Christ the King, 2003

Unmistakable in the Mass rightly celebrated is the centrality of the mystery of Christ. Everything about the Mass is calculated to draw one’s attention to Him. While I would like to say that this is true of the Mass celebrated everywhere, experience has demonstrated, and often distressingly, that the sacred liturgy is sometimes failing its Godward directedness and is more and more turning upon its participants in a near blasphemous ritual in which man is worshiping himself through celebrating himself. It’s difficult to give adequate account for this sorry distortion of what ought to be divine adoration. Certainly, those among you who may remember in former times the general rule of a universal devout celebration of the Mass and who have been made captive, subsequently, at Masses where unlawful or unbecoming practices have been introduced need no further justification for my comment than your own experience.

The central activity of the Catholic Church has been and will always remain the celebration of the sacred mysteries, of the Mass, in which Christ is made present in the most Blessed Sacrament, and therein is offered in a renewal of His unique sacrifice of the cross–although in an un-bloody manner–and is received by those who worthy in Holy Communion. I alluded to the Mass in my opening remark as the ‘mystery of Christ’. The mystery of Christ is an activity, namely the renewal of his sacrifice, that is to say, that in the Mass Christ is being offered in such a way that His redeeming death is re-presented. This very thing is what the priests attempts to elicit from you after the consecration when he invites you proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ is here now on the altar, His death and resurrection being re-enacted in his body and blood, truly present, but under the visible elements of bread and wine. And so we can rightly say that in the Holy Sacrament “God is in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.” The offering of each valid Mass is an action of tremendous significance for the human race and the world is affected: sinners are given grace to make them repent, confess and be absolved; conversions are obtained; God is consoled, so to speak, for the millions of sins thrown at Him every day, and many particular benefits for individuals and parishioners and those petitioning the Mass are awarded. Some writers have not hesitated to say that should the Mass cease to be offered the world would be plunged into chaos. (Given the approximation of chaos in our confused world, this statement seems less shocking than in some former time.)

I am pleased to say that in our parish there are many good signs of spiritual growth. I might mention the most recent evidences of this in the formation of the Saint Monica Sodality and the erection of an Assumption Grotto Council of the Knights of Columbus. Of these developments I am very pleased, knowing that much good will be forthcoming from these. But there is still one area of parish life that is open to everyone, yet only a few have accepted: this is the practice of making an hour’s adoration of the Blessed Sacrament once a week.

I would be slow to believe that my parishioners lack faith in the real Presence. We mention it too often and have several annual events that highlight our Lord’s Presence to warrant any accusation of that kind. (I’m thinking of Holy Thursday, Corpus Christi, the Forty Hours Devotion, the Benediction following the Masses on Saturday evening and Sundays after the noon Mass.) But we also have daily adoration in our convent chapel from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. six days a week, and it is there that we need to make a major improvement. I know that all of you have intentions to pray for (if for no other reason that to make reparation for your sins). When to do this? How to do this? Our chapel should be full with adorers at every hour of the day, people eager to make contact with the divine Presence. And yet our schedule reflects only a small number of people who have accepted this weekly practice.

I’m happy to say that this work of adoring Christ in the Blessed Sacrament has been essentially a lay movement: people have requested it of their priests. Some priests have refused; some made it very restricted and difficult to present. Here you have a willing shepherd who’s looking for his sheep.

I know that may of you live a distance from the church. I’m aware that everyone today is busy–and that’s not a good thing. Nevertheless, here is your chance to consult with the Lord in a very effective way and give Him glory. We surely would not want to happen to us what our Lord said of the foolish virgins in His parable: they couldn’t make it into heaven because they ran out of oil. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament keeps the soul well-oiled and will allow you to make real progress in your life with God.

The best gift you could give Jesus your King today would be to pledge Him an hour of weekly adoration. There are cards in every pew, requesting information that will show that you understand that Christ is available for you in our chapel. I ask you to fill out a card and indicate your preferred day and time. As the advertisers like to say: satisfaction guaranteed. Drop this card in the collection basket today after Communion time when the ushers will make a second round of the baskets, not for money, but for these cards.

Nothing will be as beneficial to you, and nothing will be so pleasing to our Lord than the honor of having your company.