Although there are many sites dealing with this topic, it is hard to find easy and attractive answers accommodated to the modern kid. And as mothers who are not theologians, there is a nagging fear answers we concoct may not accurately reflect the truths of the Faith.

To try to plug this gap, a group of mothers got together to study and craft short, pithy answers for kids. We found there are no perfect answers because different people will benefit from different approaches.

Still, we hope that what we came up with will cast some light as to how you might want to answer your child or teenager.

Please feel free to re-post any answers that you like.  Do also note that the bold font denotes a more concise answer while the italic font in double brackets denotes a much fuller answer.

1) Why doesn’t everyone go to heaven since everyone is a child of God?

Heaven is like a party. All are invited. Whether we go to this party is our choice. Like parties that we are invited to, we can accept the invitation (and hence have to get ready: find a party outfit, buy a present, etc) or we can toss the invitation away (in which case, we just get on with our lives).

Souls go to hell because they rejected the invitation, not because God sent them there. The fact they are children of God means God is sad when his children choose hell but He will respect their freely-made decision.

2) What if we die and discover that our faith is all fake?

We cannot know for sure on earth whether our faith is real – this is precisely why we need faith. But even if one does not have faith, one is better off believing because if it turns out that there is really God, one will be on the right side. If there is no God, it will not matter. If one does not believe in God, and he exists, one will be in trouble. Again, if he does not exist, it would not matter.

When we face difficulties in life, we may feel that God doesn’t exist, then we should persevere on in faith, believing that God is always present.  When we have faith and love God, He will have a great surprise in store for us in heaven, something beyond our imagination, something that we will be extremely grateful for all eternity.  

((Although we may not always have the clarity that totally assures us in what we believe, we can still discern traces of God’s Presence in the material world and within ourselves.

Firstly, in the natural world, we see the intricate balance of the ecosystem, the mathematical precision of the elements moving in the universe and our bodies. These perfect designs point us to an intelligent Source. 

Secondly, in ourselves we desire goodness, beauty, justice, love and all that bring us happiness. We are always aspiring for more of these, wishing that our happiness could last longer and if possible, forever. 

Such desire for everlasting happiness is natural and is universally ingrained in everyone. On the physical realm, our natural (and universal) desires can be satisfied. Hunger is satisfied by food, thirst by water, tiredness by rest and so on. 

If all natural desires can be fulfilled, then the natural desire for everlasting happiness can also be fulfilled. If the desire for everlasting happiness cannot be completely satisfied here, it follows that there exists another state of existence (Heaven) that can fulfil that desire.

Thirdly, a hosts of martyrs in the Church’s history shows that our faith is hardly imaginary. These martyrs must had encountered Someone to be able to stand firm and to the point of dying. Their ability to withstand the unimaginable cruelty beyond their human strength, bore witness to the Divine.

The growth in the certitude of our faith is a gift and an ongoing process. Quite commonly, we come to faith not by a single revelation or a compelling argument but through a series experiences and probabilities (although there are some exceptions)

Each time, as we avail ourselves to study, prayer, reflection and the witness of others, we gather fragments of experiences to ponder upon and to make sense of them. With grace and good will, these varying experiences can converge, leading us to conclude that God exists and to intuitively become more convinced that our faith is real. 

It is a lifelong journey and a quest unique to each person as he seeks to own and deepen his faith.

References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP2rLgrBtTI (Why do we believe in God – Bishop Robert Barron)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH0VkjzLxSw (Why do we believe in God – Bishop Robert Barron)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-NoRbPEPzs (How do we know we are encountering God)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGQ-nWOZrok (Atheism & Philosophy)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_desire (Argument from Desire)

My Sister St. Therese – Celine Martin (TAN Books))

3) Aren’t all religions the same?

All religions may appear to be the same because they teach us how to be good. However, this teaching is the consequence of what the religion believes in and here, religions differ, sometimes greatly. For example, some believe there are many different gods, each one being “in charge” of something while three – Judaism, Islam and Christianity – believe there is only one God.

In that case, which religion should I believe in?

What you are really asking is which religion is the true one? Since religion is a matter of belief and not of certainty, there is no way of ‘proving’ that a particular religion is true in the way you can show that 2+2=4.

However, only one religion claims to be the true religion because its ‘founder’ is the only person who has had the audacity to claim to be God. Do you know which is that religion?

 No. Tell me more.

Although other religions may contain some truth, the fullness of truth exists only in the Catholic Church because its doctrines were given by Jesus who claimed to be God.

He proved his claim by:

1. the transcendence/wisdom of his teaching
2. the miracles he performed
3. the perfect way he lived the virtues
4. his resurrection from the dead, of which there were many eyewitnesses.

Some go half way and accept Jesus is a good person but not God, This is logically flawed because a human being claiming to be God is either mad or under a delusion and therefore cannot be good.

((Although religions may appear to be the same in that they teach us how to be good people, that is not the main point. Lactantius, in his “Divine Institutes”, IV, xxviii explains that that the word religion comes from religare (to bind): We are tied to God and bound to Him [religati] by the bond of piety. Religion in its simplest form implies the notion of being bound to God

Religion may thus be defined as the voluntary subjection of oneself to God, that is to the free, supernatural Being (or beings) on whom man is conscious of being dependent, of whose powerful help he feels the need, and in whom he recognizes the source of his perfection and happiness.

For this reason, certain “religions” are not strictly religions as they do not involve God but are forms of philosophy: Buddhism, Confucianism, ancestral worship etc.

As for other religions, they are not the same just as all mammals have similar characteristics such as backbones and bearing their young alive since they belong to the same family, but are vastly different from one another, eg a monkey compared to an elephant.

Just like animals, there are ways to classify religions!

1. Some believe that God is part of everything, he is everywhere and in everything. In fact you are also god and god is you. This is pan-theism. Examples are Hinduism and the New Age religious movement.
2. Some believe that there are many different gods each one being “in charge” of something, such as Thor, the god of thunder in Germanic mythology, Today, pantheism is part of Hinduism, Mahayana Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Shintoism among other religions.
3. Others believe there is only one God. This One God is not a part of the universe (unlike the pantheistic god) but outside of (transcends) it. He created the entire universe out of nothing. He is eternal (ie he has always existed), omnipotent (ie he is all powerful) and omniscient (ie he knows all things). This is monotheism. There only three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity.

