Is it acceptable to go to daily mass but not really pay attention

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Roses192837

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I’ve been struggling a lot religiously. I’ve actually been struggling for a long time but just a few weeks ago it got to the point where I’ve given up and more or less shoved God out of my life. I think it would do me a lot of good to start going to daily mass, just to be there. When I go to mass on Sunday I always have to force myself to pay attention and I usually fail, it’s very difficult to keep my mind from wandering - I was thinking about going and not worrying about staying focused but just to be there with God, you know? Like, stand and kneel and respond at the appropriate times, but not necessarily follow along in my head - just sit in the back and try to pray and meditate and do something to focus on God, because right now I’m doing nothing, absolutely nothing. I don’t know if it’s ‘appropriate’ since the mass is the highest form of worship and everything, but I think it would be helpful.
 
Roses192837 said:
I’ve been struggling a lot religiously. I’ve actually been struggling for a long time but just a few weeks ago it got to the point where I’ve given up and more or less shoved God out of my life. I think it would do me a lot of good to start going to daily mass, just to be there. When I go to mass on Sunday I always have to force myself to pay attention and I usually fail, it’s very difficult to keep my mind from wandering - I was thinking about going and not worrying about staying focused but just to be there with God, you know? Like, stand and kneel and respond at the appropriate times, but not necessarily follow along in my head - just sit in the back and try to pray and meditate and do something to focus on God, because right now I’m doing nothing, absolutely nothing. I don’t know if it’s ‘appropriate’ since the mass is the highest form of worship and everything, but I think it would be helpful.
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Buy a Missal - a daily one - and bring it with you each day. Follow along with the Mass, silently reading everything that is said. This will help to keep you focused. If you are totally not paying attention, why would you think it to be helpful? We all get distractions at Mass. It is much easier to pay attention when you are following along with a Missal.
 
You should study the form of Catholic meditation which will give you practice in quieting your mind. This will be beneficial to you in all areas of your life, but especially at Mass.
 
Getting to mass is really half the battle, isn’t it?

My mind wonders all the time. That’s one of the reasons why I’m disappointed with the 1970’s style architecture that a lot of our buildings have because there’s no real feast for the eyes or way to help me contemplate on the Lord, even if I’m only half listening. The crucifix helps, but I like the stained glass and the visuals. The aesthetics might not matter to some people, but it does to me. One church I go to has paintings of the 4 gospel writers behind the altar and it really helps me focus on why I’m at mass in the first place.

For me, it’s hard to go to Mass and pay attention because I’m usually trying to get my kid to stand up when he needs to stand and stop asking me when we are going to leave.

Everyone has struggles with this. When we stand for the gospel, I like to close my eyes and just let the words just wash over me and just soak into my soul. When we do the other readings, I try to pay attention in the missal, but it’s hit or miss whether the church has all the readings in the book. It’s a lot harder for me to pay attention if I don’t have the readings right in front of me.
 
When the readings (Epistle, Psalms, Gospel, etc.) are proclaimed from the pulpit, how can you not hear it and not pay attention.

If you don’t have a missal, at least listen to the lector & watch & listen when the priest consecrates the bread & wine!
 
truetofaith said:
When the readings (Epistle, Psalms, Gospel, etc.) are proclaimed from the pulpit, how can you not hear it and not pay attention.
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Very easily actually. Some of us have very short attention spans in the classrooms, at work, and at home. We’re human. Even the Apostles fell asleep per gospel.

Just sayin…
 
ProVobis said:
Very easily actually. Some of us have very short attention spans in the classrooms, at work, and at home. We’re human. Even the Apostles fell asleep per gospel.

Just sayin…
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You didn’t quote my last line…

"If you don’t have a missal, at least listen to the lector & watch & listen when the priest consecrates the bread & wine! "

P.S. I’m human, too…but I can stay alert for a couple of readings…maybe even a boring sermon! :eek: 😊
 
Roses192837 said:
I’ve been struggling a lot religiously. I’ve actually been struggling for a long time but just a few weeks ago it got to the point where I’ve given up and more or less shoved God out of my life. I think it would do me a lot of good to start going to daily mass, just to be there. When I go to mass on Sunday I always have to force myself to pay attention and I usually fail, it’s very difficult to keep my mind from wandering - I was thinking about going and not worrying about staying focused but just to be there with God, you know? Like, stand and kneel and respond at the appropriate times, but not necessarily follow along in my head - just sit in the back and try to pray and meditate and do something to focus on God, because right now I’m doing nothing, absolutely nothing. I don’t know if it’s ‘appropriate’ since the mass is the highest form of worship and everything, but I think it would be helpful.
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While certainly not the ideal, I think what you propose would be better than not going to daily Mass at all. If you can go, you should go, even if you do not think you will be able to pay attention. Go with the hope that will be able to pay attention, if not now then perhaps in time. This to me would demonstrate a willingness to improve your religious life. And the suggestions of others about following along in the missal or missalette is a good idea.

