Welcome to our My Mass Encounter series! Our mission at Every Sacred Sunday is to invite each person into deeper relationship with Christ by creating spiritual resources inspired by the beauty of the Catholic Church. In this monthly Q&A we will interview various Catholic individuals to share more about their personal prayer life and how they engage with the Mass. Our goal is to provide our community with beautiful insights that draw us into a deeper relationship with God. We’re so glad you’re here and welcome to the ESS fam!
Images and handlettering by Tisa Muico.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. What has your faith journey been like? What has your relationship to the Mass been throughout your life?
I am a cradle Catholic, but for the first 22 years of my life, my faith was nothing but an appointment on Sundays, a set of prayers I've memorized and can recite perfectly in my sleep, and something I do only for the sake of my devout parents. This all changed when I joined the young adult ministry of Couples for Christ (at the behest of my older brother) and it awakened in me first a curiousity, then a desire to know Christ, and to walk with others in this life-long journey. I realized that while my relationship with Christ is personal, salvation isn't solitary and I needed a community. As I grew in my understanding, I also came to see the beauty and greatness of Mass, albeit quite late for a person born into the faith.
What has helped you stay rooted in prayer this past year?
This past year has been difficult, for reasons known to all of us. And many times this past year, I have fallen into the predictable rhythm of hopelessness, resulting in neglected prayer time and turmoiled interior life. So I wouldn't say that I have had a season of stability, prayer-wise, but I can say that each time I fall, I get back up with the help of two things: (1) my husband, and friends, who would drag and nag to get me to the confessional box, and (2) knowing and being constantly reminded that like the Father to his prodigal son, the Lord will always welcome me back with open arms. I know that I will keep failing, but that the Lord will always be waiting for me, and this is reason enough to keep trying.
What's worked for me so far is having a structured prayer life. I start every day in silence, allowing the Lord to reveal Himself to me in my stillness, followed by morning offering, and daily mass. This simple morning routine anchors the rest of my day.
How do you set each Sunday apart from the rest of your week? Why is this important?
As a hospital worker, I cannot have all my Sundays off. On top of this, I am a daily Mass goer, so there really was a need to do things that will set my Sundays apart from the rest of the week.
On Sundays, I make it a point to wake up earlier than usual in order to devote time to getting ready, and reflecting on the readings before Mass. I also enjoy lunch with my family after (carbs and calories don't count in our home on Sundays). Of course I make sure to squeeze in a nap before leaving for work at 3pm (something I don't indulge in on the weekdays); after all, it is the day of rest. And finally, I set aside whatever work of fiction I am currently reading, and consume only Catholic books on Sundays.
It's important that I do these things to remind me that Sunday isn't like any other day, but is the Day of the Lord, and one I should keep holy.
What advice would you give our readers who struggle to enter into mass?
I have three:
(1) Prepare externally: dress up for Mass. Now, dressing up for church is a topic that is often up for debate. And while I agree that you are not required to wear a three-piece suit to receive God's grace, you have to remember that you are about to meet Him (He who is absolutely present in the sacrifice of the Mass). And so if you are in the position to do so, dressing up sets the tone for what is to come: a date with the Lord.
(2) Prepare internally. I try to have a moment prior to leaving the house either to sit in silence or read the scripture for the day, and I always try to be at church early enough to continue this silence. This puts me in the proper disposition allowing me to enter more deeply into the Mass.
(3) Actively engage. The Second Vatican Council calls for active participation. We are called to not only observe but to take part and pray and sing with the Mass. If you are having difficulty avoiding distractions at mass, engaging in and understanding the parts of Liturgy is the best way to keep yourself centered in prayer during Mass.
How does ESS help you prepare, engage, and reflect on the Mass? How does the ESS Mass Journal fit into your prayer routine?
I go through the readings using my ESS every Sunday before Mass. I underline and highlight words or phrases that speak to me. Hearing the reading again during Liturgy allows me to take another step into contemplating God's words. These multiple readings, coupled with prayer and meditation help me enter into a more intimate relationship with scripture (something I've had difficulty with for as long as I can remember). I then write my reflection down either during homily or after, and this allows for introspection and a more focused call to action. This Sunday habit has surely enhanced not only my relationship with scripture, but also my ability to focus at Mass.
Tisa Muico is an illustrator, a reformed plant-killer, a wife to a lay missionary, currently living out her calling serving Christ through her art. Inspired by the lives of the saints, she co-founded Friends in High Places - a small Catholic stationery business - with her husband Kevin. She is in an endless pursuit of good coffee, and the true, good, and beautiful. You can find her on Instagram or her website.