29/05/2026
HOW DO I PREPARE FOR MASS?
How should I behave in church?
Attending church should always be an act of joy, even in the most difficult and sad moments. As we have said, the temple is the house of God, it is the place where the assembly of the baptized celebrates the holy mysteries of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of the Lord. Since the Eucharist is a sacred place, we must attend with an attitude of respect. It is not about formalities, but our behavior inside the church reflects the degree of love and respect we have for the Holy Eucharist. Do not forget that at Mass, Christ himself becomes present in the person of the priest, in the Eucharistic species, in his Word, and in the assembly.
Dress appropriately
The church is a sacred place, and you should dress modestly. It is not about wearing formal attire, but about showing respect for the place and for our brothers and sisters who attend it. Therefore:
-Do not wear sportswear, shorts, or short skirts.
-Men and children should have their heads uncovered; therefore, no caps or bandanas.
Respect for the Blessed Sacrament
Upon entering the church, first of all, and before going to any other saint or devotion, you must "greet" the Blessed Sacrament (by performing a genuflection—kneeling with one knee). When the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, a double genuflection is performed (kneeling with both knees and bowing the head). The same is done every time you pass the Tabernacle and when leaving the temple.
Taking care of children's behavior
Without suppressing their restless nature, it is necessary to educate children from an early age so that they imitate the proper attitudes, postures, and gestures that are performed during the liturgy (standing, sitting, kneeling, in an attitude of prayer, etc.). If they are very young and start to make noise, we should try to calm them down outside the temple; avoid letting them run through the aisles, climb onto the altar, or break flower arrangements.
Avoid actions we can perform at any other time
-Do not chat.
-Do not visit the temple's restrooms (especially in the case of children), as it distracts the assembly.
-Do not smoke.
-Do not use audio players with headphones (Walkman, Discman, MP3, etc.).
Avoid unnecessary objects
-No cell phones. To talk to God, we do not need them; on the contrary, they break our communication with Him during the celebration of the Mass and damage the piety of the other faithful. Respect the Eucharist and your brothers and sisters, and turn off your phone before Mass starts.
-No toys. Children should also participate in the celebration, not be distracted by them or their company; therefore, they do not need toys to behave.
-No pets. Animals are creatures of God, but they do not need to be part of the Eucharistic assembly.
Apply basic rules of courtesy
This is above all in relation to the help that should be provided to elderly people and people with disabilities at certain moments of the Mass, such as the Consecration and Communion, when they have to make an effort. We must ensure that these people are located in places near the altar and the pews of the temple for better hearing. Allow those who make an effort to be seated.
