How to pray before and after Mass



Now that we are looking forward to being able to attend Mass together again, I wanted to mention a very helpful spiritual practice that I had planned to implement in the parishes long before Covid-19 hit.  But these new circumstances for Mass in this pandemic era make them especially fitting:  That's the practice of saying a prayer before Mass to help us to get in the right frame of mind for the holy sacrifice, and a prayer after Mass (traditionally called an Act of Thanksgiving) to thank God for the unsurpassable gift the Lord has just given us.

These are ancient practices for the Christian faithful (centuries old), but in very recent times, many people have fallen away from them and replaced them with socializing up the to the very minute Mass begins and then immediately again the minute Mass ends.  That makes it very hard for others to pray these prayers.  More importantly, in a way, it makes us forget why we are here:  Once inside the church, the Lord Jesus is always present in the tabernacle (even when Mass is not being celebrated) and He is always the "guest of honor" -- more important than our friends.

I am not against socializing at all.  (That's an important part of building up our Christian community).  The question is when and where we do it.  The Catholic custom has always been that, once we enter the doors into the nave (body of the church) then silence is observed for prayer.  Likewise, after Mass ends, we wait until we leave the nave before talking and socializing.

I'd like to start that beginning on May 25th when we resume public Masses again.  It may help if you print some of the prayers or bring a prayer book.  There are many different versions.  Some of them are attached to this blogpost (bookending this post and more below).  So you can pick one that you like.

I hope to have some on cards printed out so you can take them home with you as well.

During this period when we have to usher people in to Mass, while you are waiting for Mass to begin would be a great time to pray the prayers before Mass.  (You can of course also bring a Rosary as well).  After Mass, while waiting for your row to be dismissed, that's a great time to do the prayer of thanksgiving after Mass.

Just a note that this might be a little challenging at St. Peter's since there is no covered gathering space outside of the nave.  During social distancing time, we are asking that you socialize several feet apart in the parking lot anyway.  Eventually, depending on the PREP schedule, we might be opening Kennedy Hall for a socializing space, so that people can do both: pray quietly in the church before and after Mass and still socialize together.





An act of thanksgiving, from Catholic Online

Popular posts from this blog

Suspension of Masses until May

Image
It is with a heavy heart that I announce that the Ohio bishops have decided to continue to suspend the celebration of all public Masses at least through Sunday, May 3rd, inclusive. Here is their letter . We will continue to keep you updated on the best ways to adapt to this long-term absence of Eucharistic Communion.
Read more

Thanks for your generosity

Image
 UPDATED: 22 January  I'm a little belated in posting this, but just wanted to thank all of our parishioners who have been so generous with their time and financial resources to engage in the works of mercy -- such as feeding the hungry.  In partnership with St. Vincent de Paul and New Richmond Area Ministries (NRAM), we have been continuing our ongoing efforts to feed the hungry through our food pantries, stationary and mobile, on an ongoing basis.  Each year, we also try to remember our families in need for the year-end holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas. For instance, on the St. Mary side, last November 24th we provided 20 Thanksgiving dinner baskets to needy families in the Bethel area.   On December 22nd, we provided 20 Christmas Dinner baskets to needy families as well. On the St. Peter side, together with the NRAM, o n November 20th, 90 boxes of food for a Thanksgiving Dinner were assembled at St. Peter's and then passed out the next day to the needy ...
Read more

Ordinations to the priesthood this weekend

Image
  UPDATED: May 21st With great joy, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati ordained seven men to the priesthood today  at the Cathedral Basilica downtown.  .   Their biographical sketches are available from the Catholic Telegraph .  If you are curious what an ordination ceremony looks like, you can view it here on YouTube.  Their first assignments are also posted. Last month we also ordained  seven seminarians to the diaconate , including the South Clermont region's own Deacon Patrick Blenman.  Every seminarian is ordained a deacon about a year before he is ordained to the priesthood and at that time promises to lay down his life in celibacy to love the Church in a completely dedicated and undivided way, as well as promising to pray the Church's breviary prayer cycle every day of his life on behalf of the Church and her needs.  At the same time, 14 men were ordained to the permanent diaconate as well, to serve as deacons in the parishes to assi...
Read more