How to pray at Mass?

Praying at Mass

Praying the Mass is fully conscious and active participation in the Eucharist. It is prayerful engagement with the Mass, aided by proper understanding, preparation and application of its power and blessings to our lives.

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Preparing for mass

We can prepare ourselves well for Mass in general by studying the structure and prayers of the Mass, so that our participation is better informed. What's more, the more our life conforms to the Gospel, the more we'll appreciate the Mass.

We can prepare well for a particular mass by going to confession and arriving in time to pray before mass. If we are receiving communion, we should abstain for at least an hour beforehand from all food and drink except water and medicines.

During mass

We can participate well in mass generally by being attentive and uniting our own inner prayers to the words, actions and gestures of the priest. It's also important to: respond and sing clearly; listen attentively; try to understand what's going on; maintain prayerful silence; receive the Eucharist with the utmost reverence and genuflect reverently.

After mass

It's a good idea to spend a few minutes praying in church after mass. It's a way of thanking God for his blessings. It also helps us keep in mind the resolutions we've made to make the power of the sacrament fruitful in our lives.

Difficulties in praying Mass

It doesn't make sense. The Mass is rich in meaning, and it's unlikely to make immediate sense. Patience, prayer and study help us appreciate its greatness.

Boredom. Mass is a prayer and something we need for our souls. It is not mere entertainment. However, in practice, it will engage us deeply if we pay attention to the words and think and pray about what they mean.

Inability to receive communion. If we are conscious of grave sin, we must not receive Communion without first making Sacramental Confession. Devoutly attending Mass is of great value, however, even when we are unable to receive Communion. We can still make a 'spiritual communion'.

The most important help in praying the Mass is to realize the supernatural and miraculous dimension of the Eucharistic sacrifice and the presence of heaven. At Mass, we join the heavenly liturgy spoken of in the New Testament.

You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels gathered together for a feast, and to the assembly of the first-born inscribed in heaven, and to a judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel (Heb 12: 22-24).

Composition of the mass

Introductory rite

Mass begins with the sign of the cross, recommending the sacrifice to the Trinity. In the penitential rite, all ask forgiveness for their sins, so that they may participate worthily in the Eucharist. The Gloria, a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, is followed by the opening prayer.

Liturgy of the Word

Readings from the Old and New Testaments, including the Psalm, are proclaimed. The priest or deacon reads the Gospel, based on the words and life of Christ. The homily explains a point of the readings or the teaching of the faith. This is followed by the creed, a public prayer and a profession of faith. Finally, the needs of the Church and the world are brought before God in intercessions.

Liturgy of the Eucharist

At the offertory, the faithful offer bread and wine as a sign of their own sacrifice to be offered by the priest. The preface thanks the Father for his work of salvation, and the Sanctus unites him with the heavenly worship of angels and saints. At the epiclesis, the priest extends his hands over the gifts, invoking the Holy Spirit to sanctify and transform them. When the priest pronounces the words of consecration, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. He raises the host and precious blood for adoration. In the rest of the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest recalls the Paschal Mystery made present in the Mass, and intercedes for the living and the dead. Finally, he raises the host and the precious blood in a gesture of sacrifice, and prays the doxology. Faithful assent with an 'Amen'.

Communion rite

The faithful pray the Our Father together, and express their unity and forgiveness in the Sign of Peace. While all pray to the Lamb of God, the priest breaks the host. Once the priest has lifted the host, all acknowledge their unworthiness and God's healing mercy. The priest then receives Holy Communion and distributes it to the people.

Concluding rite

The priest blesses and sends the faithful on their mission.