• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

  • Our Team
  • Catholic Hymnal
  • Jogues Missal
  • Site Map
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

21 Thoughts • “Exterior Actions at Mass”

Corpus Christi Watershed · September 10, 2018

87651 • Fr Christopher Smith PRINCE OF PEACE TAYLORS ATHER Christopher Smith recently preached a homily that begs of you a listen—challenging the faithful to manifest their love of God in their exterior actions at the Mass. A few prompts for prayerful reflection are adapted from the homily below as you discern, “What would a non-Catholic Christian see from our example if they watched us in the Church at Mass?”

1. Do we see Sunday as a joyful occasion that we have the privilege to participate in as sons and daughters of Christ?

2. Is Sunday special—different from all other days?

3. Do we dress for Mass not by putting on whatever clothes happen to be available, but by dressing outwardly and inwardly for the wedding feast of the Lamb?

4. Do we realize each one of us was created by God to worship Him and that all time belongs to Him? Or, do we begrudge Him one hour of our week for Mass?

5. Do we arrive early for Mass to pray, focus and prepare for the most important thing we do each week? Or, are we running around like a chicken with its head cut off sailing into Mass distracted and not ready to pray? [families with children, we understand this is not always feasible]

6. Mass is not a spectator sport. The fruitfulness of the Mass within us depends on the disposition of our heart that we bring to it. We have to choose to engage it by disciplining our wandering minds by focusing on every word, gesture and ceremony of the Mass.

7. Are we watching the Mass with eyes of faith?

8. Are we listening to Mass with ears and hearts open to the truth proclaimed in the readings and prayers?

9. Are we tasting with devotion and reverence of the holy Eucharist?

10. Are we grasping the sacred by crossing ourselves, kneeling, bowing, genuflecting, standing and sitting not just because it is a ritual, but with purpose and love?

11. Are we smelling the incense, candles, flowers—the Church itself? Do we engage our entire bodies in worship—all five (5) senses—or do we just sit there and wait it out?

12. When we come into Church, do we plunge our hands into the Holy water font and remind ourselves that we were signed, sealed and delivered by our baptism and confirmation as children of God and heirs to heaven?

13. Do we genuflect by going all the way down on our right knee slowly as a sign of adoration to Christ as King who reigns from the throne of love in the tabernacle?

14. Do we put aside all earthly cares before Mass, get into a zone of prayer and enter a space of worship?

15. Do we carefully observe silence before and after Mass? Do we remember that this Church is the gate of Heaven and the only person to whom we should be speaking is to God?

16. Do we say the responses clearly and distinctly? Or, do we mumble?

17. Do we sing the ordinary of the Mass and the hymns with the beautiful voice God gave us?

18. Gentlemen of the congregation—you are the priests of the domestic church. That means that your children and everyone else are looking for you to be a model or worship and prayer. What contrary witness do men give when not picking up the music sheet to sing or slouching and mumbling?

19. Do we bow upon the name of Jesus?

20. When we come up to Holy Communion, do we assume an attitude of reverence and devotion and then allowing ourselves to be fed by the Body of Christ?

21. Judas was the only one who left the Last Supper early. And, he did it to betray our Lord. Do not leave Mass early. If we can’t stand to be in Church for an hour a week, how will we spend eternity with God?


Text courtesy of this source.


Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe to the CCW Mailing List

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

5 April 2021 • When Girls *SING*

Covid restrictions here in California are still extremely severe—switching “two weeks to flatten the curve” into “two years to flatten the curve.” Since 2020, we’ve had police breaking into our church to check if everyone is wearing a mask…even when only 5-6 people are present! But we were allowed to have a small percentage of our singers back on Easter Sunday, and here is their live recording of the ancient Catholic hymn for Eastertide: Ad Cenam Agni Providi. The girls were so very excited to sing again—you can hear it in their voices!

—Jeff Ostrowski
29 March 2021 • FEEDBACK

“E.S.” in North Dakota writes: “I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for all the hard work you have put—and continue to put—into your wonderful website. In the past two years, my parish has moved from a little house basement into a brand new church and gone from a few families receiving Low Masses twice a month to several families (and many individuals) receiving Mass every Sunday, two Saturdays a month, and every Holy Day. Our priest has been incorporating more and more High Masses and various ceremonies into our lives, which has made my job as a huge newbie choir master very trying and complicated. CCWatershed has been an invaluable resource in helping me get on my feet and know what to do!!! Thank you more than I can express! May God bless you abundantly and assist you in your work and daily lives!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
29 March 2021 • Condemned?

On Palm Sunday, the Passion was read. Immediately after mention is made of the betrayal by Judas, the Holy Eucharist is introduced. Is this not a condemnation of “Christians” who deny the Church teaching on the SANCTISSIMUM? Here is Matthew 26: And Judas that betrayed him, answering, said: “Is it I, Rabbi?” He saith to him: “Thou hast said it.” And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke: and gave to his disciples, and said: Take ye, and eat. This is my body.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“If he converses with the learned and judicious, he delights in their talent—if with the ignorant and foolish, he enjoys their stupidity. He is not even offended by professional jesters. With a wonderful dexterity he accommodates himself to every disposition. As a rule, in talking with women (even with his own wife) he is full of jokes and banter.”

— ‘Erasmus on St. Thomas More (England’s 1st lay Chancellor)’

Recent Posts

  • PDF Download • Vespers for Holy Thursday?
  • PDF Download • “Sanctus for Three Voices” (Soprano, Alto, and Bass)
  • Live Recording • “Jesus My Lord, My God, My All”
  • 5 April 2021 • When Girls *SING*
  • (Hymn) • “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today”

Copyright © 2021 Corpus Christi Watershed · Charles Garnier on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.