Almost walked out of Mass

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Why is it that every time an NO mass is talked about being unbearable to witness someone has to say that “the real presence is there, so stop being a proud sinner!” ? Does God really want us to suffer that much during the Mass (the sacrifice) that terrible thoughts and ugly feelings will be brought about making us penitents even more sinful and guilty? Wasn’t the real presence in those 15 minute masses that used to be available? Should we be told to suck it up if we expressed our feelings about how irreverent those services are? Didn’t they stop because people did speak out? How about the clown masses or Halloween masses? The real presence is there too but do you think its appropriate to consecrate the host there? It’s kinda like throwing your mother a bday party in a crackhouse. It’s still a bday because there is the real presence of a cake with candles, right?
 
Yes! I had a similar experience this morning, being outside my usual parish. And I had the same fear that the grating discomfort I was feeling was a manifestation of pride. I flirted momentarily with the idea of leaving but am now glad that I didn’t. I think only scandalous liturgical abuse would justify this. Nonetheless, perhaps we shouldn’t feel guilty for displeasure at poor liturgy.
 
You have the right to go to mass whenever you please, and it is not wrong to leave. If it is on Sunday, you would have to go to mass elsewhere though, if you have already become a Catholic. I know that some people will stay at mass because Christ is there even though they see things happen that are deeply disturbing, but I don’t see why leaving to go to mass elsewhere is disrespectful to Christ. They are leaving not out of disrespect to Christ because, it may be, they cannot worship Him properly there.
I don’t see how there would be any scandal when people see you leave. I see people leave mass all the time. For example yesterday a woman walked out of mass in front of everyone (and I saw her then head towards the rest room). I know of it happening too when someone became ill). I don’t see how it is pride to leave when you find it spiritually upsetting or keeps you from praying.
 
A few years back I went to a midnight mass for Christmas. The church was down the street from my house and I would go there on a regular basis for confession but never mass. So, I decided to give it a chance, as the fliers promised traditional Christmas carols after mass. The pews were packed and people were standing all around trying to squeeze in. Well, the mass started and people were still talking about work and shopping. This large family next to me were gossiping like crazy. They kept turning around to talk to the other family behind them. The ushers walked by a few times but didn’t tell anyone to be quiet. I could not take it. I felt like if I didn’t remove myself I would have told the husband to carry on his conversation outside and to take his family with him if they couldn’t respect the Mass. I went home and prayed for all the loud mouths that couldn’t keep quiet throughout the church and I prayed for myself. I felt so guilty. I thought that I should have sacrificed my own happiness and stuck it out but then I realised that mass should not be a form of penance. That was the last time I have ever attended an NO service.
 
ivory said:
What do you guys have to say about this?
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I would ask why everyone feels the need to complain.

I said, “I will watch my ways,
lest I sin with my tongue;
I will keep a muzzle on my mouth.”
(Psalm 39:2)

If all we do is complain to make ourselves feel better, and in so doing point out the faults of others - even if the context is shortcomings relative to the Mass - then all we have acomplished is possibly placing ourselve in the position of having comitted the sin of detraction. We have to always ask ourselve what our motives are before we speak about the faults and shortcomings of others.

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. (James 1:26)

Why all these complaints? What is the purpose? What good does it serve? We are not willing to put up with the faults of others but get all bent out of shape when anyone points out the slightest fault of our own. 🤷 Often times we annoy and offend others without even knowing it.

-Tim-
 
MartyrForJesus said:
**An irreverent Mass is insulting to Our Blessed Lord, because we are caring more about ourselves than who the Mass is really about, Almighty God. Some people believe that they have a duty to leave and find another Mass in which Almighty God is worshipped reverently and properly. **
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Do you think an all-loving, all-powerful, perfect and supreme being like God can be insulted by man’s action?
Contra_Mundum said:
Do you not find something odd in the mass being the source of suffering for the faithful? That is just not right, is it?
Maybe if more people made a fuss and demanded that the mass is celebrated properly we would not have to suffer through it. :mad:
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Remember that we are judged by our actions, not the actions of others. If the priest celebrates the Mass irreverently, then he would answer to God for that. But how do we react? Under no circumstance should we act contrary to the nature of God. We are only harmed by the irreverence in Mass if we ourselves act irreverently. That is, storming out and feeling “annoyed” and “irked”.
 
ConstantineTG said:
Do you think an all-loving, all-powerful, perfect and supreme being like God can be insulted by man’s action?
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He was offended by the sacrifice of Cain, wasn’t He? The Mass isn’t something we’re supposed to suffer through, it’s the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ to His Father for the remission of sins… and must be treated as such, less we commit sacrilege.
 
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ConstantineTG:
If the priest celebrates the Mass irreverently, then he would answer to God for that. But how do we react?
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It was not determined that the priest celebrated the Mass irrevently. The OP was merely bored with his homily (it happens sometimes that we are not attuned) and used too much amplitude in his microphone. That does not mean the mass was irreverent. Why do we always assume the member who complains is observing an abuse? (Not you, Constantine, but the posts are getting carried away here.)

Her major complaint was the music, which can be explained as her inadvertently attending a youth mass. Nevertheless, this is NOT inadmissible for a liturgy to use folk music - though it be ever so much against her taste.

There are a lot of assumptions being made, when none of us know the facts. Was the priest a visiting clergyman substituting for another and did not know how to regulate the sound buttons? The OP herself was a visitor in that church and does not know what took place behind the scenes. It is only her perceptions based on her personal preferences … and she is still not even a Catholic!
 
