Editorial: Mass commitment

The
Catholic Weekly
Online

Sydney
30 May 2004

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Editorial: Mass commitment

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Editorial: Mass commitment

MANY older Catholics might remember Sunday Mass as much as a weekly social ritual as they do an opportunity to partake in the celebration of the Eucharist and a time to recharge the spiritual batteries.

Families were decked out in their “Sunday best”; Dad wore a jacket and tie, Mum wore her best hat and the kids were scrubbed up as best they could be. The Sunday roast was left to sizzle slowly in the oven and the family set off to Mass – more often on foot than in any family car.

Old-fashioned? Perhaps, but it was all part of celebrating Sunday as the Christian sabbath, the “Lord’s Day”.

Times have changed, and not necessarily for the better. As figures show, there has been a big fall in the percentage of Catholics attending Mass – Sunday worship has to compete with things like the sleep-in, the trendy brunch and, especially in the case of too many children, Sunday sport.

It is a trend that has caused concern not just locally but in Rome itself. During his recent ad limina address to Australian bishops the Pope urged them to be fearless in their fight against secularism. He particularly encouraged them to inspire Catholics to attend Sunday Mass.

The Pope pointed out that “when Sunday loses its fundamental meaning and becomes subordinate to a secular concept of ‘weekend’ dominated by such things as entertainment and sport, people stay locked within a horizon so narrow that they can no longer see the heavens”.

The bishops have responded to his call with a strategy to give a broad renewal and to provide education in regard to the Eucharist.

There are few excuses for those who call themselves Catholic to avoid their Sunday obligation.

There is enough time to attend Mass; in many larger parishes there are Sunday morning and evening Masses as well as the Saturday vigil. In fact, it can be argued that going to Mass is easier today than ever before.

Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will guide and assist the bishops in their campaign and that the faithful will respond by renewing their commitment to Catholic practice and devotion to the Eucharist.