Dear Disciples of Christ at Holy Spirit, St. Helen’s, and St. Mary’s,

No, not that type.  Catholic Calisthenics!

Sit, Stand, Sign of the Cross, Bow and Genuflect, Fold your hands, Kneel…

One of the most significant documents in the life of priests is known as the G.I.R.M. or General Instruction on the Roman Missel. It is the document that guides us in preparing for and celebrating Mass. I am in the habit of periodically reading the GIRM. Obviously, I hope, having been a priest for 29 years I know how to say Mass. But I find that bad or just lazy habits slip in or my memory is fuzzy on some particular instruction. As the Mass is the most important thing I do on any day, it is good for me to be reminded of how to properly and reverently celebrate it.

What does this have to do with Catholic Calisthenics? Everything. The GIRM gives instruction on the appropriate postures and actions of not just the priest but the entire worshipping congregation. And face it, we all pick up lazy and bad habits. Today I want to touch on a few things some if not many of us could work on to participate more fully and devoutly in the Mass.

Folded Hands. Do you know where I see the most folded hands? On Facebook comments. People, myself included, use this emoji all the time to express our prayers to a person. Where do I rarely see it? Mass. The posture of folded hands expresses our prayerful attitude. We pray with our whole self…so yes the act of folding your hands in prayer is itself prayer.

Sign of the Cross. Making the Sign of the Cross is one of our most important prayers. It is not just a prelude to prayer but is an important act of prayer. We sign ourselves with the cross on which our Lord died for us while invoking the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Let’s be honest, we often are rather sloppy doing this. I was taught we touch our Head, over our Heart, and on our Shoulders showing that our mind, our hearts, and our strength is dedicated to God.

Genuflecting and Kneeling. First off let me admit, my knees are shot. So I get it. For a portion of our population these postures are difficult to impossible. Genuflection is a sign of worship. We get down on one knee and make the Sign of the Cross. Again, we pray with our whole self. The GIRM reads, “all who pass before the Most Blessed Sacrament genuflect.” In practice this means genuflection to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is called for when entering the Church and leaving. If health, age, or other conditions prevent this…See Profound Bow.

Bowing. Yes, this is what you will see me doing with my bad knees when I approach the Sanctuary at Mass and other times when a genuflection is called for in the Mass. A bow signifies reverence and honor shown to the persons themselves or to the signs that represent them. Again, the GIRM explains:
There are two kinds of bows: a bow of the head and a bow of the body.
a) A bow of the head is made when the three Divine Persons are named together and at the names of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Saint in whose honor Mass is being celebrated.
b) A bow of the body, that is to say, a profound bow, is made to the altar and in praying the Creed at the words (and by the Holy Spirit…and became man). I know we need to work on this one. If you are not kneeling during the consecration, a profound bow is called for after the priest elevates the Host and the Chalice following the words of the institution…”This is my Body, This is my Blood.”

It seems I am running out of space on this page. I am not trying to berate anyone in this letter but to remind all of us to take our posture seriously during Mass. We pray with our Body. Lets make sure it is a holy and devote prayer.

Love, Fr. Ian