
when given to our Lord in love and gratitude, weekly (daily if possible), will not
only please Him, but will result in our being united more intimately with the
Prince of Peace.
What follows are some concrete suggestions as to what each
of us can and should do every time
we attend Mass, if we are serious about loving God as He deserves and as we
ought. We don’t need any one’s permission to do any of these things.
We will just do these things out of love and reverence and
let God do the rest:
Read and ponder the Mass readings several times before arriving for Mass.
Enter the Church in reverent
silence, making the sign of the cross reverently, slowly and meditatively as
you bless yourself with Holy Water.
Gaze upon the tabernacle, silently
thank God for being there and genuflect with reverence and thanksgiving for
such a great gift.
Kneel down and pray in silence in preparation
for Mass.
Maintain reverent silence from the
minute you enter the nave of the Church until you exit it at the end of Mass.
Pray
the Mass responses slowly and reverently.
Briefly examine your conscience
prior to reciting the Confiteor, knowing that by doing so your venial sins will
be forgiven.
Do as others have suggested. Don’t waste a prayer opportunity
when the priest says “Lord Have Mercy, Christ have mercy! Lord Have mercy!” Add
your prayers silently. For example:
Lord have mercy (add “on
those of my family who have left Your Church, or “for my aunt who is battling
cancer,” or “for those for whom I promised to pray” etc.)
Christ have mercy (add “on me a sinner, or “our priests and bishops,” or
“for those who are alone and abandoned” etc.)
Lord have Mercy (add “on
those who will die today,”or “for those who will have nothing to eat today” etc.)
When Father elevates
and offers first the bread and then the wine, silently place your prayer
intentions on the paten and in the chalice, uniting those prayers with all the
Masses being celebrated that day throughout the world. (For example, “Lord, I place
my soul and the souls of all my family and loved ones on this paten and in this
chalice, begging for the salvation of all our souls”.
When Father
lifts up the Consecrated Host and Chalice, look up and see the crucified
Christ.
As you approach
the altar to receive Holy Communion:
Ask the Blessed
Mother, Michael the Archangel and your Guardian Angel to remain at your side as
Jesus is placed on your tongue, that each of them may be a source of comfort
and consolation to our Lord. Ask the Blessed Mother (as Father Lawrence G. Lovasik, S.V.D. recommended) to make up for all that is
lacking in your preparation, appreciation, devotion, love, response and
thanksgiving for such a great and undeserved gift of the Body, Blood, Soul and
Divinity of Jesus Christ.
Or
Approach the
altar and Holy Communion as if it were your very first Holy Communion, as if it
were your only Communion, or as if it were your last Communion.
Kneel
down and receive Holy Communion on the tongue.
Upon returning
to your pew:
Kneel down in silence and adore
the God who is physically within you.
Tell
Him how much you love Him.
Thank
Him for such a great gift.
Ask
Him for the grace to trust Him at all times and under all circumstances.
Ask Him for
that which your heart most desires since this is the most efficacious time to
pray (cure for Mom’s cancer, restoration of health to my son, safe travels for
your family, etc.)
As
Father or the Deacon purify the ciboriums and patens, ask God to purify your
mind, heart and soul. Ask the Divine Physician to heal you and make you whole,
to remove from you all that is sinful and unpleasing in His sight, and to make
you a saint.
At the end of
Mass, don’t rush out the Church doors. Jesus remains physically within us for
about 10 minutes after we receive Him. So, stay awhile and talk to Him, Heart
to heart.
When you do exit
the Church, do so silently and reverently, postpone chatter with friends and
neighbors until after you have left the nave of the Church.
Promise God that
you will return and visit Him sometime during the week and prior to next Sunday’s
Mass.
What great gifts we shower upon our Lord when we act in these ways! All other gifts
pale in comparison to loving our Lord as He deserves and as we ought!
Merry Christmas!
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