Fr. PLEASE I NEED CLARIFICATIONS ON THIS. IS IT PROPER FOR A CATHOLIC WHO CAME TO CHURCH LATE After OPENING PRAYER TO GO AND RECEIVE COMMUNION?
✓RECOMMENDATION
It’s strongly advisable for Catholics to go to mass earlier and be there before the mass begins. And It’s also evident that the closer one is to Our Lord Jesus Christ, the more one strives in holiness , in virtues and righteousness.
Since the mass is the Most Holy Sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus and a Spiritual thing, there are countless graces one recieves when one prepares well and comes before the mass begins. The mass begins with individual procession from the house before the actual mass. How can you proceed to the mass already begun?
Therefore, it’s is a virtuous, holy, and a righteous act for one to come to mass earlier and pray before the mass begins. This is a spiritual disposition.
In the words of Fr. Edward McNamara, “each part of the Mass relates and complements the others in a single act of worship even though some parts, such as the consecration, are essential.
✓TIME LIMIT
To say that there is a particular moment before or after which we are either “out” or “safe,” so to speak, is to give the wrong message and hint that, in the long run, some parts of the Mass are really not all that important.”
When then do you offer your intentions collectively as part of the ASSEMBLY of the children of God? Is it at the moment when you rush into the Church looking for where to sit even after the homily?
✓THE IS “US” NOT “I”
Here, one must note the communitarian dimension of the Church. We were meant to pray together as a Church (Mathew 18:20), and the grace of operation was given to us an an assembly in prayer (Acts 2) and not individually. So the Church is an assembly of God’s grace and we together daily and on Sunday begin and renew the power of grace from the Cross of Christ re-represented from the beginning of the mass to the end.
“Arriving on time is not just a question of obligation but of love and respect for Our Lord who has gathered us together to share his gifts, and who has some grace to communicate to us in each part of the Mass,” says Fr. Edward McNamara.
✓KNOWLEDGE
How can Catholics who know these things be quarrelling with their priests when he advises them to be earlier to mass? It’s either that such Catholics are ignorant or they are no longer aware and needs to be reminded of the deeper spiritual realities of our faith.
✓ THE SUPREME LAW
Nevertheless, the Holy Mass is not a prerequisite for the reception of the Holy Communion. Holy communion is also given to the sick or to the dying, and to those who are physically incapacitated from going to mass, who were not even at all in the Holy Mass. The Church doesn’t teach either nor advise that the Holy Communion is a reward for coming early to Church, because someone may not be worthy and still “sit” early in the front seat. Some people may be involved in an accident but came out unscathed and managed to find their way to the Church, should Holy communion be denied them?
If people arrive late due to culpable negligence, and especially if they do so habitually, then they need to seriously reflect on their attitudes, amend their ways, and if necessary seek the sacrament of reconciliation.
Hence, the Church has always avoided too much legalism while approaching spiritual and pastoral matters and that’s why in her book of laws she states that the salvation of souls is the supreme law.( Canon 1752.) All is geared towards the salvation of the soul and holiness.
A CHURCH ON A PILGRIMAGE
Be that as it may, one of the images of the Church is a “pligrim church.” Pilgrims are those who are on a journey. We(all baptized Catholics) are on a journey. This is a journey to Holiness. Therefore, to get it spiritually right always, one must ask oneself at each point in time if one is walking and working towards holiness because holiness and righteousness are the major fruits of the appropriate reception of the Holy Communion.
Does the reception of Holy Communion even after wantonly and carelessly coming late to the Holy mass help you grow in your journey to Holiness and righteousness towards God or not?
Don’t look for someone to police you in the Church, rather strive towards holiness. LOVE God and do whatever you like.
Love God and laugh like me🤣
Fada Henry Charles Umelechi
Truth Series.