Taken from the Last Papist Standing blogspot:

Unfortunately, many of us Catholics have slid into the Protestant language group by using their terminology. Do well tell our kids to "get ready for church" or do we tell them to "get ready for Mass"? Do we try to maintain a prayerful silence in the car to set the tone, or is it business as usual until we step inside the church? Do we dress in better clothes out of respect for God and in recognition of the solemn ritual we are about to assist with, or are we self-congratulating pharisees, overdressing for attention at the weekly fashion show?

And what about at Mass? Are we looking for entertainment or are we engaged with the Holy Sacrifice that is to take place before us? Are we focusing on the personality of the priest, or are we worshipping the High Priest who offered Himself for our sins? When we approach Holy Communion, are we waving and winking at our friends in the pews, or are we focused on Who we are about to receive? When we leave Mass, are we loud and joking, or are we reverent, aware of what we have just witnessed and Who we carry within us?

Catholics don't just go to Church. We go to Mass.

St. Philip Howard

Let's remember the case of St. Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel. He was imprisoned by Queen Elizabeth I for his Catholic faith. All he had to do was "go to church" and the Queen promised that she would restore all of his honors and estates. Except Philip knew the catch: He would have to attend a Protestant church. His reply to the queen? "Tell Her Majesty, if my religion be the cause for which I suffer, sorry I am that I have but one life to lose." He died alone, a martyr in the Tower of London.

Yes, we are the Church. We are members of the Church Militant. And most of us attend Mass in a church. And it is wonderful to have a beautiful church to offer Mass in. However, anyone can go to a church. You can go to the First Baptist Church, the Last Baptist Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Church of Christ, the Lutheran Church, the Episcopal Church, the Church of the Nazarene, the Church of Religious Science, the Mormon Church, the Pentecostal Church, the Community Church, the Methodist Church and the Full Gospel Tabernacle of Holiness Church, but none of those churches are going to offer you the Sacrifice that forgives our sins and saves us: The Mass.
















No matter where we attend Mass, Christ is always Present for us. Let us never forget this great and unique gift that we have.