A Guide to attitudes, postures and gestures at Mass
  1. Over-all Attitude
    1. Enter the church with reverence and awe (remember where you are!)
    2. Appropriate attire (while we don’t have to "dress to the nines", we should look our best when we come into God’s presence)
    3. Come on time (i.e., a few minutes early!)
    4. Acts of devotion to help us prepare for Mass:
      1. Holy Water
      2. Genuflection to the Tabernacle before entering pew (turn toward the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and drop briefly to your right knee in an act of worship acknowledging Christ’s presence)
      3. Kneel for a few moments in prayer, thank God for the opportunity to worship Him, pray for yourself and those around you, form an intention (a special need for which to pray) for this Mass.
    5. What not to do:
      1. Rush in at the last minute or come late.
      2. Follow the celebrant down the center aisle (if you come late, please use one of the side aisles).
      3. Chit-chat with your neighbors (though a quiet and friendly greeting is never inappropriate!).
      4. Read your bulletin.
      5. Chew gum.
    6. During Mass:
      1. Maintain an attitude of reverence and prayer
      2. Participate with your whole being:
        1. Heart – lifted up to God in heaven
        2. Mind – focussed on the action of the Liturgy
        3. Voice – clearly speaking and singing the responses and hymns
        4. Body – fully engaged through posture and gesture with the heart and mind.
      3. Be considerate of those around you (turn off electronic devices, do not talk, take responsibility for your children, etc.) – it’s not just "me and Jesus". We are members of the Mystical Body of Christ engaged in a corporate act of worship.
    7. After Mass:
      1. Stay for all of Mass – including the final blessing, dismissal, and closing hymn. We don’t want to be like rude children who leave the table without being excused!
      2. Spend a few moments in prayer, thanking God for the tremendous gift he has just given you.
      3. Genuflect toward the tabernacle when leaving your pew.
      4. Be considerate of those who may wish to pray, and avoid prolonged and noisy conversations with others.
      5. But do greet your brothers and sisters in Christ (as well as the ministers) – let them know that you’re glad you were able to worship together with them!
  2. Postures at Mass
    1. Standing – expresses honor and respect; the posture of those who have been "raised up with Christ" and "seek the things that are above" (Col. 3:1).
      1. At the beginning and end of Mass – we stand to greet Christ present in his priest and in his people.
      2. At the Gospel – we stand to greet Christ present in his Word.
      3. At Communion – we stand to greet Christ present (most especially!) in his Eucharistic Body and Blood.
    2. Sitting – expresses attentiveness and meditation; the posture of a learner and one who contemplates.
      1. At the proclamation of the Scriptures and at the homily.
      2. After Communion (as we commune in our hearts with God).
    3. Kneeling – expresses sorrow for sin and adoration; the posture of a penitent and one who is profoundly in love.
      1. At certain times of the year, we kneel to ask forgiveness of sins.
      2. Many people receive the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation kneeling.
      3. During the Eucharistic Prayer and after the Lamb of God, we kneel to show our profound love and adoration of Jesus, really present on our altar.
    4. Bowing – expresses humility, thanksgiving and reverence; the posture of a subject before his king.
      1. At the Names of Jesus and Mary (and the saint of the day), we bow the head to give homage to our King and Queen and their royal court.
      2. At the words of the Creed: "By the power of the Holy Spirit, he was born of the Virgin Mary and became man", we bow from the waist in deference to the great humility of God in becoming man for our sake (few people do this, yet it is still a required gesture! On the feasts of the Incarnation – the Annunciation and Christmas – we make an even more profound sign by genuflecting at these words).
      3. As we say "Amen" before receiving Holy Communion, we bow the head as a sign of reverence to our Lord and Savior.
  3. Gestures at Mass
    1. The Sign of the Cross - at the beginning of Mass and at the Final Blessing
      1. made by touching the fingers of the right hand to the forehead, the chest, the left shoulder and the right shoulder.
      2. always accompanies the invocation of the Holy Trinity.
      3. sums up the entire Christian Faith and should always be done with reverence and devotion.
      4. Triple Sign of the Cross –
        1. Made when the priest (or deacon) announces the Gospel reading.
        2. With the right thumb, we trace three small Crosses on the forehead, the lips and the chest to signify that we receive the Holy Gospel into our minds, our conversation and our hearts.
    2. Striking the Breast – at the words, "through my fault" in the confession of sin
      1. Expresses contrition – sorrow for sin
      2. One of the most neglected gestures at Mass – yet it is still required for all!
    4. The Sign of Peace – after the Our Father and before receiving Holy Communion
      1. In our country: a handclasp and the prayerful greeting, "Peace be with you."
      2. Expresses our brotherly love and mutual forgiveness for one another.
      3. Should not be used as an occasion for "visiting".
      4. A ritual gesture, extended to those immediately around you, expressing a profound spiritual truth: We are one Body, bound together in the peace of Christ.
