A few questions for the Episcopalians

[PattyPryor]

Hi!

As seen in a previous thread I am starting to church hop I want to learn about other faiths. That being said I feel like my first stop should be the Episcopalian Church. From what I have read it is very close to the Catholic Mass- as in terminology and such.

Anyway I do have a few questions because I have prior commitments tomorrow and I need to know which is the best service to attend.

I visited one of the churches and the lady told me to come back 10 A.m. Sunday. They only have one Mass. I am not aware if it is a high or low mass.

The second church I walked into today I fell COMPLETELY in love with. Very pretty and holy! Words cannot discribe it- breathtaking! On Sunday they have a low mass at 8 and a high mass at 10:15. I have a commitment at 11:30 and about a 20 min ride home so I would need to get out around 11:10 or 11:15 at the laest if I chose to go.

I think the low mass would be the one that would work within my commitment. Otherwise I was going to go to another church and attend the other the following week.

Is mass usually an hour if it is a high mass?

What is the difference with high and low mass?

As a Catholic should I not take communion?

Thank you so much!

 

[Religio71]

There are some nice Episcopalian churches and cathedrals. I should stop in St. John Divine in NYC at some point. There’s also St. Mary the Virgin Church, called “Smokey Mary’s” because of the permanent smell of incense there.

Sigh, if only Episcopalians could go back to this instead of the mess that is characteristic of the church.

stmvirgin.org/

Enjoy!

 

[Religio71]

Oh and do NOT take communion. The only other Church Catholics can take communion in is the Orthodox Church, and that is only under certain circumstances, and with permission of one of their bishops.

 

[ricko]

And, going to mass at an Episcopal church does not fulfil your obligation for Sunday Mass.

 

[GKC]

Hi!

As seen in a previous thread I am starting to church hop I want to learn about other faiths. That being said I feel like my first stop should be the Episcopalian Church. From what I have read it is very close to the Catholic Mass- as in terminology and such.

Anyway I do have a few questions because I have prior commitments tomorrow and I need to know which is the best service to attend.

I visited one of the churches and the lady told me to come back 10 A.m. Sunday. They only have one Mass. I am not aware if it is a high or low mass.

The second church I walked into today I fell COMPLETELY in love with. Very pretty and holy! Words cannot discribe it- breathtaking! On Sunday they have a low mass at 8 and a high mass at 10:15. I have a commitment at 11:30 and about a 20 min ride home so I would need to get out around 11:10 or 11:15 at the laest if I chose to go.

I think the low mass would be the one that would work within my commitment. Otherwise I was going to go to another church and attend the other the following week.

Is mass usually an hour if it is a high mass?

What is the difference with high and low mass?

As a Catholic should I not take communion?

Thank you so much!

I’m not an Episcopalian; I’m an Anglican. I will pass over the distinction.

I would suggest being very careful in attending an Episcopal service. Some may indeed look a great deal like a RC Mass, esp. if the priest is not female, which is quite possible. If that matters to you, I’d look elsewhere.

In my Anglican Mass, I can expect around 1 hour 20 mins, for a low Mass, and maybe a little longer for a high Mass. Partly it depends on which of our priests does the sermon.

Low Mass is a simpler liturgy, often straight from the Prayer Book, perhaps with some supplements from the Missal. High Mass is more elaborate, with chanting, incense perhaps, the priest assisted by a deacon and subdeacon. Takes more time, too.

All this description assumes a reasonably traditional approach to the Mass. I can’t guarantee you will find that. Most likely, whichever book is used, it will seem reasonably familiar, to either the Tridentine or the Novus Ordo.

As a Roman Catholic, you would be welcome to receive the sacrament, but as a Roman Catholic you must not do so.

GKC

 

[VARC]

Is mass usually an hour if it is a high mass?

What is the difference with high and low mass?

As a Catholic should I not take communion?

Thank you so much!

A High mass is a service with singing and and low masses is just read. A high mass takes approximately an hour and 30 minutes. All baptized christians are welcome to receive communion in the episcopal church but roman catholic church considers that to be a mortal sin.

 

[PattyPryor]

A High mass is a service with singing and and low masses is just read. A high mass takes approximately an hour and 30 minutes. All baptized christians are welcome to receive communion in the episcopal church but roman catholic church considers that to be a mortal sin.

Thank you I think I will attend the High Mass in 2 weeks

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Hi Patty,

Refresh my memory as to why you’re doing this church-hopping? Are you writing a thesis paper or thinking of leaving Catholicism or…?? I’m not disparaging you for doing this, I want you to know, but I’m just confused as to the purpose. If you’re a happy Catholic, this really will not accomplish much IMO.

I have found that when I go back to my old Anglican parish and listen to the pious, enthusiastic, beautiful liturgy they have there, I only look at my own Catholic parish and sigh…

Going to all these services will only serve to make you analyze the weaknesses of your own church and trust me, they aren’t going to change (!!) so what’s the point?

 

[PattyPryor]

I’m looking to get a job in ministry. One that serves all religions- a Chaplin in a hospital and I want to know about all of them so I can better serve whom I am helping.

I will bite my tounge about the problems part- PM if you really want I’m not going to discuss it here

 

[pipper]

Patty I am a Catholic now former Episcopalian. In most Episcopal chruches the early Mass will be what is called Rite I, which is the older style speach complete with thees and thous, and untos. I have to confess this is my favorite style of worship.

The later Mass will be likely Rite II, which uses more common everyday speach.

You should be aware that only very “high churches” use the term Mass at all, most Episcopal churches will use Eucharist, or Holy Communion.

Another thing to be aware of is that quite a few Episcopal churches will not have Mass or Eucharist every Sunday. A lot of them alternate between Mass and Morning Prayer, which is the E word for the monastic hours.

A very few of them will only have Mass the first Sunday of the month, and morning prayer the rest of the time. Theses “low churches” may have no candles or at most two, and the clergy will not wear the vestment we are used to, just a surplice or alb, and stole.

 

[7_Sorrows]

i also was wondering why you were church hopping. so you say you want to become a minister?

i would definitely start with the episcopal church. i am assuming you are female and there is not a future as a minister in the Catholic church for you.

are you sure you are willing to give up your Catholic faith?

 

[PattyPryor]

i also was wondering why you were church hopping. so you say you want to become a minister?

i would definitely start with the episcopal church. i am assuming you are female and there is not a future as a minister in the Catholic church for you.

are you sure you are willing to give up your Catholic faith?

I’m going to be a Chaplin in a hospital. I’m not going to be a minister. I have no clue why you all keep asking me why I am church hopping. I have every right as an american and I have to laugh because I have a strong enough faith to be able to see how others worship and still attend my own church.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I’m going to be a Chaplin in a hospital. I’m not going to be a minister. I have no clue why you all keep asking me why I am church hopping. I have every right as an american and I have to laugh because I have a strong enough faith to be able to see how others worship and still attend my own church.

so you want to learn about other people’s faith to help you in your work as a chaplain in a hospital, is that correct? i am not sure what it requires to be a Chaplain. (not sure of the spelling either)
i can definitely see how it would help to visit other churches and see how others worship.
in that case, i suppose you could start anywhere.