Some food for thought.

The idea that there can be multiple gods is somewhat confusing if not illogical. God by definition is infinitely powerful. There cannot exist multiple infinities. Only one can exist. Only one is all-sufficient.

Nor does the idea of a pantheistic god who is part of the universe appeal to reason. You can’t transcend a system (ie be truly god) if you are just a part of it. And you can’t be god if everything else is and can be god.

Monotheism stands to reason. In reality, there is room for only one infinitely supreme being, from whom everything proceeds.

In spite of that, the Catholic Church recognises in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near (CCC843). But, in Jesus Christ, the whole of God’s truth has been made manifest (CCC2466).

In the history of the world, only one person has had the audacity to claim to be God – Jesus Christ.

To the many people who look upon Jesus and say that he was a good man but not God, CS Lewis shares this insight.

When a man claims to be God, the one thing he CANNOT be is a good man. He can only be one of three things:

1. He is mad
2. He delusional OR
3. He is what he claims to be, God

Jesus proved his claim by the holiness of his life, the power of his miracles and above all, his resurrection from the dead. There are more eyewitness & written records of the life of Jesus than of anyone in human history.))

 

4) How do we know that the Bible teaches the Truth about God?

We cannot know as a fact that the Bible teaches the truth about God. But a reasonable thought process for someone seeking the Truth would be: the Bible, especially the Gospels, is a reliable historical record which contains Christ’s claim to be God. It is, therefore, the source of the truth of these claims. In addition, he can be persuaded by its coherence, consistency, enduring relevance and transcendence when he reads it.

A Catholic would know by faith that the Bible teaches the truth. The Holy Spirit inspired the Church to decide which were the books God inspired the human authors to write.

To study the Bible’s truth, correct interpretation is crucial.

((Before we even begin, it is good to establish what the Bible is and what it is not.

By the Bible, we mean the collection of 73 books (known as the canon or “list”) which form Sacred Scriptures (SS).

Sacred Scripture is the Word of God, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, contained in the collection of sacred books that have God as their true author. (cf CCC nos 105 – 107)

SS is not intended to be received either as a scientific treatise or as a mere historical record “but as what it really is, the word of God” (1 Thess 2:13) For instance, if one were to treat the Bible as a scientific treatise, one would encounter some issues. In the Book of Joshua (10:13) the author writes the “sun stood still”. The sun never moves, let alone coming to a “stand still”. The author does not mean to tell us a scientific fact which he could not have known. He told us what he perceived, which he had done truthfully. Even for historical accounts, the author may choose to emphasis certain parts to better convey the spiritual message and therefore the Bible cannot be taken as a mere historical book.

First, we must establish that the texts of SS are documents that truly existed in history- i.e. they really existed thousands of years ago and are not a recent human invention.

For this we turn to archaeological and historical evidence.

• No other book/text in ancient history comes even close to the sheer number of physical evidence as the Bible.
• E.g. for the New Testament, we have 5,300 Greek manuscripts and manuscript portions, 10,000 Latin Vulgate, and 9,300 other versions, plus 36,000 early (100-300 A.D.) patristic quotations of the New Testament.
• Whereas of the 16 well-known classical authors, the total number of extant copies is typically less than 10.
• “There is no body of ancient literature in the world which enjoys such a wealth of good textual attestation as the New Testament…” Dr. F. F. Bruce, Ryland’s Professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis, University of Manchester

Having been reassured that the texts of SS are true historical documents, we can then explore its contents. It tells of the truth about mankind, the meaning and purpose of his life: man comes from God; man sins and he dies as a consequence; the Son of God becomes man and sacrifices himself for man’s salvation, man, redeemed can now return to God and live forever.

– What are the central claims of the Bible?

• Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the redeemer of all mankind: “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.” (Jn 20:31)
• The love of God for sinful man and his plan of salvation: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16)
•  Jesus’s death and resurrection: “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time” (1 Cor 15:3-6)
• Man’s Redemption: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
• The mission and authority of His Church founded on the Apostles: “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mk 16:15-16), with the guarantee that “I am with you always even to the close of the age” (Mt 28:20)

–  Central in SS is the love of God for fallen mankind made visible in Jesus Christ “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

– The Son of God himself will be the expiation for the sins of all mankind by his death upon the cross.

– But it is his resurrection on the third day overcoming death that proved his divinity and his claim to be the way the truth and the life so that all who believe in him have eternal life.

– Before he ascended to heaven, he founded his church upon his apostles so that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations. To his church, Jesus gave the authority to teach without error, the power to forgive sins, the mission to preach the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved. with the guarantee that “I am with you always even to the close of the age”

How do we know the 73 books in the Bible are authentic?

In the early days of Christianity, there were many hundreds of “gospels” and letters purported written by the Apostles many of which were spurious.

The Church,  guided by the Holy Spirit, exercised her authority (in AD 382-405 in the Councils of Rome, Hippo and Carthage) to determine which books belonged to the Bible and to assure us that everything in the Bible is inspired. Without the decisions of the Church, we would not know which books of the Bible are inspired.

Apart from the declarations of the Catholic Church, we have absolutely no guarantee that what is in the Bible is the genuine Word of God.

Therefore, acceptance of the Bible’s authenticity requires our faith in the action of the Holy Spirit working through the Church.

Bible’s Qualities that Points to the Truth It Contains

In addition to exercising our faith by accepting the Bible as holding the truth, we can also identify the Bible’s qualities that point to the truth it contains:

Firstly, truth can stand the test of time. The Bible speaks to every generation. If not, it would have fallen into oblivion like many ancient writings. The Bible’s enduring relevance speaks much about the truth it contains that resonates in human hearts of all ages.

