The 3Rs Say, "I Love You Too, God"
Mass Etiquette with Fr. Jon, Part 3 (and welcome, Little Space of Gracers!)
Before we get started, a heartfelt welcome to my hundreds of Little Space of Grace peeps who are joining the “Diary of a Stumbling Saint” family today. I love you guys, and I hope you’ll decide to stick around for more of my crazy God adventures and all things Catholic.
To get into the swings of things around here, I encourage you to read a few of my recent blog posts. Here’s a short list:
At Walmart with Jesus (how to stay connected to God wherever you go… yes, even at Walmart!)
Betraying Jesus and the Superhero Trap (why we need to teach our kids to behave in church, and how a horrible nightmare taught me that we can’t really do anything on our own)
The Wise Men’s Gifts (a more fact-based post on gold, frankincense, and myrrh and their fascinating properties; a must-read for natural-health fans)
The Hardest, Hardest Thing to Do (how Jesus is teaching me obedience… and how, as usual, I’m learning it moaning and groaning and fighting it every step of the way :D)
… and not to forget, Fr. Jon’s fabulous Mass Etiquette Part 1 and Part 2—because today is Part 3, which I hope you’ll enjoy.
And off we go…
Here’s another installment of our highly acclaimed Mass Etiquette series by Fr. Jon Schnobrich at the Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Morrisville, Vermont.
Dear Parishioners,
There may be times when we arrive late, are unprepared, are dressed inappropriately, or forgot to silence our cell phone or beeper. Sometimes, our children will be noisy or fidgety. Accidents happen.
How we act on such occasions is part of etiquette. However, etiquette is mainly about habits, not the rare slip or unavoidable occurrence. Everyone who worships wholeheartedly and without needless distraction will appreciate good parish etiquette.
Consider that this may be someone’s only opportunity for meditation and spiritual reflection during the week.
The way we worship reflects our beliefs, so even before we leave home to go to Mass... what is our attitude? Am I desiring to encounter God, or is Mass a chore, duty, or something to squeeze in between other weekend commitments?
One temptation many of us face is to not prioritize Mass, but rather make Mass one activity among many in our weekend: shopping, going to the movies, running the kids to soccer, skiing, visiting a friend... and, oh yeah, Mass.
Remember that God is love, and all the blessings and graces we receive is God saying, “I love you.” Our prepared presence and active participation in Mass is our way of responding to God, “I love you too.”
This is also a celebration that we share as a community, and so we must be mindful of others and their needs.
I read somewhere that when communities gather for Mass, good etiquette is remembering the 3 “R’s”: REVERENCE - RESPECT – RESPONSIBILITY.
Reverence honors the sacredness of why we gather—to unite our praise and thanksgiving with Jesus Christ, who offers Himself on the cross to the Father as an act of worship. Reverence reminds us that it is Jesus who gathers us and that Mass is first about Him, not about us.
Respect considers the needs of those around us and calls us to prioritize prayer over socializing. Plenty of folks see that hour at Mass as their time of grace for the week. They enjoy the quiet, peaceful atmosphere to connect more deeply with God. Therefore, being aware of the needs of others to be in communion with God ought to shape our behavior, tone of voice, and actions to be respectful of those present at Mass seeking silence to encounter God.
Responsibility means being prepared. A look at the day’s readings beforehand will enhance your understanding of the messages or themes being presented.
Don’t forget that you should not eat for one hour before receiving Holy Communion. Don’t bring food or beverages into the church (except for medical reasons). Come early!
May God be praised in you, and have a blessed week!
With Mary, in Christ, Fr. Jon
Thank you so much for providing us with this wonderful Mass education, Fr. Jon!
Wrapping up with a reminder that God is always waiting for you to come to Him. And you don’t have to be perfect to approach Him; all you have to be is willing. :)
I know what sort of a being I am; yet even though I feel myself miserable, I am not troubled at it; nay, I am sometimes joyful at it, considering that I am a truly fit object for the mercy of God, to which I continually recommend you.
Since at every season of life, early or late, in youth or in old age, I can expect my salvation from the pure goodness and mercy of God alone, it is much better to cast myself from this moment into the arms of His clemency than to wait till another time.
—St. Francis de Sales