Are non-Catholics allowed to....?

[rcn]

theMutant:

Actually, [bowing in the creed] does matter. … If you don’t do it, you are not fully participating in the Mass.

Oh, for Pete’s sake.

Let’s get back to the context of this question, asked by a visitor, a potential convert who simply wants to know what he should/shouldn’t do at Mass. “Going along with the crowd” (except for receiving communion, of course) is completely acceptable. Let’s not turn him into a Liturgy Nazi before he’s even attended his first RCIA class.

As to your claim that without bowing, one isn’t fully participating. I’ve attended parishes all around the country in recent years, all solidly orthodox. But bowing just hasn’t caught on in any of them. If you would claim that none of these people were fully participating, I guess that’s your right. But it seems terribly nit-picky.

 

[Exporter]

You wrote this,"

Originally Posted by theMutant
Actually, [bowing in the creed] does matter. … If you don’t do it, you are not fully participating in the Mass."

---

Bowing after the Creed is a small thing and maybe over 90% of parishes DO NOT do this. Worry about THE BIG THINGS.
The Big things like recieving in the grubby hands, not going to confession but once a year and not giving what you should to the Church.

 

[Stephen_Butler]

Hugh Betcha,

Thank you for posting. Your question, and your … shall we say bearing, match my own precisely. I needed exactly the information that your post prompted.

ScottyPGH

Thank you for this:

“My Jesus, I believe that Thou are truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love Thee above all things and I desire Thee in my soul. Since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. (Pause) I embrace Thee as being already there and unite myself wholly to Thee. Never permit me to be separated from Thee. Amen.”

Rayne89

“Just don’t sit on the front row and …”

There’s the kind of common sense advice that simply would not have occured to me until I ran into it face first. Not that that’s much of a problem, my cranial density being what it is and all …

And Curious,

“May the forces of evil be confused on the way to your house.”

I laughed until my ribs hurt. Thank you so much. I believe I need to have this framed and hung on the wall somewhere.

Most of this information I had essentially blundered into. I avoided communion by just standing out of the way and not going up there. I follow along with as much of the mass as I can. Although, tomorrow I’m going to hunt down this “Missal” book. I have not genuflected entering or leaving the pews. I don’t remember seeing anyone bowing in the middle of the Nicene Creed (now that I have both a name and a copy of that, thank you kindly), and I have attended mass in Wichita, Dallas, and New York, so I suspect it’s not very common.

If you would permit me, I would like to please add a couple of questions onto Mr. Betcha’s list.

I travel all the time, so I will constantly be attending Mass in different cities/countries. What is a “Cantor” service, and should I attend it? Is there a certain type of Mass which … lends itself more to people who have not the slightest clue what is going on?

I seem to be hearing certain … well, I guess the term I would use is hymns that are repeated everywhere. The hymn before communion, and in a couple of other standard places. While the words seem to be the same everywhere I go, the tune of the song (notes and tempo) have varied drastically from place to place. Are these common hymns kept in a book somewhere in a local church where I might lay hands to them and be able to sing along?

It appears, emphasis appears, that when someone goes to the front of the church and starts singing that he sings alone until he raises his hands up in the air and everyone sings along with him? Have I interpreted this correctly? He/she sings by himself and the congregation joins this person for what I guess are refrains?

Should I avoid certain churches when visiting? I have upon a couple of occasions found myself in a really intimidating place. Like today in St Paul’s Cathedral in Manhatten. It was a case of “Wow, Lord, nice place you got here.” and I wasn’t sure that I belonged there…

What about Holy Water? Some people, when entering and leaving the church, touch the water and then cross themselves. Others don’t, so I have avoided it on the “I am a tolerated guest and should be careful” behavior pattern. Is there an important point here? Similarly, some people, including the gentleman who coaxed me into my first Mass in Wichita, genuflect in the direction of the container which holds the host? Have I got that right? It was an ornate container that looked like a box, and was placed in an important looking spot. Should I immitate that? Some do, others don’t, so I’m not sure …

Thank you for your time, and I apologize for the length.

 

[jimmy]

Hugh Betcha:

The say what now? what is Incarnatus? what Creed? Told ya I cant keep up with it all!

In the Nicene creed it says.

by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.

We bow at this point.

 

[alyssa]

“It appears, emphasis appears, that when someone goes to the front of the church and starts singing that he sings alone until he raises his hands up in the air and everyone sings along with him? Have I interpreted this correctly? He/she sings by himself and the congregation joins this person for what I guess are refrains?”

Right, generally the cantor/priest will raise one hand when it’s time for the congregation to sing the response.

“Should I avoid certain churches when visiting? I have upon a couple of occasions found myself in a really intimidating place. Like today in St Paul’s Cathedral in Manhatten. It was a case of “Wow, Lord, nice place you got here.” and I wasn’t sure that I belonged there…”

No way! You are welcome to visit ANY CC.

"What about Holy Water? "
You can use it to bless yourself . You touch your fingers to it, and make the sign of the cross(up-down-left-right).

You can participate in all aspects of the mass you are comfortable with except for Holy Communion.

As far as some of the songs during mass, Those are the same with different tunes, but I don’t know where the lyrics are, I have them memorized. I’m sure someone can guide you to something

"genuflect in the direction of the container which holds the host? "
Again, you do not have to participate in this since you are not Catholic, but if you do- Yes, you genuflect toward the* tabernacle, t*he box in which the concecrated hosts are kept. If the red candle near it is lit, then there are consecrated hosts within. Genuflection is a sign of reverance and resepct. If you happen to go to a church without the tabernacle in the front, behind the alter, then you make a profound bow toward the alter before entering the pew