139. Manner of Assisting at Mass

The holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered every hour somewhere in the world. Wherever he is, a Catholic knows that whatever he may be doing, he can join spiritually in the Holy Sacrifice. The chart above gives the approximate time when Masses are most likely being said (6 a.m.) in the countries listed on the dial. Let us join in a Holy Mass somewhere now.

How should we assist at Mass?

— We should assist at Mass with reverence, attention, and devotion.

1. We should remember that we are present at the Holy Sacrifice of Christ's Body and Blood. Whispering, laughing, and looking about during Mass are out of place and irreverent.

When we are conversing with anyone, we give him all our attention, and do not even think of other people. At Mass, we are in the Real Presence of God. We should fix our attention on Him, and forget everything else. It is the practice to kneel during Mass, at least from the beginning to the Offertory, and from the Sanctus till after the Communion, standing for the Gospels.

2. One should not come to Mass overdressed. It is a distraction for others to see people entering in the height of fashion.

Some women seem to go to church only to attract attention by their clothes, their new hairdo, their makeup. The church is not a fashion parade.

3. It need not be said that one does not hear Mass outside the church, but inside. Too often men stand outside and talk together while Mass is going on, and go in only if they feel like doing so. These people do not hear Mass. However, if one goes to hear Mass and finds the church packed, he really hears Mass so long as he prays and unites himself with the Sacrifice, even though he could not see from behind a post.

It is related of St. John the Almoner, Patriarch of Alexandria in the 7th century, that he observed some of his parishioners on Sundays and holydays had formed the habit of standing about the churchyard and talking together instead of entering the church to hear Mass. The good Bishop determined to put an end to this bad habit.

One Sunday, instead of saying Mass in the church, he went outside and stood with the idlers. They looked at him in surprise. He said, "You wonder what I am doing here. But remember where the flock is, there the pastor must be. If you enter the church, I shall also go in." Shamed into their right senses, the idlers went in at once and from that time never again "heard Mass" outside.

4. We should try to give the Holy Sacrifice all our attention and devotion. We should keep away from our minds all distractions as far as possible, and unite ourselves with Jesus in His Sacrifice, especially in the principal parts of the Mass.

In ancient days, the Jews offered thousands of victims at sacrifice in the Temple, all in silence. The early Christians remained motionless at Mass, kneeling in reverence throughout the Holy Sacrifice.

What is the best method of assisting at Mass?

— The best method of assisting at Mass is to unite with the priest in offering the Holy Sacrifice, and to receive Holy Communion.

1. The best way of uniting ourselves in offering the Holy Sacrifice is by following the prayers of the Mass from a Missal, and meditating on the mysteries presented therein. If we have no Missal, we should devoutly meditate, especially at the principal parts, on Our Lord's Passion; the Mass is a re-enactment of the sacrifice on the cross, a commemoration of Christ's death.

Those who say vocal prayers must be careful not to whisper so loud as to disturb others. At the principal parts of Mass, we should always suspend our private devotions and meditate on the particular mystery presented: at the Offertory uniting our intentions with the priest, at the Consecration welcoming Jesus, and at the Communion inviting Him into our hearts and thanking Him for the consummation of His sacrifice.

2. We should also unite ourselves with the rest of those who hear the Mass, and with all Christians throughout the world, for whom Christ died as well as for us. In the early days of the Church, Christians heard Mass in congregation, answering to the priest parts said now by the server.

A similar practice is now used, in the Missa recitata wherein the congregation speak out loud the responses at Mass. When younger people hear Mass, it is well to have a little singing, too. Sacred songs are in themselves prayer. Our Lord and His Apostles sang a hymn at the Last Supper.

3. It is a great honour and privilege to be allowed to serve Mass. This privilege is reserved to boys and men. Girls and women may answer the Mass prayers, like acolytes, but they are not permitted to enter the sanctuary. Every boy should avail himself of the opportunity when it offers itself. He mingles with the angels in the sanctuary; he obtains special graces for his service. Parents should see to it that their boys join the Altar Boy Society of the parish.

As early as possible, when a boy is 7 or 8 years old, he should be accustomed to serve Mass. He should learn the Mass prayers well, pronounce them distinctly, and understand their meaning when he is sufficiently advanced. He should be recollected in manner, remembering where he is and in what holy ceremony he is taking part.

4. If everybody cannot serve Mass, at least everybody, man, woman, or child, can unite himself with the priest in offering the Holy Sacrifice: and everybody who has reached the age of reason and has been properly prepared can receive Communion.

Why is Mass said in Latin?

— Mass is said in Latin because Latin is the official language of the Western Church.

1. The use of Latin, a dead language, has many advantages. It insures unity and uniformity in faith and practice.

There can be no change from one church to another using the same Latin rite. Because Latin is a dead language, the words do not change their meaning and the interpretation is always uniform.

2. In the Eastern Churches, Mass is said in several other ancient languages.

However, all the languages in which Mass is said have gone out of daily use and cannot be understood without previous instruction.

3. It is not necessary to understand the Mass prayers as pronounced by the priest, as they are generally pronounced in a very low tone of voice. The prayers are not supposed to be addressed to people, but to God. Mass is not instruction, but sacrifice.

The people, by means of their prayer books, can follow the movements of the priest, and hear the Mass. Missals for the laity have all the prayers read by the priest, translated from the Latin.

4. If preferred, a prayer book may be used at Mass, reading the prayers for Mass, or even other prayers. The five sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary are suitable as Mass devotions, setting forth as they do Our Lord's Passion.