TimothyH said:
Go and learn the meaning of the words, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice."
(Matthew 9:13)

-Tim-
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Is the Mass not the perfect Sacrifice, instituted by Christ Himself for the remission of sins? Is Christ not truly present in the Sacrament, and should we not give Him the devotion and worship we owe to so good a God? The Mass IS a Sacrifice and to say otherwise is blatant heresy! I suggest you go put Mtt. 9:13 into context; He was referring to the hypocritical Pharisees who prided themselves on outward signs of piety, while shoving charity down toilet.
 
But I wonder if it just to say that such people always “storm out”?
ConstantineTG said:
Do you think an all-loving, all-powerful, perfect and supreme being like God can be insulted by man’s action?

Remember that we are judged by our actions, not the actions of others. If the priest celebrates the Mass irreverently, then he would answer to God for that. But how do we react? Under no circumstance should we act contrary to the nature of God. We are only harmed by the irreverence in Mass if we ourselves act irreverently. That is, storming out and feeling “annoyed” and “irked”.
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Sirach2 said:
It was not determined that the priest celebrated the Mass irrevently. The OP was merely bored with his homily (it happens sometimes that we are not attuned) and used too much amplitude in his microphone. That does not mean the mass was irreverent. Why do we always assume the member who complains is observing an abuse? (Not you, Constantine, but the posts are getting carried away here.)

Her major complaint was the music, which can be explained as her inadvertently attending a youth mass. Nevertheless, this is NOT inadmissible for a liturgy to use folk music - though it be ever so much against her taste.

There are a lot of assumptions being made, when none of us know the facts. Was the priest a visiting clergyman substituting for another and did not know how to regulate the sound buttons? The OP herself was a visitor in that church and does not know what took place behind the scenes. It is only her perceptions based on her personal preferences … and she is still not even a Catholic!
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Thus my point that we should always be loving and charitable and act accordingly.
Crusading_Canuk said:
He was offended by the sacrifice of Cain, wasn’t He? The Mass isn’t something we’re supposed to suffer through, it’s the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ to His Father for the remission of sins… and must be treated as such, less we commit sacrilege.
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The Mass isn’t something we’re NOT supposed to suffer to? Tell that to the martyrs of Egypt and Syria in the last year who were blown up while attending Liturgy.
 
ConstantineTG said:
The Mass isn’t something we’re NOT supposed to suffer to? Tell that to the martyrs of Egypt and Syria in the last year who were blown up while attending Liturgy.
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And do you think they we’re planning on that, or that God positively willed that act of terrorism? I can’t believe I have to point out the obvious, but there is a vast difference between brave soldiers of Christ risking their lives to attend that most sublime of Sacrifices, and Catholics committing sacrilege. I suggest you don’t insult the Church’s martyrs -or God- with such a comparison!
 
ivory said:
I made the choice to convert to Catholicism because of the rich history and tradition it had. The absolute majesty and beauty of the faith that can be traced directly not to a mortal man, but to Jesus Christ Himself. As I sat through this anger-inducing Mass, I asked myself this question: If the Catholic Church has such a wonderful history and tradition, why don’t people use it? Why are many so quick to abandon it? It genuinely saddens me as a convert.

What do you guys have to say about this?
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I love the rich history and tradition. I love feeling as though I’m standing on the shoulders of the giants that have gone ahead of me, and are cheering me on now. Services that feel too modern feel disconnected from this treasure.
As each generation seeks to find it’s own style, clothing, haircuts, music in the world, perhaps they apply this principle to the Mass too, and these things are passing away. It’s like saying Mozart lived long ago and is irrelevant to me. 🤷
 
Crusading_Canuk said:
And do you think they we’re planning on that, or that God positively willed that act of terrorism? I can’t believe I have to point out the obvious, but there is a vast difference between brave soldiers of Christ risking their lives to attend that most sublime of Sacrifices, and Catholics committing sacrilege. I suggest you don’t insult the Church’s martyrs -or God- with such a comparison!
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You think in those places they don’t know that was a random event? Its not like 9/11, which happened in a place that is relatively free from religious persecution. In the Middle East, every Sunday could be the last Sunday for any Christian attending Liturgy. There is a Chaldean priest in our area who suffered through it. He said he had to cancel Holy Qurbana on certain days because there’s real danger to people who could die just by attending. Yet people still come.

The only one insulted here I can see is you because I hold a different opinion. But fact is, there is no justification to a prideful act. Even if others are wrong, it doesn’t give us the license to do wrong.
 
Sounds like a LifeTeen mass. 🤷

Mark Hart was one of the keynote speakers at NCYC. The kids loved his talk. Very inspirational.
 
Are you sure you weren’t in a Protesant church? 😉

I don’t blame you for wanting to walk out. That is disgusting.
 
ivory said:
As I sat through this anger-inducing Mass, I asked myself this question: If the Catholic Church has such a wonderful history and tradition, why don’t people use it? Why are many so quick to abandon it? It genuinely saddens me as a convert.

What do you guys have to say about this?
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People do use it, more and more every week.

Get a tridentine mass (EF) missal.

Bring it to church and pray that while Brother Garth bangs on the bongos.

Find out where the EF closest to you is, and try to get to it at once a month if it is far.

Write your priest and ask for and EF.

Then you won’t feel helpless, and you’ll be connected to the traditional modes of worship.
 
Ok, so you’re telling me that the martyrs suffered during mass and not FOR mass? And the eastern Christians definitely didn’t suffer from the mass… they suffered for their faith. They have their unchanged traditions that are upheld so reverently. I’m sure they were in awe before being attacked.
 
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