Went To Mass Sunday.

[ploomf]

So like the title says I went to Mass on Sunday. It was really beautiful. And really confusing. But mostly really beautiful. I knew enough not to go up for communion but I was lost for pretty much everything else. :p Question though, I noticed people crossing themselves with water and kneeling and crossing themselves before they entered the pews and after they left the pews. Was I supposed to do that? It's not considered disrespectful if I didn't is it? I tried to follow along with what everyone was saying but I got lost so I just sat and listened for the most part, I figure I'll get the hang of it eventually. But yeah, I really liked the Mass. 

[Nihil Obstat]

You do not have to imitate those other things you noticed, if you do not want to. The crossing with water is simply use of a sacramental- the water itself has been blessed at some time in the past, making it holy water, so we use it in turn to bless ourselves with the grace that comes through the sacramental.

The genuflecting is a recognition of the Real Presence in the Eucharist which is reserved in the tabernacle under normal circumstances.

So, certainly you can do those things if you would like to, but nobody would fault you for not doing them, if you do not believe as we do.

 

If I might ask, were there any particular parts of the Mass that especially struck you? :)

[ploomf]

Thanks for the explanation. :) It's hard to explain what I like the most, I guess it was the feeling I had at the end of it. Like you had really participated in something special. I think the part when the priest consecrated the Eucharist  touched me the most though, the reverence shown was beautiful and I don't know, there was just something that touched me during that part of Mass. It was really different from what I'm used to, Sacrament in the LDS church consisted of wonder bread and water and trying to forget that the little girl sitting next to you pawing through the tray for the biggest piece of bread was picking her nose 10 minutes ago (Ok that last one didn't happen every Sunday).  I really liked the whole thing though, even when I didn't have a clue what was going on. 

[Nihil Obstat]

I would say that is a good start. :) Do you think you will go back?

[Anastasia13]

Thanks for the explanation. :) It's hard to explain what I like the most, I guess it was the feeling I had at the end of it. Like you had really participated in something special. I think the part when the priest consecrated the Eucharist  touched me the most though, the reverence shown was beautiful and I don't know, there was just something that touched me during that part of Mass. It was really different from what I'm used to, Sacrament in the LDS church consisted of wonder bread and water and trying to forget that the little girl sitting next to you pawing through the tray for the biggest piece of bread was picking her nose 10 minutes ago (Ok that last one didn't happen every Sunday).  I really liked the whole thing though, even when I didn't have a clue what was going on. 

 

It was something special. :)

 

Did you get enough of an idea afterwards of what was going on?

[ploomf]

Yeah I think I'll go back again. :)

[ploomf]

It was something special. :)

 

Did you get enough of an idea afterwards of what was going on?

 

Yeah for the most part. I gave up trying to say all the responses the congregation had to give and just sat and listened for the most part. Next week hopefully I'll pick up a bit more. 

[TheLordsSouljah]

Hey bud! I just have to say that I love your simplicity and your total willingness to learn. Big compliment. God bless you!!! :) ;)

We also bless ourselves with the holy water in remembrance of our Baptism, because that's THE place that we really entered the Church. 

With genuflecting (the kneeling bit), it is really to the Real Presence of Christ that we are kneeling to. Pretty much like you would to a king in ages past. Though WAY more so. 

So good you went to Mass. Thanks for taking the time to experience it and see what happens. 

 

God bless bro! :)

[Papist]

So like the title says I went to Mass on Sunday. It was really beautiful. And really confusing. But mostly really beautiful. I knew enough not to go up for communion but I was lost for pretty much everything else. :P Question though, I noticed people crossing themselves with water and kneeling and crossing themselves before they entered the pews and after they left the pews. Was I supposed to do that? It's not considered disrespectful if I didn't is it? I tried to follow along with what everyone was saying but I got lost so I just sat and listened for the most part, I figure I'll get the hang of it eventually. But yeah, I really liked the Mass. 

 

Here is a free copy of Father Larry Richards' talk The Mass Explained. You can download or listen directing from this link.

 

http://www.catholicity.com/cds/mass.html

[Gabriela]

there was just something that touched me during that part of Mass. 

 

It was Jesus!  :smile3:

[Gabriela]

Yeah for the most part. I gave up trying to say all the responses the congregation had to give and just sat and listened for the most part. Next week hopefully I'll pick up a bit more. 

 

If you look, next time there may be a card in the little shelf in the back of the pew in front of you that has all the Mass responses on it. A lot of churches have those. Or if it's not in the back of the pew, you can look on a table as you enter the church.

[Basilisa Marie]

Thanks for the explanation. :) It's hard to explain what I like the most, I guess it was the feeling I had at the end of it. Like you had really participated in something special. I think the part when the priest consecrated the Eucharist  touched me the most though, the reverence shown was beautiful and I don't know, there was just something that touched me during that part of Mass. It was really different from what I'm used to, Sacrament in the LDS church consisted of wonder bread and water and trying to forget that the little girl sitting next to you pawing through the tray for the biggest piece of bread was picking her nose 10 minutes ago (Ok that last one didn't happen every Sunday).  I really liked the whole thing though, even when I didn't have a clue what was going on. 

 

Funny enough, that feeling of church being mundane is what a lot of cradle Catholics tend to experience, so I think it's wonderful that you're sharing your experiences with us.  :)