Resting at Mass: The Gift of Liturgical Order

AnneMarie Miller explores ways in which the Order of the Mass can help us rest at the liturgy.  

“Mom, what’s going on?” Confusion filled my young child’s eyes as the priest began to speak.  

“I think he’s doing some introductory stuff,” I whispered back.  

We were at a daily Mass, and the new-to-us-priest was doing things a little differently than what we were used to. None of the changes were particularly significant, but they were still disorienting, and it was tough for my kids and I to focus. As I thought about this later on, I realized that as I’ve sought rest during the liturgy, I’ve grown to appreciate liturgical order in a deeper way.   

When order aids rest  

The Roman Catholic Mass follows a specific order: the Introductory Rites, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and the Concluding Rites. No matter what part of the country you live in — or which country you live in — the Roman Rite Mass will follow this order. There are also specific directives that stipulate how the Mass is supposed to be celebrated: the rubrics.

The rubrics (often referenced with the phrase, “say the black, do the red”) cultivate unity and order, and also recognize the sacredness of the Mass. Even something we may not think twice about — the gestures and posture of the priest and the congregation — 

ought to contribute to making the entire celebration resplendent with beauty and noble simplicity, so that the true and full meaning of the different parts of the celebration is evident and that the participation of all is fostered (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 42).   

I’ve noticed that they can also aid in our restful participation at Mass.   

If we attend an event and know what to expect, it can be easier to relax. We aren’t jolted out of our seats with surprise or on edge because we don’t know what’s coming; we know that the event has a specific order that will be followed. So, we can rest.   

When I attend Masses that follow the liturgical order and rubrics, it’s much easier to restfully participate and focus on the prayers. Nothing unpredictable is happening, so I can rest in the rhythm of the liturgy. Conversely, when I’ve attended liturgies that deviate from this order and feature creative innovations, I’ve found it much harder to focus and rest — I don’t know what to expect, and the Mass feels disorienting.   

Going overboard  

Although the rubrics and liturgical order assist my restful prayer at the liturgy, I’ve fallen into the dangerous trap of having an unhealthy obsession with them. When I first began exploring the depth and riches of the liturgy, I was in awe of just how sacred and beautiful the Mass is. Unfortunately, I took my enthusiasm too far, and I would, at times, rigidly focus on how much a parish was or was not following the prescribed liturgical order. I would grow extremely frustrated and judgmental if I noticed elements that were “off,” and I would let those feelings become my focus during Mass.   

It's important to follow the rubrics and order laid out by the Church, but we can’t let pride, frustration, or anger infect our hearts and parishes and rip them apart.  

What can we do?  

In my pursuit of restful participation at Mass, and my desire to learn about the Sacred Liturgy, I’ve found a few actions helpful.   

First, I keep learning and exploring the liturgy. Instead of relying on opinion columns or argumentative discussion threads, I first go to the Church’s documents on the liturgy. Sacrosanctum Concilium and the General Instruction of the Roman Missal are great places to start.   

It’s also necessary that we ask God for patience and humility. I struggle with both of these virtues. Yet, especially when I’m learning about the Liturgy, it’s important that I at least try to strive for them so that I can be a student who communicates with charity and gentleness.    

We can also joyfully share what we’ve been learning with others, and we can ask priests for their insights. A few years ago, a local priest gave a talk on the liturgy. He discussed various Church documents, did a Q & A period, and included a time for fellowship. Afterwards, an elderly parishioner was gushing to me about how much she loved it, and how much she learned. It was a fantastic event.   

If we assist in planning liturgies, we can examine what the Church states in official documents instead of simply doing whatever we think will be meaningful. When I was a teenager, I once helped plan the music for a liturgy. From what I remember, my choices mostly revolved around what I thought would sound good, or hymns that I liked. At that time, I didn’t know that Pope Pius XII wrote an encyclical on sacred music (Musicae Sacrae) or that the General Instruction of the Roman Missal specifically discusses sacred music. The Church’s treasury of wisdom and knowledge is vast, and learning the “why” and “how” behind liturgical matters is a fascinating and endless exploration.   

Finally, no matter how much a particular Mass follows the liturgical order, we can offer ourselves to God. We can ask him to help us restfully participate and pray at the liturgy. Even if it’s hard to focus alongside unpredictable innovations, we can still offer whatever distracted prayer we have to God and seek to pray as a unified Church.  

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Copyright 2024 AnneMarie Miller
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