    5. What about the Lord’s Prayer?
      1. This is, first and foremost, an act of praise and supplication to our Heavenly Father – so our focus should be on God, not ourselves.
      2. Our voices, joined in prayer, express our unity of minds and hearts.
      3. Holding hands was never mandated by any authority in the Church (it seems to have originated at small-group Bible studies and retreats); it has no precedent in tradition as a liturgical gesture; it has never been established as a legitimate custom.
      4. But it is not forbidden – so, if it is a meaningful gesture for your family, by all means continue!
      5. Nevertheless, no one should feel compelled to hold hands! For many people, it is a distraction and a hindrance to prayer.
      6. So, if your neighbor does not wish to hold hands, do not force him and do not think ill of him (perhaps the best way to indicate that you do not want to hold hands is to fold your hands in the traditional manner: palm to palm, fingers pointing upward).
      7. The orans position (hands extended and raised up) is the posture of the priest at the Lord’s Prayer, but this has not been extended to the laity, or even to the deacon.
      8. At one time, the U.S. bishops suggested a modified orans position for the laity (hands extended, palms outward, fingers pointing downward), and this was published on their Web site. But it was never mandated, and references to it have been removed from their Web site.
      9. So it would seem, at the present time, that there is no specified posture or gesture to accompany the Lord’s Prayer; each is free to express his or her own piety; but do not impose your piety on others!
    6. How to receive Holy Communion:
      1. We begin our Communion rite by kneeling together in adoration, expressing our unworthiness: "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you…".
      2. The we rise and approach in reverent procession as a sign of our oneness in Faith.
      3. The minister of Holy Communion (priest, deacon or extraordinary minister) holds up the consecrated Host and proclaims, "The Body of Christ".
      4. We affirm our personal faith in this truth by responding, "Amen!" (not "I believe" or "so be it" or "thank you")
      5. As we say amen (or just before we reach the minister), we bow the head as a sign of reverence.
      6. There are two ways to receive Communion: on the tongue or in the hand:
        1. To receive on the tongue, one tilts the head back slightly, opens the mouth, and extends the tongue to the edge of the lower lip. This beautiful gesture expresses our complete and utter dependence upon God, and our childlike trust in him. For many centuries, it was the only way to receive Holy Communion, so no one should ever feel ashamed or embarrassed to receive our Lord in this way.
        2. To receive in the hand, two hands are required: one hand is placed under the other as a throne (if you are right-handed, place the right hand under the left; if you are left-handed, place the left hand under the right). Hold your hands high enough and close enough to the minister so that he or she does not have to bend over or reach way out. After the Host is placed on your palm, step to one side and stop, still facing forward; with the lower hand, pick up the host and place it in your mouth. Remember that every particle is Jesus Christ, our God! Do not let anything fall to the ground by carelessly brushing off your hands, but reverently consume every crumb in your palm or on your fingers.
      7. Receiving the Precious Blood of Christ
        1. Remember that the whole Christ – Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity – is contained under either form (bread or wine), so no one (except the priest) is required to receive both forms. But to receive under both kinds is a more complete sign of Christ’s Body and Blood. So, if you wish to receive from the chalice, do so as follows:
        2. As you approach, the minister will raise the chalice and proclaim, "The Blood of Christ." You respond, "Amen" with a bow of the head. Carefully take the chalice in both hands, and reverently consume a small sip of the Precious Blood. Gently hand the chalice back to the minister. Do not wipe your mouth until you are sure every drop of Christ’s Blood is consumed.
      8. Additional notes on Holy Communion
        1. If you do not have two hands free (because you are holding a child, a cane, or your hand is otherwise disabled), please do not attempt "one-handed" reception, either in the palm or grasping with the fingers – this is not permitted. Instead, if you can’t use two hands, receive on the tongue.
        2. It is also not permitted to give yourself Communion by intinction – i.e., carrying the Host to the chalice and dipping it in the Precious Blood. Remember, you do not have to receive from the chalice; so, if you are uncomfortable with drinking from a common cup, simply bypass the chalice.
        3. If you are not a member of the Roman Catholic Church, we cannot invite you to Holy Communion because it is a sign of our unity in faith. It would not be right to profess with our actions what is not, in reality, true. But you are invited to receive a special blessing, if you wish. To indicate this, cross your arms against your chest like so [demonstrate] as you approach the minister. A priest or deacon will give you a blessing, and a lay minister will say a little prayer asking for God’s blessing. Catholics who are not properly disposed to receive Holy Communion may also ask for a blessing in the same way. The official guidelines for receiving Holy Communion are printed in the Missalettes found in most Catholic churches (we have them in our Lady’s Chapel here).
        4. All these rules are found in official documents from the Vatican and from the Bishops of the United States. If we all faithfully follow them, they will help to bring order, unity and dignity to our worship.