Grace is God's free gift given freely to others from God. One of the main differences between the some Protestants and Catholics is that Catholics know that in the Sacraments like Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation, we receive additional grace from God. St. John Vianney even said that if we knew the true value of the Mass, we would die of joy.
Here are the graces we receive from attending Mass:
1. The Mass is Calvary continued.
2. Every Mass is worth as much as the sacrifice of our Lord's life, sufferings, and death.
3. Holy Mass is the world's most powerful atonement for your sins.
4. At the hour of death, the Masses you have heard will be your greatest consolation.
5. Every Mass will go with you to judgment and plead for pardon.
6. At Mass, you can diminish more or less temporal punishment due to your sins, according to your fervor.
7. Assisting devoutly at Holy Mass, you render to the sacred humanity of Our Lord the greatest homage.
8. He supplies for many of your negligence and omissions.
9. He forgives the venial sins which you have not confessed. The power of Satan over you is diminished.
10. One Mass heard during life will be of more benefit to you than many heard for you after your death.
11. You are preserved from dangers and misfortunes which otherwise might have befallen you. You shorten your Purgatory.
12. Every Mass wins for you a higher degree of glory in Heaven.
13. You receive the priest's blessing which Our Lord ratifies in Heaven.
14. You kneel amidst a multitude of holy angels, who are present at the adorable Sacrifice with reverential awe.
15. You are blessed in your temporal goods and affairs.
I was reading a good article on how many people are now relying on faith because of Hurricane Katrina. I do hope that these people, though, know that many of us are praying for them. Many Churches have been destroyed but I certainly hope that God is put into the city and remain in these peoples' hearts.
