I Can’t Pray with You at Mass Anymore

Do you have a tendency to pray the prayers at Holy Mass in one or two breaths or fairly/definitely fast? Have you ever contemplated that in doing so, you are alienating or preventing others from participating?

I am finding myself unable to pray aloud many of the prayers of Holy Mass, as well as, attending fewer and fewer public devotions (i.e., Rosary). I am not even praying our “After Mass” prayers aloud.

Why? Because I cannot physically (never mind mentally or spiritually) keep up.

Let me state unequivocally that I am not saying praying fast or in one breath is any less reverent than any other way. Reverence comes from the heart and not necessarily how you say the words.

BUT….. it is inconsiderate of others……there I said it.

I was going to be all nicey nice and maybe a little patronizing just so as not to offend anyone. But as I was writing, I just couldn’t. There is no other way to put it.

Think about the following – to just name a few:

• Not everyone knows the prayers by heart
  • Visitors from other religions
    • Especially if they are “checking it out”, wouldn’t you want them to understand what we are praying?
  • Children
  • New parishioners/visitors from other countries
  • Candidates going through RCIA
  • New Catholics
• Not everyone has the motor skills to pray/talk fast
• Not everyone has the lung capacity to do so
• Not everyone has the mental acumen to process that fast
• Some need to be deliberate in their prayer in order to stay focused

Please also consider this:

The prayers of Holy Mass are to be prayed/sung in one voice. They are communal prayers and should be prayed/sung at a pace that ALL or, at least, nearly all can participate, not jut the healthy, boisterous, knowledgeable few.

As for the Rosary or other Devotions, it was explained to me years ago that we do the lead/respond in order to give all participants time to reflect on the Mystery. The “responders” do so while the leader is praying the first half of the prayer. The leader does so while the responders are praying the 2nd half. I don’t know about you, but I cannot do much reflecting in 3-4 seconds.

So I am asking you – no, I am begging you – please try to slow down and take breaths. You may not need them, but there are plenty of us that do.