The Transformative Power of the Traditional Latin Mass
Offertory
"Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice..."
Summary of Headings
- Introduction to the Authority of Christ
- The Call to Transformation
- Understanding Grace
- The Purpose of the Law
- The Significance of the Mass
- Reverence and Preparation for Mass
- Post-Mass Reflection and Action
- The Importance of Silence and Respect
- The Role of Charity in the Mass
- Conclusion and Call to Action
Introduction to the Authority of Christ
Our Lord is establishing quite clearly that he is the ultimate authority over all things because he is pointing out how in the Old Testament, how the law was applied. And there is a certain amount of flexibility because the Jewish fathers, they did not have the graces that we have. When Christ came, he overthrew original sin and he brought his very life to us, as well as the fact that he gave us an example, his own words, and he gave us the sacrifice of the Mass, Holy Communion, and the sacraments, the church, all these benefits that we have. And so he explains to us at that moment that things have changed.
The Call to Transformation
It's not enough to just materially follow the specifics of the law, but rather we must have a transformation of who and what we are. We are not supposed to be just followers of the command of God, but we must now be living embodiments of the love of God itself. We must now exemplify the Spirit of Christ in our daily actions. So therefore, it's not enough just to come to Mass, attend the Mass. It's not enough. It's not enough just to do the material things, but we must make these things transform us into living embodiments, living examples of what the love of God looks like. We must transform ourselves.
Understanding Grace
These things that we have received from God are good, excellent, most essential things for our sanctification. God gives us sanctification. He wants to save our souls. And it's only through His grace that we can be saved. And so therefore, we need Him. But that grace brings His very life to us. It is the life of the Blessed Trinity that dwells within us. That is what grace is. So therefore, it is essential for us to maintain that grace within our lives. But grace is a semi-passive presence in our souls. It is not a conquering force. It's an invitation.
The Purpose of the Law
Christ warns us that our justice must be greater than that of the scribes and Pharisees. The Pharisees were, shall we say, liturgically perfect. They knew the law of God, and they practiced it to the letter. But the whole purpose of the law of God is not so that we may practice a specific set of rituals. The law of God is given to us to give us a guidebook so that we can live the love of God, so that we can learn how much He loves us and share that love with everyone around us.
The Significance of the Mass
The first and most excellent way is going to be how we attend Mass. What do we do when we come here? What is it we are trying to accomplish when we come to Holy Mass? What is the Mass? Well, the Mass is the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, the same as in the cross, offered by Him, where He is the victim also, in an unbloody fashion. That's all the Mass is. It is the sacrifice of Calvary, but offered in an unbloody fashion. And for some reason, God wasn't content to just have Christ suffer and die one time, but He continues to sacrifice Himself on all the altars of the world each and every day.
Reverence and Preparation for Mass
There is a reason why at the entryways we have holy water. It is a purification. There is a reason why before the high Masses on Sunday, we have the asparagus where we sprinkle everybody. It is a cleansing to prepare ourselves before the coming of Christ during the Holy Mass. There is a reason we genuflect before we take our places, or when we cross in front of our Lord in the Tabernacle. It is to show reverence and reverence to the Holy Mass. We respect because we recognize the fact that He truly is God, and He truly is present. That we are not worthy to be here, but we are grateful to be here.
Post-Mass Reflection and Action
After Mass, we have received all these graces, we have received all these benefits from being able to attend Mass, and witness the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, participate in it, and hopefully offer ourselves up in union with Him. How do we react to all those graces? And please, God, we will be able to receive Holy Communion too. How do we react? How do we react to that? What do we do afterwards? How are we going to thank God for the gift of going to Mass? Well, the most important thing is first to say thank you.
The Importance of Silence and Respect
When we go to the movies, it's been quite a while since I don't know exactly what they do anymore, but I imagine there still is a warning not to have your cell phones on during a movie. So when that happens, we go to the movie, it is considered to be an act of just simple etiquette to not have your phone on during the movie. Just simple politeness for everybody. Everybody else there. It's a distraction, it's noisy, it takes away from the experience, etc. This is so much more crucial, so much more important, so much more essential, and so much more public than a movie.
The Role of Charity in the Mass
This extends beyond just the bathrooms. But also how we treat each other. How we treat everybody else who is attending Mass. We are not alone in here. Everyone is very well aware of that. You are all squashed together. I can see that. So how we sit. How we dress. How we behave. Affects everybody else. And that is not just inside. The Mass. And during the Mass. But outside. In the classrooms. In Padre Pio Hall. Outside. Everywhere. Everything we do is going to have an impact.
Conclusion and Call to Action
This world is going mad. Tearing itself apart. Because it misses the. It is lacking and rejecting. The only thing that can save it. Which is the charity of God himself. And we are supposed to be the ones who carry that torch. We are supposed to be the ones who bring that light. To the world. Because we are the recipients of it. We must hold ourselves to a higher standard. And we learn to do that first and foremost. In the Mass. Because that is where the love of God touches us most deeply.
In this homily, the profound role of the Traditional Latin Mass is explored as a source of grace and transformation. It calls us beyond mere ritual compliance to embody the love of God in our actions, emphasizing the Mass as the ultimate guide for living a life of charity and holiness. The homily also stresses the importance of reverence and preparation, urging us to focus on our conduct during and after the Mass to truly experience its transformative power.
The speaker challenges us to reflect on our actions and intentions, both in the sacred space of the church and in our everyday lives. By embracing the lessons of the Mass, we are encouraged to be conduits of God's love, bringing light to a world in need. The homily concludes with a call to live out the charity of the Mass, ensuring that we not only attend but fully participate in the divine mystery, allowing it to transform us and extend its grace and love to others.