The persecution against the Catholic Mass grows fiercer by the day. Restrictions on worship have made it difficult, even impossible, for many Catholics to receive Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Now more than ever, we need the Sacrament of His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity!
Catholics must appreciate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and do whatever is necessary to assist in person. The Mass is our greatest treasure – the pearl of great price – for it is the Divine Work of Jesus Christ, His one eternal and perfect Sacrifice, which renders glory to God and salvation to men.
Many Catholics are asking:
⇒ What should I do if I am unable to assist at Mass on Sunday?
⇒ What should I do if Holy Mass is refused to me for kneeling to receive Our Lord?
We must still sanctify the Lord’s Day.
Even if we cannot attend Mass or receive Holy Communion, the Third Commandment obliges us to sanctify the Lord’s Day by those means available to us. The Fatima Center has posted several articles and videos on this subject:
- How Can I Sanctify Sundays When Masses Are Cancelled? – article by Matthew Plese
- How to Worship During the Lockdown – video by Kennedy Hall
We also encourage you to consider any or all of the following options. For each idea, we have provided a few online resources (though these lists are by no means exhaustive and we are unable to vouch for all the material contained at these various websites).
Pray a “dry Mass.” Pray all the prayers of the day’s Mass with attention and devotion.
-
- Use a hand-held daily Missal. If you don’t have one, there are numerous resources online that contain this information. For example:
- The Fatima Center’s homepage features a link to the Mass readings each day.
- Usus Antiquior website.
- Various apps for smart phones also have this information, such as iPieta.
Make a fervent Spiritual Communion with preparatory and thanksgiving prayers.
-
- Read “How to Make an Act of Spiritual Communion” by Matthew Plese.
- Most daily Missals have prayers which can be used to this end.
- The Traditional Catholic Prayers website contains many of these prayers.
Listen to a recorded sermon or talk from a faithful and inspiring traditional priest.
-
- You will find many suitable talks at The Fatima Center’s YouTube channel and podcast.
- Subscribe to the St. Vincent Ferrer Foundation’s website, which features sermons by Fr. Michael Rodríguez and other traditional priests.
- Visit Sensus Fidelium’s YouTube Channel.
Make a Holy Hour. If possible, do so before the Blessed Sacrament. If not, make a Holy Hour in your home before a crucifix, statue, or pious image.
-
- Use a “Holy Hour of Reparation” booklet, available though various Catholic booksellers, such as Angelus Press, or online at CatholicTradition.org.
- The prayers of the Stations of the Cross also serve for a devout Holy Hour (e.g., the prayers composed by St. Alphonsus Liguori).
Watch Holy Mass on the Internet or TV.
-
- An Internet search of the phrase “livestream Traditional Latin Mass” will yield numerous options.
- Be as reverent as possible. Dress in your Sunday best and follow Mass using your Missal.
- While not ideal, this has opened the eyes of many to the beauty and grandeur of the Traditional Liturgy.
Pray the Rosary. (Note: You gain more merit doing so as a family or in a group.)
-
- Consider praying daily all 15 decades of the Holy Rosary.
- Consider praying the Rosary more slowly and meditatively.
- Use The Fatima Center’s Pray the Rosary booklet.
- The Fatima Center’s website features a daily Rosary.
- The Fatima Center’s website also features a guide to the 54-Day Rosary Novena.
Pray the Divine Office, the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or portions of them.
-
- See the Divinum Officium website, which also makes an app for smart phones.
- See the Traditional Carmelite website for the Little Office. It is also available through various Catholic booksellers.
Mental prayer. Spend time in meditation, be it 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or more.
-
- “Sanctity Via Mental Prayer” is an excellent audio resource (5 talks in CD or MP3) by Fr. Rodríguez on how to do Mental Prayer.
- Many good Catholic booksellers, such as Loreto Publications, have excellent books to help one in Mental Prayer.
Read the Sacred Scriptures.
-
- We recommend the Douay-Rheims version in English.
Study the Catholic Faith.
-
- Always from trusted resources. Feel free to contact us if you have questions or doubts on a particular source.
Beware of the occasion for sacrilege!
In some places, the faithful may receive Holy Communion but are prohibited from receiving Communion on the tongue. Do not be fooled! Any such prohibition by the local bishop or pastor is an abuse of his authority.
We strongly urge you never to receive Holy Communion in the hand. It is a sacrilege, which regularly results in the Particles of the Blessed Sacrament falling to the ground to be trampled on. Better to forgo receiving Holy Communion than to commit such a desecration!
This may be a hard teaching for some. The article by John Vennari, “The Truth about Communion in the Hand,” is a revelation for those who have not considered the issue and a reminder for all of the grave issues associated with this practice. We recently re-issued part of this article in a “Special Report” (see image below on the right). Contact The Fatima Center for copies you can hand out to others.
It is a glorious time to be Catholic!
The restrictions on the Church’s public rites of worship and its Sacraments deprive the faithful and the world of God’s grace. This chastisement should not surprise us. The Pope and the bishops have not consecrated Russia as requested by Our Lady of Fatima. Our Lady warned us to expect ever worse chastisements until the Consecration is done.
We should not despair! God always draws good from evil. We now have the opportunity to merit even more graces for ourselves, our families, and the world by making the extra effort and sacrifice to give due worship and honor to God and nurture our spiritual lives in these times of trial. In the face of the current persecution, we Catholics must turn with ever-greater fervor to Our Lord and His Blessed Mother.
The Fatima Center relies on your ongoing spiritual and financial support to spread the Fatima Message and to help Catholics during these times of persecution.
May Our Lord through Our Lady reward you for your generosity!
“I am the living Bread which came down from Heaven. If any man eats of this Bread, he shall live forever; and the Bread that I will give, is My Flesh, for the life of the world.” – John 6: 51-52
| Enthrone the Sacred Heart in Your Home |
Read, Print and Share Our Latest Appeal |
Read the Special Report “Communion in the Hand” |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
Join the League of the Immaculate Heart!
Please consider making a monthly donation to the League of the Immaculate Heart pledge club, so that Our Lady’s Apostolate can function more effectively through planning based on assured support. (Make your donations here.)