A Type of the Mass

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Indeed, the pinnacle celebration of the Christian faith was foreshadowed for many centuries before Christ came and instituted the Eucharistic celebration!

At the behest of my pastor, I have undertaken a prayerful reading of the book of the prophet Joel during this Lenten season.  In chapter two, there is a very clear type of the Mass.  Verses 15 through 17 read:
Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people.  Sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants.  Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.

Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say "Spare thy people, O Lord, and make not thy heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations.  Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"

Let's compare the above passage to the order of the Mass.  Blowing the trumpet is equivalent to an opening hymn (which sometimes includes a trumpet accompaniment).  Theoretically, all who are attending Mass have engaged in a fast before the celebration.  The celebration is completed in the midst of a solemn gathering of people, including babies, children, youth, and adults.

Further, the priest, who is acting in persona Christi (in the person of Christ), begs the Father audibly and silently to spare us of His wrath; to let His mercy reign on us.  When the celebration continues, everyone in the assembly knows where God is and remains (hint...the tabernacle).  At last, the entire Mass is a feast that celebrates the union of the Bridegroom (Jesus Christ) with His Beloved Bride (the Church...all of us).

Let the glory of God reign, and let us all seek to participate more fully in this most blessed celebration!

God bless!

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