Upon entering and leaving the sanctuary, baptized Catholics and other baptized Christians dip their fingers in the holy water and make the sign of the cross. (Aprille Hanson)

Wendy Floriani genuflects before entering a pew at Our Lady of the Holy Souls in Little Rock. It is an act of worship to genuflect or bow toward the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle or the altar. (Aprille Hanson)

Wendy Floriani puts down the kneeler, typically available in the pew. Catholics and guests are invited to kneel at different parts of the Mass, if able, particularly at the consecration of the Eucharist. (Aprille Hanson)

Susie Williams takes the collection basket from Stacey Matchett, church secretary, demonstrating how money is collected during the offertory at Mass. Those without a parish envelope can still donate. (Aprille Hanson)

Susie Williams opens a song book in the Our Lady of Holy Souls sanctuary. Because of the dismissal rite, which is a direct mission to “Go forth, the Mass is ended,” faithful are encouraged to stay until the end of Mass. (Aprille Hanson)

There are various gestures of prayer, including holding hands and raising them at the conclusion of the Our Father prayer during Mass, demonstrated here by Wendy Floriani (left), Susie Williams and Stacey Matchett. There is nothing in Church rubrics that forbid or require congregants to hold hands. (Aprille Hanson)

Susie Williams (left) and Stacey Matchett shake hands to demonstrate the typical sign of peace the laity give at Mass. A form of “peace be with you” is also spoken. (Aprille Hanson)

After receiving the body of Christ, a Catholic can choose to receive the blood of Christ, given here by Wendy Floriani to Susie Williams. Following Communion, the faithful should return to their pews for prayer. (Aprille Hanson)

Why do Catholics do that during Mass?

A primer for visiting non-Catholics and a refresher for the faithful

Published: December 23, 2019

By Aprille Hanson
Associate Editor

Aprille Hanson

After bowing, Catholics receiving Communion can do so on their tongue or left palm, saying “Amen” following the clergy or extraordinary minister saying, “body of Christ.” In the sanctuary at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock, Wendy Floriani (right), director of youth faith formation, demonstrates distributing Communion to Susie Williams, facilities and events coordinator.

Aprille Hanson

What to do if …

You have a screaming child

Some churches have cry rooms where parents can sit with their young children while still hearing and seeing the Mass. For parishes that don’t, it’s best to rely on common sense. It’s appropriate to leave the sanctuary if a child needs extra attention to be calmed down.

“First of all, we need to remember that kids need to come to Mass … They need to begin to start to know that’s a sacred place,” Father Juan Guido said. He added that his parents always took him to Mass as a baby and from early on “I wanted to be doing what the priest is doing.”

“I think it’s good I’m hearing kids crying because that means my church is vibrant and young,” he said.

A non-Catholic asks why they cannot receive Communion

Catholics believe that during Mass, the bread and wine used during the consecration becomes the body and blood of Christ, though the physical properties still remain, known as transubstantiation. Protestants typically understand that there is a divine presence associated with Communion, but not the same belief that Catholics hold regarding the Eucharist. Therefore, because of this crucial difference of belief, non-Catholics are not able to receive Communion in a Catholic church.

“In order to receive the Eucharist you have to be prepared and believe truly, have a sense of faith that that’s the Eucharist. Some of our brothers and sisters, even those in Christian denominations, do not believe it’s the presence of Christ,” Father Guido said. “For Catholics, it’s a sign of unity, we are the body of Christ and that’s how we unite ourselves.”

Father Erik Pohlmeier, diocesan faith formation director, said Communion also symbolizes the shared communion within the Catholic Church and that requires a formal profession of faith to be a Catholic. Non-Catholics might believe in the Real Presence but they couldn’t receive Communion because they are not in communion with the Church.

You bring a relative who has never been to a Catholic church

The Catholic Mass has beautiful, significant traditions. However, for someone who has never attended, it can be overwhelming and confusing. To avoid making guests feel uncomfortable, call the parish office and ask for any guidelines that might be available at the parish to help guide the person through the Mass. If a church does not have any, share this article or visit arkansas-catholic.org. Ask the guest if they have any questions ahead of Mass. Asking a priest is also a good option.

What they wish you knew

Ushers: Step up, volunteer

Brad Keeling has led the ushers at St. Raphael Church in Springdale, the largest parish in the diocese, for the past five years. While there’s a new coordinator this year, he is still involved. Ushers are there to greet congregants, assist in finding a seat if needed and for general questions. However, their most important role is passing and collecting the money from the collection baskets during the offertory.

