THE WEIGHT OF ONE HOLY MASS

The following true story was related to Sister Mary Veronica Murphy by an elderly Nun, who heard it from the lips of the late Reverend Father Stanislaus, SS.CC.

One day, many years ago, in a little town in Luxembourg, a Captain of the Forest Guards was in deep conversation with the butcher, when an elderly woman entered the shop. The butcher broke off the conversation to ask the old woman what she wanted. She had come to beg for a little meat but had no money. The Captain was amused at the conversation which ensued between the poor woman and the butcher.

"Only a little meat . . ."
"But how much are you going to give me?"
"I am sorry I have no money, but I'll hear Mass for you."

Both the butcher and the Captain were very good men, but very indifferent about religion, so they at once began to scoff at the old woman's answer.

"All right, then," said the butcher. "You go out and hear Mass for me, and when you come back, I'll give you as much meat as the Mass is worth."

The woman left the shop and returned later. She approached the counter and the butcher seeing her, said, "All right, then, we'll see,"

He took a slip of paper and wrote on it, "I heard a Mass for you." He then placed the paper on the scale and a tine bone on the other side, but nothing happened. Next he placed a piece of meat instead of the bone, but still the paper proved heavier. Both men were beginning to feel ashamed of their mockery but continued their game. A large piece of meat was placed in the balanced, but still the paper held its own. The butcher, exasperated, examined the scales, but found they were all right.

"What do you want, my good woman? Must I give you a whole leg of mutton?"

At this, he placed the leg of mutton on the balance, but the paper outweighed the meat. A larger piece of meat was put on, but again the weight remained on the side of the paper. This so impressed the butcher that he was converted, and promised to give the woman her daily ration of meat.

As for the Captain, he left the shop a changed man, an ardent lover of daily Holy Mass. Two of his sons became Priests, one a Jesuit and the other a Father of the Sacred Heart.

Father Stanislaus finished by saying, "I am the religious of the Sacred Heart, and the Captain was my father."


From that incident the Captain became a daily Mass goer and his children were trained to follow his example. Later, when his sons became Priests, he advised them to offer Holy Mass well every day and never miss the Sacrifice through any fault of their own.



“The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer!” (Pope Paul VI)

“The world could exist more easily without the sun than without the Mass.” (St. Padre Pio)

“If we knew the value of the Mass, we would die of joy.” (St. Jean Vianney, the Cure’d’Ars)

Once, St. Teresa was overwhelmed with God’s goodness and asked Our Lord, “How can I thank You?” Our Lord replied, “ATTEND ONE MASS.”

“The Holy Mass would be of greater profit if people had it offered in their lifetime, rather than having it celebrated for the relief of their souls after death.” (Pope Benedict XV)

“A single Mass offered for oneself during life may be worth more than a thousand celebrated for the same intention after death.” (St. Anselm)

“One Mass before death may be more profitable than any after it.” (St. Leonard of Port Maurice)

“My Son so loves those who assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that, if it were necessary, He would die for them as many times as they’ve heard Masses.” (The Blessed Virgin Mary)

Each time we receive Holy Communion, our venial sins are forgiven and our place in Heaven is raised forever, our stay in Purgatory shortened.

“Each time 1 person receives Holy Communion, something good happens to every being in heaven, on earth, and in purgatory.” (Jesus Christ as revealed to St. Gertrude)