Secondly, truth is consistent. The collection of books in the Bible, seemingly unrelated has a coherent theme. Such coherence is remarkable and humanly impossible, considering these are books of diverse styles, written by authors of varied circumstances / locations, for different types of audience and over many centuries. The diverse collection of books together reveals the inexhaustible mystery of God and his saving plan. It is not unlike other examples of God’s handiwork in which different elements work in harmony with one another, e.g. nature, the universe and our bodies.

How do we interpret the teachings found in the Bible?

To even begin accessing and studying the truth that the Bible contains, the correct interpretation of the Scriptures is crucial.

Scriptures are not easy to understand and are often misinterpreted and distorted as St. Peter commented about regarding the writings of St. Paul “So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures.” (2 Peter 3:15-16)

“The task of authentically interpreting the word of God, whether written or handed on, has been entrusted exclusively to the living teaching office of the Church, whose authority is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ.” (CCC85)

On interpretation, see CCC:

109 In Sacred Scripture, God speaks to man in a human way. To interpret Scripture correctly, the reader must be attentive to what the human authors truly wanted to affirm, and to what God wanted to reveal to us by their words.

110 In order to discover the sacred authors’ intention, the reader must take into account the conditions of their time and culture, the literary genres in use at that time, and the modes of feeling, speaking and narrating then current. For the fact is that truth is differently presented and expressed in the various types of historical writing, in prophetical and poetical texts, and in other forms of literary expression.

111 But since Sacred Scripture is inspired, there is another and no less important principle of correct interpretation, without which Scripture would remain a dead letter. Sacred Scripture must be read and interpreted in the light of the same Spirit by whom it was written. The Second Vatican Council indicates three criteria for interpreting Scripture in accordance with the Spirit who inspired it.

112   1. Be especially attentive to the content and unity of the whole Scripture. Different as the books which compose it may be, Scripture is a unity by reason of the unity of God’s plan, of which Christ Jesus is the centre and heart, open since his Passover.

The phrase “heart of Christ” can refer to Sacred Scripture, which makes known his heart, closed before the Passion, as the Scripture was obscure. But the Scripture has been opened since the Passion; since those who from then on have understood it, consider and discern in what way the prophecies must be interpreted.

113   2. Read the Scripture within the living Tradition of the whole Church. According to a saying of the Fathers, Sacred Scripture is written principally in the Church’s heart rather than in documents and records, for the Church carries in her Tradition the living memorial of

God’s Word, and it is the Holy Spirit who gives her the spiritual interpretation of the Scripture (. . . according to the spiritual meaning which the Spirit grants to the Church).

114  3. Be attentive to the analogy of faith. By “analogy of faith” we mean the coherence of the truths of faith among themselves and within the whole plan of Revelation.))

 

5) If God is good, why is there suffering in Purgatory?

Precisely because God is good and merciful, there is purgatory so that those who die not quite pure enough to go to heaven directly, but not in a state of mortal sin, can go to heaven.

It is as if a kind teacher allows those who do reasonably well in the exam to be promoted to the next level, even though they didn’t meet the grade.  But there is a condition – they must attend remedial lessons first. They are the lucky ones who have made it to the next level even though they don’t deserve it – but they have to suffer a bit before their promotion.  However, they are happy to suffer knowing that they will go to heaven.

Purgatory is God’s loving final touch to totally purify us and make us into the beautiful souls we need to be to exist in heaven.

((Life is like a journey. At death, the choices we made while we were alive, put us in one of three routes: i) a jet plane straight to heaven ii) a slow boat to heaven via purgatory or iii)  a bunjee jump without a cord to hell.

We should not presume that any given person, even a holy person, was completely pure at death and has no need of our prayers.   

Heaven is the goal—no one should be aiming for Purgatory.  

For the Biblical support for Purgatory, see  “Catholic Answers – Is Purgatory in the Bible?”

https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/is-purgatory-in-the-bible))

6) Are all Christian churches the same?

Christ established only one church. This church is the Catholic Church, which is the only Christian church that can trace its origins back to St Peter and the apostles.

Over time, however, for many different reasons, some parts of the Catholic Church separated and formed other churches. New churches also sprang up.

The result is that today Christians belong to many different denominations, although we – especially  those who are incorporated into Christ by baptism – share many things in common. We are united by Sacred Scripture, the life of grace and the virtues, communion of prayer and other spiritual benefits.

However, not everybody believes what the Catholic Church teaches and they may not have all seven sacraments.

It’s as if there are many roads linking City A to City B. But Highway 7 is the best route. Why? Because it has all the things necessary for a safe trip – gas stations, rest stops, repair service and directional signs.

The Catholic Church is like Highway 7.  It has spiritual gas stations (Sacraments) where you can fill up your soul with spiritual fuel (Grace). It has rest stops (Churches) where you can receive your spiritual food (Eucharist). It has a repair service when your soul breaks down in sin (Confession). It has all the necessary directional signs towards your ultimate destination, Heaven (Scriptures, Sacred Tradition, Magisterium). Without these, we may be saved but it will be much more difficult.

7) I understand that Adam and Eve sinned. But why should I inherit their “original sin”?

Imagine a family where the parents, through poor habits, squandered away the great wealth of the grandparents. Would the children be rich or poor? Could these parents teach their children how to amass another fortune if they themselves were unable to?

Original sin is like being those children whose parents lost a fortune (unity with God). Like them, we suffer the repercussions (a wounded human nature) through no fault of ours.

Neither was it God’s. It was solely the parents’ fault. Nevertheless, God loves us so much, he has made it possible for us to amass an even bigger fortune (through the sacraments).

8) Why did God create bad people?

God didn’t create bad people.  Man was created to be free and, with the freedom of choice, He took the risk that some people would become bad.  It usually takes many poor choices and circumstances (some their own, some from people who had authority over them, some from their peers) to lead to really bad and evil acts. 

When we look at the lives of people who do outrageously bad things, we usually find that they have lived very lonely, marginalised and sad lives, abused, traumatised, and often very hurt. When they don’t experience consolation and compassion, they become like wounded animals that only know how to hurt, even when others are trying to help them. We can pray for their souls.

9) Why do the worldly people get ahead?

Should we use the standards of the world to judge, the worldly people would appear to get ahead.