“The rewarding thing for me being an usher, you are basically helping the flow of money for the lifeblood of the church, to be able to operate the church,” he said.

Because it can be tough to spot ushers, particularly during holiday Masses, special vests could help identify them. Keeling said ushers at the 12:30 p.m. Spanish Mass at St. Raphael use vests. Keeling said the toughest part of the holidays for ushers is not the congregants, but finding enough people to usher.

Eucharistic ministers: Everyone say ‘amen’

There are a few common missteps even seasoned Catholics make while approaching the clergy or Eucharistic minister for communion. Associate pastor Father Keith Higginbotham, who trains the Eucharistic ministers at St. John Church in Hot Springs, said he has seen Catholics have both their tongue and hand out to receive Communion, which can confuse the person distributing Communion, or not having their tongue out far enough, making it tough to reverently place the Eucharist without touching a person’s tongue.

There are also disrespectful actions, like wiping any crumbs from their hand from the Eucharist or flipping the Eucharist over to the other hand, he said.

But the most common issue is not saying “Amen” after receiving.

“Primarily for the spirituality of the person receiving Communion, that ‘Amen’ is a statement of belief and commitment. So you’re saying, amen, I believe this is the body of Christ; amen, I believe this is the blood of Christ and it continues beyond belief to act accordingly,” Father Higginbotham said. “That commitment has to do with acting as Jesus is present with us … ‘Amen’ lets us know this person is ready to receive communion and knows what they’re doing.”

He said all Catholics should do “a serious examination of their conscience” to understand if they’re in communion with God and their brothers and sisters in faith before receiving.

“If they’re not, they need to come and fix that before they receive Jesus,” he said.

Catholics will be filling the pews throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons, occasionally with relatives who may be attending Mass for the first time. How often do cradle Catholics think about why they are making the sign of the cross with holy water, walking into the sanctuary? Or how much do they prepare and explain to their non-Catholic relatives about the rich traditions of a Catholic Mass?

This short Mass etiquette guide is here to help.

The Catholic Mass includes the introductory and concluding rites; the liturgy of the Word, with Scripture readings, a homily and general intercessions; and liturgy of the Eucharist, presentation and consecration of the bread and wine with communion.

Father Juan Guido, pastor of Christ the King Church in Fort Smith, said Mass etiquette shows reverence to the Eucharist.

“There’s etiquette in any dinner. When you go to Mass it’s going to the heavenly table. We should have that profound respect for what we celebrate,” he said.

Holy water and sign of the cross

Do: Cross yourself with holy water when you enter a church.

Upon entering and leaving the church sanctuary, the faithful will dip their fingers in one of the holy water fonts and make the sign of the cross, hearkening to their baptism, which is the gateway to other sacraments, and acknowledging that the sanctuary is a sacred, consecrated place, Father Guido said.

The sign of the cross is an acknowledgement of our belief in the Trinity and Jesus’ redemption through the cross — in the name of the Father (forehead), and of the Son (chest) and of the Holy Spirit (left and then right shoulders), according to the book, “Why Do Catholics: A Guide to Catholic Belief and Practice.”

*Tip for non-Catholics: Because the Catholic Church recognizes other baptized Christians, they can also bless themselves with holy water, Father Guido said.

Genuflect when entering or leaving pew

Do: Genuflect on right knee or bow toward tabernacle

Before entering or leaving a pew, Catholics will genuflect, briefly bending on the right knee and bowing while making the sign of the cross. Genuflecting is an act of worship. This one-knee genuflection, toward the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle, or the altar, has been instructed since 1973. Formerly, bowing on both knees was done, according to “The Catholic Source Book.” If genuflecting is not physically possible, bowing is an acceptable posture.

Silence before Mass

Don’t: Talk loudly before Mass
Before Mass begins, congregants should be in silent prayer. In 2017, Pope Francis said because Mass is the highest form of prayer where people prepare to meet Jesus in the Eucharist, people should not “chitchat.”

“Silence is so important. … Silence prepares us and accompanies us,” Pope Francis said, according to a Nov. 15, 2017, Catholic News Service article. “Please, Mass is not a show. It is going to encounter the Passion, the resurrection of the Lord.”

