A LIST OF DON'TS

REGARDING THE CELEBRATION

OF
MASS
Adapted from the list complied by Fr. Flynn in the Australasian Catholic Record
July 1928 for use by members of the Society of St. Pius X

1. Don't forget the proper preparation in the church or sacristy, and don't be
heedless of the scandal given by neglect of this.
2. Don't be wanting in reverence in the sacristy, treating it as if it were not a sacred
place, to the great detriment of the altar boys and others who may be there.
3. Don't chat in the sacristy before Mass or while vesting.
4. Don't wash the hands at the wrong time, i.e.., before marking the Missal, or after
arranging the chalice, or after vesting.
5. Don't get another to prepare the chalice ; or at least don't fail to see that it is
properly prepared.
6. Don't place biretta, book, spectacles or handkerchief on the chalice.
7. Don't carry the corporal to the altar over or under instead of in the burse.
8. Don't make the sign of the cross while holding the amice in the right hand; don't
put the amice round the neck without resting it on the head first.
9. Don't put the left arm first into the sleeve of the alb.
10. Don't cross the left part of the stole over the right.
11. Don't add Amen to each of the vesting prayers. It comes after the last only.
12. Don't omit turning down the stole at the back of the neck so that the cross on it is
concealed by the chasuble. Don't throw the stole loose over the shoulders
instead of arranging it round the neck.
13. Don't put the maniple round or above the elbow instead of allowing it to hang
from the forearm.
14. Don't kiss the alb or the chasuble before taking these vestments.
15. Don't forget that the vesting prayers and some prayers of the Mass should be
said from memory.
16. Don't wander about the sacristy with the vestments on, before or after Mass.
17. Don't go to the altar not wearing the biretta, (where it is the custom).
18. Don't take the biretta off to make a bow or a single genuflection while carrying
the chalice.
19. Don't make reverences to statues or side-altars on the way to say Mass.
20. Don't carry the chalice too high or too low or move it to and fro with the
awkward oscillations of the body, or carry it with the left hand alone instead of
holding the chalice breast-high, with the right hand resting on the burse.
21. Don't walk to the altar at too quick or too slow a pace or take too long a step, or
walk with head tossed back and eyes aloft instead of incessit gravi oculis dimissis.

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22. Don't, on arrival at the Blessed Sacrament altar, genuflect on the step instead of
in plano, nor bow the head when genuflecting. Don't forget to make a profound
bow of the body on arrival at an altar where the Blessed Sacrament is not
reserved.
23. Don't, after taking out the corporal, put the burse aside with the left hand
instead of with the right. Don't direct the server to open the Missal or to close it.
24. Don't omit to unfold the corporal fully at the beginning of Mass.
25. Don't sidle along when going from the centre to the side of the altar, or vice
versa, instead of facing squarely the place to be reached.
26. Don't delay at the centre of the altar, looking at the cross or praying before
coming down to start the Mass.
27. Don't, when descending, turn right about at the centre of the altar instead of
withdrawing a little to the gospel side and descending in an oblique line, thus
avoiding turning the back directly to the cross.
28. Don't exhibit a frivolous and restless deportment, rubbing eyes, adjusting
glasses, titivating the hair, examining the finger nails, etc.., etc.., instead of the
grave, recollected and self-controlled exterior demanded at so holy a function.
29. Don't when hands are supposed to be joined, join only the tips of the fingers, or
join only the index fingers and entwine the others, or hold them joined below
the waist and pointing downwards, instead of joining them before the breast,
palm to palm, with fingers extended and joined, with right thumb crossed over
the left, the joined hands being directed somewhat upwards, say half-way
between the horizontal and vertical.
30. When making the sign of the cross on oneself, don't make great ostentatious
circles going beyond the shoulders, or not touching forehead, breast or
shoulders.
31. Don't forget the distinction between profound, medium and simple bows.
32. Don't train the server to irreverence by not allowing him to complete the
responses, and don't neglect to tell him at a suitable time of his oversights and
mistakes.
33. Don't prefix Et to the Ant. Introibo after the Ps. Judica.
34. Don't omit to make a profound bow of the body at the Confiteor; don't strike the
breast noisily, or with the hand closed instead of open; don't turn to right or left
at the words vobis fratres, vos fratres, at a low Mass. Don't resume the erect
position before the server has finished the Misereatur tui. Don't forget to make a
medium bow when reciting the VV. Deus, Tu conversus, etc..
35. Don't turn the head to right or left when kissing the altar at the Oramus te
Domino or at other times. Don't bow to the cross before going to the Missal.
36. Don't make the sign of the cross on the way to the Missal instead of waiting until
arrival at the Missal and accompanying the sign with the first words of the
Introit. When the Holy Name occurs in the opening words of the Introit, don't
endeavour at one and the same time to make the bow and the sign of the cross,
but omit the bow at first and make it at the repetition alone.
37. Don't begin the Kyrie on the way to the centre of the altar. On the days when
there are several lessons and Dominus vobiscum or Gloria in excelsis does not
follow immediately after the Kyrie, don't recite the Kyrie at the Missal instead of
going to the centre to say it and returning immediately to the Missal.

