21 February 2024
Sometimes people are surprised that we have daily masses at St. Mark’s. They question, “Isn’t it too much work? Doesn’t it get in the way of getting other work done? Is the mass an inconvenience in the middle of the day?” A priest even said to me once, “I would never want to serve at a church that had daily masses. Such a schedule requires too much.”
Last summer I saw a post on X (Are we still saying, “the platform formerly called Twitter?”) in which a priest told an ordinand, “Once you are a priest, strive to celebrate mass every day, even on your day off.” Both the priest and ordinand are in the catholic wing of the Church of England. It was fascinating to watch the conversation unfold. Many lauded the advice to have a prayer life that revolved around celebrating the mass every day. Other priests were baffled, and even appalled, that such advice would be given. Some of the commentators, both lay and clergy, devolved into arguments that were full of vitriol, even bullying. I believe the original post had to be removed.
I have been fortunate in my ministry to have always served at churches that had daily celebrations of the Mass. This has been the norm of my priesthood. Historically St. Mark’s had mass every day, but when I arrived the schedule was reduced to three days a week: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. One of the things that we set out to do when I arrived here was to restore the mass every day of the week. It is one of the hallmarks of an Anglo-Catholic parish.
It is work to say mass every day, but it also keeps church life sane. The church is not a business or corporation; it is the mystical Body of Christ. Our business is prayer, and our commerce is Sacraments. Our work is the reading of Scripture, the blessing of people, and the gathering of the faithful for prayer. The care of buildings is an idol if worship is sidelined or minimized, and compliance and procedures are a waste if people rarely pray. Having the daily mass at the church keeps us focused on why we exist. We must do church in order to be the church.
Years ago a mainland parish contacted me, asking me to consider a rector position. I was flattered that they found me, and the church was enticing, partly because they have a long tradition of keeping the daily mass. They also have a deep bench of retired and affiliated clergy. In fact, they have so many clergy desiring to celebrate weekday masses, that the rector does not have to celebrate weekday masses. When I discovered this, I thought we might need two masses each weekday, as I very much enjoy celebrating daily masses! (For various reasons, I chose not to apply.)
Corporate values, structures, and strategies can be tantalizing to modern churches. Mission and vision statements, metrics of congregational growth, studies of neighborhood demographics - these all have their purpose, but they must always take a back seat to the church’s primary purpose - being the Sacrament of Christ, sharing the Sacraments of Christ with the world. The church is not a business - it is the sacred body of Jesus that has been living and breathing since the resurrection.
This Lent, take the time to enjoy the Church - the mystical Body of Christ. Deny business and commerce and take up Sacraments and Scripture. Fast from the marketing of vision and mission statements, and enjoy something eternally deeper - the presence of Christ transforming the world through the Holy Spirit present in the Church. At first it may be difficult to find the time to give to God, but eventually you will discover that your days are empty without Sacraments, Holy Scripture, and prayer. You will find that a Mass in the middle of the day is not an inconvenience. Rather, everything else is the inconvenience. You will find that you hunger for the Mass, and nothing else will satisfy your desire but Jesus Christ, living and breathing in his holy Church.
Blessings to you this Lent.
Father Paul Lillie +
