The Way to Mass is Thru Your Heart

 A Biblical Way of Praying the Mass by Father Tim Gallagher explains how to get more out of the Mass.  I was listening to the first part this morning.  Father Tim suggests we take a favorite saint and imagine how that saint prepared himself for Mass.

I imagined St. Dominic Guzman.  He would pray and study.  How would I approach the Mass this way?  It's a good idea to imagine St. Dominic because he wouldn't just "go" like some people do and then wonder what was going on. I once brought someone to Mass and sat them in front of the Tabernacle hoping Jesus would lead them.  The man took out paper and pen and started taking notes; he expected a long preaching service.  Another person, after attending a Catholic wedding said she was glad she wasn't Catholic because her knees hurt and just got comfortable sitting when she had to stand up again.

You can't just walk into Mass and love it.   St. Dominic would say "study" it.  There are many books written about the Mass: its connection to Jewish traditions, its Biblical origins, and its historical development from the Last Supper.  There are missals to follow the Mass in the pews.  There are even books for children.  You need to understand what you are looking at.

There is a part of the Mass that really needs weekly study, and that's the Liturgy of the Word.  You can prepare yourself to listen to the Readings before you attend Mass.  I myself belong to a weekly Scripture Sharing group that does just this.  It is a great help to appreciate the Liturgy of the Word.

But you want to love the Mass.  Understanding it is the first and most necessary step.  St. Dominic would also pray.  He would probably sing, "Come Holy Spirit".  He would pray to be worthy to receive the Eucharist, pray for focus, pray for appreciation, thanksgiving, and worthiness.  

All this is done before Mass.  The readings for sure are prepared.  The praying could start while we are dressing for Mass, or driving, and/or definitely kneeling in our pew prior to Mass.

It's the preparation that turns the heart towards the right disposition to focus on the Mass.