A Protestant in Italy for Easter

[N80]

Hello folks. I am a devout Christian. A Presbyterian protestant, with generations of Calvinist roots…but not anti-Catholic. I believe that the Church is the body of Christ and it comes in many forms.

In any case, I am going to be vacationing with my family in Parma, Italy during Easter and plan on attending church on Easter Sunday. I suspect the chances of finding a protestant church in downtown Parma are rather slim. So we will likely attend mass in the duomo or one of the other downtown churches.

I have never attended mass or any type of Catholic service. I don’t even know how to make the sign of the Cross properly. I do not even know if mass will be given in Italian or Latin but it will obviously not be in English. My family and I will know some Italian before we go and my son is pretty accomplished in Latin so either way we will not be totally in the dark regarding language.

What I need is a resource for preparing a Protestant for Catholic mass. I’m not so much looking for the symbolic or historic aspects of it. That information is not hard to find and I’m well versed in the basic theology of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. What I need is a step by step guide of what we will need to know and do in order to participate properly. I’m sure part of that will just be sitting in the back and watching and doing what the local attendees do, but I’d like to be a little better prepared than that. I have not been able to find a satisfactory link or website doing a Google search. Will check at the local library soon.

I would very much appreciate any advice, recommendations, appropriate links or guidance. Thanks,

George

 

[benedictgal]

Hello folks. I am a devout Christian. A Presbyterian protestant, with generations of Calvinist roots…but not anti-Catholic. I believe that the Church is the body of Christ and it comes in many forms.

In any case, I am going to be vacationing with my family in Parma, Italy during Easter and plan on attending church on Easter Sunday. I suspect the chances of finding a protestant church in downtown Parma are rather slim. So we will likely attend mass in the duomo or one of the other downtown churches.

I have never attended mass or any type of Catholic service. I don’t even know how to make the sign of the Cross properly. I do not even know if mass will be given in Italian or Latin but it will obviously not be in English. My family and I will know some Italian before we go and my son is pretty accomplished in Latin so either way we will not be totally in the dark regarding language.

What I need is a resource for preparing a Protestant for Catholic mass. I’m not so much looking for the symbolic or historic aspects of it. That information is not hard to find and I’m well versed in the basic theology of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. What I need is a step by step guide of what we will need to know and do in order to participate properly. I’m sure part of that will just be sitting in the back and watching and doing what the local attendees do, but I’d like to be a little better prepared than that. I have not been able to find a satisfactory link or website doing a Google search. Will check at the local library soon.

I would very much appreciate any advice, recommendations, appropriate links or guidance. Thanks,

George

You might want to visit go and visit your local Catholic Bookstore and perhaps pick up a copy of the monthly publication called the Magnificat. It has the prayers and the readings for the entire month. Given that you will be in Italy during Holy Week, you might also want to check out www.aquinas.com which is a reputable Catholic online bookstore. You might be able to get an advance copy of the Magnificat for the month of April. It will have all of the readings for Holy Week in a seperate book.

I would suggest that you try to attend the Paschal Triduum liturgy which begins the night of Holy Thursday, with the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper. It continues with the Good Friday service (from ancient Tradition, the Church has never celebrated Mass on Good Friday) and it concludes with the Easter Vigil, celebrated on Saturday evening, approximately one hour after sundown.

The Magnificat will have the readings and the prayers for these three days and you will find the booklet most helpful.

Now, if you want to better understand what you will be experiencing, you might want to look over Scott Hahn’s book, “The Lamb’s Supper”. He is a convert from Protestantism who now teaches at a Catholic university. His book will give you some good and solid insights.

As far as the language goes, it will more than likely be in Italian, although there may be some parts of the Mass such as the Gloria and the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) that might be sung/chanted in Latin.

I hope this helps.

 

[N80]

Thank you very much. I will look into the links and sources you provided. The Magnificat sounds like an excellent resource.

George

P.S.: aquinas.com is some sort of business training web site. I did find: www.aquinasandmore.com. Is that the one you were referring to?

 

[benedictgal]

Thank you very much. I will look into the links and sources you provided. The Magnificat sounds like an excellent resource.

George

P.S.: aquinas.com is some sort of business training web site. I did find: www.aquinasandmore.com. Is that the one you were referring to?

I made a mistake on the website for the aquinas online bookstore. Here it is;

aquinasandmore.com/

Sorry about that. I’ve been working on a work-related project and my eyeballs are not too steady.

 

[Lepanto]

Hello folks. I am a devout Christian. A Presbyterian protestant, with generations of Calvinist roots…but not anti-Catholic. I believe that the Church is the body of Christ and it comes in many forms.

In any case, I am going to be vacationing with my family in Parma, Italy during Easter and plan on attending church on Easter Sunday. I suspect the chances of finding a protestant church in downtown Parma are rather slim. So we will likely attend mass in the duomo or one of the other downtown churches.

