I'm excited about Mass!

[URA]

As I've been looking more & more into the Biblical symbolism & importance of the Mass, I've been getting more & more enthusiastic about it! Tonight, I'm heading there with a friend for the Holy Day of Obligation, and God's graced me enough to be joyful about it, instead of what I did last year by just skipping it (I'm in college, so skipping or going has nothing to do with my parents making me go).

I was heading out with some friends for ice cream tonight, and still will be, but it's all delayed to make room for Mass--praise God for acceptance of Christianity!--and I'm sure there'll be questions, so please pray that we can broadcast God's glory through this situation.

Thank you, and God bless!

 

[Dicran]

Go with God ~ enjoy and worship with your friends ```

 

[GodsGrace101]

You'd like a book by Scott Hahn, who is great BTW.
He's a Catholic and has a PhD in theology.
"The Lamb's Supper"

He compares the Mass to Revelation. It was really good...I had a difficult time getting through it because I kept highlighting everything!

Nothing like what Protestants believe about that book.
In fact, I never liked it too much until I read his book. I still don't really like it, but I see it in a different way.

 

[GodsGrace101]

As I've been looking more & more into the Biblical symbolism & importance of the Mass, I've been getting more & more enthusiastic about it! Tonight, I'm heading there with a friend for the Holy Day of Obligation, and God's graced me enough to be joyful about it, instead of what I did last year by just skipping it (I'm in college, so skipping or going has nothing to do with my parents making me go).

I was heading out with some friends for ice cream tonight, and still will be, but it's all delayed to make room for Mass--praise God for acceptance of Christianity!--and I'm sure there'll be questions, so please pray that we can broadcast God's glory through this situation.

Thank you, and God bless!

Well, how'd it go?

 

[URA]

Well, how'd it go?

Quite well; a few other friends came that I didn't know were on campus yet, and a girl I don't really know that I didn't realize was Catholic, along with the friend I'd originally planned on going with. 5 of us were all together for it; it was great. Even just last year, I wouldn't have bothered with the Mass, and just skipped it, but as I've grown with God, I have a much deeper desire to do these things out of love for Him instead of an obligation, and the community that the Catholic students have with each other is wonderful! I'm very glad I went.

As for the others, they were fine with it, but didn't understand it; they made references to "the robe guy" (Father Bob), and Joey started saying, "Ravioli, ravioli, give me the Pope-a-rolli!". It was very interesting. I'm not sure how good a job I did at talking to them about the Mass--it was mostly my sarcastic friends making odd but good-natured comments about the Pope and robe guys--but I know that, simply by going to this Mass & showing that Church comes before ice cream, God still sent a good signal through me that says that there really is something to this whole Christ thing.

 

[GodsGrace101]

Quite well; a few other friends came that I didn't know were on campus yet, and a girl I don't really know that I didn't realize was Catholic, along with the friend I'd originally planned on going with. 5 of us were all together for it; it was great. Even just last year, I wouldn't have bothered with the Mass, and just skipped it, but as I've grown with God, I have a much deeper desire to do these things out of love for Him instead of an obligation, and the community that the Catholic students have with each other is wonderful! I'm very glad I went.

As for the others, they were fine with it, but didn't understand it; they made references to "the robe guy" (Father Bob), and Joey started saying, "Ravioli, ravioli, give me the Pope-a-rolli!". It was very interesting. I'm not sure how good a job I did at talking to them about the Mass--it was mostly my sarcastic friends making odd but good-natured comments about the Pope and robe guys--but I know that, simply by going to this Mass & showing that Church comes before ice cream, God still sent a good signal through me that says that there really is something to this whole Christ thing.

The Robe Guy!
Yeah. Acts 8:17 comes to mind, but if you look up verses about laying on of hands you'll find many. Jesus gave authority to the Apostles and they, in turn, passed it on to others. This is what is known as Apostolic succession. So Protestants hate to call them priests because the sacrificial system has been done away with and priests are no longer necessary, but at least they hold an authoritative position.

Your post is also very interesting because, although I'm basically Protestant in doctrine, I used to be Catholic and I also go to a catholic bible study since I have no prejudice and love both and each has its problems.

At this Catholic bible study, last week, we were discussing why young people don't go to Mass or participate at all. Most believe it's because their friends make fun of them. You seem to be confirming this but you stood for your beliefs and are to be commended for that.

Continue to follow God...He's your best friend. I've been Christian about 40 years and I don't know how persons that don't believe get along in life.

I'm happy you had such a good time and are able to laugh off your friend's remarks. They are pretty funny.

Blessings.

 

[URA]

The Robe Guy!
At this Catholic bible study, last week, we were discussing why young people don't go to Mass or participate at all. Most believe it's because their friends make fun of them. You seem to be confirming this but you stood for your beliefs and are to be commended for that.

They weren't so much making fun of me for it as they were just being sarcastic about everything as usual. These are the people who talk about Tazing someone who's having a heart attack when you don't have AEDs, and hold long discussions about Dyson spheres (a sphere of solar panels you put around the sun for infinite energy), such as "We should put a Dyson sphere around the moon, to capture all the sunlight that's reflected off!". They're the kind of people that make life even more interesting.

One comment they made that I (somehow) forgot about when doing the earlier post was when they were discussing chugging the Eucharistic wine, then getting alcohol poisoning; "How do you OD on Jesus?"

Sometimes, it's very hard to know what to say, but it was all in fun.

 

[URA]

Honestly, the more I look back at it, and hang out with my Catholic friends, the more I realize how strong a community the regular Catholics have. I'm sure part of it is because we're a much smaller group than the Protestants, but being able to talk about the Eucharist & the saints & going to these Holy Days of Obligation really form very strong bonds. I suppose part of it's also because we can talk about these things with each other without being questioned or attacked or just plain misunderstood, but whatever the reasons, I'm very thankful for my Catholic friends.

 

[GodsGrace101]

Honestly, the more I look back at it, and hang out with my Catholic friends, the more I realize how strong a community the regular Catholics have. I'm sure part of it is because we're a much smaller group than the Protestants, but being able to talk about the Eucharist & the saints & going to these Holy Days of Obligation really form very strong bonds. I suppose part of it's also because we can talk about these things with each other without being questioned or attacked or just plain misunderstood, but whatever the reasons, I'm very thankful for my Catholic friends.

Oh...
Dyson Spheres...yeah, let's make some coffee and chat about those!!
LOL

I get your point.
You know what? I think you're very lucky to have such nice friends and to have God in your life.

I used to teach kids our faith and I'd let them write this in their bibles:
Proverbs 3:5-6
5Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.

6In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.

And I do understand what you mean about feeling close to them because of attacks from the other side. I've personally stood on both sides and I don't understand the attacks. We're all following Jesus.

Blessings!