Making the Mass Meaningful
theophilus November 19th, 2008
Today, Fr. Dan Schuh, of St. Susanna’s in Mason, Ohio, is being buried. Dying way too young (57) but leaving behind a profound legacy.
Visitation was between 5:00 last night through 9:30 this morning. Sixteen-and-a-half hours to pay final respects to this most remarkable of priests and rarest of men.
I woke up early this morning and went over to St. Susanna’s. 5:30 in the morning and there were a handful of mourners there, even at that hour. A family of six was leaving as I arrived. Fr. Dan was laid at the altar steps in a very simple coffin. Teddy bears at his feet. The look of absolute peace reserved for the deceased. A Knight of Columbus ceremoniously on honor guard in full regalia.
I sat for a while looking at Fr. Dan trying to figure out why he meant so much to me. After all, I am not a member of St. Susanna’s. I go to weekday Mass there about once a month. He wouldn’t know me from Adam. Yet, I recognize the very real and lasting impact that this Man of God has had on me. And I sat there trying to figure it out.
I started looking up at the altar and recalling him saying Mass; from the days when he was energetic and vibrant, through the slowing movements, through the cane and stool at the altar, through the wheelchair; through the last Mass I remember with him.
I recalled him at the altar and it occured to me that he drew me into Christ each and every Mass. When I started going to St. Susanna’s, it was at a time when I was slowly awakening from the spiritual deadness I had stumbled into in my thirties. As a matter of fact, it was four years ago this month that Christ started reeling me back to him.
And Fr. Dan was a large part of my reawakening because he was instrumental in bringing me back to the Mass and drawing me into the Eucharist. He just had a way of leaving me wanting more. Because of Fr. Dan, I wanted to go to Mass more often; I wanted to experience communion with Christ as often as was practicable (suburban parish Mass times being what they are). He made me realize that the Mass and Communion were gifts and graces from Christ; a gift and a grace that Christ never withholds from us.
He helped me to build the foundation I have needed in the past four years to find my way back to the path of Christ. It’s become clear to me that Christ used Fr. Dan to bring me back to him. There is no question in my mind that I would not have made it back without falling in love with the Mass once again.
I left St. Susanna’s this morning as more and more mourners were coming. It’s so obvious that this man did it; he served Christ as intended; he brought others to Christ through his life and his death; even those not technically part of his flock.
What a life well-lived; what a way to fulfill one’s life purpose; what incredible success at building Christ’s kingdom here on earth.
Well done, Fr. Dan, well done. Rest in the peace you so deserve.