I have never attended mass or any type of Catholic service. I don’t even know how to make the sign of the Cross properly. I do not even know if mass will be given in Italian or Latin but it will obviously not be in English. My family and I will know some Italian before we go and my son is pretty accomplished in Latin so either way we will not be totally in the dark regarding language.

What I need is a resource for preparing a Protestant for Catholic mass. I’m not so much looking for the symbolic or historic aspects of it. That information is not hard to find and I’m well versed in the basic theology of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. What I need is a step by step guide of what we will need to know and do in order to participate properly. I’m sure part of that will just be sitting in the back and watching and doing what the local attendees do, but I’d like to be a little better prepared than that. I have not been able to find a satisfactory link or website doing a Google search. Will check at the local library soon.

I would very much appreciate any advice, recommendations, appropriate links or guidance. Thanks,

George

Hello and welcome.

Here is something that will help with the “mechanics” of the Mass (but not the theology or spirituality).

catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/Mass.htm

Please bear in mind that you are welcome at a Catholic Mass, but because of the reality of the splintering of Christendom, especially in the 16th century, you are asked not to present yourself to receive communion. However, you can make a spiritual communion from your chair and pray for the reunification of Christendom. (Remember, your Calvinist grandfathers had Catholic fathers!)

 

[ericka1701]

Hello folks. I am a devout Christian. A Presbyterian protestant, with generations of Calvinist roots…but not anti-Catholic. I believe that the Church is the body of Christ and it comes in many forms.

In any case, I am going to be vacationing with my family in Parma, Italy during Easter and plan on attending church on Easter Sunday. I suspect the chances of finding a protestant church in downtown Parma are rather slim. So we will likely attend mass in the duomo or one of the other downtown churches.

I have never attended mass or any type of Catholic service. I don’t even know how to make the sign of the Cross properly. I do not even know if mass will be given in Italian or Latin but it will obviously not be in English. My family and I will know some Italian before we go and my son is pretty accomplished in Latin so either way we will not be totally in the dark regarding language.

What I need is a resource for preparing a Protestant for Catholic mass. I’m not so much looking for the symbolic or historic aspects of it. That information is not hard to find and I’m well versed in the basic theology of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. What I need is a step by step guide of what we will need to know and do in order to participate properly. I’m sure part of that will just be sitting in the back and watching and doing what the local attendees do, but I’d like to be a little better prepared than that. I have not been able to find a satisfactory link or website doing a Google search. Will check at the local library soon.

I would very much appreciate any advice, recommendations, appropriate links or guidance. Thanks,

George

Here is a great website that breaks down the various parts of Mass and explains it very well. There is also a more indepth guide on the same site, if you’re interested.

To make the Sign of the Cross, you touch your forehead with a somewhat cupped hand (there are other hand gestures, but this is the one that I’ve seen the most), then your stomach right above your belly button, your left shoulder, and then your right shoulder. While you’re doing this, you say, either out loud, or to yourself, “In the name of the Father (head), Son (stomach), and Holy (left shoulder) Ghost (right shoulder). Amen”. Here is a great website that goes a bit in depth on the significance of the Sign of the Cross.

As far as not knowing what is going to be said (either in Italian or Latin), I wouldn’t worry too much about this. The link I gave you (“Why do Catholics bounce on one knee?”) will tell you what is going to be said for the various parts of the Mass. The Sacred Scripture readings will be the same no matter which Catholic Church you attend, so you can read them here before hand.

I hope this has been helpful, and I hope you have a truely blessed time on Easter!

Ericka

 

[N80]

Hello and welcome.

Here is something that will help with the “mechanics” of the Mass (but not the theology or spirituality).

catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/Mass.htm

Excellent. Thank you.

Please bear in mind that you are welcome at a Catholic Mass, but because of the reality of the splintering of Christendom, especially in the 16th century, you are asked not to present yourself to receive communion.

Ah, yes. Had not thought about that but it makes sense. We ask none Christians not to take communion with-in the Presbyterian church, but all others are welcomed. But, I understand and will, of course, respect the way of the Catholic Church.

However, you can make a spiritual communion from your chair and pray for the reunification of Christendom.

Yes, I will pray for any and every thing that strengthens the church catholic.

(Remember, your Calvinist grandfathers had Catholic fathers!)

Very true. And we all have the same Father in heaven.

Thank you,

George

 

[FrDavid96]

George,

Obviously the language is going to make things difficult.

Have you considered visiting a Catholic Mass at home, in English, a few times to familiarize yourself with the Mass first so that when you do go to Italy, you won’t have to contend with both issues of language and “mechanics” at the same time?

 

[forever_always]

George,

Obviously the language is going to make things difficult.

