Mass

[Angelus00]

Humble,

Maybe next time, try to not try so hard. Ummm, just listen and don't think that you have to DO anything right now. Just listen to what's be said/sung/prayed. And keep going and going and going. Ya know, familiarity breeds, ummm familiarity. See if anyone in your RCIA session has a Sunday Missel and ask em to explain it to you. We spent one entire session going through the Missal and the Missalette. Also, try looking at the missalette before Mass starts. You can find the readings and read them, then you might not feel such a need to read along. I try not to, cuz it's distracting for me. Anyway, just some thoughts. Peace

 

[Caedmon]

It's so hard not to read the book! *argh*... I want to be doing something really bad. I feel like a moron if I don't do the stuff. I was so upset last time. *sigh*... I wish they would make it easier to follow. It's beginning to feel very clique-ish, like, if I wasn't born into to it, well that's just tough. You'd think they would give you a comprehensively detailed information sheet or bulletin or something. I've had that at all the other churches I've been to. And why don't they show the music lines for the little song things? I can read music! Let me see the music! lol... I swear... I mean, a lady told me, "Look at the board with the numbers on it." Umm, ok, that would help if the numbers actually matched what we were doing. I couldn't find a matching page or song for those numbers. Aye caramba...

 

[kern]

You should go to one of the public rosary sessions before the Mass. Maybe that will make things a bit calmer and you can relax a little more an enjoy the Mass

-Chris

 

[pax]

Originally posted by humblejoe
It's so hard not to read the book! *argh*... I want to be doing something really bad. I feel like a moron if I don't do the stuff. I was so upset last time. *sigh*... I wish they would make it easier to follow. It's beginning to feel very clique-ish, like, if I wasn't born into to it, well that's just tough. You'd think they would give you a comprehensively detailed information sheet or bulletin or something. I've had that at all the other churches I've been to. And why don't they show the music lines for the little song things? I can read music! Let me see the music! lol... I swear... I mean, a lady told me, "Look at the board with the numbers on it." Umm, ok, that would help if the numbers actually matched what we were doing. I couldn't find a matching page or song for those numbers. Aye caramba...

The nice thing about Mass is that it rarely changes.  Each one follows the same pattern (except on some holy days [for instance, on Passion Sunday there is a Gospel reading prior to the processional in addition to the reading of the Passion Narrative]). 

You will find that most parts will never change.  Songs like the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might...) never change.  Even if no choir is present the song will be said.  The Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) also never changes.  If your Church sings the Kyrie Eleison (Lord have Mercy) or the Gloria (Glory to God in the highest...) at the beginning that will also never change (with the exception of Advent and Lent where the Gloria is not sung or recited).  It all sound sooooooooo confusing at first, but after awhile it all starts to make sense.  Whenever the Priest says "the Lord be with you," the response is "and also with you."  I can see where you get confused.  The reason Churches don't provide detailed information for each Mass is that it never really changes. 

Your RCIA program should be informing you about what exactly is going on at the Mass.  You may want to bring it up and ask how exactly to follow along in the misallette.  Honestly, after a few tries it becomes easier.  You may also want to consider trying Daily Mass (which normally does not have all the elements of a Sunday Mass.  The Creed and Gloria are usually not included and it is shorter.  There is also only one reading in addition to the Gospel and Responsorial Psalm), but does include much of the normal stuff that may get you a little more used to it.

 

[pax]

This link may also be of some interest.  I did a quick search and I came up with a website that has the Novus Ordo Mass in English and in Latin on it.  It only has one of the Eucharistic Prayers, but it may be helpful to look over to understand the order of the Mass.  (This is also a minor thing, but after the readings the "This is" the word of the Lord is left in on this website.  For a better translation of the Latin "Verbum Domini" the "This is" has been eliminated in most places.)

http://www.latinliturgy.com/nomass.html

 

[Stormy]

Humbel Joe : Hi. I did not think that going to Church could be so stressful. I have not ever been to mass. I have only watched on TV. That's not the same at all. I am sure when I go I will not know anymore than you do. I think you need to relax and take your mind off of yourself. Let the words and songs of the others soak into your soul. Listen, watch, and enjoy.

I have no problem believing the wine and the bread are really Christ. It is not because the Church tells me so, but rather because Jesus in his word has said that it is true.

