Looking Down While Praying?

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I have noticed lots of people at Mass look down while praying. When I pray at Mass, I look straight ahead. Should I look down too, or is it just personal preference?
 
Melodeonist said:
I have noticed lots of people at Mass look down while praying. When I pray at Mass, I look straight ahead. Should I look down too, or is it just personal preference?
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The reason for looking down is to keep oneself recollected with as few distractions as possible in order to be aware of what is really taking place. It is the quieting of the eyes. Just as it is easier to pray when we seek out a quiet place, our eyes too need to be quiet as well.

However there are parts of the Mass when it is better to look up and see what is taking place on the altar, especially so at the consecration and elevation of the Sacred Host.

But there is no set rule for this, it is up to the personal taste of the individual.
 
There’s no rule. When I pray at Mass, I tend to look up at the ceiling. Sometimes I wish it was decorated like the older churches so I could have something to focus on, but there’s nothing but lights so mainly I imagine the Lord walking among the seven golden candlesticks.

I also pay attention to the altar at particular times, the most important being the Consecration and Elevation.

🙂
 
Melodeonist said:
I have noticed lots of people at Mass look down while praying. When I pray at Mass, I look straight ahead. Should I look down too, or is it just personal preference?
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It is a personal preference. Look to where your focus on God is least distracted. I sometimes close my eyes.
 
amsjj said:
There’s no rule. When I pray at Mass, I tend to look up at the ceiling. Sometimes I wish it was decorated like the older churches so I could have something to focus on, but there’s nothing but lights so mainly I imagine the Lord walking among the seven golden candlesticks.

I also pay attention to the altar at particular times, the most important being the Consecration and Elevation.

🙂
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My pet peeve is… people picking the Consecration to go the bathroom or going for a drink of water.

They won’t even stop walking when the Host or chalice is being elevated. With the slowest priest, the Consecration takes no more than 1 1/2 to 2minutes. It has to be a dire emergency to let that ruin your day. :rolleyes:
 
truetofaith said:
My pet peeve is… people picking the Consecration to go the bathroom or going for a drink of water.

They won’t even stop walking when the Host or chalice is being elevated. With the slowest priest, the Consecration takes no more than 1 1/2 to 2minutes. It has to be a dire emergency to let that ruin your day. :rolleyes:
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Sorry,where are the bathrooms or fountains in a church?
 
amsjj said:
When I pray at Mass, I tend to look up at the ceiling. Sometimes I wish it was decorated like the older churches so I could have something to focus on, but there’s nothing but lights so mainly I imagine the Lord walking among the seven golden candlesticks.
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In our church there’s a window above the crucifix. So when I’m not looking at the altar, the missal, or the crucifix, I can look at the sky. I know someone who sits on the other side of the church because she gets a view of the mountain from the same window. 🙂
 
Agree with the others, it is personal choice (except when you hear the words “bow down” before receiving a blessing). I tend to look down and follow the prayers in my missal because I am too easily distracted.

It is the same with the homily, I am one of the few who looks the priest in the face, others look ahead and some look down. We are a funny lot sometimes. 🤷
 
It is also an act of humility.

“And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes towards heaven; but struck his breast, saying: O God, be merciful to me a sinner.”
–words our Lord, Lk 18:13
 
Avila123 said:
Agree with the others, it is personal choice (except when you hear the words “bow down” before receiving a blessing). I tend to look down and follow the prayers in my missal because I am too easily distracted.

It is the same with the homily, I am one of the few who looks the priest in the face, others look ahead and some look down. We are a funny lot sometimes. 🤷
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I’m sure my pastor thinks I sleep through all his homilies but I listen with my eyes closed. I do the same with music and lectures.
 
Keep in mind that God dwells within, and we don’t have to stare out into the cosmos when we pray to him.

Interior prayer is focusing on God who dwells within us.

Hence, bowing the head is also turning to God within.

Jim
 
If you have ever had an eeg,the technician tells you at certain points to open eyes and close eyes.The clatter at the point of opening eyes is deafening.Closing down is closing eyes
 
I know for me I do it as a result of my Protestant upbringing where bowing your head during prayer is common. There is no requirement to one way or the other. To me it is an act of humility that I have always retained.
 
There’s no rule. I look down and keep my eyes shut while praying before Mass, and acknowledge the changing of the bread into the Body, the wine into the Blood, by looking down. Other than that, for the “Apostle’s Creed” and “Our Father” I look straight ahead at the altar. No way is right, no way is wrong. Actually, all ways are right:)🙂
 
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