Spiritual Thoughts for the week

June 26th

Mass Facts for Faith

Did you know…?

that the word "Mass" comes from the Latin dismissal ite missa est, which means , "Go, you are sent." We receive Jesus in the Eucharist to be nourished by Him, so that we can go out and participate in the Gospel mission, which is to bring Christ to the world.

that we are required to fast from food and drink (excepting water & medicine) for one hour before Holy Communion. Our fasting intensifies our hunger and longing for the Bread of Life.

that we are to offer ourselves at Mass along with Christ. The teaching of the Second Vatican Council is, "Taking part in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, is the source and summit of the whole Christian life; [the Church] offers the divine victim to God, and offer themselves with it." We offer our lives, our joys, our sorrow, our pain, our gifts, our trials, our failings, our relationships, our love to God on the altar, along with the Eucharist, so that God's transforming power will join these to Christ and make of our lives bread broken and shared for the world.

that we get the word "Eucharist" from a Greek word eucharistein, which means "To give thanks." to what God is asking of you and respond with a "yes."