Chapter XXVI
Some Practical Hints Concerning the Way of Hearing Several Masses at One and the Same Time
Many persons are of opinion that nothing more is gained by hearing two or more Masses at one and the same time than if one alone is heard. In this they are much mistaken, as I will now proceed to show. I do not intend to say that if one has promised to hear two or more Masses for some definite intention, or if they have been enjoined on one as a penance, more than one can be heard at once; what I do say is that two or more Masses, heard of one’s own free will, may be heard simultaneously with as much profit and advantage as if they were heard consecutively.
It may here be well to recall what was said in the twenty-second chapter, that every priest is bound to pray in the Mass for all who are present, and to offer the holy sacrifice for them. If only one priest stands at the altar, he alone prays for thee; whereas if there are other priests celebrating Mass at the different altars, they also pray for thee, and thus thou hast the benefit of more prayers than if thou heardst but one Mass.
Moreover, in the same twenty-second chapter it was said that the holy angels, who are always present at Mass, pray earnestly for the congregation. The more Masses that are said the greater the number of angels who are present, and consequently the greater number of intercessors who pray for thee.
Furthermore, it was stated that Christ, as the great high priest, intercedes in every Mass that is celebrated for His Church, and especially for all who assist at the Mass, for each of whom He offers the sacrifice of Himself. Yes, He makes Himself the advocate of each one individually. He lays the needs of each one in particular before God, and for each one He offers His sacred body and blood. As He suffered for all mankind in general, so He suffered for each individual; as St. Paul says: “The Son of God loved me and delivered Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) Every Christian may take upon his lips these words of the Apostle: each one is warranted in saying that Christ died as much for him alone as for the whole human race. As it was in the sacrifice of the cross, so it is in the sacrifice of the altar, wherein Christ intercedes for all in general and for each one in particular.
Wherefore, if thou dost assist at one Mass, in that Mass Christ certainly pleads for thee. If, however, two or more are said at one and the same time, in each of these He pleads for thee, He grants thee a share in His merits, He nourishes thee spiritually with His sacred body and blood, He bestows on thee a greater degree of grace here and of glory hereafter, He gives thee His heavenly benediction. In all these and other spiritual favors thou art made partaker in every Mass thou hearest, if thou art in a state of grace; and the more Masses thou hearest the more those favors are multiplied. Consequently it is most advantageous to thee to hear several at once, and thou shouldst rejoice whenever it is within thy power to do so.
The reader may now ask what it behooves him to do in order to participate in many Masses at the same time. Let him observe that it does not suffice to be present while several Masses are being said unless he unites his intention to each one; that is to say, he must adore Christ on each altar, and offer Him to God the Father with the desire to hear each Mass severally. When, therefore, thou seest the priest go up to the altar, say in thy heart: “I will hear this Mass and offer it as an oblation to God”; and repeat this whenever another Mass is begun. And if, when thou enterest the church, several Masses are going on, make a general intention to assist at them all.
At the commencement of the Mass one’s daily prayers, the Rosary, or confraternity prayers may be said up to the time of the consecration. Then it is well to leave those orisons, and make an act of faith in the presence of Christ upon the altar, to adore Him in all humility when the priest genuflects, to implore His mercy at the elevation.
and during the consecration of the chalice devoutly offer to God the sacrifice of His Son. The same may be done at the elevation of the chalice. After that we may proceed with our private devotions till another priest comes to the consecration; they should then be again broken off, to give place to acts of adoration and oblation. This should be done whenever the sacred elements are consecrated and elevated at any of the altars; for our bounden duty requires that we should adore our God present on the altar, and our own interest demands that we should offer to God the Father this precious gift, for which a rich recompense awaits us.
It may perhaps be urged that if we are in the church while several Masses are being said, and we stop our ordinary prayers whenever we hear the bell ring for the consecration, we shall never get them done. I answer that nothing will be lost by this if meanwhile we hear several Masses; on the contrary, we shall be the gainers, as will be seen from the following parable: A vine-dresser who was digging up his vineyard found to his surprise a treasure hidden in the ground. He carried it home without saying a word about it; then he returned to his work. Presently he discovered another, and, once more laying down his spade, he carried it to his house. Again he went back, and resumed his labor; and again, before he had been at work many minutes, he found some more coins. Away he went at once to his house, highly elated, eager to acquaint his wife with his good fortune. But she said: “I do not see any cause for rejoicing, for if you go on in this way our vineyard will never be dug, and we shall have no grapes next season.” “On the contrary,” her husband replied, “would to God I could find nothing but these treasures; then I should not trouble myself about the vineyard any more, for they would bring me in ten times more than my vineyard at its best.” Whoso considers this parable will be convinced that by repeatedly offering Our Lord at the consecration we shall profit incomparably more than by reciting our ordinary prayers, and that it is better to omit them rather than the oblation of one single Mass, if we have not time for both.
Furthermore, let it be observed that if, on entering the church, we find that the priest has already got to the Pater noster, or the Agnus Dei9 or perhaps to the communion, it is well to kneel down at once and say the prayers thou dost usually say at the consecration, until the priest takes the ablutions, for thus thou shalt to a great extent share in the fruits of the Mass. And if two priests should reach the consecration at the same time, recite thy accustomed prayer with the intention of adoring Christ present on both altars at the same moment. And if thou art where thou canst not see the priest, thou canst hear his Mass equally well, provided thou dost notice when the bell is rung for the consecration, and dost make an act of adoration and of oblation. And even if thou canst not hear the bell, it is yet possible to participate in the Mass, if it be thy intention to hear all the Masses that are said at the time. Furthermore, if, when about to leave the church, thou shouldst notice that one of the priests has just got to the consecration, wait until after the elevation, in order to worship the sacred body and blood of-Christ, and offer them to God the Father. Thus thou wilt gain a spiritual treasure, which, unless thou shouldst die in mortal sin, will be thine to enjoy to all eternity.
