I recently learned that I have ADHD. Actually, my whole family does. Despite its challenges, I see many “silver linings” with the diagnosis. For instance, we tend to be highly creative thinkers, and we can become very resilient as we learn to overcome frequent challenges in daily life.
One challenge I’ve always had is focusing at Mass. No matter how good my intentions are, I get extremely distracted at Mass. What was the homily about? I don’t know, but I can tell you all about the six variations on my favorite cookie recipe I thought up during the Gospel reading.
Here are the three things that have made the biggest impact on my ability to focus at Mass.
1: Sit in the front of the church.
By sitting in the front of the church, you’re drastically reducing the number of things that could distract you during Mass. Having many people in your field of vision is a lot for your brain to process – or to try not to process – during Mass. You know the thoughts…
Is that guy asleep?
One, two, three, four … how many boys does that family have?
Ooooh, I love her earrings. I wonder if she got them at Target. Speaking of Target, I need to use that $5 coupon before it expires …
If you’re someone who gravitates toward the back of the church (or who is chronically late to Mass), it might be a little intimidating to stake out a seat up front. I recommend showing up at least 15 minutes early to grab a seat in one of the first pews near the sanctuary.
Use the time before Mass to read the Gospel (or all of the Mass readings) ahead of time. Bonus: You may be surprised how much reading ahead helps you focus on the readings when they’re proclaimed during Mass.
2: Read along.
A lot of the Mass involves reciting prayers we memorized as children or listening to the lectors, cantors, and celebrants reciting prayers and proclaiming the readings.
It is so easy for the ADHD mind to “float away” (my son’s words describing to me what happens to his brain when his teacher is lecturing at school) when it is not actively engaged in an activity. Reading along with the Mass engages another sense (sight) and helps us plug our brains in more fully to what is happening.
There are many ways to follow along with the Mass and the readings. Try out different options to see what feels enjoyable and sustainable to you. You might order a beautiful, leather-bound missal. Or perhaps purchase a monthly subscription to the Magnificat.
If, like me, you cannot under any circumstances remember to bring these items with you to Mass, you might avail yourself of digital means. Two apps I use regularly are Universalis (a free app containing Mass readings and prayers) and the Magnificat app (a paid app that offers similar features). There are also many websites providing Mass readings that can be accessed from your smart phone’s browser and do not require an app at all.
3: Take notes.
While I can never remember to bring a missal to Mass, I never forget my journal because I’ve carried one with me as long as I can remember. I have always needed to write things down to process and remember them.
And this brings me to what may be my most controversial suggestion for focusing at Mass: Take notes during the homily.
For the person with ADHD, it can be difficult to process information when there is not enough sensory input. Staring at the priest talking is, for some of us, a recipe to not hear or remember anything he’s saying. (We might instead be counting the number of thorns in the crown atop Jesus’ head on the crucifix.)
But something magical happens for some of us when we write information down: We can process what we are hearing, and the information stays in our brains. Whether you take notes in your phone or in a physical journal, this practice could enable you, as it does me, to truly engage with the homily at Mass.
Jesus doesn’t reject your ADHD brain, so you shouldn’t either.
I used to blame my distractibility on not being a good enough person or not loving the Lord enough. But I’ve come to learn that whether we have ADHD or not, beating ourselves up doesn’t fix the problem. The Lord is gentle and patient with us. He is happy that we came to Mass to spend time with Him. Perhaps He sees us turning our attention back to Him over and over again in the course of our prayer not as a deficiency, but as an act of love for Him.
Whether you’re diagnosed with ADHD or you’re just easily distracted, a little strategy can go a long way in aiding your focus at Mass.
