Weekday Masses - Rector's Rambling for November 10, 2024

     

    One of the greatest privileges of the catholic Christian (a title aptly applied to Episcopalians who believe in the ‘one, holy, catholic and apostolic church’) is to receive the Blessed Sacrament regularly.  Every Sunday it is offered at St. John’s, and as the Prayer Book Office of Instructions reminds us our ‘bounden duty is to follow Christ, to worship every Sunday in Church” (p. 291).  In the Sacrament of Jesus’ Body and Blood we are nourished in our bodies and souls by His Sacramental Presence - an assurance of His Grace.

In addition to being offered on Sunday at the 8 AM and 10 AM Service, The Holy Communion Service is also prayed during the weekdays as well.  Regularly scheduled Monday through Thursday, unless supplanted by a funeral service at the same hour or my being out of town.  Occasionally we add a fifth or sixth weekday Holy Communion Service if there is a Prayer Book Holy Day, Wedding or Funeral scheduled on Friday or Saturday.

The weekday Masses (another word for the Holy Communion Service) differ in a few ways from our Sunday Celebration.  Generally it is shorter because there is no sermon in a traditional sense.  In its place is usually the reading of a hagiography (a biography of a saint) about the person being commemorated on the Church calendar for that day.  The lives of the saints inspire us to strive for holiness, and are proof that God can take anyone, in any spiritual condition, and make them into holy people by His Grace.  It can also be a reminder that we still have a long way to go, personally.  But then again that is why we are there! The Sacrament is the most powerful aid to holiness!

The weekday Holy Communion Service is also quieter and more intimate.  I have heard the comparison that the Sunday Service is like a Royal Official State Banquet with all the trappings, but the weekday Service is like an intimate meal with the immediate family.  In both cases we are being fed, but there is a different feel to it.  Many of our weekday Masses have only two or three people present, but if even only one person is present, they represent the prayers of the entire parish incarnate!

A weekday Mass is not a substitute for Sunday attendance but is intended to be in addition to it.  But if you are hindered by travel or illness from making it to Church on Sunday, making the effort to make a Mass during the week is efficacious for growth in the spiritual life.

Once a month?  Once a week?  How many weekday Masses can you add to your every Sunday attendance?