Advice for a possible convert?

[diggerdomer]

I think you misunderstand me. I’m talking about when we enter and leave the church.

Thanks for clarifying. Sorry if I misunderstood.

Yet, the norm is to genuflect only in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament when entering/leaving Church. If the Tabernacle is not in the main Church (or if it’s empty) than the norm is to bow to the Altar. Thanks, again, for clarifying.

 

[Deconi]

Thanks for the tutorials! It’s not like someone just teaches you this stuff (or if so, they haven’t yet), and it feels weird when it’s not second nature like it is to everyone else there. I will start with the holy water/sign of the cross and genuflecting next time. I know I probably do stick out more for not doing it then I would be for doing it not perfectly so I’m going to give it a go. Any other tips on conduct during Mass or anything else a newcomer should know would be appreciated!

Other than standing up at the wrong time, no other outward sign is NOTICEABLE! I say this because you can cross yourself as many times as you want and no one will care, because we don’t! It’s not a “line dance performance” that everyone has to do the same movement…and there is no-one looking to see if you should be in the ‘dance.’

Once you enter the house of God, it is basically, you WITH Him…but you do so in UNISON with your brethren gathered.

Crossing yourself as you enter means the same thing as always, whenever you cross yourself! “My mind, (Forehead) My being (Chest or Heart) My Strength (Shoulders) in your service Oh Lord.” You can mentally add anything else to it upon entry.

For me, I normally ‘think’, “Hello Father. Bless me for I have sinned and have come to see you.”

As Mass begins, there is the prayer for forgiveness so we who are gathered can be ‘cleansed’ and be made worthy to be in The (Actual) Presence of Our Lord. “I confess to Almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault; in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do; and I ask the Blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to The Lord, Our God.” …which fits in nicely as a continuum of my entrance, participation and to being “resent” forth after Mass, afreshed for the coming week or interval until the next time ‘I come running’ and looking.

 

[John92]

Thanks for the tutorials! It’s not like someone just teaches you this stuff (or if so, they haven’t yet), and it feels weird when it’s not second nature like it is to everyone else there. I will start with the holy water/sign of the cross and genuflecting next time. I know I probably do stick out more for not doing it then I would be for doing it not perfectly so I’m going to give it a go. Any other tips on conduct during Mass or anything else a newcomer should know would be appreciated!

Another thing - don’t worry about what “other people in Church” think of you. Trust me, they’re looking at the Priest, and a good Catholic, if he notices you making a mistake, won’t be thinking “oh look at that new guy haha how stupid!” but rather “that’s so great that someone has joined the True Faith! I’ll try to remember to pray for him.” (if they’re even aware that you’re a convert at all!)

Satan will try to make you feel self-conscious, will try to make you feel like you “don’t fit in”, will try to make you misinterpret the expressions of other people as indicating malice or whatever. I deal with this myself and I’m a cradle catholic. So just try to focus on the Priest and remember that the parishioners aren’t worried about you