What do you do while you are traveling to Mass? Does it, whatever it is, help you to get ready for celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? Is it possible that consciously thinking (or at least trying to think) about what the Mass is and why we are celebrating it might help you to get more ready? At any rate, here’s a suggestion that focuses on the four purposes of the Mass. With children in the car, you might ask each child for one item of thanksgiving and one item of petition.
Heavenly Father, I offer You this Mass today in praise and adoration of the Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I offer this Mass in reparation for my own sins and those of each member of my family and extended families, and for all the sins committed against the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
I offer this Mass in thanksgiving for the whole work of creation and redemption, for the work of the prophets, for sending your divine Son to save us, for the “yes” of Jesus, for the “yes” of Mary and Joseph, for all that Jesus did and said and taught us, for giving us his Body and Blood in the Eucharist, for his suffering and death, for his resurrection and ascension into heaven, for his sending the Spirit at Pentecost, for the gift of the Church and the sacraments, and for his priest who will celebrate this Mass.
I offer this Mass in thanksgiving for every personal blessing you have given to me and my family, especially for the gifts of faith and family, for the gift of good health that enables me to come to Mass, and for the freedom to worship at Mass without fear of persecution.
I offer this Mass in solemn petition for authentic renewal in the Church, for all the missionary work of the Church, for a rebirth of chastity, for a stop to contraception, for a stop to abortion, and for a culture of life.
I offer this Mass for faith and perseverance for all those who are being actively persecuted for the Faith today; I offer this Mass for a stop to persecution of the Church, and I offer this Mass for the healing of divisions within the Church and for unity of Faith among all Christians.
I offer this Mass in petition for the missionary work of the Church, for the missionary work of NFP International, for the conversion of Islam, for the conversion of the Jews, and for the conversion of China and all other lands still under the heavy hand of atheistic communism. I offer this Mass for the conversion of my own country and all other countries that allow abortion and encourage personal immorality.
I offer this Mass also in solemn petition for all my personal needs and those of my family and friends—for an increase in faith, hope, love, contrition and purity, for the continuation of good health, for adequate employment, for a true spirit of Christian generosity, and for these other needs: _________________________.
Amen.
This is a slight adaptation of the prayer on page 12 of the prayer book at http://www.nfpandmore.org/Catholic_Prayer_Book_2007.pdf
John F. Kippley