Is the Mass a celebration of prayer and inspiration?

The week’s column in The Kerryman newspaper.

Michael Commane

On the feast of the Holy Family, Sunday, December 28 I attended Mass as I was not rostered to celebrate Mass in a public church. I often smile silently to myself when I hear talk that there is a shortage of priests in Ireland.

The church in which I attended Mass was one of those big churches built in Ireland in the1950s and ’60s. 

It was a visiting priest celebrating the Mass, who introduced himself. I thought that was a lovely gesture. So often I’ve been to Mass and the priest never tells us who he is.

There are many aspects to the Mass. It’s at the centre of our faith. Catholics believe that Christ is really present in the Eucharist. But what does that mean for most of us? 

I once heard a holy and clever priest say that Christ is sacramentally present in the Eucharist and it’s what I say as well. That is not at all taking away from saying Christ is really present in the Eucharist. But Christ is not present in the Eucharist or Mass as I am present here writing these words. 

Christ speaks to us in the breaking of the bread and the reading of the Word.

The Last Supper was a meal, a fellowship experience with Christ at the centre; they were friends, people who respected and cared for one another. They were people who shared a common belief. I think it’s fair to say it would have been an intimate occasion. 

People in such a setting would inspire one another, they’d leave with a spring in their step. And then add to that, their belief that the man in their midst is God.

The Mass that I attended  spoke little or nothing to me. The priest carried out gestures, which had no symbolic meaning to me whatsoever; I doubt they made any sense to the majority of people in the church that day. 

All I can say about his sermon is that I have forgotten what he said but I can remember while he was preaching wondering where it was going.

The Mass was a wordy experience, lifeless too. I know the Mass is the Mass but I kept asking myself why would anyone come here on a Sunday morning over the season of Christmas. 

I thought of all the talk about synodality; there wasn’t a hint of it at this Mass. No offertory procession, no handshake of peace. For me the most uplifting aspect to the Eucharistic celebration was the music sung by the choir; it was uplifting and helped me to pray. Obviously the parish uses the local talent for its music needs.

There needs to be a far better link between priest and parishioners, parish councils must not be the hand picked pious people of the parish priest, instead people who will speak openly and honestly about their faith, the highs and lows of where they are with being a Christian. 

The Mass needs to be an honest and real experience of a living Christian community, an occasion to speak to and with God in words that have meaning for all involved.

Surely the Irish bishops know why people have lost interest in Mass on Sunday.