Praying the Mass with Archbishop John
Archbishop John guides us how to pray through Mass
Advent begins next month and it’s often a time people return to Church. For some, it may be the first time they’ve been to Mass in many years – or even their lives. Of course, for others, Mass is a daily or weekly part of their spiritual lives.
Archbishop John Wilson, in a video message, has provided guidance on how to prayerfully participate in Mass – this great act of praise and thanksgiving.
‘This is not just a question of how you pray during Mass, but how you pray through the Mass’, Archbishop John said. This is because the Mass is a ‘personal, inward encounter with God: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit’.
Archbishop John explains that the Mass is an ‘invitation from the Lord Jesus into a Eucharistic relationship of faith. The Eucharist guides us to be united with each other as members of Christ’s Mystical Body’.
That is why, the Archbishop said:
‘The Eucharist is at the very heart of the Mass, but also the Church. It is an invitation from the Lord Jesus to participate in His sacrifice’.
Drawing on Pope St John Paul II, Archbishop John explained that the sacrifice is decisive for our salvation. And that is why it is crucial to reflect prayerfully on this truth throughout the Mass, so ‘we can truly share in the sacrifice as if we had been present there’.
The Lord Jesus, Archbishop John reminds us, taught in Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John, that the:
‘food He offers is not ordinary nourishment, but Himself. The living bread which has come down from Heaven.’
To support people to pray through the Mass, Archbishop John runs through some steps people can take to prayerfully participate and be present with the Lord Jesus. He covers how to pray during the various stages of the Mass, from as you enter the Church, to hearing the Word of God, at the offertory, the moment of elevation and as you approach Jesus at Holy Communion.
It is in praying the Mass, Archbishop John said, that ‘you will enter a deeper and personal relationship with Jesus, the living bread come down from heaven’.
St George’s Cathedral in Southwark has weekday Mass at 7.30am and 12.30pm, with Saturday Mass at 9.30am and 6pm (First Mass of Sunday). Sunday Mass is at 8am. 10am (family), 12pm (Solemn), 1.30pm (Español) and 6pm.
You can find Mass times of your local parish by visiting their website. If you need help finding a local parish, please visit our Digital Directory for parishes to find a parish near you.
Photo credit: Mazur/CBCEW
