The Mass and Beyond: Learn ways to foster encounters with Christ outside of Mass as a means of preparing for Mass and going from Mass into your daily life. By Dr. Tom Curran Executive Director, MyCatholicFaith.org

Based on the book: The Mass: Four Encounters with Jesus that will Change your Life Purpose of the book: “If no contact with the living God of all men takes place in the sacraments, then they are empty rituals which tell us nothing nor give us anything.” Cardinal Ratzinger, May 1996

The Focus of the Four Sessions Session One Explore the meaning of encountering Christ in the Scriptures and our Catholic Tradition Sessions Two – Four Explore the meaning of encountering Christ –In the Community (worship) –In the Word (prayer) –In the Eucharist (adoration) –Not covered: “in the priest” (separate course on Confession)

Mass is the source, summit and center of our life of faith. Source: R eflect on where these encounters occur at Mass, –Draw attention to where they occur outside Mass –Four presences of Christ – Community, Word, Priest, Eucharist Summit: The most direct and profound ways we encounter Christ is in the Sacraments, –We encounter Christ outside of Christ in analogous ways Center: Live toward Mass and Live from Mass (live toward these encounters and from them) –We increase our capacity and openness to encounter Christ at Mass by preparing for Mass and by living out what happens at Mass

Approach to the Topic: Focus on Philosophy (way of seeing), Principles (sources/motives of action), Practices (application to daily life)

Encountering Jesus Christ in our lives: Philosophy (way of seeing) “Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person [Jesus Christ], which gives life a new horizon and decisive direction” (Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est) 1 God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. “Every authentic prayer is prompted by the Holy Spirit who is mysteriously present in every human heart.” (Pope John Paul II – World Day of Prayer for Peace, Oct. 1986) 27 God never ceases to draw man to himself... “This invitation to converse with God is addressed to man as soon as he comes into being. For if man exists it is because God has created him through love, and through love continues to hold him in existence.” (Gaudium et spes 19) 2560 "If you knew the gift of God!" (Jn 4:10) The wonder of prayer is revealed beside the well where we come seeking water: there, Christ comes to meet every human being. It is he who first seeks us and asks us for a drink. Jesus thirsts; his asking arises from the depths of God's desire for us. Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God's thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for him.

Encountering Jesus Christ in our lives: Principles (sources and motives for action) 27 The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for: Our capacity for God. 35 Man's faculties make him capable of coming to a knowledge of the existence of a personal God. But for man to be able to enter into real intimacy with him, God willed both to reveal himself to man and to give him the grace of being able to welcome this revelation in faith. 27 He cannot live fully according to truth unless he freely acknowledges that love and entrusts himself to his creator. (Gaudium et spes 19) Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." (Mk 1:14-15)

Encountering Jesus Christ in our lives: Practices (application to daily life) Attend: “Now is the time…” (1 Cor. 6:1-2) Pay attention! Be alert! Be open! Expect. practice: silence Discern: The Kingdom of God is here, now, coming towards to, breaking into your life The realm of God – we serve a King who protects and provides for us practice: experiment and reflect Interpret: What is the implication / entailment for my life? Good News: News not information practice: Just do it! Respond: Repent and Believe Repentance: Turning around – changing of mind – turn from sin to God Luke 15: The lost sheep, the lost coin, the prodigal son Believe: Accept as true, Entrust

“Come and See!” Discipleship: Come! Stay! Go! We desire God… and we resist God. (renunciation of self) Conquer me! We are naturally created for a supernatural end (goal). (St. Thomas Aquinas) Spiritual poverty: Blessed are the poor in spirit, theirs is the Kingdom of God. Condition not cause: We can only “foster” or “dispose” ourselves for “encounters”, we cannot cause them.