So, How Many C&e Catholics At Your Parish Tonight?

[loveletslive]

sort of off topic, but i noticed all the protestant churches i drove past this morning on my way to Mass were closed.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Micah' timestamp='1293313527' post='2194426']
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.
[/quote]
how do you know they are not there for the right reasons? because something struck them funny. my parents snicker during Mass if my kids (or anyone else's) are being silly. they go to daily Mass. and if someone is fidgeting, perhaps they are not used to sitting still for that long? always think the best of others intentions instead of the worst.

pardon me if you were not making fun of them.

[quote name='loveletslive' timestamp='1293323816' post='2194435']
sort of off topic, but i noticed all the protestant churches i drove past this morning on my way to Mass were closed.
[/quote]
that's because most of them had Christmas Eve Mass instead. (at least here).

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='loveletslive' timestamp='1293323816' post='2194435']
sort of off topic, but i noticed all the protestant churches i drove past this morning on my way to Mass were closed.
[/quote]


[quote name='Lil Red' timestamp='1293329186' post='2194442']that's because most of them had Christmas Eve Mass instead. (at least here).
[/quote]
What she said... except not "Mass."

[Lil Red]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' timestamp='1293332078' post='2194454']
What she said... except not "Mass."
[/quote]
haha! good catch. lol.

[loveletslive]

i asked my protestant friend why they don't have "service" on Christmas and she couldn't tell me why. i'm guessing the reason is so the pastor can spend time with his family instead of at church. i understand, but i still think it's lame they take Christmas day "off"

[Norseman82]

Well, our Midnight Mass was moved to 10 PM - attendance was about that of an average Sunday Mass.

However, we had our first Polish Christmas Mass at noon, and it was more heavily attended than the Midnight Mass.

[quote name='loveletslive' timestamp='1293336836' post='2194464']
i asked my protestant friend why they don't have "service" on Christmas and she couldn't tell me why. i'm guessing the reason is so the pastor can spend time with his family instead of at church. i understand, but i still think it's lame they take Christmas day "off"
[/quote]

There was a thread on this some time back:

http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=43991

[Micah]

[quote name='Lil Red' timestamp='1293329186' post='2194442']
how do you know they are not there for the right reasons? because something struck them funny. my parents snicker during Mass if my kids (or anyone else's) are being silly. they go to daily Mass. and if someone is fidgeting, perhaps they are not used to sitting still for that long? always think the best of others intentions instead of the worst.

pardon me if you were not making fun of them.


that's because most of them had Christmas Eve Mass instead. (at least here).
[/quote]

w.e red. When people call themselves Catholic and can't say the Lord's prayer, or decide to take the Eucharist when they know perfectly well they never attend mass I'm not going to wave it off and say it's all gravy. Because it's not. If you think the best of everyone, you'd think that I was concerned about the frequency of this at Christmas and Easter, not chide me on it.

[ThePenciledOne]

[quote name='Micah' timestamp='1293401905' post='2194506']
w.e red. When people call themselves Catholic and can't say the Lord's prayer, or decide to take the Eucharist when they know perfectly well they never attend mass I'm not going to wave it off and say it's all gravy. Because it's not. If you think the best of everyone, you'd think that I was concerned about the frequency of this at Christmas and Easter, not chide me on it.
[/quote]

Breath sir.

The Saints are able to maintain both accountability and charity for the rest of humanity. I would use examples, but I am sure we can all come up with them on our own.

So, it's a balance of both, seeing all those people at Mass, Praise God! If they aren't at Mass the next Sunday then you hold them accountable, but don't judge them while they are there.

Edited December 26, 2010 by ThePenciledOne

[Vincent Vega]

[quote name='ThePenciledOne' timestamp='1293402119' post='2194508']
Breath sir.

The Saints are able to maintain both accountability and charity for the rest of humanity. I would use examples, but I am sure we can all come up with them on our own.

