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The Mass, also
known as the Eucharist, Holy Communion and many
other names, is the central act of worship for
most Christians. In a monastery, where people are
trying to live in communion with each other, the
Mass has a particularly important place. It is
often called the Conventual Mass, since the community
(in Latin, conventus) comes together to
celebrate it. |
The
Mass celebrates our salvation by Jesus; it is a
sign of his presence with us as we journey through
this life to heaven, and it gives us a taste of
the life in his heavenly kingdom that Jesus promised
those who believe in him.
In monasteries it is usual to celebrate Mass every
day when there are priests available to do this.
In this way a monk is able to offer his life together
with Jesus’ own offering of himself to God.
In the same way that Jesus gives himself to us as
the food of life, a monk is able to express his own
commitment to his brethren. Holy Communion is the
sacrament of forgiveness and of the unity of heart
that comes from forgiving and being forgiven. This
is the unity a monk finds in his community and which
he tries to deepen.
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