A. Remember that receiving the Eucharist at Mass is a gift of Christ. The Church wishes for all who attend Mass to receive Communion, but it is necessary that we examine our conscience to make sure we are truly prepared to receive Jesus.

The “required dispositions” of which the Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks include:

1. That we are in a “state of grace,” not conscious of any unconfessed grave sin. (If you are conscious of grave sin, you should arrange to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation as soon as possible. If it is a serious situation such as not being married in the Church, you should make an appointment with the priest of your church and discuss this with him.)

2. That we have observed the one hour fast from food and drink (except for water and medicine) before receiving Holy Communion.

Those who are advanced in age or are infirm, as well as those who care for them, are exempt from this fast.

and with all the fervour they were capable of, to praise Him and to ask Him to grant you the favour you desire. Consider what an immense amount of glory this would give God, and what wonderful power it would have with Him!

Yet, the power of one single Mass is infinitely greater than all this. And why? Because in the Mass it is not angels and saints alone who pray for you: it is Jesus Christ Himself, and He not only prays for you but He also offers up His merits for you, and as He is God, His prayers and His merits give infinitely more glory to God and are infinitely more powerful than the united prayers and offerings of all the angels and men, even if they were continued for all eternity.

We ought then to value the Mass above all things; we should never miss Mass when we have an opportunity of hearing it; we should try to hear it with the greatest attention, and, most important of all, we should offer our prayers in union with the prayers of Christ; this will make them all-powerful.