Padre Pio on assisting at Holy Mass
In order to avoid
irreverence and imperfections in the house of God, in church -- which the
Divine Master calls the "house of prayer" -- I exhort you in the Lord
to practice the following:
Enter the church in
silence and with great respect, considering yourself unworthy to appear before
the Lord's Majesty. Among other pious considerations, remember that our soul is
the temple of God and, as such, we must keep it pure and spotless before God and
his angels.
Let us blush for having
given access to the devil and his snares many times (with his enticements to
the world, his pomp, his calling to the flesh) by not being able to keep our
hearts pure and our bodies chaste; for having allowed our enemies to insinuate
themselves into our hearts, thus desecrating the temple of God which we became
through holy Baptism.
Then take Holy Water and
make the Sign of the Cross carefully and slowly.
As soon as you are before
God in the Blessed Sacrament, devoutly genuflect. Once you have found your
place, kneel down and render the tribute of your presence and devotion to Jesus
in the Blessed Sacrament. Confide all your needs to Him along with those of
others. Speak to Him with filial abandonment, give free rein to your heart, and
give Him complete freedom to work in you as He thinks best.
When assisting at Holy
Mass and the sacred functions, be very composed when standing up, kneeling
down, and sitting, and carry out every religious act with the greatest
devotion. Be modest in your glances; don't turn your head here and there to see
who enters and leaves. Don't laugh, out of reverence for this holy place and
also out of respect for those who are near you. Try not to speak to anybody,
except when charity or strict necessity requests this.
If you pray with others,
say the words of the prayer distinctly, observe the pauses well, and never
hurry.
In short, behave in such a
way that all present are edified by it and, through you, are urged to glorify
and love the heavenly Father.
On leaving the church, you
should be recollected and calm. Firstly take your leave of Jesus in the Blessed
Sacrament; ask his forgiveness for the shortcomings committed in his Divine
presence and do not leave him without asking for and having received his
paternal blessing.
Once you are outside the
church, be as every follower of the Nazarene should be. Above all, be extremely
modest in everything, as this is the virtue which, more than any other, reveals
the affections of the heart.
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