CHAPTER VII.
HOW TO HEAR MASS WELL.
Admonition on the Excellence, Profit, and Dignity of the Sacrifice of the Mass.
Whoever does not hear or celebrate Mass daily when he is able, or does either of these too negligently, is either ignorant of the dignity and profitableness of so great a Sacrifice, or, at any rate, not value it duly.
For in the Mass the whole price of our salvation, and the whole treasure of Christ's merits, is set before every Christian, and the principal mysteries of our faith and redemption are renewed. Those, then, are convicted of carelessness of their salvation, of ingratitude to God, and of coldness towards their religious duties, who do not frequently reflect upon the blessing of their redemption with holy mental meditation, and with feelings of thankfulness to God.
Our Saviour, indeed, requires from us a frequent and grateful remembrance of his Passion and of his love to us, of which he has left to his Church so noble a monument, in saying, As often as you shall do this, you shall do it in remembrance of me.
It will not, therefore, be improper to note down here somewhat to explain the dignity and utility of so great a Sacrifice, and win the faithful to a greater reverence and regard for it.
For who is there of there of the faithful, says St. Gregory, who can doubt that, at the very hour of Sacrifice, the heavens are opened at the voice of the Priest; that the choirs of Angels are present at the mystery of Jesus Christ; that the things most high and most low join company; that the things of earth are united to those of heaven, and things visible and invisible are made one?
This is confirmed by St. Chrysostom,? who says, During the time that this Sacrifice is being performed, Angels are standing near the Priest, and the whole order of heavenly Powers raise their voices, and the place near the altar is full of choirs of Angels, to honour Him who is being sacrificed; which may be fully believed from the very nature of a Sacrifice so great as is then performed. That is to say, It is possible that those happy beings, the ministering Spirits, and, as it