In life, we choose what we want to be: God-centric or world-centric.  The two are like desserts : a souffle (world-centric) vs a macaroon (God-centric).  The soufflé is big, fluffy and very impressive when we see it. But it is really more air than substance.  Most of the time, they collapse when we shake them or stick a spoon in. The macaroon, by comparison, isn’t much to look at. It is dense and usually unadorned, but every bite is substantial.

Both desserts require work and skill to make. So, too, are our life choices – whether we choose to cultivate the virtues (honesty, self-discipline, patience, humility, mastery over envy etc) or cultivate skills that are purely useful in getting us ahead in this world.  The question is whether you want the end product – your soul – to be a soufflé or a macaroon.

10) Do only humans go to heaven? / Will my pet Fido go to heaven

It’s an open question as no one knows what heaven is like. You can think that Fido is in heaven, if you want. But remember that you yourself will get to heaven by loving God rather than Fido, (although there is nothing wrong with loving Fido). And in heaven, you will be happy because you will be with God rather than because you will be with Fido.

Comments of recent popes, however, tend to the view that animals will be part of the new heaven and new earth in that they are part of God’s creation.  Pope Paul VI is reported to have consoled a boy whose pet dog had died, saying, “One day we will see our pets in the eternity of Christ.”

11) How can I be happy in heaven if my best friend is not there?

Happiness is something you feel here on earth.  Your best friend makes you feel happy, for sure.  In heaven, God gives you a happiness that is different and so much more than earthly happiness.  It is a kind of happiness that will make you so happy that you will not miss your best friend even if he/she is not there.

But of course, it would be nice if the other people that you love are there too. So pray for them so that everyone gets to heaven with you!

12) Why does God allow young children to die?

Physical death is the only certainty in our lives. Although it causes great pain and suffering, we are confident that God, in His infinite goodness and mercy, will draw out good from the evil, even if we can’t see what good has or could result.

We don’t understand why God allows young children to die, but, just as we don’t explain to a baby why we move house, God doesn’t need to explain to us why a young child goes to heaven instead of remaining with his parents on earth.

13) God promised Noah that he would not destroy the earth again through floods. So why do we still have natural disasters where so many people perish?

We tend to see natural disasters as catastrophic because of the suddenness of the events and the number of people involved.

However, if we put these numbers in the context of the average daily and yearly death toll (which is approximately 151,000 a day and 55.3m a year), the death tolls from natural disasters are usually fractions of the daily/yearly average.  

Death Toll from recent natural disasters:

26 Dec 2004 Thailand Tsunami –  about 230,000

12 May 2008, Sichaun, China Earthquake – 69,000

23 Aug 2005, Hurricane Katrina, USA  – 1,836

11 Mar 2011, Great East Japan Earthquake, Japan – 15,895  

Nov 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, Philippines – 6,300

If we believe that God loves everyone and that he wills all of us to be united with him, then paradoxical as it may seem, (that these people are taken when they are “least” prepared), the occasion of a ND is the best time for them to die and be ready to join God.

In the aftermath of such events, we usually also see a turning back of the survivors (both immediate and distant) to God and an outpouring of generosity and self-giving. These can only be works of the Spirit – kindling anew faith, hope and love in those left behind.

((Trying to Understand Noah’s Ark

The point of the narration of Noah’s Ark actually serves as a warning on the consequences of sin and a demonstration of God’s mercy for man.  

Warning on the Consequences of Sin

By sin and our natural tendency towards sin, man’s evil can very quickly overrun all society and this can have repercussions on the rest of creation (for creation and man are intricately bound).

After  the flood, man is again released into the world and given the blessing that was given to Adam to “be fruitful and multiply on the earth” (Genesis 8:17). It is as though God wishes for creation to start anew.

Demonstration of God’s mercy for man

However, God knows our evil nature may again overrun the earth, with similar destructive consequences. This is shown by Noah who himself falls into sin soon after the flood.

So, God protects man (Noah) with the following three promises:  

1. A) animals will fear man (presumably so that they will not attack man);  
2. B) man is protected from other men in that murder is prohibited; and   
3. C) a positive promise from God that the natural order will remain.

So instead of leaving man to face again of the consequences of sin, God helps by withholding some of the consequences that sin will wreck and then promises that “the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh” (Genesis 9:15).  

If we look at  the flood narration in light of Jesus’ coming we can glean the following:

1. God’s promise is that sin will not be allowed to overwhelm us (i.e. evil and sin will never overtake the earth)
2. Instead, all men have the opportunity to be saved – “never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood” (Genesis 9:11))
3. Noah’s sacrifice of burnt offerings of clean animals points to Jesus’ pure sacrifice of his life. Jesus’ sacrifice is the atonement that releases all of us from what should be man’s annihilation and eternal separation from God.  
4. Water, a means of destruction, now becomes a means for cleansing most notably in  the sacrament of baptism (where instead of just dying, we die to sin and are reborn as sons and daughters of God)
5. All those who walk with God find protection in the Ark – “Noah walked with God” (Genesis 5:9)
6. The Ark is symbolic of the Church and the body of Christ – the Ark of the Covenant (a sign of God’s presence among his people) -> Mary as the new Ark of the Covenant and Jesus in the boat with the apostles during the storm.

So, the flood covenant and all floods we experience now, do not point to an inconsistent God. Rather, the entire flood narration points (with the benefit of the knowledge of Jesus’ salvific work) to a God full of compassion, ever ready to try to redeem his creation.))

 

14) Is God male or female?

God is different from us because He is a spiritual being. Therefore, He does not have a body like we do. Without a bodily form, He cannot be “fitted” into the categories that we human beings know, such as male or female. It is kind of like trying to describe how wind looks like. 

Although God has no bodily form, He does reveal Himself to people by using imageries, for example. These imageries point to His character and personality, rather than how He really looks like.  We can read about these in the Bible and in the saints’ writings. 

15) Why must I go to Mass on Sunday?

Dialogue

C: Why Must I go to Mass on Sunday?

P: Can you tell me how you feel about Mass?

C: Right now, I go to Mass because I’m forced to go by my parents! Why do they force me to go?  