So, it's a balance of both, seeing all those people at Mass, Praise God! If they aren't at Mass the next Sunday then you hold them accountable, but don't judge them while they are there.
[/quote]

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Micah' timestamp='1293401905' post='2194506']
w.e red. When people call themselves Catholic and can't say the Lord's prayer, or decide to take the Eucharist when they know perfectly well they never attend mass I'm not going to wave it off and say it's all gravy. Because it's not. If you think the best of everyone, you'd think that I was concerned about the frequency of this at Christmas and Easter, not chide me on it.
[/quote]
the answer is to catechize, catechize, catechize. not deride people when they don't know better. when people haven't been taught what the Eucharist (because priests won't preach on it); when people don't know the Lord's Prayer because their parents think it's the Church's job to teach their kids religion (instead of realizing that's the parents' primary job); when people don't think that Mass is important; the problem is priests that refuse or are reluctant to teach those who are within that parish and the neighborhood.

Did I ever say it was gravy? Nope. I said thank goodness for moments of conversion that are afforded to each one of us each and every single day, and especially to those that come only on Christmas and Easter. that also means the rest of us better be on our game and welcome them in, not assume someone else is gonna do it.

[vee]

As a former C&E Catholic, some years I skipped one or both entirely, I now look back with embarrassment on how stupid I was and how much I offended God with the sacrilegious Communions I received. Now I pray for the grace of conversion of heart for anyone who was like me and offer reparation for any offenses they may be causing God but I also know what they are going through and I thank God everyday for the graces and mercy I have, and continue to, receive. Its a daily yes and I never take for granted that I will even be at Mass next week so strong are the temptations to leave it all sometimes.

[vee]

To answer how many possible C&E Catholics there were at my parish... I dunno I was out of town visiting family and attending Mass there. The Mass was a Byzantine rite Mass so guess who looked like they had no idea what was gong on. Aaah gong to Mass in unfamiliar parishes, and unfamiliar rites, good for the humility.

[Semper Catholic]

Once you are baptized you can't become "un-Catholic" no matter how many services you fail to attend. Furthermore I know plenty of people who refrain from attending mass due to the direction the church is headed, and how it has handled itself in recent years. That certainly does not make them any less worthy of Jesus' praise and forgiveness.

[Vincent Vega]

[quote name='Semper Catholic' timestamp='1293410425' post='2194543']
Once you are baptized you can't become "un-Catholic" no matter how many services you fail to attend.[/quote]
I was with you to here.
[quote]
Furthermore I know plenty of people who refrain from attending mass due to the direction the church is headed, and how it has handled itself in recent years. That certainly does not make them any less worthy of Jesus' praise and forgiveness.
[/quote]
It might not make them less worthy of forgiveness, but it definitely puts their souls in a precarious posture.

[Micah]

[quote name='ThePenciledOne' timestamp='1293402119' post='2194508']
Breath sir.

[b]The Saints are able to maintain both accountability and charity for the rest of humanity[/b]. I would use examples, but I am sure we can all come up with them on our own.

So, it's a balance of both, seeing all those people at Mass, Praise God! If they aren't at Mass the next Sunday then you hold them accountable, but don't judge them while they are there.
[/quote]

Nope. If that were the case, everyone would be saved. Saying something is wrong is a far cry from judging someone.

[color=#595959][font=arial, verdana, sans-serif][size=4][quote]Once you are baptized you can't become "un-Catholic" no matter how many services you fail to attend. Furthermore I know plenty of people who refrain from attending mass due to the direction the church is headed, and how it has handled itself in recent years. That certainly does not make them any less worthy of Jesus' praise and forgiveness.[/quote][/size][/font][/color]
[color=#595959][font=arial, verdana, sans-serif][size=4]
[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#595959][font=arial, verdana, sans-serif][size=4]No such thing as once saved always saved semper. Catholics practice, and if someone stops attending Mass they cannot blame the Church. When we see a hole in a ship, we patch it. We don't bail out. None of us are worthy for Jesus' praise and forgiveness dude. [/size][/font][/color]