Click here for PDF Copy

NOW THAT THE ROMAN MISSAL IS BEGUN…          No.6

You can tell a lot of the interest of a crowd of people by the bodily gestures they show for the event and of the volume or enthusiasm of voice they share in participation at it, such as what I saw at a pro tennis tournament.    I had not been to such a major tennis event before that time, and I was moved by the feel and the interest of the crowd that was there for the pro matches. They were definitely into it, and there were expectations for any fan who showed up there to follow a certain decorum.

It can applied to our Mass going.    (Ah!  You knew this was my angle! )  Respect at that tennis court can be compared to respect in God’s “courts!”  Just as Psalm 100:4 says it:  “Enter His courts with praise.”)  For the tennis matches--people arrived early. They dressed a certain way.   They posed and gestured like they were excited to be there. They had no complaint of the time or cost of their attendance involved (ticket price, vendor prices). There was a certain etiquette and conduct expected at the tournament of these top tennis players.  For example, you were not to walk in to your seat in the middle of some action, lest you be a distraction from the main event!  In the matches, people became still in their seats for the ball serves, and they moved their heads left and right in eagerly following the ball’s movement.  Upon an exciting play and its finish, they clapped and politely cheered.   The pro players on the court also followed an expected manner of playing the game.   It was quite the interesting environment.   What I particularly enjoyed at this tennis event was looking at the people who were looking at the game!

The fans’ gestures told quite the story.  Their participation showed interest for every play going on.  Let’s compare it to going to Mass.  Here we come to raise our hearts and minds to God, with postures of our body, and the sounding of vocal prayers to express our level of involvement going on. During Mass we assume different postures— standing, kneeling, sitting—and we are also invited to make a variety of gestures—not just ceremonial in nature, but personally directed to God. We especially look to see and receive the Blessed Sacrament come among us.  He is our focus.:

STANDING  is a sign of respect and honor, so we stand for the Presider and other for the procession and recession of Mass.  Having processions and Communion lines also signify that we are a pilgrim people on our way Home. We rise up for Christ and show attention of seeking the higher and holier aspects of life by participating in the Sacred Liturgy. The U.S. bishops have chosen standing as the posture to be observed for the reception of Communion, too, as we “stand to do Your will, O God” and we stand, though in humility, like the centurion who presented his need for the Lord’s healing to come under his roof.  His coming and his standing gesture was of need before Jesus.

KNEELING is a practice from the early Church gatherings; kneeling signified bowing as a servant before a Lord.  Jesus is our Lord; we are His servant. We are so unworthy of His kind and merciful attention, so we show some mark of penance by kneeling, too.  Scriptures suggests kneeling when waiting upon an action of God upon you (Phil. 2.10, Rom. 14:11, Micah 6:6).  We kneel and adore--in the time of consecration at Mass, and after receiving Communion.

SITTING is the posture of listening and meditation, so the congregation sits attentively for the pre-Gospel readings and the homily and after Communion meditation. We try to be all in place when the Word starts, and not distract it.

MAKING THE SIGN OF THE CROSS  happens first at our entrance to church (baptismal font), and we begin and end Mass by so “marking ourselves” as lovers of The Trinity (words) and of the Cross(gesture). Christ Jesus  redeems humankind, so we trace the Sign again on our foreheads, lips, and hearts, as His Good News is proclaimed, praying that it may be always in our minds, lips and  hearts.  To non-Catholics, all these cross gestures might look a little crazy;so too the ever-turning heads at a tennis match, and the rituals going on with the players.

BOWING  signifies reverence, respect, and gratitude. In the Creed we bow at the words that commemorate the Incarnation. We also bow as a sign of reverence before we receive Communion. The clergy ministers bow to the altar, a symbol of Christ, and kiss it, and do so also for the Gospel book.    

GENUFLECTING  is a sign of adoration, we genuflect by bringing our right knee to the floor. The move is given to the Blessed Sacrament Who is present in the sanctuary. The priest also genuflects in adoration after he shows the Body and the Blood of Christ to the people (after the consecration) and again before Communion.

ORANS  This ancient prayer posture, of extending one’s hands out and elevated up from the sides, is a posture of the priest as he prays for all, but can be a posture that anyone might use, as a sign of surrender and reliance on God.  Orans means “praying.”   In tennis, there are all sorts of gestures, an important one is the sign for a ball being out of play.  I suppose the Orans is a sign we are in play with God!                          

FOLDED HANDS is another ancient prayer posture of joining palms and fingers to God, which is a gesture of servitude to one’s Master, our Lord God.  

BEATING THE BREAST is a physical ritual, used again now in the Confiteor, and continued in use in the Roman Canon (EP1), of a known-unworthiness before God, yet a known invitation to be before Him.   

PRAYING ALOUD Mass is a dialogue shared to God by presider/clergy, and all the faithful.  We have our part in the Mass; we are meant to be heard.  The Psalmist pleads:  “Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim Your praise.”  In the tennis arena, when we were aloud to talk, we did so with enthusiasm for what we were seeing, which was, for me, the best tennis I’d ever seen live.   

SINGING By its very nature song has both an individual and a communal dimension. Thus, it is no wonder that sing­ing together in church expresses so well the sacramental presence of God to his people.  The Bible says: “Sing to the Lord a new song.”   It also says: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” 

PRAYING AS ONE We acclaim not just as a crowd of people, but as a Body in Christ!  

SILENCE  in the Liturgy allows the community to reflect on what it has heard and experienced, to open its heart to The Mystery celebrated.  Like tennis crowds offer silent pauses for respect for the game, we can imitate the same manner.

CONCLUSION The Church sees in these common postures and ges­tures and ways of audible participation, a marvelous action of unity and worship that is called Holy Mass.  We are so honored to have this Way of meeting in Christ on the earth, and knowing we are joined in something heavenly for a time.  Unlike the tennis crowd, with finds itself separated by the talent (players, judges) and not allowed to play, but only watch, the Holy Mass is Jesus invitation for us all to play a role and part in the transformation of the world, and of ourselves, with the ultimate prize of an upward call of salvation.   The tennis game might have been broadcast on cable satellite tv to other viewing fans, but the Mass has the Heavenly Father’s attention, the involvement of His Spirit, the Gift of His Son, with all the hosts and saints of Heaven in acclaim.   “Tennis has love for a score, and some fun in the stands of watching the great athletes play--- The Mass has the Love of Jesus Who saves us forever.”

Send mail to: with questions or comments about this web site. webmaster@stedwardbowie.org