[Parental Authority]

A: Parents have a role to educate and guide their children – to impart knowledge, skills, lessons from their experiences that will help their children become fine adults, able to navigate the world about them.

From a very young age, you are able to observe the world and participate in it – you have your own preferences and opinions e.g. I rather not eat vegetables, I rather not do my homework etc. But we all know that these things are good for us and while we may not like it, we endeavor to cultivate these good habits.

Faith is similar but much deeper.

If your parents are bringing to you to Church every Sunday, it is because through their knowledge and experience (from being children, becoming a young adult, working and then getting married), they have come to realise that the gift of faith – which is the belief in God, worshipping him and getting to know and love him more and more – is a good thing.

They bring you for Mass because they want you to develop a similar special relationship with God that they already have. They know (from their learning and experience) that developing this special relationship with God will be good for you in all aspects of your life . 

One of the tenets of the Catholic faith is that we attend Mass every Sunday and that is why they do all they can to bring you.

Nobody says this is easy. In fact, some Sundays can be really difficult. One of you decides to stay in bed longer and refuses to budge. The other has a meltdown over something that she can’t have. When the family is finally ready to leave, the baby needs to go to the toilet.

Your parents probably rather take it easy and sleep in on Sundays. But they choose to go through all the trouble to get everyone to Mass.

In the past, people came for Mass despite not having the comfort of air conditioning and good audio system. In the Middle Ages, churches were dimly lit by candles and the air quality was not the best because in those days people seldom took baths. In one of them, the Cathedral of St James in Santiago de Compostela in Spain, the church installed a thurible 1.6m in height to swing along the main aisle to incense the church and so overcome the odour from pilgrims on a long journey. You probably also know even at this present day, there are still people who risk their lives or walk miles to get to Mass.

These actions show that there is something important and good in the Mass, that is worth all the trouble and even danger.

You probably do not feel the same way as your parents regarding the Mass. Like you, your parents perhaps also resisted going to Mass when they were little but your grandparents brought them anyway.

You will perhaps in time appreciate the value of the Mass and be grateful that your parents did what they could to bring you there.

C: Yes, but Mass is so boring.

[Mass is not entertaining – True reason for going for Mass]

A: It is true that in the eyes of someone who is seeking to be entertained, that the structure, format and execution of what goes on at Mass can seem very dull especially if it is compared to a movie or going for a morning out at sports.

However, if we understand what the purpose and elements of Mass are, then we begin to see that Mass is not about entertainment but about what we are giving to God and what God gives us in return.

What are we giving: Mass is supposed to be the work of the people to worship God. We spend some time off from all the activities that fill our lives so that they can be connected with God, the source of all life, but more importantly someone whom loves us very much.

In return, we get to encounter our Lord Jesus during Mass where he sustains us through the many things we do during Mass:

• Mass confession (where we get to unburden ourselves of our sins and remind ourselves that we can do better);
• Adoration of God through the Gloria (which fills us with the awe and joy of God’s existence);
• Listening to the Readings (which are God’s words to us – like letters written for our benefit);
• Listening to the Homily (in which the priest helps us to understand the meaning of the readings and also the application of it to our daily lives);
• Nourishing us through the Eucharist which is a source of many graces that can help us to live our resolutions to be better people;
• Then finally commissioning us for his work – which gives us a sense of purpose in this world;
• And a blessing as we are sent out to fulfil His will in this world.

C: But I don’t seem to get anything of these things you mentioned out of the Mass. At times, the homilies are uninspiring, the choir painful on the ears and everyone seems so self-righteous, especially when my younger brother fidgets and the other parishioners glare at us because they can’t understand that he has attention issues.

[Getting substance out of the Mass]

A: The Mass is the work of all the people. I think we have to look at what we bring to Mass too.

The priests, the wardens, the choristers, the altar servers and all the people in the pews are human. If we can be more charitable to the shortcomings and limitations of others, we can start to see the beauty of each of these people’s gifts to our Lord:

1. The Priest: the sacrifice of his life to service for the priest (no easy feat as he may have had to overcome his fears of speaking to large crowds, of learning to relate to all kinds of people, the years of study etc);
2. likewise the choristers, altar boys and wardens who come earlier (or stay after Mass)have volunteered their time and energy to set up the church, practice their roles or discuss their respective duties;    
3. The faith of the other people in the congregation can be an inspiration to us: the mother who brings her young baby to Mass, the sickly old man who comes hobbling in, the time-short harassed family – they are all doing what God would like them to. The fact that we belong to strong community where others come and are present can buoy our faith. Imagine coming to an empty church each week or seeing dwindling numbers of parishioners.

We are each a gift to one another. Perhaps your gift is to form a group within your parish which can help support those who have siblings with special needs to create more awareness of their needs. In this way, others can understand why they behave the way they do and respond in a more compassionate manner.

C: Ok, but couldn’t I just stay home and pray to God too instead of going to Mass?

[Praying at home vs going for Mass]

A: You can pray at home and it actually a good thing to do so. I’d encourage you to spend time in prayer daily.

However remember what I said about us each being a gift to the other. Your presence at Mass on Sundays is a gift to others too. When each of us comes together, we form a community. Imagine if everyone thought in a similar manner and stayed away from Sunday Mass. Our churches would be empty.  

Fellowship with other Christians is also an important element of our life of faith. Our relationship with God is not meant to be isolating. God made us social beings. He wants us to come together (in community) to worship Him. Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I.” (Matthew 18:20).

It is great that you have the habit of praying at home. At home you do have the privacy of talking to God personally like a friend. You can also pray freely without the need to follow anyone else.

In fact, through your personal prayer, you are cultivating to some degree an attentiveness to God. This can be very helpful for you during Mass, because such attentiveness and inner silence is needed to encounter Him and to listen to what He has to say to you.

Your personal prayer is a very good way of habitually preparing yourself in advance for Mass and you should keep it up

Despite the benefits of praying at home, there is one that we cannot usually receive unless we go to church for Mass – that is the Eucharist.

The Eucharist is the Real Presence of Jesus in the form of bread and wine. Only during the holy Mass, the species of bread and wine are transformed into the real Body and Blood of Jesus.

