A Lenten Reflection

Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)

When I was an altar server at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, a humorous article about Anglo-Catholics made the rounds. It was composed of a series of questions, asking what people of this tradition would do when faced with various challenges, ranging from the trivial (one’s favourite artisanal gin is out of stock) to the significant (the loss of a loved one). The answer was always the same: go to Mass. The implicit assumption was that Mass was said often enough that the person in crisis could find comfort in the Sacrament on a timely basis.

At St. John the Evangelist, Mass is celebrated every day of the week, and has been for almost the entire history of the parish. Indeed, this practice is such an integral part of our identity that attendance at a weekday service is suggested as a Lenten observance.

To those who are not yet part of the small group who gathers for a half-hour of intimate and meditative worship, I offer both a warm introduction and a brief description of what awaits you. The congregation of three to ten people, including the priest and server, gather in St. Anne’s Chapel, except on Wednesday morning at 7:30 when the memorial altar to the Rector-Founder on the north aisle is used. By comparison to a High Mass, the service is said and not sung, some elements are omitted (hymns, incense, the Gloria and Creed, etc.) while the Epistle and Gospel are often the same passages read on Sunday. A service book, and the text of the Introit and Gradual, are provided so worshipers can participate in the rite. On Tuesday evening, the Mass is said entirely in French.

It has been my experience that weekday Masses complement the principal Sunday service. They are 'both/and' components of my spiritual life. I find said servicesto be peaceful and focussed entirely on prayer. They provide the opportunity to reflect on the Sunday readings again, and perhaps to recall aspects of the sermon. The priest is available to listen to pastoral concerns and to hear confessions in privacy. As well, worship in the early morning or early evening provides a centred way of making the transition between the different times of the day.

The great benefit of taking something on for Lent is that the practice can become a cherished part of our rule of life. I hope and pray that people will be inspired to attend a weekday Mass and hear the call of the psalmist to be still, and to know our God.

Wendy +