At my parish, there are old people who are more or less deaf and can no longer follow along with every part of the Mass, but they are still there every day, to their great benefit.
 
Roses192837 said:
I don’t know if it’s ‘appropriate’ since the mass is the highest form of worship and everything, but I think it would be helpful.
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Please, please, PLEASE do go! It is NEVER a waste of time.

Romans 10:17 “Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.”

Plan to go with the intention of being focused, but don’t be hard on yourself if your mind wanders. It’s all a part of “discipline,” I think - not in the sense of punishment, but like a musician or athlete.

Daily mass is shorter than weekend masses, so maybe you will be able to pay attention better.

You will be present at mass; you will take part in the Eucharist; and I am confident the LORD will honor your efforts to draw closer to Him.

Good luck, and be blessed!
 
Roses192837 said:
I’ve been struggling a lot religiously. I’ve actually been struggling for a long time but just a few weeks ago it got to the point where I’ve given up and more or less shoved God out of my life. I think it would do me a lot of good to start going to daily mass, just to be there. When I go to mass on Sunday I always have to force myself to pay attention and I usually fail, it’s very difficult to keep my mind from wandering - I was thinking about going and not worrying about staying focused but just to be there with God, you know? Like, stand and kneel and respond at the appropriate times, but not necessarily follow along in my head - just sit in the back and try to pray and meditate and do something to focus on God, because right now I’m doing nothing, absolutely nothing. I don’t know if it’s ‘appropriate’ since the mass is the highest form of worship and everything, but I think it would be helpful.
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I’m sure God will understand your struggle, it isn’t as if you are deliberately not paying attention. you’re making an effort, and by being there you are offering God your presence.
 
Attending daily Mass is a great idea, no matter what struggles you are having, for the Holy Spirit can speak to our souls even when our minds cannot grasp teachings.

Another wonderful opportunity, if your parish provides it, is adoration. Just go and sit in Jesus’ presence and talk to him. Don’t worry about the form of prayer you use–just talk to him present in the Eucharist. Tell him all your difficulties–one-to-one. Again, the Holy Spirit speaks to us when we quiet ourselves to listen. Listen with your soul not your mind. Let God give you whatever you need so you can have the peace you long for. :console: You have my prayers.
 
I don’t think Jesus would expect a homeless person to be turned away from attending Mass just to stay warm; a sincere believer struggling with their own imperfect nature even less so.
 
Joan_M said:
Buy a Missal - a daily one - and bring it with you each day. Follow along with the Mass, silently reading everything that is said. This will help to keep you focused. If you are totally not paying attention, why would you think it to be helpful? We all get distractions at Mass. It is much easier to pay attention when you are following along with a Missal.
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I second that, most definitely would recommend that you buy a Missal! I own a daily Missal and it helps me focus more on the Mass than not owning one. Failing that, pay close attention to the priest and the lector too! As someone who attends both daily and Sunday Mass, I strongly recommend both owning a Missal and not to give up in going!!
 
My own opinion (please, everyone else don’t jump on me–this is my opinion, it doesn’t have to be yours) is this:
  1. Go to Sunday Mass. I personally find the Latin Mass more involving. I’m not going into a dissertation on that. You might give it a shot. You would need a Latin-English missal–note how the prayers are arranged in a certain order, note the poetry and beauty of the Latin, etc.
  2. Daily Mass–I think you’d be better off taking a walk in a park or reading a book or playing tennis, or… Having said that, one of my high school friends (Catholic, now Methodist) once said, “I don’t get anything out of the Mass.” It always seemed to me he was flipping the question: it’s not supposed to be about what you get out of it, it’s about worshipping God. But it sounds to me like it’s driving you away, not bringing you closer. So don’t do it.
  3. I would suggest reading some books about religion (note: I did not say “religious books”.) For example, Newman’s “Apologia pro Vita Sua,” about his own issues–yes, it’s long, and sometimes not entirely gripping, but it does show a very smart guy thinking out loud about the same issues you are. There are also Harold Kushner’s (rabbi) books: “Who Needs God?” “Overcoming Life’s Disappointments” “Living a Life That Matters”–all of his books are more or less best sellers, written simply, short, and are common sense. Or try Garry Wills–“What the Gospels Meant” or others. Thomas Day–“Where Have You Gone Michelangelo” and “Why Catholics Can’t Sing” explain where the liturgy took a wrong turn–you might find something resonating there. Maybe not. But worth a look. Or maybe something more theological–“Principles for a Catholic Morality” by Timothy O’Connell, which is a thoughtful analysis of different “rules” of morality. Or more philosophical: CS Lewis or Victor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning.”
  4. The point is that you seem to have lost interest in religion, and religion is intrinsically an interesting subject. I think you need to step back and consider what might make it interesting–to you.
 
I would pray for the grace to be able to pay attention.

If I am having trouble paying attention, I will sometimes ask St. Padre Pio to give me a “slap” on the back of the head if I lose focus. I’ve never actually felt a smack, but I have felt something on occasion that I think was St. Pio helping me to pay attention.
 
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