When we participate in Holy Communion we are united to Jesus and this gives us many graces that help us avoid sin and live lives that would be pleasing to God our Father.

C: I don’t get this sense of community. We just go to church and everyone is just a stranger.

[Social Dimension – lacking a sense of community]

A: It takes time to know people and the fact is that we bond over doing activities together. Participating in a ministry and serving in the Church (e.g. as a hospitality minister or in the choir) is one way of getting to know people and forming bonds of friendship.

C: Ok, I can see that. But the Mass is still rather boring. Why can’t we have Mass more like praise and worship sessions?  You mentioned that the format and structure for Mass are fixed? Why?  

[Structure of Mass]

A: We can understand the structure of the Mass by looking at Luke’s telling of the Emmaus encounter (Luke 13:24-35). On that very first Easter morning, Jesus gave us the “format” for what Sunday Mass would look like:    

• Just as the disciples were walking together in friendly fellowship, so the faithful gather for Mass in a spirit of brotherly love;
• Next the disciples heard the scriptures and Jesus’ explanations made the text come alive in a way the travelers’ had never before experienced. This corresponds to the Liturgy of the Word;
• Upon reaching their destination, Jesus shares a meal with the disciples. This corresponds to the second part of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Eucharist;
• The disciples recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread (and so we have the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist);  
• After the two disciples were enlightened by the Scriptures and nourished by the Eucharist, they immediately went out to bear witness to the Risen Christ. Similarly- at the end of Mass – we are told, “Go forth announce the gospel of the Lord.”

C: How can a fixed structure be helpful and not boring?

A: Our familiarity with the structure can be very conducive for us to get deeper in silence and prayer during Mass e.g. during offertory, consecration, receiving of the Holy Communion etc. We do not have to constantly anticipate what is to come and have our external senses jolted or disturbed.

 

These “spaces” during Mass are also the times for us to enter into silent conversation with God, instead of doing or thinking about something else.

However, if we are used to being constantly stimulated, we will find such silence unbearable and boring. Also if we preferred to be always entertained, we can easily become complacent with the Masses’ fixed structure because we knew exactly what is coming next. That is when our thoughts tend to slowly drift away.

Therefore as mentioned earlier, it is very helpful to cultivate a habit of personal prayer at home, so that through practice you can better to enter into silence and conversation with God during Mass as well. It is one of the means to prepare yourself in advance for Mass.

When we struggle to go in deep prayer and silence despite the external distractions and discomfort, we are moving towards a very good position to receive God and what He wishes to say to us. Mass eventually can, in reality become the highest form of prayer for us.

C: Why do we have to go EVERY Sunday?  

[Regularity of Mass]

Firstly, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and rest from servile labour. [2042 CCC]”.

In attending Mass every Sunday we are fulfilling:

1. The Third of the Ten Commandments given to Moses by God is, “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day” (Exodus 20:8). God made us and he knows the mechanics of what will make us joyous and what will not.  The Third Commandment is really a call to rest – to take time out from our busy activities to rest in God.  “Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10)”;and  
2. Jesus command at the last supper, “This is my body, which will be given for you. Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:14,19).  When we celebrate the Mass, we repeat the Last Supper – we are remembering and re-presenting his great act of love for us on the Cross, which is to take our sins upon himself.

Secondly, God has an ultimate goal in His Mind concerning us, that is union with Him in Heaven, beginning now on earth.

God has made it part of human nature to worship Him publicly. It is a bond that is borned out of love, just as a child would naturally turn to his or her parents for security and happiness.

Attending Mass on Sundays is one of the precepts or rules that the Church has stipulated to help us achieve our goal of reaching Heaven, of seeing God face to face.  We are obliged at the minimum to hear Mass particularly on Sundays because Sunday was the day of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  Rather than viewing this precept as just a rule to blindly follow, think of it as a means to support you in your journey towards Heaven.

Because God loves us very much, and wants us to always be close to Him and to eventually be with Him in heaven, through Jesus Christ, He has given us the Sacraments wherein we receive grace from God or where God shares his divine life with us. 

In the Mass, with the proper disposition/preparation (being in the state of grace), we are able to partake of one of the Sacraments – the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist/Holy Communion, the Body and Blood of Christ. 

It is the ultimate means of being united with Christ while we live on this earth.  Imagine, Christ is in you!  While the regular food we eat becomes part of us, the spiritual food that is given to us – Jesus’ Body and Blood in the form of bread and wine – helps to transform us to become more like God.

Thirdly, although you can’t see him, God is a Person and the Mass is a chance for you to thank Him for all the good things that have happened to you in the week. Before that, you can greet Him by praising and adoring Him. You can also ask Him for the things you need and make up for all the naughty things you have done by saying sorry.

The Mass is a time for you to think about God and spend time with Him, just as we go to visit Grandma and Grandpa every Saturday to show them we love them and have not forgotten about them, that they are important to us.

Visiting Grandma and Grandpa is also how you can get to know them and so love them more.

Just as Mummy and Daddy know the way to help you get close to your grandparents is to visit them regularly, God’s Commndment of keeping “holy the Sabbath day”, helps us get close to know and to love him.

Fourthly, in giving us the Third Commandment, God knows that we need Him, even if we may not feel it. God knows we need to rest from our work to be blessed and nourished by Him.

Someone said to his friend, “My wife has cooked me dinner at least five out of seven nights every week since we were married and none of these meals have been especially noteworthy.

But they have nourished me and allowed me to grow, to work, be a father, son, husband, friend, colleague.

It is kind of similar for Mass. I go every week to be nourished for the week.”

In the same way, we may not immediately see the benefits of attending Mass but, over time, the graces that we receive from Mass will nourish our spiritual hunger and we see the effects of it.

For that reason, God has given us the Third Commandment ‘Keep holy the Sabbath day’ and the Church has made it a law for Catholics to attend Sunday Mass unless there is a serious reason.

Lastly, when we truly love someone, we will be eager to know what exactly pleases him or her. It is the same with God. A story below illustrates the point:

Mother’s birthday was coming up. The children asked her what she wanted. She asked them to help out with the housework for that day. The children sighed and ran away.

