THOMAS HOWARD

Personal: Married to Lovelace; one son, one daughter.

Background: bachelor's degree, Wheaton College; master's, University of Illinois; doctorate, New York University; taught at an English boys' school and a New York boys' school; taught English at Gordon College in Wenham, Mass., for 15 years.

Professional: He has published articles for more than 30 years, including in The New York Times Book Review, Redbook, New Oxford Review, and many others; has published 10 books, the latest is On Being Catholic.

Current position: Professor of English literature, St. John's College Seminary, Boston.

Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City on March 31, amid the ongoing battles Israel and the Hamas militant group.

People Explain ‘Why I Go to Mass’

‘Why go to Mass on Sundays? It is not enough to answer that it is a precept of the Church. … We Christians need to participate in Sunday Mass because only with the grace of Jesus, with his living presence in us and among us, can we put into practice his commandment, and thus be his credible witnesses.’ —Pope Francis

Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City on March 31, amid the ongoing battles Israel and the Hamas militant group.

People Explain ‘Why I Go to Mass’

‘Why go to Mass on Sundays? It is not enough to answer that it is a precept of the Church. … We Christians need to participate in Sunday Mass because only with the grace of Jesus, with his living presence in us and among us, can we put into practice his commandment, and thus be his credible witnesses.’ —Pope Francis