Crossed The Tiber

An Evangelical Converts to Catholicism

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Location: Pennsylvania, United States

I was born into the Catholic faith. At 14, I was "born again" and found Jesus personally but lost His Church. After thirty years as an evangelical protestant, I have come full circle to find that He has been there all the time, in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I wish others to find the beauty and truth of the Catholic faith as I have found.

Monday, September 02, 2013

The Mass and Our Love for Jesus


Over the past several months I have had some on-line discussions with folks regarding the Traditional Latin Mass versus the Novus Ordo Mass, both of which are valid and approved by our popes. For many of us converts and reverts, the reason we became Catholic was because God opened our hearts to the reality that he is indeed present here on earth with us in the "breaking of the bread." Jesus becomes our real food and real drink- his flesh and blood during the consecration in mass, whether NO or TLM.
   His sacrifice once and for all at Calvary is re-presented at the mass and and we can unite ourselves to Christ as he once again offers himself to the Father for our sins and the sins of the world. His sacrificial death on the cross was once and done, but it's salvific action continues throughout time. The mass brings that un-bloodied sacrifice to the present moment, like a time machine so to speak.
    That being said, the importance of the mass is the opportunity to enter into this process, unite ourselves to Jesus, offering ourselves to God. We are united to Christ and the entire body of Christ through all ages when we receive his true body and blood in the Eucharist. This occurs in the TLM as well as the NO liturgy. The fruit of this process should be love and the fruits of the Holy Spirit manifested in our daily lives, off-line, and out of mass, even when no one is looking. The purpose of the mass, is to bring us closer to Jesus, to love him more and ultimately obtain heaven. Do I love Jesus more and more as a result of my participation in the mass? Am I becoming more like Jesus as a result of my participation in the Eucharistic sacrifice?
   Regardless of what form of the mass you go to, at the end of the day, does your participation in the liturgy make you more like Jesus? If not, than there may be  need for prayer and re-evaluation.

"My God, grant that I may love Thee and the only reward of my love be to love Thee always more and more." Amen

3 Comments:

Blogger owenswain said...

A(freaking)men to that, brother.

September 02, 2013 2:48 PM  
Blogger Russ Rentler, M.D. said...

you know it bro!

September 02, 2013 5:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you Russ! the devil delights in the confusion being caused between TLM Vs NO form.. the mass regardless of form/ priest/ homily is yes indeed us being closer to God and taking the gospel and living it each and every day. We stand united to God, to Holy Mother church and to our Pope and bishops and priests. Let us continue to pray for Pope Francis and all priests who without them we wouldnt have the Eucharist. Let us pray for those who knowingly and unintentionally pit the TLM against the NO mass. let us pray for humilty and peace. Amen.

September 04, 2013 7:51 PM  

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