Worship as explained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2097):
To adore God is to acknowledge, in respect and absolute submission, the “nothingness of the creature” who would not exist but for God. To adore God is to praise and exalt him and to humble oneself, as Mary did in the Magnificat, confessing with gratitude that he has done great things and holy is his name. The worship of the one God sets man free from turning in on himself, from the slavery of sin and the idolatry of the world.
St. Ann’s offers numerous opportunities to participate in public worship.
Sunday Masses:
- Sunday at 10:00 am
Weekday Masses:
- Monday to Saturday 9 am
Sacrament of Reconciliation:
- before the Sunday Masses and by appointment
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament:
- Fridays after Mass until 4 pm
The sacred liturgy is the true worship of God, enacted by Jesus Christ and his body, the Church, through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is a shared ‘public work’ (leitourgia) with ceremonies, rites and formulas established by Scripture and Tradition.
The Church has liturgy in obedience to God, especially the explicit command of Jesus Christ when he instituted the Eucharist, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Lk 22:19). To pray to God in the liturgy does not, of course, preclude praying to God in many other ways, especially in personal prayer each day. Nevertheless, the liturgies of the Old Testament, which foreshadow the new covenant established by Christ, as well as the references to liturgies in the New Testament and the early Church, and the tradition of the last two thousand years makes it clear that liturgy is central to our prayer to God. Why, then, is liturgy so important? One reason is that the Church is the ‘Body of Christ’ or the ‘Bride of Christ’. In the liturgy we do not, therefore, pray merely as individuals but as members of this body on earth and in heaven. In order for this prayer of the Church to be harmonious, however, it is important that there are established words and actions to follow. Here the analogy of an orchestra may be helpful. If every musician decides to invent his or her own music, the overall result is nothing but noise. When, however, the musicians follow the score, the result can be music of profound richness and beauty. Similarly, the liturgy, by following words and actions drawn from revelation, frees us to contribute harmoniously to giving glory to God.
The principal liturgies of the Church are those of the Eucharist and the other sacraments. All these are led by sacred ministers, usually priests, and consist of official prayers, Scripture and sacramental actions. The liturgies of the Divine Office contain the prayers that priests, religious and many lay people pray several times each day – they consist mainly of the psalms. Other liturgical rites include the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) and Benediction for the worship of the Eucharist.
During the week, Sunday, the day of the Resurrection, is the most holy day. To attend Mass on Sunday and certain Holy Days is obligatory for all those capable of doing so.
Alongside public worship and the living out of a good and holy life, personal prayer is also essential. While living a good life is one way in which we give glory to God, it is important to be clear about what a ‘good life’ really means. From the perspective of God, no human life is entirely good that has no place for God, because God made us to know him and love him. When one is working, however, one’s principal focus is on one’s working activity, not on God. So we cannot simply treat our work as our prayer. Furthermore, time set aside for prayer does not detract from our productivity at other times. God says, “I am like an evergreen cypress, from me comes your fruit” (Hosea 14:8). In other words, our fruitfulness comes from God and, if we pray to God, our lives and work will also be fruitful.