We Pray Together

Praying Mass in a digital context

Christianity is a gathering religion. Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I amongst them. The Catholic Liturgy is a gathering activity. The Church calls her people to gather each Sunday, the Lord's Day.  While it is our habit to meet weekly and, by our participation in it, pray the Eucharist, when we need to pray Mass in a different context we need to find new ways of doing so.  When participating through streamed Mass or pre-recorded Mass

our challenge is to be prayers of the Mass, not simply watchers of the Mass.

What might help us to do this?

• Prepare a ‘sacred space’ beforehand, perhaps with a cloth of liturgical colour and candle, aim to listen closely
• Respond at the appropriate times
• Read the readings before Mass begins
• Welcome Jesus into your heart during Communion.

Because of the time constraints of videoing, it is difficult to allow times of silence during the Mass; maybe take a few moments of silent prayer at the end. And as there is a limit to the good works we can currently get involved in, celebrate this Eucharist by praying specifically for one group of people affected by the Covid-19 virus, perhaps those people dying alone and without a funeral, or health workers or supermarket workers.

2 January is the last pre-recorded and broadcast Mass for sometime.  Pre-recorded Sunday Mass will be on hold until Sunday February 6.  This is when Sunday Mass will resume on Shine TV.  Christmas blessings.