As we take Holy Communion it strengthens our union with Jesus; He lives within us in a special way. It cleanses us from mortal sins that require forgiveness in Confession. It gives us grace to avoid sin in the future. It increases our love of God and our neighbours.
The greatest of the seven sacraments is the Holy Eucharist. The Catholic Church teaches that in the Eucharist, Our Lord Jesus Christ, true God and true man, is really present under the appearances of bread and wine. Our Lord is not merely symbolized by the bread and wine; nor is he present only through the faith of those present. Rather, the two material things, bread and wine, are completely changed into the body and blood of Jesus Christ, leaving behind only their sensible appearances. Thus, through the words of consecration spoken by the priest, Jesus, without ceasing to be present in a natural way in heaven, is also present sacrament ally, body, blood, soul and divinity, in many places throughout the world.
The Eucharist is not only a sacrament but also a sacrifice, in Holy Communion, by obeying Jesus' command to eat his flesh and drink his blood, the faithful are also united spiritually with Jesus himself, and they unite their own prayers, works and sufferings to his perfect sacrifice.
I believe that people go to mass to celebrate the life of Jesus and the love he shared for us, also the Third of the Ten Commandments given to Moses by God is, "Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day" (Exodus 20:8) The Mass was instituted at the Last Supper by Jesus before his Crucifixion. The Last Supper was the first Mass.
"When the hour came, he [Jesus] took his place at the table with the apostles . . . Then he took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which will be given for you. Do this in memory of me" (Luke 22:14,19)".
When we celebrate the Mass, we repeat the Last Supper, as Jesus commanded us to do. In doing this, we remember and re-present his great act of love for us on the Cross—taking our sins upon himself so that we, if we follow his commandments, can live with him forever in heaven.
The Church teaches that we must fulfil the command of Jesus ("Do this in memory of me") by attending Sunday Mass (or the Vigil Mass the night before). The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that Mass attendance on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation is the first of the six Commandments of the Church. These Commandments of the Church also require receiving Communion at least once a year during the Easter season, confessing any mortal sin as a preparation for Communion, and observing the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence. These Commandments spell out the minimal responsibilities of a Catholic. To fail to fulfil them through our own fault, the Church teaches, is a serious sin.
Also many people may gather together to pray for a lost one to be accepted into heaven or injured ones to recover and come home safely.
When people pray in private they are just getting to talk to God in there own way which they may be more comfortable, or some people may be house bound and a priest brings a recording of the mass to there house with some communion bread and wine and they replay the mass at there home, but on the other hand people may say that you aren’t getting close to god at home and may be against the people who pray in private but my own opinion is that God is every where and inside all of us and praying in church is just as the same as praying in private and all church means is community so I believe people should pray where ever they feel comfortable.
