Micah Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 They flooded the place at mine! Me and this nice little lady beside me were the only people that knew any of the prayers and responses. I found it really funny when I went to give each other the sign of peace, and everyone around me was like huh, don't touch me!? lol, except one guy who had no idea what to do but he was totally in the Christmas spirit. He was like "Merry Christmas Merry Christmas!" shaking everyone's hand. Good on him. But then things got serious, when I noticed the two guys my age in front of me didn't even know the words to the Lord's prayer, and their grandmother looked sorely disappointed in them. Then it got even worse when I went up for communion. The people around me were debating whether to go up like "Are you Catholic Enough? I dunno, let's just go!" The priest reallyyy should have told them not to go up unless they were in good standing with God. All in all though, it was an amazing Midnight Mass! We sang, we prayed, all the girls had flowers in their hair! Goin to bed now. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/yahoo.gif[/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tnavarro61 Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 Went to the Carmelite Monastery this morning and [as usual] it's almost full Unfortunately many wore inappropriate clothings. I'm surprised to see a lot of ladies, from children to old aged women, wearing skimpy dresses. Guys wore shorts. The Catholic Church in the Philippines has a dress code, but many won't fellow. "I have the right to wear what I want." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maggyie Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 Our cathedral parish was packed last night and it never is on an ordinary Sunday! I was so pleased to see all the souls who wanted to honor Jesus on His birthday, even if they don't have a strong relationship with Him. Maybe this Christmas will the be the start of something BIG for some of them!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixpence Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 i'd say about 80% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holly.o Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 [quote name='Maggie' timestamp='1293284377' post='2194398'] Our cathedral parish was packed last night and it never is on an ordinary Sunday! I was so pleased to see all the souls who wanted to honor Jesus on His birthday, even if they don't have a strong relationship with Him. Maybe this Christmas will the be the start of something BIG for some of them!! [/quote] I hope so, too, Maggie Glory to God in the highest... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dominicansoul Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 went to an earlier vigil Mass @ 6 p.m. at my university's Catholic Student Center. No one knows it exists, except for those who are anchored there, so there were no newbies, except for extended family members and the like. The Midnight Mass I went to, though was an entirely different story. At the parish I went to, I recognized the signs of those who have no clue what the Mass is all about, and it could be irritating, but I found myself thinking of the Baby Jesus, and how He's the reason why they are there. For some reason, those families find themselves attracted to Mass on Christmas and Easter. What keeps them coming? I can only figure it is Jesus Himself, and He's working on these souls. I couldn't help but notice that the family in front of me was visibly touched by Father's homily (he's an excellent homilist.) I also noticed this family went up to receive Holy Communion...and I kept praying, that in the case they really aren't active Catholics.....as wrong as that may have been, Jesus would touch them in some way, be the LIGHT in their darkness and wake them up to realize that He's calling them to live a full-life, and not just on Christmas and Easter..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 at least they cared enough to go. thank goodness for moments of conversion that are given us at Christmas and Easter. thank goodness we all have that opportunity to turn to Christ anew. God bless them. I'm glad they went. I won't be making fun of them for going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 [quote name='dominicansoul' timestamp='1293288387' post='2194401'] The Midnight Mass I went to, though was an entirely different story. At the parish I went to, I recognized the signs of those who have no clue what the Mass is all about, and it could be irritating, but I found myself thinking of the Baby Jesus, and how He's the reason why they are there. For some reason, those families find themselves attracted to Mass on Christmas and Easter. What keeps them coming? I can only figure it is Jesus Himself, and He's working on these souls. I couldn't help but notice that the family in front of me was visibly touched by Father's homily (he's an excellent homilist.) I also noticed this family went up to receive Holy Communion...and I kept praying, that in the case they really aren't active Catholics.....as wrong as that may have been, Jesus would touch them in some way, be the LIGHT in their darkness and wake them up to realize that He's calling them to live a full-life, and not just on Christmas and Easter..... [/quote] AMEN!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wikitiki Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 At our Midnight Mass, there was hardly any that seemed to obviously have no idea what they were doing. I'm used to going to Vigil or Daytime Mass for Christmas, so I'm probably just being fooled by the lack of being absolutely surrounded by newbies/once-a-year-ers. I was so glad, because I tend to not be able to keep my mind/body language in check around those kinds of people, even though I've been trying to remember that this could be a big turning point in their lives. Hostility can only hurt. I need to pray at least one rosary today for people who only come to mass on Christmas/Easter, especially for the ones making sacrilegious Communions. (And for more charity toward them, eesh...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 There were quite a few people I didn't know at Midnight Mass, but pretty much everyone knew what they were doing, except for a guy who (very loudly) started saying "for thine is...." after the Lord's prayer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 [quote name='Lil Red' timestamp='1293289681' post='2194403'] at least they cared enough to go. thank goodness for moments of conversion that are given us at Christmas and Easter. thank goodness we all have that opportunity to turn to Christ anew. God bless them. I'm glad they went. I won't be making fun of them for going. [/quote] This. We were having a discussion about how many Americans go to church for Christmas... not just Catholics-- all Americans. Dh guessed about 60% and I said I thought he was way too high. But... according to a Gallop poll, 62% of Americans include going to church in their Christmas celebration. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/12/24/Poll-19-of-20-Americans-observe-Christmas/UPI-34361293208465/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePenciledOne Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 Another decent comparison of the Christmas Catholics is the fact of those that went to go see Jesus at the first Christmas. I doubt the Shepards would have showed up if the Angels had not told them... So, as some have already said, Praise God that so many bothered to get ready and come to Christmas Eve or Christmas Day Mass. Let it all be for God, and not our judgment that the Churches are packed at least twice a year. Merry Christmas everyone!!! : ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 It happens in Canada too. If we had that many people every Sunday, we'd be the richest parish instead of the poorest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted December 25, 2010 Author Share Posted December 25, 2010 [quote name='Wikitiki' timestamp='1293301493' post='2194414'] At our Midnight Mass, there was hardly any that seemed to obviously have no idea what they were doing. I'm used to going to Vigil or Daytime Mass for Christmas, so I'm probably just being fooled by the lack of being absolutely surrounded by newbies/once-a-year-ers. I was so glad, because I tend to not be able to keep my mind/body language in check around those kinds of people, even though I've been trying to remember that this could be a big turning point in their lives. Hostility can only hurt. I need to pray at least one rosary today for people who only come to mass on Christmas/Easter, especially for the ones making sacrilegious Communions. (And for more charity toward them, eesh...) [/quote] Yep. I'm in the same boat. I wasn't making fun of anyone, as I think someone may have like inferred. For me, it's a time of hope but also frustration. For example, one of the girls behind me looked like she may have had a serious life-changing experience. She was really into it. However, other people were snickering and talking, fidgeting etc. Jesus' birthday exposes him to the world. And with that comes good and bad. With some people we ought to dust off our sandles and accept that they are not there for the right reasons. But if one person in a hundred is saved from last night's Mass, it is worth it bringing them into our Father's house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kafka Posted December 25, 2010 Share Posted December 25, 2010 (edited) We're usually packed every week, today and last night we were really packed. Today my choir sang this Ave Maria by Michael Perza. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM6TbXF4enQ[/media] So beautiful. I teared up while I was singing my tenor part. We also sang other goodies Merry Christmas everyone!!! Edited December 25, 2010 by kafka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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