 

[marciadietrich]

Hello Joe,

It isn't unusual to be a bit lost during the Mass.  You might check online for a text on the order of the mass.  Memorize prayers or at least familiarize yourself with some like the Nicene creed, Glory to God (Gloria), there are four variations on the mystery of faith ... knowing those will help too.   I have a children's guide to the mass that I found helpful... whatever works.

Oh and be prepared sometimes you just say the Gloria or Our Father... other times you sing it.  I found it very hard to sing the Our Father... seemed so slow.

God bless and keep going, it just takes time to become more familiar with what is happening.

Marcia

 

 

 

[Caedmon]

Originally posted by kern
You should go to one of the public rosary sessions before the Mass. Maybe that will make things a bit calmer and you can relax a little more an enjoy the Mass

I don't think they have one before each mass. In fact, I think they only do a public Rosary one time during the year.

 

[Caedmon]

Originally posted by pax
The reason Churches don't provide detailed information for each Mass is that it never really changes.

Well I wish they would. It is so confusing!

You may also want to consider trying Daily Mass

I don't think they have those. Our parish is small and we don't have a resident priest. Well... I think they have some kind of thing about two other times during the week other than Saturday. I will have to check when it is though in case I am in class.(I leave the house at 6:30am and get back at 3pm)

 

[Caedmon]

Well, I went to Candlemas tonight. I didn't know what it was until I got there. It was pretty cool though. Father gave me a good shot in the face of holy water. I had to wipe my face off. It was kind of startling, but hey, it was ok. And I got to take home the blessed candle, so that was a plus.

I tried not to try so hard tonight. I just listened most of the time. I still feel uncomfortable though. I feel like a dummy. *sigh* Oh well...

I still don't feel the Eucharist. I got a blessing though. I like getting blessed. It makes me feel warm. It's so amazing, that Father is willing to make actual physical contact with me, that he will cross my forehead with his thumb, so special... I love it very much.

I guess that's it, other than I asked about the Cursillo that's coming up. I wonder if I'll make that. I don't know if they'll let me go, since I'm not a practicing Catholic, not "free to receive the Sacraments", so the application goes... *sigh* Anyways, thanks for listening to me ramble. Talk later...

 

[kern]

Not all churches do the blessings...a friend of mine tried to get one and the priest told her "This isn't a multi-purpose line", which I thought was kind of rude. But I guess they are not required to do this.

-Chris

 

[Pure_Catholic]

HJ....you're right. The Mass is, unfortunatly, rushed most of the time. It is so much more meaninful and it seems like it so much more real when the priest takes his time saying the Mass. I went to Mass the other day in Washington DC and we went to this Church where it took the priest about 25 minutes to say Mass! Grrrr...He held the challace up for about a second before he put it back down.
The misselette isn't that hard once you learn the order. The first section is the Litergy of the Word. That's where the readings come. You just find whatever day it is in the misselette (it's always in the front part of the book...) and then you'll have the first part of the Mass covered. The Second part gets more tricky. I dont' like following along, it's confussing for me too. I've just learned the prayers and once you go a couple times you'll figure out the pattern. Once you've got it down, no more misselette!

There are alot of books that you can get to explain the Mass. One that particularly for Catholics but would probably work for you is called, "Mass Confussion" It explains the stuff that happens in the Mass, and why it happens. www.tanbooks.com --they are a big Catholic Publishing company. I'm sure you can find something there.

I hope that helped a little! I'll be praying for you!!
God Bless,
Erin

 

[isshinwhat]

That is terrible, Kern!

 

[Caedmon]

Originally posted by kern
Not all churches do the blessings...a friend of mine tried to get one and the priest told her "This isn't a multi-purpose line", which I thought was kind of rude. But I guess they are not required to do this.

If that happened to me, I wouldn't be going back to that church. You know, it's a sad, sad thing that the reason a person would be turned off from Catholicism is because a priest is too prideful to allow some leeway for those that hunger and search. I think I'd have to have a conference with his Deacons and Bishop.

