Mind on What Matters

[LovingMass]

Is it just me, or does anyone else struggle to stay totally focused on God during Mass? Mass is such an exceptional experience that I hate the moments wasted on selfish thoughts. What’s it like for the rest of you? Do you struggle? Have you developed a way that works for you? Or maybe your spirit just naturally finds a holy manner in which to exist?
Oh sainthood…how you elude me…

:hammering:

NOTE: This thread had to be deleted and resubmitted due to an error on my part. One person had written a very thoughtful response. I hope you re-post. Thank you.

 

[MissRose73]

I know I have struggled with that but I find that when I am dressed appropriately & covering my head with my mantilla veil, I am less likely to turn around, talk to others etc before and during Mass.

 

[LovingMass]

I know I have struggled with that but I find that when I am dressed appropriately & covering my head with my mantilla veil, I am less likely to turn around, talk to others etc before and during Mass.

Thank you, Miss Rose. My problem isn’t with what other people are doing, but with what is going on in my own head. I have considered wearing a mantilla veil, but one of my sins is related to seeking attention, and at my church, that would certainly garner some extra attention!

 

[xChrisx]

Usually I focus on God and what I have to do in life. I feel 10x better when I walk away then when I go in there. Maybe your just going through a time in your life that theres just a lot on your mind. Nothing wrong with that in my books.

God bless you.

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

Is it just me, or does anyone else struggle to stay totally focused on God during Mass? Mass is such an exceptional experience that I hate the moments wasted on selfish thoughts. What’s it like for the rest of you? Do you struggle? Have you developed a way that works for you? Or maybe your spirit just naturally finds a holy manner in which to exist?
Oh sainthood…how you elude me…

:hammering:

NOTE: This thread had to be deleted and resubmitted due to an error on my part. One person had written a very thoughtful response. I hope you re-post. Thank you.

Forget about it. Do you want to be centered on what?
You are not an angel, you are human. You are centered on what you are centered. Period.
The more you fight your thoughts, the worse it is.
Mas is what it is called “ex opere operato”, it means, like communion, you do not need to do anything to reach the goal. It produces effect by its own presence.
Others, are not like that: to merit for giving money to the poor, you must give money to the poor, ot otherwise visit sick or solitary people. But with communion, the simple fact that you take communion is enough for Jesus Christ feed you with His Flesh and Blood.

Now, it does not mean that you would be disrespectuful that it actuates the same way. Abut you are not disrespectful. simply you want to reach a point of concentration that is hard for human beings. For angels it is easy.

I would suggest that you be with Christ, sitting at His side and sharing your crazy thoughts with Him. Tell Him your dark secrets, your crazy thoughts, your worries an anxieties and good points.

One, day, when you will be in Heaven, you will be an angels and then it will be 24/7 concentration with Him.

Till then, respect your body, which is already doing its best to be rational and to be an image of God.

 

[Allegra]

When I’m finding my mind distracted during Mass, it usually some sort of problem or issue that is worrying me. I try to offer that Mass for that intention and that makes it easier to get back on track. You probably shouldn’t get too upset or feel guilty over it. Everyone’s mind wanders from time to time.

 

[xChrisx]

Forget about it. Do you want to be centered on what?
You are not an angel, you are human. You are centered on what you are centered. Period.
The more you fight your thoughts, the worse it is.
Mas is what it is called “ex opere operato”, it means, like communion, you do not need to do anything to reach the goal. It produces effect by its own presence.
Others, are not like that: to merit for giving money to the poor, you must give money to the poor, ot otherwise visit sick or solitary people. But with communion, the simple fact that you take communion is enough for Jesus Christ feed you with His Flesh and Blood.

Now, it does not mean that you would be disrespectuful that it actuates the same way. Abut you are not disrespectful. simply you want to reach a point of concentration that is hard for human beings. For angels it is easy.

I would suggest that you be with Christ, sitting at His side and sharing your crazy thoughts with Him. Tell Him your dark secrets, your crazy thoughts, your worries an anxieties and good points.

One, day, when you will be in Heaven, you will be an angels and then it will be 24/7 concentration with Him.

Till then, respect your body, which is already doing its best to be rational and to be an image of God.

Amen!!

 

[Waiting]

Forget about it. Do you want to be centered on what?
You are not an angel, you are human. You are centered on what you are centered. Period.
The more you fight your thoughts, the worse it is.
Mas is what it is called “ex opere operato”, it means, like communion, you do not need to do anything to reach the goal. It produces effect by its own presence.
Others, are not like that: to merit for giving money to the poor, you must give money to the poor, ot otherwise visit sick or solitary people. But with communion, the simple fact that you take communion is enough for Jesus Christ feed you with His Flesh and Blood.

Now, it does not mean that you would be disrespectuful that it actuates the same way. Abut you are not disrespectful. simply you want to reach a point of concentration that is hard for human beings. For angels it is easy.

I would suggest that you be with Christ, sitting at His side and sharing your crazy thoughts with Him. Tell Him your dark secrets, your crazy thoughts, your worries an anxieties and good points.

One, day, when you will be in Heaven, you will be an angels and then it will be 24/7 concentration with Him.

Till then, respect your body, which is already doing its best to be rational and to be an image of God.