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38. Don't say Dominus vobiscum while turning round to the people or take this
opportunity of estimating the congregation. Don't bow to the people while
saying the words. Don't turn like a soldier on parade or with such speed that
vestments begin to float in the breeze.
39. Don't say Oremus before arriving at the Missal so that the action which should
accompany the words is belated. Don't look at the cross when bowing at the
Oremus.
40. Don't recite the prayers with the extended hands raised higher than the
shoulders or wider apart than the shoulders, or with the fingers curving inwards
instead of being extended fully, but hold the hands in parallel planes.
41. Don't omit to raise the eyes before the Munda cor meum; don't rest the hands on
the altar, or forget to bow profoundly during this prayer. Don't say Domne
instead of Domine.
42. Don't forget, at the beginning of the gospel, to put the left hand on the Missal
when making the sign of the cross on the gospel text and to hold it tinder the
breast when signing the forehead, mouth and breast. Don't make these crosses
with the nail or with the side of the thumb instead of with the inner part, or
don't make them with the hand half-closed instead of fully extended with the
open palm towards the Missal or towards yourself, as the case may be. At the
gospel, don't stand facing in a direction at right angles to the front of the altar
instead of facing in a direction about a half a right angle to the left of that
direction. Don't bow or genuflect during the gospel towards the cross instead of
towards the Missal.
43. Don't raise the hands higher than the shoulders at the beginning of the Credo.
Don't begin the genuflection before the words Et incarnatus. Don't descend
quickly and keep the knee touching the ground until the end of the words et
homo factus est, instead of descending slowly and touching the ground with the
right knee at the words et homo factus est, and without prolonging the contact
rising leisurely while continuing: Crucifixes etiam pro nobis, etc.. ; don't add a bow
of the head to this genuflection.
44. Don't uncover the chalice before the Credo is quite finished, or while saying the
offertorium, or don't recite the offertorium with extended hands.
45. Don't fold the chalice veil carelessly behind the chalice, or maltreat it by making
it into a little bundle under pretext of having a better support for the pall.
46. Don't keep the eyes fixed on the cross at the offering of the Host, instead of
fixing them on the Host after the opening words. On this occasion don't hold the
paten too high or too low, but at breast height.
47. Don't wipe the chalice so violently as to be in danger of wrenching the cup from
the stem, or wipe it in the direction that would unscrew the cup. Don't wipe the
chalice while going to the Epistle side instead of walking to that side with joined
hands and then wiping the chalice. Don't begin the Deus, qui humanae while
pouring in the wine or before putting aside the wine cruet.
48. Don't forget to keep the eyes raised up while offering the chalice and to hold the
chalice breast high.
49. Don't forget to keep the head profoundly bowed for all the seven words of the
Gloria Patri, after the Ps. Lavabo.
50. Don't, while bowed down at the Suscipe sancta Trinitas, make a further bow at

