Please remember the two fundamental principles upon which our
behavior and attitudes in church rest:
• Mass is a holy and sacred act! The church is a
sacred space! It is the “Lord’s house” where we come to worship
God together.
• It is during the Mass when all the graces and merits of our Lord’s sacrifice are applied to our souls in a sacramental fashion.
If you keep these two principles in mind, all the following points of Mass
etiquette will make perfect sense.
 
Please dress appropriately. We should dress for Mass as if a King had
invited us to a wedding feast, for that is what Mass truly is. Jesus, our
King, is the groom and we are his bride. Who would show up to a
wedding improperly dressed? Therefore, we should wear our best for the
Lord.
 
Please arrive to Mass punctually. It is a good idea to arrive at Mass on
time in order to participate in the entire liturgy. After finding your seat,
take the opportunity to review the Bible readings, prepare yourself in
prayer, or reflect on what you wish to bring to Jesus during the Mass.
Arriving on time is also respectful to other parishioners because it
prevents distractions once Mass has begun.
 
Please turn off your devices. this includes cell-phones, pagers, or
anything else that rings, beeps, or buzzes.
 
Please do not bring any food, drink, or gum into the
church.
 
Please reverently genuflect towards the tabernacle
before sitting down. We do this to show respect to
Jesus, our crucified King, who is present body, blood,
soul and divinity in the hosts that are preserved in the
tabernacle.
 
Please stay until the end of Mass. Mass ends when
Father gives the final blessing then says, “The Mass is
ended, go in peace” and we say: “Thanks be to God.”
The final blessing is very powerful and will aid and
protect you throughout the week. You are encouraged to stay and sing
the final recessional hymn as well. Attending Mass in its entirety from
beginning to end will give you a fuller, richer experience than leaving right
away.
 
Please exit the church reverently and respectfully. Again, this is to show
respect to other parishioners and our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
There is a custom where some people stay several minutes after Mass in
thanksgiving for the Eucharist they have just received. You are
encouraged to do the same.
 
The Eucharist is really and truly
the body, blood, soul, and
divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ
 
 
Etiquette for Holy Communion
 
 
The manner in which we approach the altar for Holy Communion is
founded on the truth that the Eucharist is really and truly the body, blood,
soul, and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is not just a symbol or
representation! Because of this, we should approach communion with
devotion, reverence, and respect. Please keep in mind the following
guidelines when receiving communion:
 
Fast for at least one hour before Mass: It is customary to pray and fast
before Mass in order to prepare ourselves for holy communion and
to offer ourselves as a pure sacrifice to our Lord. (Water and
medicine do not break a fast.
 
You must not be conscious of any grave sin: It is seriously wrong to
receive our Lord while in a state of grave (mortal) sin. Saint Paul
teaches in 1 Corinthians 11:27 – 29 that, “whoever, therefore, eats
the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will
be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man
examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For
any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and
drinks judgment upon himself”. If someone is conscious of grave
sin, they are asked to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation
before receiving communion. In the meantime, one is encouraged
to come up with their arms crossed over their chest for a blessing.
 
Non-Catholics are kindly asked to abstain from receiving communion:
Holy Communion is a theologically powerful act in which we
become intimately and profoundly united to God. It is the sign and
cause of the complete unity of faith, life, and worship among
Catholics. In order to receive Holy Communion, therefore, one
would necessarily accept, believe and live according to the tenets
of the Catholic faith. Non-Catholics naturally do not. It is for this
reason that they are asked to abstain. However, if someone
wishes to become Catholic, he/she is warmly invited to participate
in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) to be formally and
publicly received into the Church at Easter. Communion would be,
therefore, the culmination and goal of this journey of conversion. In
the meantime, non-Catholics are greatly encouraged to come up
with their arms crossed over their chest for a blessing. (Please
refer to the inside cover of the missal for the United States Bishops’
statement on Holy Communion.)
 
Receive communion with reverence and devotion: Before approaching
the priest or Extraordinary Minister of Communion, make a
reverential bow in respect to our Eucharistic Lord. When they say
either “the body of Christ” or “the blood of Christ”, your response
should only be “Amen”. This word means, “So be it”, “It is so”, or “I
believe”. Please say it clearly and distinctly. You can receive Holy
Communion either on the tongue or in the hands. If you choose to
receive in the hands, place your right hand over your left (in the
shape of a little throne to receive the King of kings). You must
consume the host immediately. It is forbidden to give the host to
children who have not made their first communion or to take the
host out of the church.
 
If you require more information on why it is essential to be in a state of
grace in order to receive communion, please do not hesitate to
speak to a member of the clergy (priest or deacon).
Thank you for respecting and honoring these guidelines as set forth by
the Congregation of Divine Worship in Rome as well as the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops. By doing so, you will help to protect and
promote the sanctity of the Holy Mass whenever it is celebrated. More
importantly, you will cultivate a greater spirit of devotion and reverence for
the Eucharistic Lord within your own soul. God bless you!

Content written by Rev. Paul D. Montminy, Pastor of St. Catherine of
Siena in Manchester, New Hampshire