Catholic Apologetics Online

Choose a topic from Vol 3:

God

Man

Religion

The Religion of the Bible

The Christian Religion

A Definite Christian Faith

The Problem of Reunion

The Truth of Catholicism

The Church and the Bible

The Dogmas of the Catholic Church

Moral Teachings of the Catholic Church

The Church in Her Worship

The Church and Social Welfare

Church attendance

1079. To worship properly, is it necessary to do so in a Church?

Not always, but certainly sometimes. Man is not only an individual being. He is also a social being. And to worship God properly man must do so both in his individual, and in his social capacity. He can worship God properly as an individual by private prayer. But he cannot worship God properly in his social capacity unless he joins in collective worship. Of course, all that is a matter of general principle only. If one is a Catholic he knows that he cannot worship God properly save in accordance with the obligations of his religion. As an individual, therefore, the Catholic must, besides praying, receive the Sacraments. And he must also fulfill the duty of public or social worship by attendance at Mass on Sundays. Those are the obligations of the true religion. As a Protestant you would scarcely appreciate that. But still you should be able to grasp the difference between the obligation of private worship, and that of public and collective worship.

1080. My everyday religion is an earnest endeavor to be honest, and to help others less fortunate, often at personal loss; still it suits my way of thought.

You therefore reject the Christian religion. Even as a Protestant, you have drifted pretty far. I do not mean to speak unkindly. But you must admit that what you call your everyday religion could be that of a good pagan. A man who professed complete unbelief in Christ could earnestly endeavor to be honest, and to help others even at personal inconvenience. He would be completely irreligious, for His one effort would be to retain his self-respect and be kind to his fellow man. But God would not enter into his scheme of things, nor would the man enter into any relations at all with God. And since religion inspires and regulates our relations with God, your "everyday religion," as described, is not religion at all. Again, you justify your attitude by saying that it "suits your way of thought." Surely you can see that a Christian is one who adjusts his life to the teaching of Christ. His way of thought is the law for a Christian.

1081. I am still convinced in my mind that, if only one goes about trying to be good and to do good, God will notice the fact and judge accordingly.

It is certain that God notices all things, and that He will judge accordingly. But what will be His judgment? On the standard you give, Christ need not so much as set foot in this world. You reduce yourself to the level of those who have never heard of Christ. God notices that fact, and will judge accordingly. You have been baptized as a Christian. Having received that Sacrament, how will you justify before God your neglect of the other ordinances of Christ? Christ said, "I will build My Church, and if a man will not obey the Church, let him be as the heathen." But you obey no Church. As the very central act of worship to be offered in His name and on behalf of His people to God, He instituted the Sacrifice of the Mass. You repudiate the necessity of attending and assisting at that Sacrifice. I cannot go through all the other obligations of Christians. But I have said enough to show that, if you still believe in Christianity, you do not fulfill Christian obligations. If, on the other hand, you no longer believe in Christianity, you owe it to yourself to know just on what grounds you have rejected it.

1082. Will you tell us the real reason why Catholics fill up their Churches four or five times on Sundays?

I will do so. Let us take it step by step.Catholics believe in God.They believe that worship and public acknowledgment is due to God in strict justice.Being Christians, they believe that Jesus Christ the Son of God has taught us how to worship God and that it is to be done chiefly by assisting at the Sacrifice of the Mass, as far as public worship is concerned. They believe that Jesus Christ established the Catholic Church, and that the Catholic Church speaks with His authority. And when the Catholic Church says that all Catholics must fulfill their duty of worshipping God by attending Mass on Sundays, Catholics the world over do so in a spirit of obedience to the authority of the Christ in whom they believe. They go because God is God and because they owe this service to God. As they know it is a sin to refuse to pay what they owe the baker for the bread with which they nourish their lives, so they know it is a greater sin to refuse to pay what they owe to God for the life that bread nourishes. And as God is God whether they feel like going to Mass or not, they go whether they feel like it or not. These reasons apply to priest and people alike. The Catholic Faith is a reality in their lives. They believe in God and the worship due to Him. They know it is a sin to refuse this supreme religious duty. They don't want to sin thus against God. So they go to Mass.Here then you have the reasons why Catholics are so faithful-even to filling their churches 4 or 5 times over on Sunday mornings. And it is to the credit of the Catholic Church that she can inspire such fidelity to God and such a sense of religious duty. In fact, she could not do it, if Christ were not with her. It is a work of God's grace.

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MORE FROM VOLUME 3

• About the Author
• Preface
  - Msgr Fulton J Sheen
• Author's Foreword
  - Dr Rumble, MSC

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