20. Worshiping in spirit and truth

20. WORSHIPPING IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH GOING TO MASS IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST AN OBLIGATION FOR FAITHFUL CATHOLICS Compendium 218-223 Matthew 26:26-28 1. Liturgy means "public worship" and is used most specifically to refer to the Mass and the Sacraments. 2. In the Liturgy, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are made present and active. 3. The Liturgy is the source and summit of the Church's life and mission. 4. It is the highest and best means by which Christ continues to act on our behalf to sanctify us, redeem us from our sins and enable us to share in the life of God. It contains the mystery of God's loving plan to save us. 5. Through the Liturgy, the Holy Spirit, as the soul of the Church, brings us to ponder and deepen the new life Christ has won for us by his life, death and resurrection so that we can worship the Father in Spirit and Truth. 6. The Mass is not only a communion of saints and a foretaste of heaven, it is also a rehearsal of our individual encounter with God at the end of this life that will determine our final destiny for all eternity. All the wealth and health and happiness of earthly life is infinitesimally small compared to the wealth and opportunity that we receive at Mass. 7. Going forth from Mass, we take not only Jesus but the entire communion of saints into the world which we can easily conquer if we remain faithful, united and reliving Christ’s Passion in our own lives.