1. Executive Director, MyCatholicFaith.org
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

2. Purpose of these Sessions:
Based on the book: The Mass: Four Encounters with Jesus that will Change your Life
Purpose of these Sessions:
“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
Principle underlying these Sessions:
In order to have more impactful encounters with Jesus Christ at Mass, learn how to have analogous encounters with Jesus Christ outside Mass.
Session One: What does it mean to have an encounter with Jesus Christ?
Session Two: Encountering Jesus Christ in the Community – Worship
Session Three: Encountering Jesus Christ in the Word – Praying with Scripture
Session Four: Encountering Jesus Christ in the Eucharist - Adoration

3. Session Two: The Work of Worship
A ten point exploration into the meaning of “worship” and how it applies to our lives.
Why go to Mass? Christ present in the Community – to give Praise and Thanks to God
Reflect on Worship in Scripture and the Catholic Tradition

4. 1. Why is worship called work?
The meaning of “liturgy” (what emphasis?)
a “public work on behalf of the people”
the participation of the People of God in “the work of God” CCC 1069
The Virtue of Religion (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Justice and religion – giving what is due
The meaning of “religion”
creed, code, cult
worship

5. 2. Where does the “praise of God” show up in our Catholic tradition?
Having a Mission associated with Praising God
The Choirs of Angels: 9 choirs
Angels are created beings with a spiritual nature whose names distinguish their mission (rather than identity)
Highest choir: Seraphim
Second Highest choir: Cherubim
Missions: praise and gaze
Having an Identity associated with Praising God
St. Therese of Lisieux, OCD:
“In the heart of the Church, I will be love.”
Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity, OCD:
My name in heaven is a “praise of His glory.” (Eph 1)

6. What is “praise and worship” and how does it fit into the way we pray?
Four types of prayer:
Thanksgiving
Petition
Intercession
Praise and Worship (Adoration)
The distinctiveness of praise:
It puts all of our attention and focus onto God.
It is centered on God.

7. 4. How do I “praise and worship” God?
Forms of praise and worship:
Speaking words
Singing
Silence
Settings for praise and worship:
Personal
Communal
Liturgical

8. 5. Why is it so fitting to praise? (part one)
What are you here for?
You were created to praise. (Augustine)
You were created to be in a loving union with God. Your loving response to God’s love essentially involves praise.
What does that say about God?
God is not egotistic:
Praise is the fitting response of one who has seen God.

9. 6. Why is it so fitting to praise? (part two)
Where are you going/headed?
Heaven: It is your destiny to praise
Where do we gain wisdom?
The past: Hindsight is 20/20
Live well in the present by learning from the past.
The future: Foresight is even better than 20/20
Live well in the present in the light of our future/our goal/our God assigned destiny.

10. 7. What happens when we praise? (part one)
Praise leads us into the presence of God:
The Psalms (Songs) of Ascent ( )
The impact of praise:
Existential
Spiritual

11. 8. What happens when we praise? (part two)
St. Augustine: “The Glory of God is made visible in praise.”
Psalm 22:3: “God inhabits the praises of His People.”

12. 9. Where do we most fully and perfectly praise God?
The Mass is our perfect act of praise and worship
Why? We are joined to Jesus Christ. He is the primary actor at Mass. Liturgy is always an act of Jesus Christ the High Priest.

13. 10. Why does the world today need praise?
To praise is prophetic.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (“to the Greater Glory of God”)
Move from acts of praise and worship to a life of praise and worship. My identity comes out into the open in all my actions.
I write AMDG as the slogan over all of my life.