Mass at Home
During this time of live stream Masses it can be more challenging to make holy the celebration of the Eucharist. There are several ways that you can make it more reverent while at home:
1) Participate in Mass when it is live rather than watching at another time. You may want to go back to hear a homily or listen to the readings proclaimed from a particular Mass, but participating live is a better way to connect with all of those who are participating in their homes at the same time.
2) Treat it as if you were going to the church for Mass. Dress a little differently, even if it is just you at home participating.
3) Set up your home chapel. Instead of sitting on the couch, if you are participating in Mass on the television, bring out your dining room chairs. Use pillows or a rolled up towel if you would like something to kneel on. If you have any blessed candles from church, or any candles, set them on either side of the television. Here is the Sexton Family's home chapel for when they are participating in the celebration of the Eucharist
1) Participate in Mass when it is live rather than watching at another time. You may want to go back to hear a homily or listen to the readings proclaimed from a particular Mass, but participating live is a better way to connect with all of those who are participating in their homes at the same time.
2) Treat it as if you were going to the church for Mass. Dress a little differently, even if it is just you at home participating.
3) Set up your home chapel. Instead of sitting on the couch, if you are participating in Mass on the television, bring out your dining room chairs. Use pillows or a rolled up towel if you would like something to kneel on. If you have any blessed candles from church, or any candles, set them on either side of the television. Here is the Sexton Family's home chapel for when they are participating in the celebration of the Eucharist
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4) Participate by standing, sitting & kneeling if you are able. These postures are important parts of our celebration of the Eucharist.
5) Sing along with the cantor and accompanist. The sheet music can be found here or on the Live Stream Mass page. It can be printed out before Mass or you can use a tablet to aid in singing along.
6) If you would like to give online, you might consider doing so at the time when the offertory happens and the altar is prepared. You can give online here.
6) Pray the Act of Spiritual Communion as the priest prays it out loud after he receives Communion. It can be found here or on the Live Stream Mass page of the website.
7) Try not to arrive late or leave just after Communion. It's not just an essential practice when you are actually at the church for Mass, but even while participating in the Live Stream Mass. We want to be there for the entirety of the celebration which begins with the first note of the opening song and ends with the last note of the final song. At the end of each Mass, we are commissioned to go forth and share the Good News. Even if we are only sharing that Good News in the confines of our home or neighborhood, that commission is still important.
8) Take a deep breath and know that God is present and giving us His grace even when we are not able to participate in person at the celebration of the Eucharist. God knows the difficulty of this time better than we can imagine. He does not leave us without sufficient grace even when it might come through Spiritual Communion rather than the physical reception of the Eucharist.
5) Sing along with the cantor and accompanist. The sheet music can be found here or on the Live Stream Mass page. It can be printed out before Mass or you can use a tablet to aid in singing along.
6) If you would like to give online, you might consider doing so at the time when the offertory happens and the altar is prepared. You can give online here.
6) Pray the Act of Spiritual Communion as the priest prays it out loud after he receives Communion. It can be found here or on the Live Stream Mass page of the website.
7) Try not to arrive late or leave just after Communion. It's not just an essential practice when you are actually at the church for Mass, but even while participating in the Live Stream Mass. We want to be there for the entirety of the celebration which begins with the first note of the opening song and ends with the last note of the final song. At the end of each Mass, we are commissioned to go forth and share the Good News. Even if we are only sharing that Good News in the confines of our home or neighborhood, that commission is still important.
8) Take a deep breath and know that God is present and giving us His grace even when we are not able to participate in person at the celebration of the Eucharist. God knows the difficulty of this time better than we can imagine. He does not leave us without sufficient grace even when it might come through Spiritual Communion rather than the physical reception of the Eucharist.