11 Great Ways To Prepare For Mass
11 Great Ways To Prepare For Mass
1. Really get ready:
Getting ready for Mass shouldn’t be only about picking out the best outfit, it should also be about getting ready spiritually and mentally. Say a prayer or two, take a little pamphlet to read something pertaining to the Mass. Read something on the Eucharist, even something on Eucharistic Miracles to renew your faith in the Real Presence.
2. If you have a family:
Get everything ready the day before so you do not encroach into the time for Mass getting ready.
3. Get there early:
Arriving on time to me is not getting there one minute before the mass begins. I believe you need to be at mass, calm down from the trip to Church, read a thing or two, say some preparatory prayer before mass even. Meditate on what you have read or even on the Gospel of the day. Remember BTW that the mass does not begin with the Sign of the Cross, it begins with the procession and ends with the exit procession.
4. Get the right seats:
Sit as close to the altar as possible so you can participate more fully. You can hear the priest better and meditate on the gestures and rituals of the Mass. Sitting too far off the back is okay but should not be your first choice if you come early. Also, sitting in front limits distractions.
5. Kill the phones:
My bishop once gave an order for everyone to leave their phones at home while coming to Mass. While this is not very practical a rule, we should remember that distracting ourselves while at mass doesn’t show any form of faith and or charity. Faith in what we believe, in the spiritual reality before us, and charity towards other people we are distracting.
6. Renew your commitments:
Remember your biggest spiritual struggles, not only your temporary problems. Ask for pardon for sins, renew your commitment to living a life pleasing to God.
7. Participate fully:
Sing heartily, follow the gestures, they have deep spiritual meanings. Say the words with faith, and rejoice while saying the creed that you are privileged to have such faith for whom many have given their lives. Remember the struggles of the ages that prompted the writing of the Nicene Creed. This is what I usually think of and i am always filled with joy and gratitude for such a gift.
8. Listen with your whole being:
Pay attention to every word, listen to the readings and pay attention during the homily too. This is a really important way to have something of a take-home after mass. If you are blessed to have a particularly wonderful homilist, you can take home a whole lot, if not, just learn something – anything new.
9. Give:
Your Church community needs your financial support, your priest too doesn’t take salaries and needs your help to keep feeding you spiritually. So, do not skimp, give generously. Remember also to give to the poor at your own time, we have both obligations. Give to the CHurch, give to the poor.
10. Remember to meet Jesus:
Jesus is at Mass in four ways:
- He is present in the Comunity who are part of his Body
- The Reading of the Gospels, Jesus is present
- In the priest who acts “in persona Christi, in the person of Christ”
- And most improtantly in the Eucharistic spiecies.
So, do not forget to worship and adore Christ in the Eucharist, he is actually watching you and hoping to meet you. Be ready to meet him too.
Receive him too, do so reverently. Give everything you have in your soul, give all your love, your hopes, your faith, and even your darkness to Jesus.
11. Give thanks:
Whether you receive Jesus in the Eucharist or Spiritually when you are not in the State of Grace, you should not forget to give thanks. Give thanks for the grace of receiving the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist. It helps to use a prayer book for this. I love the prayers written by St Thomas Aquinas:
Prayer of Thanksgiving:
I thank You, O holy Lord, almighty Father, eternal God, who have deigned, not through any merits of mine, but out of the condescension of Your goodness, to satisfy me a sinner, Your unworthy servant, with the precious Body and Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that this Holy Communion be not a condemnation to punishment for me, but a saving plea to forgiveness.
May it be to me the armor of faith and the shield of a good will. May it be the emptying out of my vices and the extinction of all lustful desires; and increase of charity and patience, of humility and obedience, and all virtues; a strong defense against the snares of all my enemies, visible and invisible; the perfect quieting of all my evil impulses of flesh and spirit, binding me firmly to You, the one true God; and a happy ending of my life. I pray too that You will deign to bring me, a sinner, to that ineffable banquet where You with Your Son and the Holy Spirit, are to your Saints true light, fulfillment of desires, eternal joy, unalloyed gladness, and perfect bliss. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
11 Great Ways To Prepare For Mass
11 Great Ways To Prepare For Mass
