Proper Etiquette At Mass

[AccountDeleted]

Following on from another thread, this just seemed appropriate right now. It is from an article at
[url="http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2011/12/theresa-thomas-proper-catholic-etiquette-at-mass-and-away/"]http://www.integrate...-mass-and-away/[/url]


[quote]
[b][i]Etiquette at Holy Mass[/i][/b][list]
[*]We should wear clothes to church that will not draw attention to us.
[*]We should keep a proper mental attitude at Mass. We should remember we are going to worship God and by offering the same sacrifice that Jesus offered him. Everything we have comes from Him; He is our whole future.
[*]Inside church – charitable silence
[*]On arriving at the place we plan to worship, we should genuflect and go to the middle. We should not sit on the end and make everyone else stumble over us to get in. If we are with a friend or relative, we stop at the place. The woman genuflects first and enters, and the man genuflects and follows the woman.
[*]Once inside, we touch our right hand fingers to the holy water and make the sign of the cross. While doing so, we quietly pray, “May this holy water cleanse my mind from all vain, evil or distracting thoughts.”
[*]Since at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we offer with the priest we are expected to fully participate in the prayers and singing. We are not attending a performance or a movie and simply observing.
[*]At Communion time we must remember to be sure there are no personal mortal sins and that the Eucharistic fast (one hour) has been observed. To receive Holy Communion in mortal sin is another mortal sin of sacrilege (disrespect of Jesus). It is bad form to consciously look to notice who receives communion and who does not.
[*]At Communion time, we simply follow the pattern established in the church where we are attending Mass. When it is convenient, it is good manners for the man to step back and allow the woman to precede him to the Communion line.
[*]Once the recessional song is finished it is a sign of proper church etiquette to once again kneel and pray for a few minutes in thanksgiving for receiving our Lord.
[/list]
[/quote]


and the author of the article who included the above, also included her own etiquette for outside church...

[quote]
[b][i]Etiquette Outside of Church[/i][/b][list]
[*]Do not ridicule anyone or be witty at another’s expense.
[*]Avoid criticizing and fault finding. This is a defect which grows, and it can develop to such an extent as to make one unbearable in conversation
[*]Abstain from all low and vulgar words of expression
[*]To mimic peculiarities of others is disrespectful and offensive.
[*]Always speak of God, of the saints, of holy things, with the greatest reverence.
[/list]
[/quote]

[brianthephysicist]

[quote]
Once inside, we touch our right hand fingers to the holy water and make the sign of the cross. While doing so, we quietly pray, “May this holy water cleanse my mind from all vain, evil or distracting thoughts.”
[/quote]
Never knew that, razzle dazzle, thanks!

[Nihil Obstat]

There is no obligation to sing along with the choir. That reveals a sketchy understanding of active participation.

[AccountDeleted]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1323834696' post='2350944']
There is no obligation to sing along with the choir. That reveals a sketchy understanding of active participation.
[/quote]


Yes, and I guess it depends on the type of Mass and songs as well. I am not fond of the hand clapping songs that they like to do for the children of our parish - right now it is especially bad.

I also don't agree with the statement not to sit on the aisle. I am happy to move aside for others but I prefer not to be surrounded by other people on either side, so an aisle seat makes it easier for me to focus on the Mass. I usually choose the outside aisle so I can stay behind after Mass without disturbing people - they usually seem to take the centre aisle to go out so they can shake Father's hand on their way out and if they want to pass me, it only takes a few seconds.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='nunsense' timestamp='1323835055' post='2350954']


Yes, and I guess it depends on the type of Mass and songs as well. I am not fond of the hand clapping songs that they like to do for the children of our parish - right now it is especially bad.

I also don't agree with the statement not to sit on the aisle. I am happy to move aside for others but I prefer not to be surrounded by other people on either side, so an aisle seat makes it easier for me to focus on the Mass. I usually choose the outside aisle so I can stay behind after Mass without disturbing people - they usually seem to take the centre aisle to go out so they can shake Father's hand on their way out and if they want to pass me, it only takes a few seconds.[/quote]

Yeah, I think that is more up to common sense. If you know the place, then you know what pews will and will not fill up. Not always necessary to move to the middle.

The attitude that everyone needs to sing is the same attitude that says everyone needs to be 'doing something' to participate, for instance being an emhc. It is a fundamental misunderstanding of what the Church has always taught about active participation.

[AccountDeleted]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1323835306' post='2350959']
Yeah, I think that is more up to common sense. If you know the place, then you know what pews will and will not fill up. Not always necessary to move to the middle.

