Chapter XXX
The Reverence wherewith We Ought to Hear Holy Mass
Holy Church, in the decrees of the Council of Trent, impresses on us the reverence with which holy Mass is to be heard: “If we must needs confess that no other work can be performed by the faithful so holy and divine as this tremendous mystery itself, wherein that life-giving victim is daily immolated upon the altar by priests, it is also sufficiently clear that all industry and diligence is to be applied to this end, that it be performed with the greatest possible inward cleanness and purity of heart, and outward show of devotion and piety.” (Sess. xxii.) Both priests and people may learn from this—the former to say Mass with all possible devotion, the latter to assist at it with all piety and fervor.
The historian Josephus tells us that seven hundred priests and Levites served daily in the Jewish temple; they slaughtered the victims, cleansed them, cut them in pieces, and burnt them upon the altar, preserving meanwhile the utmost outward reverence, and silence so perfect that it might have been thought there was but one priest officiating.
With the early Christians it was the same. St. Chrysostom writes of them that, on entering the church, as they crossed the threshold they stooped and kissed the ground, and that during the celebration of the Mass the silence that prevailed could not have been more profound had the church been empty. We may here again remind the reader of the words of St. James’ liturgy: “Let every one keep silence and tremble with awe, let nothing earthly occupy his thoughts, for the King of kings, the Lord of lords is about to come, to be immolated upon the altar, and to give Himself for the food of the faithful.” St Martin never allowed himself to sit in church, but remained kneeling or standing during the whole time, praying with an awestruck expression of countenance. When asked the reason of this, he replied: “How can I do otherwise than fear when I stand in the presence of my God and my Lord?” David expresses the same feeling when he says: “I will come into Thy house, I will worship towards Thy holy temple in Thy fear.”
The words God spoke to Moses out of the burning bush may also be appositely quoted in this place: “Put off the shoes from thy feet; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5) How much more reverence is due to our churches, which have been consecrated by the bishop, and where the holy sacrifice is daily offered. David went with fear and trembling into the tabernacle, where the ark of the covenant stood; how much the more reason have we sinners to enter with holy fear and profound respect into our churches, where the Blessed Sacrament is present, where Mass is celebrated, and assist with reverence at the greatest of all mysteries! God Himself gives us the command: “Reverence My sanctuary.” (Leviticus 26:2) This applies with more justice to our churches than to the tabernacle of the Israelites, just as Jacob’s ladder and the altar at Bethel are typical of the Christian Church rather than of Solomon’s temple. Of our sanctuaries we may rightly say: “How terrible is this place! this is no other but the house of God, and the gate of heaven.” (Genesis 28:17)
Hence it may be seen how much they are to b$ blamed who regard the church with no more respect and reverence than their own house, never thinking, apparently, that it is the house of God, the dwelling-place of the Son of the Most High. Some persons are so shameless as to stare about them, watch all who come in or go out, and even talk or laugh, while the holy sacrifice of the Mass, before which the angels fall prostrate upon their faces, is being offered. To these Christ might well address the words He spoke to those who bought and sold in the temple: “My house is the house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” {Luke xix. 46.) Commenting on this passage, Cornelius 4 Lapide says: “The Christian church is in very truth the house of God, for Christ dwells therein in the Adorable Sacrament of the Altar. If He drove the Jews with scourges out of the temple, how much the more do Christians deserve a like treatment who profane His holy house with idle chatter, inquisitive glances, and rude staring at strangers.”
In connection with looking about one in church at Mass-time, the Blessed Veronica of Binasko relates the following experience: “Once when, prompted by curiosity, I happened during the time of Mass to look at one of the sisters who was kneeling near the altar, the angel of God, who is constantly beside me, rebuked me with such severity that I almost fainted with terror. How threateningly he looked at me as he said: ’Why dost thou not keep watch over thy heart? Why dost thou gaze thus curiously at thy sister? Thou hast committed no slight offence against God.’ Thus spoke the angel, and by Christ’s command he enjoined on me a heavy penance for my fault, which for three days I bewailed with tears. Now, when I hear Mass, I never venture so much as to turn my head, for fear of incurring the displeasure of His divine majesty.”
If it is sinful to look about one out of curiosity, how very wrong it must be to talk in church and in the time of Mass. It is much easier to restrain one’s tongue than one’s eyes, and on that account it is more wrong to speak in church than to let one’s eyes wander; besides, not only is it a greater offence against God, but it gives scandal and disturbs others at their prayers. In order to guard against this fault let us remember Our Lord’s words: “I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36) If we shall have to give an account of every idle word that we speak, how severely will the just Judge punish the idle words spoken at Mass-time, whereby we have shown such want of respect for His service!
In order to show the full amount of reverence due to the holy sacrifice of the Mass it is well to remain on one’s knees all the time. For if St. Paul says: “That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth” (Philippians 2:10)f how much more ought we to bow the knee when the divine Saviour is present in person upon the altar, and the work of our redemption is renewed. Some people are in the habit of standing throughout the Mass, only just kneeling down at the consecration, and rising to their feet immediately after, or even quietly sitting down, as if Our Lord were no longer present. This is most unseemly, and contrary to the usage of Christians. Those who cannot kneel the whole time should do so from the consecration until after the communion of the priest. Mothers ought to leave very young children at home, as they disturb not only those who bring them to church, but other people, and sometimes even the priest himself. But bigger children, who are old enough to be still, may be brought to Mass.
It is a most objectionable custom for women to come to Mass very much dressed. The holy Pope Linus used to insist on the Apostles injunction being observed, which required every woman to wear a veil when she went to church. St. Charles Borromeo was accustomed to say that women who were not thus veiled should be refused admittance into the church. According to St. Clement of Alexandria, the reason of this command was lest the beauty of the fair sex should distract the attention of men. Much harm is done by those who come to Mass splendidly and elaborately dressed, because they attract attention to themselves which ought to be given to the Mass, and thus lead others into sin. St. Ambrose says of such persons: “The more admiration they receive from men the more vile they are in the sight of God; the more they are praised by their fellow-creatures the more they are despised and hated by God.”
Women thus bedizened should, when they look upon the crucifix, imagine that they hear the voice of Christ speaking to them thus: “Behold Me, O my daughter, hanging upon the cross naked, covered with blood and wounds, to atone for thy vanity. Despising My abjection thou dost deck thyself with rich apparel, and appear without shame before My sight at Mass, giving scandal by thy evil example. Take heed lest for all thy fine garments thou art not after death cast into hell-fire.”
Let every one take warning by these words, and reflect that to be overdressed to any great extent is sinful, more so than one is apt to imagine, for it is a sin which is seldom repented of, confessed, and forsaken. Examine thy conscience as to how far thou hast erred in this respect by spending too much time and care on the adornment of thy person, causing scandal to some, leading others to follow thy example, or exciting envy in the minds of those who are too poor to dress as thou dost. By not giving a thought to all these sins, not confessing or bewailing them, thou wilt live and die in them, and incur no slight risk of eternal damnation.
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