3
 the holy names of Jesus and Mary there occurring, and don't forget the same
applies at the prayers before Communion.
51. Don't, in signing the oblata, have the fingers bent instead of fully extended and
joined; don't make the crosses by a series of plunges or jumps instead of by
horizontal straight lines.
52. Don't say the Orate, fratres in a loud voice instead of the prescribed middle voice,
or continue the words ut meum ac vestrum, etc.., in an audible tone, or remain
facing the people until the end of these words. Don't answer Amen or proceed
with the secret prayers before the server has finished the Suscipiat.
53. Don't bow the head at the words ubique gratias agere and per Christum Dominum
nostrum in the preface. Don't bow the head anywhere at the latter words except
after the memento for the dead.
54. Don't strike the breast at the Sanctus or say this and the following words in the
tone of the preface instead of dropping to the middle voice.
55. Don't recite the Canon in an audible voice or sigh out phrases of it, or recite it
from memory instead of reading it from the Missal.
56. Don't omit to join the hands before making the signs of the cross. Don't hold one
hand in the air while the other is employed in some action.
57. Don't moisten the fingers in order to turn the leaves of the Missal, or dog's ear
the Missal to facilitate the finding of a place, or pass the palm of the hand over
the open Missal, or turn the leaves roughly, thus exposing the Missal to the
danger of being torn.
58. Don't make the memento too long or too short; don't say the words Memento
Domine, etc.., in an audible voice. At the Hanc igitur don't put the thumbs under
the palms of the hands instead of keeping them crossed as before.
59. Don't, before taking up the Host, rub the fingers towards the centre of the
corporal instead of towards the outer edges.
60. Don't lean the left arm on the altar while holding the Host and saying the words
benedixit, fregit, etc..
61. Don't bend unbecomingly over the altar to pronounce the words of consecration.
62. Don't toss the head about at the consecration, or twist the body; don't forget to
say the words secretly; don't repeat the words, or belch them forth, or say the
words one by one, as disconnected parts of speech, instead of saying them
humano modo, connectedly by phrase and sentence.
63. Don't keep the arms resting on the altar during the genuflection after the words
of the first consecration have been pronounced, instead of withdrawing them
and resting only the wrists on the altar.
64. Don't uncover the chalice before the genuflection following the elevation of the
Host.
65. Don't take the chalice with the right hand only at the words accipiens et hunc
praeclarum calicem; don't allow the chalice to touch nose or mouth when
pronouncing the form, or tilt it over towards you, or rest the chalice on the altar
while saying the words of consecration.
66. Don't forget, while elevating the Host or chalice, to keep the eyes fixed on them ;
don't elevate or lower them too quickly; don't forget to raise them higher than
the head so that they can be seen by the people (ostendit populo are the words of
the rubric) ; don't raise the Host or chalice directly over the head instead of

4
 vertically over their position on the corporal, or hold the Host or chalice for
some time stationary in the air instead of lowering them immediately though
slowly and reverently. Don't delay the words Haec quotiescumque, etc.., instead of
saying them immediately after the words of consecration, while genuflecting.
Don't genuflect clumsily or too hastily, and don't forget to touch the ground
with the right knee.
67. Don't forget, except while touching the Host, to keep the thumb and index finger
of each hand joined from the consecration to the purification of the fingers ;
don't touch the Host with fingers other than the index finger and thumb.
68. Don't place the hands completely on the altar table when resting them joined on
the altar, instead of applying the tips of the little fingers to the front edge of the
altar and allowing the extremities of the next fingers to rest on the table.
69. Don't pause at the memento of the dead where the letters N.N. appear instead of
after the words et dormiunt in somno pacis. Don't say the words Memento, Domine,
etc., in an audible voice.
70. Don't strike the breast or touch the chasuble with the joined index finger and
thumb instead of with the three other fingers only at the Nobis quoque
peccatoribus, Agnus Dei and Domine non sum dignus.
71. Don't bow the head while saying the Nobis quoque peccatoribus, or say the words
in a loud instead of a middle voice, or sigh out the words famulis tuis, which
should be secret. Don't insert Amen before the per quem haec omnia.
72. Don't omit to bow to the Blessed Sacrament at the Oremus before the praeceptis
salutaribus, etc., or don't say these latter words with extended hands. Don't forget
to keep the eyes fixed on the Host during the Pater noster.
73. Don't forget to place the left hand under the breast when making the sign of the
cross with the paten. Don't kiss the paten at the lower part or on the edge, or rub
the paten on the chasuble or the sleeve of the alb after kissing it.
74. Don't purify the fingers after touching the Host by rubbing them one after the
other on the brim of the chalice. Don't forget to keep the eyes fixed on the Host
during the prayers after the Agnus Dei.
75. Don't lean the left arm on the altar and turn half round to the right at the Domine
non sum dignus. Don't say these words in a loud instead of a middle voice.
76. Don't go higher than the forehead in making the vertical line, nor beyond the
limits of the paten in making the transverse line, when making the sign of the
cross with the Host before Communion.
77. Don't be too careful or too careless in collecting the fragments before receiving
the chalice.
78. Don't make a noise with the lips while receiving the chalice, or turn the eyes up,
or receive by sips instead of in one draught, or turn the chalice almost upside
down when receiving.
79. Don't let the chalice rest on the altar while reaching out for the wine to purify the
chalice, or hold the chalice outside the altar when there is no necessity.
80. Don't hold up the chalice in one hand when folding the corporal.
81. Don't allow the server, though a cleric, to cover and arrange the chalice.