In illustration of this subject a story shall be given from the legend of St. Elizabeth, Queen of Portugal. This royal lady had a favorite page, whose father had, when dying, enjoined upon him these two things: to hear Mass daily, and serve the king faithfully. The youth had observed his father’s precepts, and endeared himself to the queen by his piety, so that she often gave him wise counsel, and sent him to distribute alms to the poor of Lisbon. The manner in which she preferred him to the other pages attached to the court, whose dissolute manners she abhorred, awoke their jealousy, and led them to slander him to the king most shamefully. The king believed these calumnies, and thought of a plan for getting rid of the young man secretly. One day he rode out to a chalk-pit at a little distance from the town, and calling to the chalk-burner, told him that if, early the next morning, some one came to him, and asked him if he had fulfilled the king’s behest, he was immediately to throw him into the flaming kiln. “And if,” the king added, u you dare to disobey, I will have you cast into the fire instead of him.“The chalk-burner promised to comply with the orders given him, and his royal visitor departed. The next morning, at a very early hour, the king summoned the page in question to his presence, and bade him go with all speed to the chalk-kiln outside the city gates, and ask whether the orders given by the king on the preceding day had been executed. On receiving the answer he was to return to the palace without delay. The page hastened on his way, regretting sorely, as he passed out of the gates, that he had not, as was his habit, heard Mass that day, for he feared that he would not have the opportunity of doing so. However, his road led him past several churches, each of which he entered, and thus heard portions at least of several Masses. Meanwhile the king was anxious to learn whether his messenger had met with the fate decreed for him. In order to ascertain this he despatched one of the other pages, a godless young fellow, to ask the chalk-burner whether his commands had been carried out Guessing what this errand signified, and exulting over it, the young scoundrel sped along so quickly that ha reached the kiln before his pious comrade. Breathlessly he inquired of the chalk-burner whether the king’s bidding was done.” Not yet,“the man replied,” but I will do it now.“So saying he seized the unhappy youth, bound him hand and foot, and, in spite of his struggles and expostulations, cast him into the kiln. Scarcely was the furnace-door closed when the other page arrived, and put the same question to the man.” If you had come ten minutes sooner,“was the reply,”you would have seen your comrade in the flames, although he protested all along that you were the one for whom this fate was destined.“The young man was horrified at hearing this, for he had not the slightest idea what he had done wrong. When he returned to the palace, his royal master, astonished at his reappearance, asked him if he had not been to the chalk-kiln. The page fell at his feet, and told him all that had occurred The king, convinced of his innocence, went with him to the queen, who explained that the reason why she had admitted the young man to her private apartments was in order that she might commission him to distribute her alms in secret.
Imitate this pious youth in his desire to assist at the holy sacrifice, and pay due homage to the Saviour. We will now proceed to show how it is possible to hear, not one or two, but all the Masses that are being said all over Christendom while we are hearing one Mass, and derive profit from them all.
It is alleged by some that the mere desire to benefit by all the Masses that are said or will be said is sufficient to make us participate in them. Others, on the contrary, say that, although this intention is commendable and even meritorious, we cannot share in the fruits of a Mass unless we in some way share in the act. This latter opinion appears to be the correct one; for if it were possible to participate in all Masses merely by means of a pious intention, it would be quite superfluous to go to Mass except on days of obligation: we could enjoy the benefit of them in our own homes.
However, it is certain that if any one, whilst assisting at Mass, fervently desires that it were possible for him to hear all the Masses celebrated at that time, if he begs to have a share in them, adores Christ present at once on so many altars, and offers the sacred victim to God the Father, he will infallibly be permitted to participate in their fruits. For in so far as he can he joins in offering each and all, and would only too gladly do more if it lay within his power. Can it be doubted that God, Who accepts the good will for the deed when the latter is oui of a man’s reach, will reward him as he desires?
If this really is so, how great is the recompense of one who hears holy Mass in this manner! For whilst assisting at one Mass he assists in spirit at all the Masses that are being offered at that time throughout the whole world. How great are the riches to be thus gained! It is said that no less than 50,000 Masses are said simultaneously in one hour, and in every one of these we may obtain a share if we offer them in union with the one we are hearing.
It may prove a consolation to religious who have not the opportunity of hearing more than one Mass, as well as to persons living in the world who are prevented by their daily avocations or other circumstances from spending much time in the church, to know whilst hearing one Mass they may share in many thousands at which they cannot be present. Nay, more; those who find themselves altogether precluded from attendance at Mass may, if they devoutly read the prayers for Mass at home, and in spirit follow all that are being offered at that hour, adoring Christ immolated on so many altars, profit much by those Masses though they cannot actually assist at them. For in intention they unite with the priests in offering them, and in the prayers the priest says for the people they are included. May the remembrance of this afford solace to many sick persons, and prisoners, and others who are not in a position to hear Mass.
“Count thyself happy,” says a pious writer, “when a priest promises thee a memento in his daily Mass. In fact, thou wouldst do well to ask this of every priest, for thus thou wouldst have many to offer for thee the holy sacrifice and unlock for thee the treasury of the merit of Christ. If thou dost earnestly desire to hear Mass, and yet art prevented, God accepts the will for the deed And if thou wishest that thou couldst hear a Mass in Jerusalem or at Loreto, thou canst do this by assisting at one in spirit, and in intention drawing the waters of grace from that fountain. It may even be that by this means thou wilt obtain more grace than those who, though present in person in the holy place, do not raise their hearts to God. It is true Christ bestows His grace liberally on all who are present, but He gives a twofold measure to those who, absent through obedience, ai present in spirit.9*
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