Men's Rosary

Entering a church has become different for me since converting to Catholicism over 30 years ago.  Coming from a Protestant faith, church was a place we gathered to worship and be taught.  We connected with others and shared fellowship together.  What I discovered in the Catholic faith was a far deeper connection.  This is Christ’s house!  As St. Paul said, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.  In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”  (Ephesians 2:19-22)  The church is a community, not a social gathering.  It is God’s house, not a building.

As I enter the church now, I know I am coming to not only meet, but to encounter Christ.  This is his house, not mine.  I enter humbly.  In stepping into the presence of the sanctuary, we are truly face to face with him because he is there, present in the Eucharist; body, blood, soul, and divinity!  My focus becomes not on who is around me, but rather who I am before.  It is incredible.  And now, if I enter into the church I once went to, I feel happy to be there, but the absence of Christ’s real presence is noticeable and missed.  I do not feel as if I have entered his house.  I do realize that Christ is present among those gathered.  “For where two or more are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”  (Matthew 18:20)  What I share is that the strong feeling of physical presence is missing because the Eucharist is missing.  We have been given such a tremendous gift by our Lord that he is with us so intimately at all times.

This makes me think we should all consider how we see Church, how we enter into the church, and what our role is.  Obviously, we are to have the demeanor of unity.  We are not to promote divisiveness or discord among our fellow parishioners or the clergy.  “Let us strive to agree among ourselves and to have one mind and voice.  May we never quarrel or act from vainglory.”  (Origen of Alexandria)  The sure path to achieving this is in obedience and service.  Our priests are in succession of the apostles on whom the Church is built.  Our prayers for them and obedience to the magisterium is of much importance in building up the Church, the body of Christ.  We are called to do what we can do to make their ministry (apostolate) easier, not more difficult.  “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.  Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”  (Hebrews 13:17)  We should keep a servant’s heart, an attitude of service for others.  As we pray with others we are building the Church, we are strengthening it.  We have been told that we should imitate Christ.  This is a perfect way to do so, as he came as a servant to us.  “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.”  (Mark 10:45)  There are many ways to serve.  If we look at church not as something to receive from but something to participate in, we recognize this more.  By the very nature of our baptism, we share in the priesthood of Christ.  “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”  (1 Peter 4:10)  We should take part in the ministries of the parish, sharing our gifts with others for the building up of the Church. 

I find it incredible that every Catholic church we pass by, has Jesus present.  Do you make the sign of the cross when you pass?  If you do not, why not?  Our churches are not just buildings and places of worship.  Christ has made a home there!  When we enter, let us keep that in mind.  It is unfortunate that some make more preparation and fuss about going to the home of a person whom they deem to be important.  There is no person more important than our Lord!  We should approach him in that manner.  We can all get lazy in our faith, I know that I do at times.  That is not the problem.  The problem is if we stay in that laziness.  Sloth is sinful, but God is merciful.

When we go to church and enter near the sanctuary, focus on Christ and nothing else.  Pray the Mass and do not sit through it.  Enter into the prayers reverently and patiently, not hurriedly and from rote repetition.  Unite your sufferings to his in the sacrifice of the Mass.  Focus on what you bring and not what you get out of it.  And when we are sent forth, go out and enjoy the fellowship of others and spread the Good News to those who need to hear it.

“Do you realize that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you – for you alone?  He burns with the desire to come into your heart…don’t listen to the demon, laugh at him, and go without fear to receive the Jesus of peace and love.”  (St. Therese of Lisieux)