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What are some of the basic Mass etiquettes for the faithful?

 

Last Sunday my wife and I were visiting our youngest son’s family in Colorado. As a visitor sitting in the pew, I observed the diversity in Mass etiquette among the faithful. I recall reading a recent article on this topic and would like to share a few thoughts.

We need to show reverence when entering the church (any church). As Catholics, we bless ourselves (make the sign of the cross) with Holy Water. It is a reminder of our baptismal promises and the fact that we are entering a sanctified place. Next, look for the tabernacle. Turn to it and genuflect before entering your pew. The act of genuflecting is a sign of respect.

As Catholics, we genuflect with our right knee, as a sign of respect to the Holy Eucharist. Genuflection on the left knee was used to pay honor to kings and emperors (and, at certain times in the church’s history, to the bishop of one’s diocese), but the right knee is reserved for God alone as a sign of divine worship. According to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), “a genuflection, made by bending the right knee to the ground, signifies adoration, and therefore it is reserved for the Most Blessed Sacrament” (No. 274).

This custom was approved formally by the Roman Catholic Church in the early 16th century. When it is time for Mass to begin, the Cantor asks the congregation to rise and join in singing the processional (entrance) hymn. God gave us our voice. To some, He gifted better. Jesus bore our sins on the cross; He can easily bear off-key singing. After the entrance hymn, the priest begins Mass saying, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirt.” We join him in making the sign of the cross and respond, Amen. We remain standing through the series of opening prayers in respect to the priest as he is the representative of Christ at the Mass. And we remain standing until the priests sits down.

Another observation, and a question I’ve addressed in R.C.I.A. sessions, is “How often should a person make the sign of the cross during the Mass?” There are Catholics who feel compelled to make the sign of the cross multiple times during Mass. Some cross themselves after the Penitential Rite (Lord, have mercy), even more feel compelled to cross themselves after receiving Holy Communion. While both are old generational traditions, neither action is part of the GIRM. The best way to explain when we should be making the sign of the cross during Mass, is to understand that “The Mass” is one prayer.

We begin and end all prayer by making the sign of the cross; likewise, at the beginning and at the end of Mass. The final apart of “Mass Etiquette” is that we should remain in our pews after the final blessing and wait until the Priest has completely recessed out of the Church. It is not proper to dine and dash. And remember, Judas was the first to leave.

Author Bio:
Deacon Dan Vaughn