Understanding the Mass as a Love Story

Do you ever feel that the Mass is not very personal? Or do you find yourself viewing it as just another weekly obligation?

If you're struggling to pray at Mass, you’re not alone! These feelings are common, but they can also signal a need to examine the posture of our hearts.

Are we truly prepared to receive the graces of the Mass? Instead of seeing it as a mere obligatory ritual, what if we approached the Mass as a love story between God and humanity?

With this simple shift in perspective, we can overcome the temptation to disengage or succumb to distractions. And instead, we can arrive ready to offer ourselves to Jesus and receive Him in return.

A Posture of Vulnerability

Engaging in the Mass requires vulnerability. Yet, we often enter the liturgy shielded by fears, doubts, sins, and even our endless to-do lists. The Confiteor serves as a powerful reminder of our need for God’s mercy. As Fr. Boniface Hicks explains in Personal Prayer, its placement at the beginning of Mass invites us to lower our defenses and acknowledge our weaknesses, paving the way for a personal encounter with the Lord.

I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God."

Vulnerability is a two-way street. By confessing our sins at the outset, we acknowledge our need for God, which opens our hearts to His love. This act of vulnerability on our part is then met in subsequent parts of the Mass by Jesus’ own vulnerability—both in His presence in the Liturgy of the Word and in the ultimate gift of Himself in the Eucharist.

An Invitation to Deeper Relationship

In a BIS podcast, Beth Davis and Jenna Guizar share how their understanding of the Mass deepened over time. Viewing the Mass through the lens of love transformed their experience from obligation to invitation.

And this holds true for all of us.

God yearns for a personal relationship with each of us, and the Mass is a profound expression of that desire. The readings, prayers, and ultimately, the Eucharist itself, are all integral parts of the divine love story between God and humanity.

When we approach the Mass with this perspective, it becomes easier to engage with the liturgy. We step into a narrative of love: God pursues us and invites us into a relationship. Recognizing this can shift our mindset from simply attending Mass to actively participating in a sacred relationship.

“The desire of God’s heart is to have a one-flesh union with me,” Beth reflects in the podcast episode. “That’s what the Eucharist is.”

God's presence in the Eucharist is a profound mystery. While it may be difficult to fully grasp, faith in Sacred Scripture and Tradition allows us to embrace this truth even when our senses seem to suggest otherwise. The Eucharist is not merely a symbol; it is the true Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, present among us.

Come Ready to Receive

In every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Lover of our souls invites us to become one with Him. Recognizing this helps us to overcome indifference, embrace vulnerability, and radically transform our experience. As God unveils His desire to be united with us, let us be open to receiving His love.

Learn more about this beautiful truth with Gift, our study on the Eucharist.