A story for every day...

Nowadays this office is performed by children, by simple people, while even crowned heads would not be worthy of such an honor. – St. Bonaventure says that to serve the Mass is an angelic ministry, because many angels, by attending the Holy Sacrifice, serve God during the celebration of this august mystery. – St. Mechtilde saw the soul of a lay brother shining brightly, because he had had the devotion during his life to serve as many Masses as he could. – And St. Thomas Aquinas, that light of the schools, appreciated no less the happiness of one who serves the priest at the altar, since, after celebrating, he desired nothing more than to serve a second Mass.

St. Thomas More, the great chancellor of England, never failed to attend Mass despite his many occupations. One day, during Mass, a delegate of the king demanded his presence for important business, the chancellor replied, “Some more patience! I must first pay my respects to a still higher sovereign: I must attend the audience of heaven to the end.” – He did not think it beneath his dignity to serve the Mass; for, to those who reproached him for it, under the pretext that he disregarded the decorum of his position, he replied, “I make it a true honor to be able to render this feeble service to the greatest of sovereigns.”