MERGED: Concentrating/Distractions at Mass

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divinefaith said:
What are EF low masses?
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It’s the Holy Sacrifice celebrated according to the rubrics of 1962 (the “traditional Latin Mass”). Low Mass is Mass celebrated without all the “smells and bells”, chanting, etc. The Ordinary is spoken (and the Canon is silent regardless of whether it’s Low or High Mass).

It encourages a very “meditative” atmosphere.
 
Get there early, and sit up front, and look toward the altar. If you have a missal, read through the readings and think about them before Mass. This works for both ordinary form and extraordinary form Masses. The human eye is drawn to movement: People moving around is frequently the most intrusive visual distraction. If you limit your visual field by not being able to see the entire church, like you can when sitting in the back, you’re not going to see a lot of the visual distractions.
 
I admit I’ve had issues concentrating and paying attention too. I get to Mass at least 10 minutes early and read/pray from my missal. As a woman, I’ve noticed since I choose to cover my head, I seldom turn around or look around at others before and during Mass too.
 
Part of it depends on what you’re having troubles at mass.

Are you distracted by things that are going on at Mass?

Are you thinking about what you are going to do after Mass?

Are random thoughts just popping in your head?

The answer to this may help. As was mentioned, it’s going to happen and it’s okay. I try to do a little better every time I go, trying my best and knowing that I’ll never get it “perfect” in terms of a distraction-free, fully-focused attendance of Mass.

God bless,
Bryan
 
Thanks for the replies. I’ll give a general answer to all of you…
Firstly I’m happy at my Parish which is in the new form. The EF mass sounds interesting but it might be something I could take part in from time to time, but not at the moment. thanks for those who suggested it.
As for focusing on prayer prior to Mass begins and sitting closer to the altar, these are good ideas. I might get myself praying before Mass begins and sitting closer to th front could motivate me to concentrate more 🙂

the sorts of thoughts I get? Pretty random and not exactly about what I need to do after Mass. My mind just gets wondering and doesn’t seem too interested 😦
 
odile53 said:
Get there early, and sit up front, and look toward the altar. If you have a missal, read through the readings and think about them before Mass. This works for both ordinary form and extraordinary form Masses. The human eye is drawn to movement: People moving around is frequently the most intrusive visual distraction. If you limit your visual field by not being able to see the entire church, like you can when sitting in the back, you’re not going to see a lot of the visual distractions.
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👍 Best advice I’ve seen. The worst place for distractions is the Main Entrance of the Church or sitting near the crying Room. And with the onset of the Greeting Ministry seen in many parishes the entrance of the Church has turned into a gossip zone as seen echoed in many Protestant churches.
 
Ask if you can serve on the altar or sing in the choir? That way you be busy and involved.

You’ll be kept very busy learning what to do at first then as you relax you will know every one can see if you are obviously not focused.

Am not going to say what a priest said to me because you will all point that am Anglican and its different. But I bet its not because all priests are as human as we are.😃
 
I have trouble concentrating anywhere including Mass. Here is what helps me: I sit up front in the first few rows if I can. This helps more than anything. I try to arrive 5 to 10 minutes early to calm down and focus on the things of God. I constantly refocus my attention.

I still notice that my mind is wandering and thinking about the wrong things.🤷 But that is life and it happens in my daily life too.
 
Sure, keep trying and ask for some help from Jesus, your guardian angel, patron saints, etc, to do so. Also, you might examine the nature of your distraction. Are you thinking through or mulling over some day to day stresses that might be getting in your way? Sometimes the quiet of the Mass (quiet in a spiritual sense, not necessarily lack of sound) allows these things to surface. Perhaps you are being led in some way. Try to bring yourself back to what is happening on the altar - God Bless
 
Deo_Gratias42 said:
This only works if there are no screaming/crying children present. I have yet to experience one.
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A person at my parish says they are “Praising God” in their own way. Helps to think of it that way. Another way to to consider the effort it take for young parent to “wrangle” their children to and through Mass. That takes commitment! and sacrifice.
 
Ohana said:
A person at my parish says they are “Praising God” in their own way. Helps to think of it that way. Another way to to consider the effort it take for young parent to “wrangle” their children to and through Mass. That takes commitment! and sacrifice.
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My confessor has said that too, but then he’s also addressed the issue from the pulpit as well for what parents with loud children should do, along with gossiping old women who think they’re whispering. 😃
 
Is rude to speak to someone about being distracting at mass? There are two women who insist on gossiping the entire mass. Today it made me really mad when they were gossiping while communion was being prepared.

On top of that, one of the women is always late and has to announce her presence with loudness as she arrives.

There is also a couple who is late weekly. the husband likes to get up and down through out mass and always has to ask people to stand for him to get by. Literally 2-3 times a mass.

I very much want these people to be at mass, but would like them to not be so rude or distracting.

Is it out of line for me to say something to them myself?
 
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