1. Always remember to turn off cell phones. Do not text messages or check your social media accounts from the pews or the back of the church. Leave your social media devices in the car or at home. It’s time to channel your full attention to God. It’s distracting for others who are trying to pray. If you are waiting for an important phone call, consider going to Mass at another time or reschedule the call appointment.
2. Do not chew gum during Mass. Spit it out before going into a church. Did you know that you are supposed to be prayerfully fasting for an hour before Mass? There is a possibility that if you keep the gum in your mouth and start chewing after receiving the Eucharist, you may unintentionally spit out a bit of the body of Jesus. That would be bad.
3. Dress graciously for Mass. It seems that many women, many girls in this day and age try to dress indecently. Mass is not a cocktail party. Mass is not a hockey arena. Come dressed with dignity. Try teaching your children the different types of dress relevant for various occasions. For everything there is a time.
4. Don’t bring children’s activity bags, granola bars, cheerio’s, juice boxes, water bottles, toys including a child’s DS, play station, game boy, iPod touch or similar types of amusements to church. Mass is only one hour to three hours long. Children would grow in virtue if their parents expected them to detach from these things for at least for few hours a week. For little toddlers, there are beautiful series of little Catholic books put out by Father Lovasik. There are plastic rosaries or books about saints. Ensure your children participate and partake in spiritual treasures during Mass.
5. It’s Parents obligation to train their children in the appropriate times to kneel, sit, stand and face the altar. If children are engaged in playing with toys, eating, and drinking, they are surely not being taught about the fact that Jesus is really up there on the altar, importance of prayer, self-control, and the relevance of involving in the Mass. Parents themselves get distracted with managing the dispensing of food and toys. Also, it is a distraction to others in the pews who could be hungry themselves, or who are trying to totally participate in Mass.
6. If you are late for Mass, please do not walk down the aisles looking for a seat until it’s the right time. You are disrupting others. Church wardens should be trained to carry this out. Also, do not leave Mass before it ends. You will be missing the supernatural graces of the final blessing. Aside from that, it’s a bad example for your kids
7. Do not be a spectator at Mass, but a participator. Don’t ask yourself, ‘What is this Mass doing for me?” Rather, ask yourself, ‘What can I do to involve myself in this Mass fully?” Make an effort to listen, follow the readings, the homily, read scripture passages before Mass, learn the prayers of the Mass, follow along in the misslette and sing! You will become an outstanding role model for your kids.
Always endeavor to enjoy the Lord’s presence during the Eucharist Celebration.
As you go into the House God, take some holy water supplied at the entrance and sign yourself with the following words:
May the holy waters of baptism, bless me, wash me clean and make me whole, In the Name of the Father and of The Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Before entering your pew, genuflect before The King of Kings and Lord of Lords, saying:
I bow down before you and adore you most Holy Trinity; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
At the end of the Mass, after a brief period of thanksgiving prayer, before exiting the pew say:
Thank you Abba Father, thank you Lord Jesus and thank you Holy Spirit for allowing me to be so long in your holy presence and for all the blessings you have showered upon me and this audience.
