Mind sometimes wanders during Mass

[guanophore]

Sometimes when I’m at Mass, my mind begins to wander. It can happen if I see someone I know across the room (the pews in my church are arranged in three wings around the altar, forming a T shape). I have Attention Deficit Disorder, and it annoys me to no end. I feel bad when I realize I’m not paying attention, but I can’t always help it. Any thoughts?

Yes, many of us have this trouble. First of all, don’t get annoyed! If you have this condition, then it is God’s plan to use it for your holiness. Change your attitude. When your mind wanders, give thanks to God for the mind He gave you, and submit your whole self to Him, body, soul, and spirit. Make every wander an opportunity to give Him thanks and praise for the gift of your life, and the distractions you suffer as reminders to praise and thank Him.

Give up feeling bad about wandering. None of us can help that. We are all saved by grace, through faith, not of our own works, lest we should boast. Remind yourself that you are His peice of clay, and He the potter. Simply observe (non-judgementally) that your mind has wandered, and as some of the posters have suggested, refocus. How you do that depends upon which part of the Mass you are in at the time. Focus on whatever is happening. If it is the collection and presentation of the gifts, take the missal out and pray some of the prayers on the back, or bring your own prayer book for this purpose.

This is a whole hour where you can devote yourself entirely to disciplining your mind toward God. I also recommend that you attend Mass often and/or adoration of the blessed sacrament. You will find the same manifestation with adoration, though since it is usually quiet, you will have more trouble calling your thoughts back. If you have to do it every minute, then that is so many more minutes of discipline and training.

Think about it- if you are working out, you don’t get upset if your muscles fatigue. You just let them rest, and do another set. It is not different with training the mind.

1Tim.4
[8] for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

2Cor.10
[5] We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

It would be necessary to take our thoughts captive to Christ if they were obedient, would it.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Well, I don’t have ADD myself, but I also get distracted during Mass. A suggestion I have is why not close your eyes until the consecration? Then you can reflect inwardly on the Mass. I know the rubric well enough myself that I don’t need to see anyone to know where we are (I’m sure this is the case for everyone.)

Just close your eyes and listen until the consecration.

When one sense is blocked off, the others become stronger.

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Saint Therese of Lisieux, pray for all of us who get distracted during Mass.

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Peace,
Domnall

The issue with ADD is that there needs to be something that you can focus on long enough. I used to bow my head down during consecration but I tell you more often than not my mind would wander. Recently I have made an effort to look at the priest and focus on him solely. Its been much better.

External stimulus isn’t always a culprit. One’s mind can wander off even without any distractions.

I don’t really know, I’m not an expert. I just can relate with my own experience. One thing that helps me concentrate is emotions, if my emotions are involved in something it helps my mind focus on it rather than wander off.

 

[georgewithfaith]

I attend Latin Mass and if you have the chance to attend you will find a focus on the tabernacle that you have not known in a Novus Ordo Mass in my opinion. The difference is great. In the Latin Mass there is great reverence and focus on the Holy of Holies. We focus on the tabernacle. We focus on the real presence of Jesus Christ. With the Rosary and prayers after Mass it takes about an hour and 30 minutes but always seems like less time. At this Mass I pray and I sense a peacefulness.