 

[pax]

Joe, I'm not sure if you saw this in my earlier post, but I did find a link with the order of the Mass online @ http://www.latinliturgy.com/nomass.html . There is an English column and a Latin column (I haven't checked out the rest of the site, but I'm guessing they are a little bit more on the "traditionalist" side). It only includes one Eucharistic prayer (there are four normal ones plus a few for "various needs and special occasions." The one on the website is very common for many Masses). It also follows a slightly older English translation so some things such as the lector's "This is" in the "This is the Word of the Lord" have been since deleted from the missal for a better English translation of the actual latin texts (more changes likely in the next few years). In any case reading through it may help you become more familiar with the responses, etc...

 

[pax]

Also, did anyone else notice how many major feasts fall on Sundays this year? I was looking through my lector's book last night and the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, Exaltation of the Holy Cross, All Souls Day, Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, Presentation of the Lord, and possibly more take the place of Sundays in Ordinary Time this year. I didn't think there were usually that many. It's nice to have interruptions in the green every now and then.

 

[Caedmon]

pax, I can't believe how involved you are in the mass and stuff at such a young age. I don't know if you know her, but Pure Catholic is also very involved in understanding the mass. It kind of makes me sad though, since I wasn't raised in it. Sometimes I grieve over not having been raised Catholic, but oh well... what are you gonna do?

 

[pax]

Originally posted by humblejoe
pax, I can't believe how involved you are in the mass and stuff at such a young age. I don't know if you know her, but Pure Catholic is also very involved in understanding the mass.

I can't say I know her personally, but I have run into her on the boards a few times.  The mass is such a miracle, sometimes it just takes time to realize it (it took me about five years)

 

It kind of makes me sad though, since I wasn't raised in it. Sometimes I grieve over not having been raised Catholic, but oh well... what are you gonna do?

Don't be sad, many people have come to Catholicism later in their lives.  There can be a lot of "procedural" things to learn, but everything done and said at Mass is important.  Everything means something.  If you want to do more research, try the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  The link below is the section on the Eucharist.

http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/euch1.html#EUCHARIST

Also, EWTN's website has a lot of information on the Eucharist.  Here is a link:  http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/euchmenu.htm .  You may be more interested in the Scriptural references section.  There is a lot of information to digest so take your time.  Your not expected to learn everything over night.

Finally, if none of that is making any sense to you, just go to a Catholic Church and kneel in front of the Tabernacle and listen to what God may be trying to tell you.  Just listen.  If your parish has a Holy Hour (when the Eucharist is exposed for Public Adoration and the priest/deacon usually leads people in various prayers and Eucharistic hymns.  There is a lot of incense and it usually ends with Benediction [a blessing given by our Eucharistic Lord himself!]) you may want to try that.

Pax

 

[Caedmon]

Originally posted by pax
[a blessing given by our Eucharistic Lord himself!]

What does that mean?

 

[Pure_Catholic]

you know when you go up in the communion line to recieve a blessing? The priest gives you a blessing. Well, during benediction, Jesus himself gives you a Blessing. The Priest holds up the monstrance (with Jesus in it, of course) and makes the sign of the cross. You should check it out sometime! (usually they ring the bells when this happens, so you won't be able to miss it!)

Actually, there are alot of kids our age that are very strong in their faith! They all usually stick together, so, if you find one, you've more than likely found more!! By the way, the more I learn about the Mass, the more I realize I don't know! Same goes with my faith! There is so much out there!

I have a story for you. Mother Angelica (the founder of EWTN) actually told this story...
One day she recieved a phone call from a lady (we'll call her Susie)that said she was an agnostic but, loved listening to Mother Angelica. Anyway, they started writing letters to one another. In one letter, Mother Angelica asked Susie if she would just go into a Catholic Church and sit there and say, "God, if you're really truly there, prove it to me."
A couple weeks later, Mother got a letter back. Susie said that she went to a Catholic Church just like Mother asked. She went in and sat down but, before she got a chance to ask her question, she heard some commotion in the little room located on the side of the alter. She figured it was just the priest, but after the noise continued, she decided to go see what it was. She walked up and peaked her head into the room and saw a lady all dressed in blue holding a man who was dying. She looked at Susie and said, "Look what they have done to my Son!"

I know that really doesn't go with what you are all talking about, but, when pax said to go into a Catholic Church and just sit there for a little while, that's what I thought of.

Your sister in Christ, Erin