For a small parish, I think we do okay in terms of the numbers who attend daily Mass.  For me it is a sign of a parish’s vitality.  But some of our more faithful members have moved off the island and others are increasingly facing the limits imposed by the aging process.  So, I do worry that there will come a day when I show up for Mass and nobody else does.  That would be a sad day and most likely be my cue that the time for retirement was at hand.
 
Bert Ghezzi goes to Mass every morning.  He wrote a book entitled The Power of Daily Mass: How Frequent Participation in the Eucharist Can Transform Your Life (Ave Maria Press).   While I am far off in the Philippines, I thought this would be a good time to share an interview that Brandon Vogt ( https://brandonvogt.com = a wonderful Catholic website) did with Bert concerning his book.
 
BRANDON: In your book, The Power of Daily Mass, you share how attending daily Mass, consistently for years, has dramatically shaped your life. What benefits have flowed from this commitment?
 
BERT GHEZZI: Meeting Jesus in the Liturgy of the Word and receiving him in the Eucharist has helped me to acknowledge his presence and live close to him daily. I know that the Lord wants to communicate with me, so I listen carefully to the readings and prayers for his words for me.. I reflect on what I hear him say during my prayer times and act on his leadings. Lately, for example, I have been thanking him for his life-long kindnesses to me as I heard him remind me that he has never “withheld his tendernesses.” But the main benefit for me has been the privilege of giving myself to him at the Offertory, which I regard as a renewal of my decision to follow him. I especially value the mind-blowing privilege of offering his eternal sacrifice with him at the Eucharist. And receiving him in my heart at communion, so that I can be a Christ-bearer to my family, friends, and people I encounter.
 
BRANDON: The more you attend Mass, the easier it is to sink into empty repetition. How do you avoid this danger and remain attentive and active?
 
BERT GHEZZI: The repetitive structure of the liturgy far from being a danger gives me a form for spontaneous and heartfelt prayer. From the opening prayer to the dismissal, each familiar movement of the Mass presents an opportunity for my uniting with the Lord, the celebrant, and the congregation in fresh acts of worship. So Mass never bores me. After all, the liturgy is a work of Christ—it is his heavenly worship and my privilege to join him.
 
BRANDON: Besides communing with Jesus at Mass, you also mention the connection to the saints and their liturgical feast days. How do those impact your spiritual life?
 
BERT GHEZZI: I have been a saint-watcher for many years. Celebrating their birthdays into heaven at daily liturgies draws me closer to them and they draw me nearer to the Lord. On feast days I often remember something about the saint that encourages me. For example, today the liturgy honored St. Basil the Great, a theologian and apologist who personally served the sick and the poor. He inspires me to look for ways to put my faith into action.
 
BERT GHEZZI: Many Catholics have family and work commitments that prevent them from attending daily Mass. I would encourage them to begin attending Mass one day a week by rearranging their morning commitments. One of my friends, for example, worships on Wednesdays at 7 when he does not need to be at work until 8. Maybe for some their parish schedules weekday Masses at times inconvenient for them. I would encourage them to look for a nearby parish that may offer a noon Mass that they might be able attend. But many people could go to daily Mass but don’t, possibly because they do not realize the benefits. I would encourage them to decide to attend daily for a season like Advent or Lent. For example, I have a friend who decided decades ago to worship at daily Mass for Lent and has never stopped.
 
P.S. Don’t tell him I spilled the beans, but I think it is Fr. Dave’s Birthday this week.  I think his original date of issue was January 24, 1942.

Fr. Jerry Ragan