5 reasons why it is important to go to Mass every day

Il precept of Sunday Mass it is essential in the life of every Catholic but it is even more important to participate in the Eucharist every day.

In an article published in the newspaper "Catholic Herald" Fr Matthew Pittam, priest of the Archdiocese of Birmingham (England), he reflected on the importance of participating in the Eucharist every day.

The priest recalled the words of St. Bernard of Claraval to define the importance of the Mass: "There is more to be gained by participating in a single Holy Mass than by distributing fortune to the poor and pilgrimage to all the holiest shrines of Christianity" .

Here, then, are Father Pittam's 5 reasons for attending Mass every day.

1 - Grow in faith

Fr Pittam indicated that it is right and important to participate in the Sunday Eucharist but the daily Mass "is a silent testimony of the need to have a faith that extends throughout the week and throughout our life".

“Only with the weekend mass do we reinforce the idea that it is possible to be Catholic only on Sundays. The spiritual dimension of all this should not be underestimated ”, he added.

2 - It is the heart of the parish and of the Church

Father Pittam stressed that daily Mass is "like the heartbeat of parish life" and those who participate, even if few, "are the ones who keep the Church going".

The priest cited his own parish as an example, where those who participate daily in mass are "the people I can call if I need to do something".

“They are the ones who clean the church, help in planning the catechesis, organize events and manage the finances. They are also the ones who support the church with their financial contribution, ”he said.

3.- Support the community

Even the daily mass plays an important role in the parish community because, according to P. Pittam, it unites the faithful.

Even in moments of prayer, before and after the Eucharist, such as the prayer of Lauds or the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Furthermore, “the daily Mass supports and helps the faithful to grow in their faith. The daily Mass also helped them develop their relationship with the community, ”he said.

4.- It is a welcome gesture in difficult times

Father Pittam indicated that people start attending mass every day when they go through moments of crisis, such as grief or the loss of a loved one. He recalled that a woman began attending mass every day after her father died.

“She wasn't a parishioner during the week but she started coming because she knew we were there and that in that time of need Jesus would be present through the sacrament,” she said.

“There is something in the daily Mass that shows us that the Church is at our disposal. This is why it has missionary consequences ”, he added.

5 - Train future leaders

The priest stressed that daily Mass is part of the formation of many parish leaders and collaborators.