The Mass

Did you know the Mass is a prayer? It is one big prayer with a whole bunch of prayers within it. The Mass is a wonderful way to pray for those who are trying to build their prayer life. 

A simple way to begin is to attend Mass! Hopefully you're already doing this but if not, it is a great way to start. We Catholics have Mass every single day, not just on Sunday! Mass throughout the week is called daily Mass and is a shorter and quieter celebration. 

To pray the Mass well, it can be helpful to follow along with a book of some kind so you can read the prayers and the readings. We have free resources in our parish office if you are interested to check them out before buying. Most of these books are monthly devotionals and include reflections on saints or readings from theologians throughout the month. 

Adoration

Adoration is basicaly an extension of the Mass but with much more silence. We get the term adoration but the prime activity during this prayer is to adore Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament (Eucharist). We Catholics believe that Jesus Christ is truly present before us in the Eucharist and to be able to sit before Him can lead to powerful moments of prayer. The gold item that holds the Blessed Sacrament is called a Monstrance which comes from the word demonstrate and is usually gold in color and decorated ornately with angels and gems that draw our minds to heaven to help us recall God's presence. 

A great way to pray is through scripture. Reading the bible is like reading a love letter from God. One way to read the bible is through a method of prayer called Lectio Divina which is a sort of immersion into the story. It is a way that helps us encounter God through the story of salvation history. It can be done using any part of the bible but a good place to begin is in the Gospels. The Gospels are were we can encounter the person of Jesus Christ and to be able to pray by entering into His story. 

Below are step-by-step instructions provided by Busted Halo:

Prepare

I’d suggest 30 minutes to read, reflect, and respond to the Holy Spirit’s promptings in Lectio Divina. To tune in, I like to light a candle, not because it’s necessary, but because the flame and fragrance serve as gentle reminders when collecting my thoughts and calming my mind. I pray a prayer of invitation, saying something like, “God, let me hear from you,” and spend a few moments sitting quietly so my mind is open to hearing from God.

Lectio (Read)

My first reading is an opportunity to get to know the Scripture passage. I listen carefully for any words or phrases that seem to jump out. It’s important not to force things, but wait patiently for God to give gentle guidance. One day when reading Jeremiah 31, I felt my mind drawn to the strength of God’s commitment to His covenant:

“[I will make a new covenant] not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband.” (Jeremiah 31:32 English Standard Version)

I was struck by the image of God leading His people by the hand as an act of love – they weren’t left to begin their momentous journey alone.

Meditatio (Reflect)

The second reading of the same passage focuses further on the points I become aware of during the first reading. Often I’ll just re-read a few verses so I can reflect carefully on where God has nudged me.

Then I’ll reflect on what I believe God is saying. I try not to analyze the passage. It’s easy to slip into “study mode” and think about interesting points rather than listening to what God might be saying. It helps to ask God to make His focus clear.

Oratio (Respond)

After a third reading, it’s time to respond. I like to record my thoughts by journaling because I know I’m very prone to forgetting what I’ve learned, even by the next day! We can respond in prayer too, which gives us the opportunity for a conversation with God.

When reading Jeremiah, I journaled my wonderings. If God is so powerfully committed to keeping His covenant with me, why do I sometimes lack the commitment to stay close to God? Often the events of the day crowd in, and I don’t always make time to listen to God. I prayed that God would help me to prioritize spending time with Him.

Contemplatio (Rest)

After the final reading, I spend around 10 minutes in silent contemplation. This isn’t a time of prayer or meditation — I just sit quietly and allow God to work. When my mind starts to wander and dart here and there, I bring it gently back to stillness again.

There are many sources of inspiration to help develop the practice of Lectio Divina. Soul Shepherding has a collection of downloadable guides, and LectioDivina.org also has some helpful examples of journaling. It’s important to remember that Lectio Divina is not an end in itself or another spiritual practice to tick off our to-do list. It helps us hear specifically and individually from God through Scripture, guided by the Holy Spirit, and deepens our relationship with Him.