Spiritus York of the Office of Catholic Youth is aiming to engage young adults more intimately with the liturgy through a deeper understanding of the four ends of the Mass. 

Taking place at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Thornhill, Ont., on Oct. 22, youth minister Grant Lalata will welcome young adults aged 19 to 39 for an educational keynote on four sacred forms of prayer while explaining how their intentional nature can lead to a deeper spiritual encounter. The event is set to begin with Holy Mass at 7 p.m.

The ACTS method of understanding adoration, contrition, thanksgiving and supplication, also known as the four ends of the Mass, is not a new topic, but rather one rooted in Catholic tradition, despite its more recent shroud of mystery among the faithful. 

Advertisement

“ It focuses on the four aspects of how we can participate in the liturgy through prayer, and that active participation is something the Catholic Church has spoken about, in the Second Vatican Council, in Pope Pius XII’s document on the Sacred Liturgy, Mediator Dei. St. John Paul II also mentioned it when he was giving his address to U.S. bishops about the liturgy,” Lalata said. 

“ At the heart of the liturgy is prayer, and the purpose of the Mass is to worship; we're not there to entertain ourselves. We sometimes get so caught up with the routine of the Mass that we feel like we’re just going through the motions. By using the four ends of the Mass, it really helped me to interweave how I should participate in the liturgy through prayer and that really helped me to grow in my devotion to the Eucharist more deeply and more in my life.” 

Having overseen Edge programs for Grades 5 to 8, Life Teen for Grades 9 to 12 and conducted youth ministry school visits at five local Catholic schools in the St. Mark’s Parish area, Lalata hopes to bring his knowledge of intentional, active participation to more young minds through the event. 

The talk is broken into three topics: the purpose of the Mass, active participation with an emphasis on Lex orandi, Lex credendi (or how we pray shapes what we believe) and how actions like standing, kneeling, singing, responding and even silence are integral to worshipping Christ, who is fully present in the Eucharist, before ending by dissecting the ACTS method, exploring how each of the four ends are woven into the liturgy. 

Advertisement

Lalata hopes to use examples from the liturgy, such as contrition seen in the penitential rite and tied to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and adoration as the foundation, especially during the consecration, as ways for youth to better understand the delivery of Mass, leading to each liturgy being a transformative encounter rather than a habitual routine. 

“ Liturgy is more than just a routine; it’s entering into something more magnificent and beautiful that we are called to participate in the worship of our Lord. That's the most beautiful thing, and the goal that I hope young adults take away is an understanding of just how called to participate we truly are,” he said. 

It’s a difficult threshold to cross, he said, acknowledging that all Catholics can get complacent through mere Sunday attendance rather than seeking deeper encounters.  

“ Catechesis is important, but having that experience within the liturgy makes a huge difference. When I was young, I loved the Mass when I was altar serving, and it made me realize that there was something more here,” he said. “ I think sometimes when we go to Mass, it becomes part of our routine, and that's great, but we're also entering into God's home, and  that welcome is waiting for them in the liturgy.” 

In the end, it’s the openness and commitment to prayer and participation in Jesus’ extended invitation he hopes to instill in participants.  

Advertisement

“Jesus wants to invite us and to pursue us,  but it's up to us how we want to respond and receive our Lord. If we are willing to accept, through a deeper understanding, that the Lord in the Eucharist is truly present: body, blood, soul and divinity, I think that would change everything,” he said. 

To stay up to date with similar future events from OCY’s Regional Spiritus Ministry, follow their official Instagram page.