Some good thoughts here, but, of course we will never be angels in heaven. We will be with the angels, but as humans, for that is what God made us. Even the most devout find their minds wandering from time to time. Ask your Guardian Angel before Mass to help you stay alert. He will.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Yes, my mind wanders often. I take comfort that many saints also spoke of this, and I try to apply the advice they give.

First, I find that if I am recollected before Mass and not running in at the last minute I do much better. Then, at each moment that I realize my mind is wandering, I refocus and try to follow along with the prayers of the priest. It doesn’t help me to try and scold myself, that only makes it worse!

I also don’t cover my head, but I do try to keep my eyes on the tabernacle, altar, or closed. Then I’m not distracted by anyone around me, which can set off my thoughts. The best help though is giving myself the time to get in a prayerful spirit before Mass begins.

 

[Dorothy]

When you become aware of your mind wandering at Mass, just gently bring yourself back to focusing on the Mass. This may happen several times, and it becomes an exercise of your desire to be focused on the Mass, which is a good thing!

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

Is it just me, or does anyone else struggle to stay totally focused on God during Mass? Mass is such an exceptional experience that I hate the moments wasted on selfish thoughts. What’s it like for the rest of you? Do you struggle? Have you developed a way that works for you? Or maybe your spirit just naturally finds a holy manner in which to exist?
Oh sainthood…how you elude me…

:hammering:

NOTE: This thread had to be deleted and resubmitted due to an error on my part. One person had written a very thoughtful response. I hope you re-post. Thank you.

I forgot to say this.
tis type of Mass in Africa makes no sense. The silence for them means disrespect. they sing and dance and shout and pray and dialogue with the Priest. It is a feast.
Easier? The masses in a country where a friend of mine is lasts from 3/5 hors…

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

Some good thoughts here, but, of course we will never be angels in heaven. We will be with the angels, but as humans, for that is what God made us. Even the most devout find their minds wandering from time to time. Ask your Guardian Angel before Mass to help you stay alert. He will.

Look. You made a good point.
Look. It is our spirit whish goes to heaven.
Now: isnt our Spirit Equal to the Angels?
Afther the Ressurrection of the Dead, we will be in Body and Sou, but, meanwhile, we are just Spirits.
Like Jesus said, we will not marry but we will be like angels in Heaven.
What do you think?

 

[Waiting]

Look. You made a good point.
Look. It is our spirit whish goes to heaven.
Now: isnt our Spirit Equal to the Angels?
Afther the Ressurrection of the Dead, we will be in Body and Sou, but, meanwhile, we are just Spirits.
Like Jesus said, we will not marry but we will be like angels in Heaven.
What do you think?

When Jesus said that we would be like the angels in heaven, he meant that we wouldn’t marry. That won’t change even when when our bodies and souls are united again at the end of the world. We are a little less than the angels now, but in heaven we will be the adopted children of God. I don’t like to think of who will have the greater worth. I’ll just be happy to get there and share eternal happiness with the other adorers, angels and human.

 

[Credo_in_Deum]

Is it just me, or does anyone else struggle to stay totally focused on God during Mass? Mass is such an exceptional experience that I hate the moments wasted on selfish thoughts. What’s it like for the rest of you? Do you struggle? Have you developed a way that works for you? Or maybe your spirit just naturally finds a holy manner in which to exist?
Oh sainthood…how you elude me…

:hammering:

NOTE: This thread had to be deleted and resubmitted due to an error on my part. One person had written a very thoughtful response. I hope you re-post. Thank you.

There are days when I have to fight distractions from every angle including my own thoughts but his type of fight is good because it allows me to show God how much I truly love Him by my perseverance!

When at Mass sometimes God wants me to express my love for Him by contemplating the great mystery of Love which is happening in front of me on the altar, while at other times He wants me to express my love by trying my best to persevere through all of the distractions that come my way.

When I’m on my way to Mass I remind myself that I’m going to Calvary and that I’m actually going to be in front of the same Jesus on the cross. You see Christ’s sacrifice is timeless and so when we go to Mass we travel to a point where time stood still! Everything that happened at Calvary is happening in front of you but in a different mode. I’m not saying Christ dies again but rather you are transported to the place where time stood still and you witness what Mary, John, and everyone else witnessed! Becuase of Mass every Catholic can point to the Passion and Crucifixion in their Bible and say “I was there with Him”!

 

[TrueLight]

I do not tend to get distracted at a missa cantata or high mass, but sometimes I get distracted at a low mass.

Since I have been learning about the Jesus prayer, what I do is just start saying silently, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.”

I find that just saying that prayer sharpens my focus considerably as I am remember that “…while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

 

[Melchior_1]

I have ADHD, and yet to begin treatment. So yes, I have a hard to staying focused. Not just Mass, but everything in life.

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

When Jesus said that we would be like the angels in heaven, he meant that we wouldn’t marry. That won’t change even when when our bodies and souls are united again at the end of the world. We are a little less than the angels now, but in heaven we will be the adopted children of God. I don’t like to think of who will have the greater worth. I’ll just be happy to get there and share eternal happiness with the other adorers, angels and human.

I am happy if I get the last place in Heaven.
But I would like to be like the Angels. Why not?
Look, The Son of God did not choose and angels to (not incarnate) in-soul, but He chose a Man. He loved us.