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workinprogress8
Guest
I really try to focus on the mass, but somehow I always manage to drift off. I just don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Has anyone ever had this trouble? How did you overcome it?
Thanks.
Thanks.
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S
sipho
Guest
Yep, I do the same. I think it depends on my mental frame. If I had been reading my bible and praying during the week, I find that I connet to mass. If however I’ve been too busy and done very little preparations during the week, I do not connect very well. Its like a marathon, you have to exercise for the race.
Good luck and God bless
Good luck and God bless
S
space_ghost
Guest
work(name removed by moderator)rogress8:
Had this trouble??? boy, i’ll say, all my life… :yup:
T
T.A.Stobie_SFO
Guest
Preparation helps a lot.
Read “Getting the Most out of Mass”.
Next time you go to Mass, get there early, pray for a good fulfilling Mass, and then be an active participant, joining yourself totally in all parts of the Mass, following it up after Mass with praying a prayer of thanksgiving.
Read “Getting the Most out of Mass”.
Next time you go to Mass, get there early, pray for a good fulfilling Mass, and then be an active participant, joining yourself totally in all parts of the Mass, following it up after Mass with praying a prayer of thanksgiving.
D
darcee
Guest
I am lucky to be able to concentrate on the consecration let alone the whole mass between mild ADD and 5 kids … I am sure God understands…
-D
N
neum334
Guest
for me, imagining all the imagery the Mass represents helps. Like the Elevation of the Host and Chalice is not primarily to “show to the people,” but to symbolize the elevation of the Jesus on the cross at Calvary. And while saying the prayers, imagine all those around the world and those before you who have said those same prayers. I’m not sure if there is anything distracting you, but just keep your eyes fixed on the altar. And for me, it’s nice if the priest slows down at the important parts.
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deogratias
Guest
Perhaps it is the habit I picked up with the Mass before there were changes and that is of following it along in the Missal.
Even though it is in the vernacular, I find it helps to follow the readings, Eucharistic prayer, etc. along in my Missal. Sort of double participation I guess.
But even then, if something is troubling me, I can find myself “drifting”. There was a previous thread on sanctus bells - one good point in the defense of keeping them. If we are in “drift mode” when the consecration or other major parts of the Mass occur, they " say, hey there, pay attention this is really important."
I also concur with all T.A. Stobies suggestions, especially if this is a recurrent problem.
Even though it is in the vernacular, I find it helps to follow the readings, Eucharistic prayer, etc. along in my Missal. Sort of double participation I guess.
But even then, if something is troubling me, I can find myself “drifting”. There was a previous thread on sanctus bells - one good point in the defense of keeping them. If we are in “drift mode” when the consecration or other major parts of the Mass occur, they " say, hey there, pay attention this is really important."
I also concur with all T.A. Stobies suggestions, especially if this is a recurrent problem.
D
DrCat
Guest
space ghost:
Try focussing when it’s in your second language. If I’m wide awake and full of energy (which means seldom), I can focus easily enough. It also helps to 1) prepare during the week by reading the Bible, or at least the readings for that week, 2) get their early, and pray for the grace to remain focussed.
Just my inflated :twocents: :twocents:
John
Try focussing when it’s in your second language. If I’m wide awake and full of energy (which means seldom), I can focus easily enough. It also helps to 1) prepare during the week by reading the Bible, or at least the readings for that week, 2) get their early, and pray for the grace to remain focussed.Just my inflated :twocents: :twocents:
John
D
deogratias
Guest
What? They don’t provide English Masses for you in Puerto Rico. We provide Spanish Masses for all hispanics here - hummmmmmmmmmm
S
space_ghost
Guest
I am lucky to be able to concentrate on the consecration let alone the whole mass between mild ADD and 5 kids … I am sure God understands…
-D
[/quote]
Five Kids…:bigyikes:
You have earned your free pass to heaven…
-D
[/quote]
Five Kids…:bigyikes:
You have earned your free pass to heaven…
F
Fidelis
Guest
Like a previous poster, I’ve found that using a missalette helps a lot. I’ve heard the criticism that the missalette is in itself a distraction, but better that than staring around idly or thinking about something completely unrelated to the Mass.
T
thechrismyster
Guest
i find i stay focused if i simply listen to the words instead of just hearing them. but i wander, my mind wanders 99.999% of the day anyway, why should that 40 minutes differ? God takes a look at the blank, clueless look i have and i know i give him a good chuckle.
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DrCat
Guest
Yes, they offer English Masses - in San Juan (2 - 3 hours from here), in some of the other areas with large groups of English speaking Catholics (tourist or resident), but those are also a ways from here. Also remember that the Spanish language Mass is not offered everywhere in the States. Try finding one in a small town with relatively few or no Hispanics. Considering that there are somewhat more than 30,000 Catholics in my parish, and the English speakers number only 30 or 40 (maximum) and that most of us are bilingual to one extent or another, adding a twenty-first (yeah 21st) weekend Mass wouldn’t be worth it.What? They don’t provide English Masses for you in Puerto Rico. We provide Spanish Masses for all hispanics here - hummmmmmmmmmm
John
A
Ainchel
Guest
My thought is that preparation is (sometimes) the key.
