Getting More Out of Mass By Exercising the Love of Humble Reverence During Holy Mass: Some Do’s and Don’ts

1.    First and foremost, always keep in mind that you are in a special and unique presence of our Lord, so continuously act in loving appreciation of this sacred reality.

2.    Wear modest clothing when attending Holy Mass, from more dressy combinations to minimally what’s known as casual nice or business casual. Do not wear jeans, shorts, tennis-type shoes, flip flops, t-shirts, sweat shirts, sweat pants, and so on, and don’t rationalize wearing such irreverent 'going to a picnic or any other kind of informal event' kinds of clothing by arrogantly claiming that “God does not care what I wear.  He only cares about what’s in my heart.”  Ask yourself and think very seriously about the following questions:

A. How does my attire at Mass compare with my attire when I attend a wedding as a guest?

B. How does my attire at Mass compare with my attire if I work in an office that requires at least casual business attire?

C. How does my attire at Mass compare with what I would wear if I were meeting a senator or governor or president in their office?

D. How does my attire at Mass compare with what I would wear if I were meeting with a bank officer in the hopes of securing a loan?

E. How does my attire at Mass compare with my attire when I want to show special respect for someone?

After honestly and sincerely answering A through E above, then honestly and sincerely ask yourself if the attire you wear at Mass shows sufficient love, respect, and appreciation for Your Lord and Savior.

Reflect some more on number 1.

3.    Limit any kind of chit-chatting and other conversations with others to times before Mass and after Mass, but do not so engage in the main body of the Church, even after the Mass has concluded.  Also remember to give yourself some time before Mass to quietly collect your thoughts, say some prayers, and prepare to immerse yourself in the Mass.  Reflect some more on number 1.

4.    Extending your arms and hands in the manner of the Priest at various times during the Mass (known as the Orans Posture) can be very problematic even with good intentions.  A Priest uses the Orans Posture as part of his specific priestly duties and functions during a Mass, and these do not carry over to the laity.  The more humble and appropriate posture is always with hands held prayerfully together as most reverently demonstrated by those on the altar who are assisting a Priest at Mass.  Reflect some more on number 1.

5.    When walking up an aisle to receive Holy Communion, always hold your hands prayerfully together, and laser-focus on what you are about to receive.  Don’t poke anybody in the pews to get their attention, and do not chit-chat with them.  If a person in a pew wants to engage you despite your best efforts to stay laser-focused on the greatest gift soon to be given to you, quietly and quickly tell the chatty one “I’ll talk to you after Mass,” and reset your laser focus on receiving Holy Communion.  Reflect some more on number 1.

6.    If you are at a Mass where you will kneel at the altar to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, unclasp your hands to assist your kneeling down at the altar.  Once securely on your knees, etc., re-adopt the hands held together praying posture, and reflect on what you are about to receive.

7.    If you are at a Mass where you will receive the host on the tongue or in your hands while standing, Do Not Bow to the Backside of the person or persons ahead of you as you get to within 5 or 10 feet or so of the Priest or Eucharistic Minister.  This is not to be a “projection bow” to the Lord through these people. Wait until the person just ahead of you has received Holy Communion and is moving away.  Bow directly to the Lord as He is the Host held before you, and then receive on the tongue, or with your hands cupped so as to make a throne for the Lord, step forward to reverently receive the Host.  Once the Host is in your hands, step to the right or left and simultaneously place the Host in your mouth. 

8.    After you have returned to your seat or pew, remember to offer a prayer or prayers of thanksgiving, preferably while kneeling, for the greatest of gifts you have now received.  After finishing your prayer/s, do not pull out a cell phone to make a call or engage in any kind of chit-chatting with your pew mates or others nearby.  Continue to reverently and quietly reflect on what you have just received and/or sing along with a communion hymn that may be playing while communion continues to be distributed, provided it is a reverent hymn that also pays tribute to the Holy Eucharist in accordance with USCCB guidelines (applicable to the United States; see Catholic Hymnody at the Service of the Church: An Aid for Evaluating Hymn Lyrics) that, alas, many organists ignore to wrongly do their own thing, even when the hymns or songs they choose have a religious element to them.
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When it comes to the Holy Mass, the old saying always holds true: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it.  Acting in loving and humble reverence along the lines set forth above can open the door to receiving even more graces from the Holy Mass wherein we are privileged to be in the unique presence of our Lord and Savior.