The eldest daughter went to the shopping mall to buy a necklace for mother. The second son went to the park to catch a grasshopper for mother. The youngest girl loves to draw, so she drew a picture of herself for mother.

On mother’s birthday, they presented their gifts to her. She just smiled and thanked them.

The children didn’t realise that they were giving mother what they wanted, not what she wanted. Real love is to please the person loved, not to please oneself.

Jesus wants us to go to Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation. Let us do what he wants and not what we think will satisfy our duty to love God, such as praying fervently at home or going to Mass any day of the week instead of Sunday.

 

C: Why is it a mortal sin to miss Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation?

The above story illustrates the point of seeing from the mother’s perspective. We likewise need to see the value of the Holy Mass from the eyes of God, in order to answer the question above. As God so greatly desire to bless us, He has given us the best possible means to achieve that – the Gift of His Son in Holy Mass.

In God’s eyes, the Mass is indeed great beyond compare since He is entrusting His Son in the Eucharist into our hands. The greater the blessing, therefore the greater our ungratefulness in rejecting it.

Let’s imagine it was your friend’s birthday and her mother woke up early to buy the freshest ingredients in the supermarket. She baked the cake. She decorated it with sugary flowers and lovingly traced her name with cream on the cake.

When she presented the pretty cake to her child, instead of receiving it gratefully, the girl threw it on the ground and trampled it with her foot. Her mother perhaps had not the heart to punish her but we can imagine with horror what the girl had done. We cannot even understand why she did that.

Similarly, if we know that the Sunday Mass is important in God’s eyes and He lovingly offer it to us, yet we deliberately choose to skip it or to dismiss it as unimportant, then we are committing a similar ungrateful act of spurning God’s infinite kindness.

Since God’s blessing in the Holy Mass is infinite, our rejection of it will be correspondingly great.

Also, the degree of offence is also related to the dignity of the person offended. We know it is not same offending our equals as compared to offending our parents, the President or the Pope. When it comes to God, Who is of infinite majesty and dignity, our offense against Him is also infinitely great.  (suggest delete; not necessary)

Some would reason that God is kind and will not impose such unreasonable demands upon us. But we forget at the first place, God gives us the Holy Mass to bless and to nourish us. It is perhaps our understanding of the Mass that is being distorted, thinking it to be a burden rather than a blessing. In this respect, we need learn and understand what a Mass is, instead of skipping it.

If the vine is cut off from its branches, we cannot expect it to have life. It is the same if we choose to cut ourselves off from God and the Mass, which is the source and summit of our Christian life.

Even if we find it hard to accept or appreciate this truth at times, let us still give Him the satisfaction of blessing us the way He knows best, by faithfully coming for Sunday Mass.

We will see the fruits of our faithfulness over time, one of which is a peaceful conscience. As St John Bosco said nobody can truly be happy in this world, unless he is at peace with God.

C: If we need to go Mass every Sunday and the Mass structure is fixed, what can we do to get out of feeling bored and restless?

A: It is important to be sufficiently prepared for Mass if we do not wish to go away feeling that it is a waste of our time when in reality a great deal of God’s graces are pouring upon us.

Coming early for Mass certainly helps, but what we do during the times outside Mass is also important too.

Daily personal prayer is therefore one way to cultivate our ability to focus on God. When we set aside a specific time to pray whether we like it or not, we are disciplining ourselves to go to God. All the saints testify the need for personal and mental prayer.

With perseverance and practice, we can have a better command over ourselves and remain faithful in prayer. Such command over ourselves is extremely useful in attending Mass especially when there are much distractions and discomfort.

As mentioned earlier, the Mass is the work of the people. In exercising discipline over yourself, you are doing the hard work of putting your self in the Presence of God. You are also contributing something into the Mass, e.g. your efforts, prayers, mind, heart, in short your very self.

God Who is not outdone in generosity blesses such heroic efforts, as He did for Zacchaeus, the friends of the paralytic and the many others who struggled go to Him.

That being said, it is not always hard work and pain. Like exercise, we get better with every practice. Unavoidably, this begins with much pain because our muscles are not used to all the work out.

But eventually as we pass through that threshold, we will begin to enter into mental prayer and Mass with greater ease. So don’t ever give up even if our struggles “feel” like a waste of time.

C: How can I even begin to be interested enough to prepare myself for Mass?

A: Real life stories and sharings often generate interest and captivate.

Firstly, why not ask those around you who frequent the Mass. They can be your parents, godparents and catechism teachers.

Ask: Why do they go to Mass? Did they experience Jesus in Mass? If yes, where and how? How do they know it was Jesus? How does the Eucharist help them? How do they overcome their own difficulties regarding the Mass?

Secondly, you can also ask for inspiring stories about the Mass, be it written for you by saints or modern writers. See how they encounter Jesus in the Mass. Inspiring narratives can move us to know and love the Mass. These help us to see the Mass in a fresh and even supernatural way.

For example how St Pio vivdly experienced each Mass as the sacrifice of Our Lord, as witnessed by many people present. There are countless stories in which God reveals through the lives of the saints, the spiritual truths about the Holy Mass.

Thirdly, apart from the stories, you would have also learnt about Mass during Catechism classes. Try to understand as much as you can. And while you are at each Mass, try to focus and recall at least one item that you were taught.

Fourthly, is to go to Confession frequently. We will better desire the Mass and the Eucharist, our spiritual food when our inner selves are cleansed from sin, earthly desires and any form of selfishness. It is like we will hunger for food when our stomachs are empty. If we have no appetite for food, we need to go to the doctor.

Lastly, just as a stool needs four legs to stand. Like every Christian, you do need a host of support to keep your love burning for spiritual things like the Mass.

This includes faithfulness to the Mass itself, frequent confession, spiritual reading, teachers / friends in faith where you can share your struggles / questions, temperance in the use of worldly things lest they occupy your love for things spiritual, etc.

C: You also mentioned that knowing and understanding about the Mass will make it less meaningless and boring. What is a Mass exactly then?

A Mass is a sacrifice. It is the Sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Since Jesus’ sacrifice is done once and for all. Each holy Mass is not a renewed sacrifice of Jesus.