Some things to try:
*Get to mass early (15 minutes or more) to either pray or just quiet your thoughts.
*If getting to mass early is not a possibility, perhaps try to spend some quiet time at home, either reading the readings for the day, sitting quietly with the Lord, giving prayerful thanksgiving, bringing your “troubles” before God so you can leave them with Him, or listening to music that “fills you up.”
*Turn the radio off on the way to church! Or even better, get a tape or CD of the rosary or other prayers and pray along with it.
*I heartily recommend obtaining a subscription to The Magnificat magazine and praying the morning, evening, and night time prayers on a daily basis. It also contains the readings for each day, and has all the words of the mass. Sometimes we need to readjust our physical focus for a time whenever we lose our spiritual focus.
*If you lose your focus because of your children, then just be reassured that God is more pleased that you are bringing up your children to honor Him by attending Mass than He is concerned that you may be “missing out” on parts of the mass. The day will come when you will be given the time to concentrate on what is happening at Mass, but that time is not now. “To everything, there is a season.”
*The time in my life when the words of the Mass struck me the most deeply was right after my father died. For a time after that occasion, I was given a special grace that helps me even today when I recall it. When the priest was saying the prayer of consecration, instead of seeing bread and wine, I “saw” Jesus’ body laying there on the altar. Try imagining the body of Jesus laying on the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist and especially during the prayer of consecration. It gives a whole lot more meaning to what is being said.
God loves us whether we are aware of His presence or not. The important thing is to never stop trying to know Him more and more each day. He blesses our efforts (even though grace is a gift and not earned), and I think He especially blesses us when it is hard to do. Just like Jacob, we should never give up, especially when we are wrestling with those struggles.
PS: Even though I gave it a quick mention, I wish to highly recommend the Rosary. Mary, as our Mother, is always ready, willing, and able to help us draw closer to her son. Let her be your spiritual mother, and you will find better guidance and advice than I or anyone else would be able to give. She loves to work in small steps, so her help is almost unnoticable until you look back at far how you have come. Peace!
Some things to try:
*Get to mass early (15 minutes or more) to either pray or just quiet your thoughts.
*If getting to mass early is not a possibility, perhaps try to spend some quiet time at home, either reading the readings for the day, sitting quietly with the Lord, giving prayerful thanksgiving, bringing your “troubles” before God so you can leave them with Him, or listening to music that “fills you up.”
*Turn the radio off on the way to church! Or even better, get a tape or CD of the rosary or other prayers and pray along with it.
*I heartily recommend obtaining a subscription to The Magnificat magazine and praying the morning, evening, and night time prayers on a daily basis. It also contains the readings for each day, and has all the words of the mass. Sometimes we need to readjust our physical focus for a time whenever we lose our spiritual focus.
*If you lose your focus because of your children, then just be reassured that God is more pleased that you are bringing up your children to honor Him by attending Mass than He is concerned that you may be “missing out” on parts of the mass. The day will come when you will be given the time to concentrate on what is happening at Mass, but that time is not now. “To everything, there is a season.”
*The time in my life when the words of the Mass struck me the most deeply was right after my father died. For a time after that occasion, I was given a special grace that helps me even today when I recall it. When the priest was saying the prayer of consecration, instead of seeing bread and wine, I “saw” Jesus’ body laying there on the altar. Try imagining the body of Jesus laying on the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist and especially during the prayer of consecration. It gives a whole lot more meaning to what is being said.
God loves us whether we are aware of His presence or not. The important thing is to never stop trying to know Him more and more each day. He blesses our efforts (even though grace is a gift and not earned), and I think He especially blesses us when it is hard to do. Just like Jacob, we should never give up, especially when we are wrestling with those struggles.
PS: Even though I gave it a quick mention, I wish to highly recommend the Rosary. Mary, as our Mother, is always ready, willing, and able to help us draw closer to her son. Let her be your spiritual mother, and you will find better guidance and advice than I or anyone else would be able to give. She loves to work in small steps, so her help is almost unnoticable until you look back at far how you have come. Peace!
E
EENS
Guest
work(name removed by moderator)rogress8:
It’s easier to pay attention when the Mass is directed toward God rather than the Priest as an entertainer. We get bored of TV and other entertainments quickly, but profound prayer is something we all embrace. I would suggest seeing if there is a Latin Mass near you. When the Priest isn’t facing you, it’s much more clear that Mass is for God and not the people.
D
deogratias
Guest
I have to agree with you on this one EENS - but it is difficult for some to understand that more "physical active participation " can be more distracting than the “internal active participation” that occurs with the TLM. I too find it much easier to focus on the TLM.
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