Many Graces from this One Small Effort

About 21 years ago, my life took a turn.

Not because of anything sudden or drastic -- but because I started going to weekday Masses at St. Columbkille.

Looking back now, I can see many graces from this one small effort.

Twenty-one years ago, my oldest two children were in preschool and kindergarten at St. Columbkille, and I had gone from full-time to part-time work to take care of them and two younger kids at home. One day when I was dropping off the older two at school, the thought occurred to me: I could drop into church for the 8:15 Mass. I was already up and about with a 3-year-old and baby in tow. Why not?

I fell in love with Jesus -- not just through one Mass, but by a steady stream of Masses, day after day.  I realized how much I needed to be nourished by Him every day. My Mass attendance wasn't perfect, but I found a way to get to church on most days. And I learned that my day just wasn't the same without the Mass, without Jesus.

The people at St. Columbkille were welcoming, mostly a mix of retired people and parents with young children, like me. During the school year, we joined in the school Masses and were touched by the joyful praise of children. During the summer and other nonschool days, we formed a smaller, more intimate faith community.

Over the months and years, I have been blessed by those regular Mass-goers. Sometimes we prayed or visited briefly after Mass, and occasionally we got together for coffee. They introduced me to new prayers, devotions and ways of thinking. I haven't known most of them well, but every day we shared a half hour or 45 minutes together before the Lord. And that's a strong bond.

Some of them have since passed away or moved away, but their influence lingers. They taught me each time they reverently bowed their heads during the Consecration, prayed the rosary after Mass, shared stories of everyday miracles, or asked for prayers for loved ones. What a blessing to have been surrounded by holy people -- years ago and still today as I meet even more people at the weekday Masses.

My life has changed over 21 years, but I've tried to keep daily Mass in my schedule. For a while, 5:30 p.m. Masses were much e

asier to get to. And Mass over the lunch hour at other parishes also has been an option.

I urge everyone to try to make Mass a part of each day. Schedules can be complicated, but try adding even one extra Mass each week. The 6:20 a.m. Mass on Fridays is helpful for people who have to rush off to work early.

Life can be crazy, and that's all the more reason to go to Mass. Let Jesus calm and strengthen you for the day.

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

Can't Be Underestimated

God's mercy and the graces He extends to us at Mass, can never be underestimated -- or even comprehended.

I received one such grace Wednesday, when I went to a lunch-hour Mass in a small chapel in Omaha.

The lector, still wearing her coat, walked up to the altar and read the first reading for day. It was the story of Jonah in Nineveh telling the residents that their city will be destroyed in 40 days, and how the people, their king and even their animals repented, fasting and wearing sackcloth. Their actions moved God, and the city was not destroyed.

Then the lector began the Responsorial Psalm: "A heart contrite . . ." But then her voice changed and she had to pause.

She was weeping.

She struggled through the line and somehow finished, and the bewildered people in the pews replied back: "A heart contrite and humbled, O God, You will not spurn."

The lector returned to the Psalm: "Have mercy on me, O God . . ." But again her voice broke up and she started crying again. The priest rose from his presider chair, walked to the ambo and put an arm around the woman's shoulder, gently excusing her from the reading. He took over Psalm 51 from there: "Have mercy on me, O God, in Your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense . . ."

I don't know why the lector cried, but it struck me that she was moved to tears while reading words of repentance.

And the thought of her tears stayed with me through Mass. In the homily, the priest talked about God's infinite, incomprehensible mercy that even extends to the cross. . . and the only thing we need to receive it is a repentant heart, a sorrow for our sins. Like the Psalm said: "A heart contrite and humbled, O God, You will not spurn."

It was also at Mass that I realized my lack of tears, my lack of repentance this Lent. I'm doing things to observe Lent, but is my heart in the right place?

I need God's mercy and a heart contrite and humbled enough to receive it. I need to weep for the way I offend Him.

"Thoroughly wash me from my guilt

and of my sin cleanse me.

"A clean heart create for me, O God,

and a steadfast spirit renew within me."

-- Psalm 51

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

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.