Have you considered visiting a Catholic Mass at home, in English, a few times to familiarize yourself with the Mass first so that when you do go to Italy, you won’t have to contend with both issues of language and “mechanics” at the same time?

This is a good idea.

And you’re so lucky to be going to Italy! Have a great time =]

 

[N80]

George,

Obviously the language is going to make things difficult.

Have you considered visiting a Catholic Mass at home, in English, a few times to familiarize yourself with the Mass first so that when you do go to Italy, you won’t have to contend with both issues of language and “mechanics” at the same time?

I thought about that too. I’ll have to get the phonebook out because I don’t know of a single Catholic church in this small southern city. I know there are some here, but I think they are small and possibly less traditional. There is a Catholic school here but it is very small and I’m not sure its associated with a specific local church.

I know there must be larger, more traditional Catholic churches in nearby Charlotte.

 

[Cristiano]

You could try to attend:

Church of Santa Cristina
address: Borgo Santa Chiara, 5 - 43100 Parma
phone: 011-39-0521-238953.
Usually they have Sunday Masses in English at 12:30pm

 

[Cristiano]

I thought about that too. I’ll have to get the phonebook out because I don’t know of a single Catholic church in this small southern city…

Parma is in the northern part of Italy. Are you mixing it up with some other name?

 

[FrDavid96]

Parma is in the northern part of Italy. Are you mixing it up with some other name?

That was a reference to his own hometown–not Parma Italy.

And nice job on the post about the English Mass in Parma Italy. I’m sure that will make things much easier for the OP!

 

[ibkc]

I thought about that too. I’ll have to get the phonebook out because I don’t know of a single Catholic church in this small southern city. I know there are some here, but I think they are small and possibly less traditional. There is a Catholic school here but it is very small and I’m not sure its associated with a specific local church.

I know there must be larger, more traditional Catholic churches in nearby Charlotte.

The Diocese of Charlotte actually has a good reputation for orthodoxy, AFAIK. Here is there searchable diocesan directory:

charlottediocese.org/parishes-all.html

 

[Cristiano]

That was a reference to his own hometown–not Parma Italy.

And nice job on the post about the English Mass in Parma Italy. I’m sure that will make things much easier for the OP!

This is proof to my statement that everybody can have his idiot moment. I just went through mine.

 

[N80]

You could try to attend:

Church of Santa Cristina
address: Borgo Santa Chiara, 5 - 43100 Parma
phone: 011-39-0521-238953.
Usually they have Sunday Masses in English at 12:30pm

Thank you. I did find that in my research but I have not located that church yet. If it is in the central historic district that will probably be where we will go, but if it is outside of town we may just have to look elsewhere. I should be able to find it via Lie Maps or Google. Thanks again.

I am not too worried about the language. I am learning Italian and would know the scripture and prayers and that aspect will probably make it more interesting.

George

 

[Zooey]

Your Friendly Neighborhood Methodist here…
I just wanted to mention, that you will probably see that many people will genuflest (bow with one knee) toward the altar just before entering the pews.
I mention this because, as many regulars here at CAF have all ready heard me confess, my first visit to a Catholic church, I was unaware of this custom, and since I was looking at the beauty of the church–I crash-landed into the Catholic friend who I had come with.
Sometrhing to be avoided whenever possible!

Have a wonderful trip!!

 

[Eucharisted]

latin-mass-society.org/missals.htm

There are two forms of the Mass in the Latin rite: Ordinary (New Order) and Extraordinary (Tridentine). I don’t know which you’ll be attending, so it’s good to know both in advance just in case.

 

[FrDavid96]

latin-mass-society.org/missals.htm

There are two forms of the Mass in the Latin rite: Ordinary (New Order) and Extraordinary (Tridentine). I don’t know which you’ll be attending, so it’s good to know both in advance just in case.

The source (post 11) describes it as a “Masses in English” so while that’s a good point, in this case, it probably won’t be the extraordinary form.

 

[Snerticus]

George,

Obviously the language is going to make things difficult.

Have you considered visiting a Catholic Mass at home, in English, a few times to familiarize yourself with the Mass first so that when you do go to Italy, you won’t have to contend with both issues of language and “mechanics” at the same time?

Yes, I was going to say the same thing. Masses all over the world are the same, only the language it is spoken in is different. You can get used to the way it is presented and be familiar with when to sit, stand, kneel, respond, sing, etc…

Then, you’d only have to master the language barrier. Hehehe… easier said than done!

But you know, I was just thinking, don’t they have English masses in some Churches in Italy? Maybe you should look into that as well if it’s available. (of course you can tell, I’ve never been off this continent, so I have no idea what to expect in Italy! )

Heh, sorry, I just read the other posts and it was mentioned about English masses… nevermind!