Catholics do this when we enter the church and at various times during the Mass, especially when the priest does it, but you don’t have to be Catholic to do it. Here is how: Do it all with your right hand, holding your thumb to your index and middle fingers, you raise your hand to your forehead and say, “In the name of the Father,..” Then you lower your hand below the center of your chest and say, “...and of the Son…” Then you move your hand to your left shoulder and say, “...and of the Holy…” Then you bring your hand to your right shoulder and say, “...Spirit. Amen.”

This is water which has been blessed by a priest at Easter. As we enter the church, there are holy water fonts near every entrance. Anyone may briefly dip the right fingertips into the water of the font and make the Sign of the Cross.

As Catholics, we generally do not chat, look around, or make eye contact very much while we are in church. This is both good and bad. We truly are supposed to be focusing on God while we are in the church, but some of us take it to an extreme and can come across as standoffish. Instead, we save all of our normal social skills for the sign of peace shortly after the Our Father which is about two-thirds through the Mass. The sign of peace is a handshake with or wave to those sitting near you. Many people say, “peace be with you,” or even hold up two fingers in a peace sign gesture. If you have just had a disagreement with a family member, this can be a very healing moment.

Once Mass begins, all a visitor needs to do is imitate the Catholics. When we stand, you stand. When we sit, you sit. When we kneel, you kneel. You are doing nothing to violate any non-Catholic faith by doing these things. Sometimes the priest alone makes certain gestures, but we do not copy him. Instead, folding one’s hands in prayer is always right and acceptable.

Catholics believe that in celebrating the Eucharist (Greek for “thanksgiving”), bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest. Communion, meaning “in union with,” is therefore reserved for those who have been accepted as believing members of the Catholic Church. Furthermore, Catholics must be free from grave sin and also refrain from eating or drinking for an hour before receiving communion. When Catholics line up to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, non-Catholics are welcome to remain in the pew and pray, or you may line up as well to receive a personal blessing. To do that, approach the priest with your right hand on your left shoulder and your left hand on your right shoulder in the form of an X, which tells the priest that you are not receiving communion. The priest will bless you, then you turn and follow the rest of the people back to your pew.