Standing/Sitting/Kneeling during Mass

Do: Kneel during the consecration, if possible

Throughout the Mass, there will be moments of standing, sitting and kneeling. For example, during the Gospel reading, Catholics will stand and before it is read, they will trace a small cross on their forehead, lips and heart using their thumb and forefinger to invite “the Lord to sanctify their thoughts, their speech and their way of life through his holy Word,” according to Catholic.org.

“Kneeling is one of the most profound ways we do worship,” Father Guido said, adding that standing is a sign of respect, kneeling is penance and sitting can be a sign of active listening during the Mass. However, it’s not a requirement, reminding Catholics to “never impose, always invite” their non-Catholic guests.

“It’s a sense of reverence for the Eucharist … Kneeling to the King of Kings. It’s just a profound adoration,” he said.

*Tip for non-Catholics: Particularly during the consecration when the priest blesses the bread and wine, it is recommended to kneel, or to sit if disabled.

Offertory

Do: Donate even if you don’t have an envelope

A collection basket is passed by ushers for members to donate with envelopes given by the parish. Donations are typically given to the general parish fund, though a second collection toward a specific cause can also be made. Guests can also choose to donate without an envelope.

Praying the Our Father

Do: Make a gesture of prayer

During the Lord’s Prayer, or Our Father, the faithful may hold hands with fellow congregants, fold their hands or hold their hands with palms raised, following guidelines from their pastor. At the conclusion of the prayer, the priest raises his hands and the laity typically follow, though there’s not a definitive directive to do so, Father Guido said. While there is nothing in Church rubrics that forbid or allow handholding, Father Erik Pohlmeier, diocesan director of faith formation, said it is at the discretion of the bishop, who can direct the pastors to make the final decision.

Sign of Peace

Don’t: Cross the aisle to shake hands or chat

Congregants give the sign of peace to those around them, reminding everyone “they are a community of believers joined in prayer and love” and also as a sign of reconciliation, the ‘Why Do Catholics’ book stated. Faithful can give a handshake, a hug or another greeting while saying a form of “peace be with you.” If a person is ill, they are not obligated to give a handshake during the sign of peace.

In 2014, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments affirmed to Latin-rite bishops that the sign of peace, which was being debated on where it was placed in a Mass, would stay where it is and only be omitted if it is “foreseen that it will not take place properly,” according to a 2014 Catholic News Service article. Some of the abuses noted in the congregation’s letter on the topic included walking around giving the sign of peace and also using it as a time for congratulations, condolences or holiday greetings at weddings, funerals or Christmas Masses.

“The sign of peace should be always those around you, the approximate circle around you. If you have to walk and go and give peace to somebody on the other side of church, it should not be disturbing the Mass,” Father Guido said.

The congregation’s letter stated, reported by CNS, “Christ is our peace, the divine peace, announced by the prophets and by the angels, and which he brought to the world by means of his paschal mystery. This peace of the risen Lord is invoked, preached and spread in the celebration (of Mass), even by means of a human gesture lifted up to the realm of the sacred.”

Communion or a blessing

Do: Say ‘Amen’ after receiving Eucharist

When they approach the clergy or extraordinary minister of holy Communion, Catholics bow and then receive the Eucharist on the tongue or on their left palm, saying “Amen” after the words “The body of Christ” are spoken. For non-Catholics or Catholics who cannot receive the Eucharist for various reasons, including an irregular marriage or being in the state of mortal sin, clergy or extraordinary minister can make the sign of the cross on their forehead and bless them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, Father Guido said.

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor said, “This blessing on the forehead by lay ministers of Communion is modeled on the action of the godparents in the liturgy of baptism where they claim the baby for Christ.” Therefore, it is appropriate for lay ministers to trace the cross on the person’s forehead with their thumb, he said.

After Communion or a blessing, the faithful should return to their pews for prayer.

*Tip for non-Catholics: Because of a difference of belief regarding the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and not joining the Catholic Church, non-Catholics cannot receive Communion, but they can receive a blessing by approaching with their arms crossed over their chest.

Dismissal

Do: Wait until after the last song to leave church

In the concluding rites of the Mass, the priest gives a final blessing to the faithful and gives the dismissal rite, which is a direct mission, “Go forth, the Mass is ended,” or in the Latin tradition, “Ite, missa est.” A final song is sung as the priest processes from the sanctuary.

The priest is telling the faithful in the dismissal to “go and proclaim what you hear and see in the Eucharist,” Father Guido said. Leaving early misses the holy mission given to Catholics.