Rather, each Mass is the exact same sacrifice as the one Jesus offered on the cross 2000 years ago.

This is possible because our powerful God and His actions can effect across time and space.

A Mass is a prayer and worship. Unlike personal prayers said at home, the Mass is a public prayer together with your other brothers and sisters in Christ. We offer our prayers to God through the priest, who acts in the Person of Jesus.

A Mass is also a meal. This is where Jesus offer His Body and Blood to us in the Eucharist. We come together in Jesus and with other brothers and sisters in Christ, to receive the spiritual food for our souls.

C: Ok. So how does knowing all these help me?

Mass is a Sacrifice

When we are in Mass, we are on the same Calvary with Jesus. He is carrying the troubles of the world on the cross, including your own.

So, there is something real going on here not just some empty rituals.

Firstly, this means: you can ask Him to help carry your difficulties in school, friendships and in the family. You may wish to pray for your family and friends too and thank Him for loving you. You can offer your prayer when the priest said “Let us pray” at the beginning.

Secondly, since Mass is a sacrifice, you can also offer you own sacrifices to God, which is the effort you made to be present for Mass instead of doing something else. Other sacrifices can include: putting in the effort to concentrate, putting aside the need to be entertained, be attentive, etc.

A good moment to do that is during the offertory when you mentally “place” your sacrifice on the altar. Another good moment is when you mentally offer your sacrifice and prayers with Jesus when the priest raises the host during consecration.

Thirdly, it is a form of sacrifice to think what we can give during Mass instead of what we can get from it. It is also a sacrifice to remember that Mass is not just about ourselves but coming out of ourselves to worship God.

C: But the Mass does not look anything like the historical event. If I was at the Calvary, I am sure I would focus on Jesus better.

Yes, the Mass does not look like the historical event but the effects are the same.

The Eucharist does not look like the actual Body and Blood of Christ either. However the effects of receiving Jesus in the Eucharist is the same as if we contact Him in Person.

People present at the Calvary did not necessary recognise Jesus as God. Many saw Him as a criminal. Others were probably too busy to pay attention. There were also noise, shouting, pushing, people, animals and all kinds of distractions on the street.

However, a few people did recognise Jesus as God.

Like these few people who followed Jesus to the Calvary, you too can find Him during the Mass, despite the distractions and discomfort sometimes.

C: Where exactly can I find God and Jesus during the Mass?

God is present in the entire Mass, however these are some of the areas you can watch out for:

Firstly, Jesus is present and acting in the priest. When the priest proclaims the Gospel and preaches to us, it is Jesus Who is speaking. During consecration, Jesus says through the priest “This is My Body…” We therefore not just paying attention to priest’s words, but rather to what God has to say to us.

Secondly, Jesus is in the Eucharist. Plain bread and wine is transformed into Body and Blood of Christ, with the prayers of Jesus through the priest. You can find Jesus as you receive Him in Eucharist.

Thirdly, Jesus is also in the other brothers and sisters in Christ. Together we form the Body of Christ. As a body, what we do affects others. This includes the way we participate Mass, we try to be attentive and not to disturb others. What we do unto others, we do to Jesus.

Fourthly, there are many other signs and symbols that direct our minds to God and Jesus. Some examples are: the holy water reminds us of our baptism and our belonging to God. The sign of the cross reminds us of Jesus dying on the Cross to save us. The incense symbolises our prayers rising up to God.

C: Since Mass is a prayer and worship, how do I participate?

Mass is a prayer and worship

When you think or talk to Jesus, you are already praying to Him. Active participation of the Mass means giving your whole attention to God. This also includes attentive silence.

When the Old Testament and the Gospel is read, God is speaking to you. You participate by listening with attentiveness. You try to know Who God is and what  He stands for. You also try to understand what He asks of you.

During the responsorial psalm, you participate by singing to God as a prayer.

During the offertory and the consecration, you participate by offering to God your prayers and thanksgiving. You may even mentally put all your prayers on the altar. Through the priest, Jesus carries yours (and everyone else’s) prayers to God our Father.

In Mass, we are not praying alone. The Church on earth, in purgatory and in heaven pray as one during Mass. You can participate by picturing countless angels and saints worshipping God around you. You also pray for the Holy Souls in purgatory.

The Holy Mass is the highest form of prayer that you can participate and offer to God.

C: What do people mean when they say a Mass is also a meal.

Typically, friends get together to do some catching up and then have a meal. The Mass is no different.

The first part of the Mass, we are “catching up” with God as we listen to His Word, reflect what is going on with us and respond to Him with psalms.

The second part is when we have our “meal” by receiving the Eucharist. This meal points us to the eternal banquet in heaven.

Jesus offer His Body and Blood to us in the Eucharist.

In the Mass, God gives us the only thing that can truly and fully satisfy us : His very Self. True, we can encounter God in many other ways like through prayer, reading the bible, doing good – but all of these point to and are inspired by our reception of Jesus’s body and blood in the Eucharist.

Just like food nourishes us physically, the Eucharist nourishes us spiritually by uniting us with the risen Christ (CCC1392). “The Mass is the richest encounter we can have with God on this side of eternity” It helps us fulfill the core purpose of our existence: to be united with God. Because the Mass fuels us to live out our purpose of knowing loving and serving God, the Mass gives us the grace we need to live life to the full.

At the Sunday Mass, we receive spiritual food, especially if we receive our Lord in Holy Communion. unlike ordinary food, it does not taste of anything or make we feel full. but, like ordinary food, it strengthens us and makes us grow, in this case, in our faith in God, our hope and trust in his help and in our love for him. 

C: Looks like there is so much going on during a Mass that I do not see.

Yes, the Mass is filled with the Presence of God. It is rich with signs and symbols.

In short, the holy Mass is the privilege meeting of Jesus Who sacrifice Himself on the Cross for us.

It is also a coming together and meal between friends. This coming together points us to the celebration we will have when we are in heaven.

When we understand what a Mass is and actively participate it with our whole attention, we are beginning to prepare ourselves to do the same when we are in heaven.

 

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”                                                           Matthew 19 : 14