After our first few Sundays at home, you might be wondering how to prayerfully participate in the Holy Mass when you’re apart from your parish. As you watch a broadcast of the Mass should you sit back and watch, or make the Sign of the Cross, sing the songs, and pray along? Msgr. Swetland shared some advice:

“As best you can, participate like you would if you were at Mass if that’s going to help you pray along as best you can at that moment. … And so whatever will work to make it prayerful so you can unite yourself spiritually to what Fr. Rocky’s doing in the chapel.”

According to Msgr. Stuart Swetland, it’s best to listen to a live broadcast of the Mass if you can so you’re participating and making a spiritual communion as Mass is occurring, but listening to a previously recorded Mass broadcast is also a good option.

Here are a few ideas for participating in the Holy Mass at home. Some of these ideas might work for you and some might not, so it’s up to you to determine what will help you focus on the Mass and enter more fully into the liturgy from home.

1. Create a reverent space. Work on setting up a space that will help you to be more prayerful and focused. Set up a crucifix, statues or images of Our Lord, the Blessed Mother, or the saints. Maybe you’d like to light a candle, bless yourself with Holy Water as you enter the room for Mass, and kneel in prayer before Mass begins.
2. Wear your Sunday best! If you usually dress up to attend Sunday Mass, why not do the same at home? It’s a great way to prepare yourself to reverently attend Mass and keep some of your normal routine.
3. Follow along with the readings. If you follow along in the Missalette at church, print out or pull up the readings on your phone or in a Magnificat and do the same at home. And even better, read them ahead of time in preparation!
4. Stand, sit, kneel. Sing, pray, respond. Follow along and participate in the same way you would if you were in the church, surrounded by your fellow parishioners. It might feel funny to do so in your living room, but you’ll probably feel much more involved in the Holy Mass than you would if you did not actively participate.
5. Eliminate distractions. Set aside and turn off your cell phone and other technology, just as you would when you arrive at church. Clear the room of any distractions (and if you have kids, hide all the toys!) so your mind is not wandering during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
6. Make a spiritual communion. At the time when you would usually receive the Body and Blood of Christ, unite yourself to Jesus with a spiritual communion. “My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.”

It’s definitely not the same to attend Mass from home, but remember that it’s temporary. Do the best you can to be as prayerful and reverent as possible for Our Lord, and pray unceasingly for an end to the pandemic and return to being physically present for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. God willing, this time apart will allow us to increase in love and devotion to the Holy Eucharist and never again take the sacraments for granted.

For now, Relevant Radio^® invites you to join our daily broadcast of the Mass on relevantradio.com, the free Relevant Radio app, and your local Relevant Radio station. Tune in every day at 1pm ET / 10am PT for Mass from the Chapel of the Nativity celebrated by Father Rocky. We look forward to sitting in the pews with you someday soon.

Listen to the full question on Go Ask Your Father:

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