The attitude that everyone needs to sing is the same attitude that says everyone needs to be 'doing something' to participate, for instance being an emhc. It is a fundamental misunderstanding of what the Church has always taught about active participation.
[/quote]


I just wish more people would 'participate' by being 'present' for the Mass, being silent and praying and preparing themselves before and taking time to give thanks afterwards. Now that is real participation for me!

[LaPetiteSoeur]

[quote name='nunsense' timestamp='1323835055' post='2350954']


Yes, and I guess it depends on the type of Mass and songs as well. I am not fond of the hand clapping songs that they like to do for the children of our parish - right now it is especially bad.

I also don't agree with the statement not to sit on the aisle. I am happy to move aside for others but I prefer not to be surrounded by other people on either side, so an aisle seat makes it easier for me to focus on the Mass. I usually choose the outside aisle so I can stay behind after Mass without disturbing people - they usually seem to take the centre aisle to go out so they can shake Father's hand on their way out and if they want to pass me, it only takes a few seconds.
[/quote]

When lectoring or EMHE-ing, (or is it EMHC-ing?) I sit on the aisle so I don't have to climb over anyone. If someone asks me to move, I quietly explain and move so they can sit on the inside! Also, since I have a bum knee (yay brace!), it's easier to get up for Communion.

I kind of wish more people would sing. Since the music ministry at my home church was run by a Moravian (and the Moravian faith puts a huge emphasis on music), I was taught to sing was a way to pray. But I guess not everyone prays the same way.

[Maximilianus]

here some gestures for worship [url="http://www.adoremus.org/0210MassGesturesPostures.html"]http://www.adoremus....esPostures.html[/url]

Edited December 14, 2011 by Maximilianus

[MissyP89]

This is a really silly question:

How do you genuflect [i]in a pew? [/i]I don't understand how there's enough room.

(Note: I'm not insane. I'm just physically unable to genuflect, so I do a double-genuflection instead.)

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='nunsense' timestamp='1323835648' post='2350966']


I just wish more people would 'participate' by being 'present' for the Mass, being silent and praying and preparing themselves before and taking time to give thanks afterwards. Now that is real participation for me!
[/quote]
Amen!

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='MissyP89' timestamp='1323842921' post='2351054']
This is a really silly question:

How do you genuflect [i]in a pew? [/i]I don't understand how there's enough room.

(Note: I'm not insane. I'm just physically unable to genuflect, so I do a double-genuflection instead.)
[/quote]
It's not so easy. I just sort of make do. If I'm at the end of a kneeler, one up and the other down, then it's not too tricky because I can stretch my left foot forward underneath the pew in front, but more often all the kneelers are down. So in that case my left foot is more or less in line with my right knee as I genuflect. It's a little awkward, but since it only lasts a second or two it's not too onerous.
Think kind of like a statue of Atlas.
[img]http://cache2.artprintimages.com/lrg/26/2679/77ZUD00Z.jpg[/img]

[MissScripture]

[quote name='MissyP89' timestamp='1323842921' post='2351054']
This is a really silly question:

How do you genuflect [i]in a pew? [/i]I don't understand how there's enough room.

(Note: I'm not insane. I'm just physically unable to genuflect, so I do a double-genuflection instead.)
[/quote]
I genuflect and then go into the pew. But then, at the moment, I can barely fit my belly in front of me when kneeling, and kneeling makes me feel like I'm going to pass out, so it doesn't happen for long. But the belly thing has made me wonder how larger people are able to kneel...
ETA: I just realized why you were asking. When I'm supposed to genuflect in the pew, right now, since I don't fit so great, I end up doing a sort of bob, anyway. I have a fear of getting stuck down, right now. I don't genuflect at all right now without holding onto a pew and barely make it to the ground usually. But my balance is definitely even more off than usual with the pregnancy.

[MissyP89]

I get it. Thanks.

Edit: In case it wasn't clear, I was asking specifically re: how we're supposed to genuflect at the Incarnation during the Creed. It just seems awkward to pull off in a pew with kneelers down.

Know what I mean?

Edited December 14, 2011 by MissyP89

[MissScripture]

[quote name='MissyP89' timestamp='1323843401' post='2351067']
I get it. Thanks.

Edit: In case it wasn't clear, I was asking specifically re: how we're supposed to genuflect at the Incarnation during the Creed. It just seems awkward to pull off in a pew with kneelers down.

Know what I mean?
[/quote]
Yeah, I realized that after I typed my post. And added to my post.

[Nihil Obstat]

Actually during the Credo I'll usually just kneel for "et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto" because it lasts long enough when chanted that it just seems to work. During the Last Gospel it goes by much too quickly for that though.