A Summer Challenge

Summer vacation is here.

It's time for playing, swimming, grilling, vacationing, reading, relaxing -- and deepening your relationship with God. This summer my challenge for St. Columbkille families is go to Mass on more than Sundays. Make weekday Masses part of your routine.

You might be thinking that you have no time during the week to go to Mass. Be creative; try to squeeze in one extra Mass a week. It will change you.

St. Columbkille offers Masses at 8:15 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and at 6:20 and 8:15 a.m. on Fridays. Other parishes celebrate Mass over the lunch hour. A Web site, masstimes.org, could help you find a time right for you.

Jamie Mundt, a mother of four at St. Columbkille, is one of dozens of parishioners who have discovered the value of attending Mass daily if possible. Her kids or husband, Brian, often go with her.

The Mass has become a priority in her life. "It's what I look forward to," she said. "It just helps my day flow right."

"It's a daily miracle. If God, the God of the universe, wants to become one with me in the Eucharist, why would I not want to be there?"

I discovered several years ago that I could make time for morning Mass after I dropped kids off at St. Columbkille School about 8 a.m. I was awake and already had any babies, toddlers or preschoolers up and out the door with me. Why not just swing by church? Sure, we still might be groggy, with some of us wearing whatever we slept in, but why not? As my children grew, it became easier for me to get to the evening Mass.

With the young kids, we often headed to the cry room. I could relax there, let the children make a little noise, keep busy with toys, sip on a sippy cup or eat a few Cheerios. I worried that we might disrupt other worshipers, and sometimes we did. But they were patient, friendly and welcoming toward us. Most of the people at daily Mass were parents or grandparents themselves. One was an elderly man named Lee who happened to look a lot like Santa Claus. (Rest in peace, Santa Lee.) He even had a handful of candy to give to children after Mass. My kids learned that when Santa wasn't busy making toys at the North Pole, he was adoring Christ at Mass.

Others who frequent daily Mass at St. Columbkille continue to teach and inspire us with their faith. They are a great influence for adults and children alike. Like Jamie, they can attest to the graces Jesus pours out to them. Our popes and saints spoke often of the power of a single Mass:

"The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer." -- Pope Paul VI

"If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy." -- St. John Vianney

"It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do without Holy Mass." -St. Padre Pio

"Put all the good works in the world against one Holy Mass; they will be as a grain of sand beside a mountain." -- St. John Vianney

"What graces, gifts and virtues the Holy Mass calls down." -- St. Leonard of Port Maurice

"One single Mass gives more honor to God than all the penances of the saints, the labors of the apostles, the sufferings of the martyrs and even the burning love of the Blessed Mother of God." -- St. Alphonsus Liguori

Who can argue with the truth? You can make the glorious Mass the most important part of your day. God won't mind if you squeeze Him in this summer before swimming lessons, during your lunch break or after soccer camp. Your schedule will not become more hectic. Instead you will find our Lord's peace and grace for your busy day.

Inspired by this Year of Faith we will be posting columns like this from Susan Szalewski about exploring and/or deepening our faith. Watch for it on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.