Why, exactly, do we have an obligation to go to Mass every Sunday? Does the Eucharist “wear off” after a certain number of days? Of course not. At the same time, as human beings, we are in constant need of reinforcement. We go to Mass weekly for the same reason that people seeking recovery from an addiction attend meetings “religiously”: we stand a better chance of recovery if we attend regularly. And, the truth is, each of us is living our entire life in recovery from the power of sin. While Jesus has conquered sin and death, we rely on his grace to share in that victory. Baptism is our entrance into God’s program, and celebrating the Eucharist is one of the ways we “work the program.” In this episode of Pop-Up Catechesis, we explore the need for us to go to Mass each Sunday.
For more information about our obligation to celebrate Mass weekly, check out the following links:
- Living the Mass: How One Hour a Week Can Change Your Life
- Living the Sacraments: Finding God at the Intersection of Heaven and Earth
- From Fulfilling Obligations to Living Heroically
- Sunday Mass: Why Do We Have to Go?
- Top Five Reasons You Should Keep Going to 12-Step Meetings
- Helping Families Recover from Addiction
Thank you for your unique and helpful Pop-Up catechesis episodes. Even if I am not currently a catechist, in the official sense of the term, I am always learning and witnessing, and find the episodes inspiring and enriching! God bless!
Thanks so much, Clare!