The masses flock to Mass!

Man! I just got back from the Ash Wednesday mass at St. Patrick's. Now, the one thing I have always loved about St. Pat's is that each and every mass, be it a Sunday mass or a daily mass, is well attended. Imagine, a parish that has 4 masses each every single day, and all of those masses have a good number of people that come to worship and receive Christ's Eucharistic presence each day. It's a beautiful thing. Very, very beautiful.

Today, however, it was even MORE packed! Not only was the church packed with people, but there are actually two services held at the same time, one in the church, one in the basement, both of which were overflowing with people of Christ seeking forgiveness. It's crazy how many people show up for Ash Wednesday mass even though it's not a holy day of obligation.

I pray that all of us may live the spirit of the Lenten season. I pray that our seeking Christ does not end when the ashes are washed from our foreheads, but that instead the words proclaimed when the ashes were imposed us resound in our minds and hearts continuously as Lent proceeds. "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel."

"In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the gospel should live by the gospel. I have not used any of these rights, however, nor do I write this that it be done so in my case. I would rather die. Certainly no one is going to nullify my boast. If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it!"

1 Corinthians 9:14-16