Attending Mass and Spirtual Seeking

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thomasrobert

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I’m Catholic and have been attending Mass for awhile. I still do regularly, but I’ve had a lot of questions about my faith and have been seeking alot spiritually. I have alot of friends who attend a nondenominational church and signed up to go this Sunday. I don’t think I’ll switch but have been seeking. I signed up to go this Sunday, but I still feel the draw to stay in the Church. I’m in a bind where I have to go to their service now and my wife also wants to go. Is it bad to go to that service even if I’m bound to go now? I know there is a dispensation for Mass during the coronavirus. Would that make a difference? If not, would I have to go to confession before going to Mass again? I could even watch Mass online later that day. Plus, I watch the nondenominational service last week and didnt go to church last Sunday. What do I do?
 
Yes, it’s bad. You should not encourage heresy by going to non Catholic religious services.
 
I’m just confused about my faith and dont know where I stand
 
Have you spoken to your priest (or any holy and trusted priest for that matter) about your confusion?
 
You are doing the right thing asking.

You can’t mess with the truth: there can only be one truth. Go to mass, go to confession, read important writings by great saints, but please, don’t waste your spiritual time on nondenominational events.
 
My understanding is that nondenominational is basically being a generic Protestant. why would you wanna be there? Protestantism is underwhelming.
 
Dan_Defender said:
My understanding is that nondenominational is basically being a generic Protestant. why would you wanna be there? Protestantism is underwhelming.
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But the music is good.

Do not make the mistake of underestimating the importance of music.

We have a sizeable number of Catholics in our large parish (several thousand) who (at least during the pre-COVID-19 days) faithfully attended Mass every Sunday, and then head down the road to the Willow Creek church plant to hear the really good contemporary praise music (professional musicians, not baby boomers who are still lost in the1980s!).

I play piano for a small Protestant church (small - around 20 people), and I LOVE the variety of hymns and the enthusiasm with which they are sung by the people. At home, I regularly play hymns on the piano for personal enjoyment and edification, and I love listening to hymns on CDs (yes, I’m old and still using ancient technology–that’s one reason I’m still on an Online Forum instead of a “social media” place like TikTok!).
 
thomasrobert said:
I’m Catholic and have been attending Mass for awhile. I still do regularly, but I’ve had a lot of questions about my faith and have been seeking alot spiritually. I have alot of friends who attend a nondenominational church and signed up to go this Sunday. I don’t think I’ll switch but have been seeking. I signed up to go this Sunday, but I still feel the draw to stay in the Church. I’m in a bind where I have to go to their service now and my wife also wants to go. Is it bad to go to that service even if I’m bound to go now? I know there is a dispensation for Mass during the coronavirus. Would that make a difference? If not, would I have to go to confession before going to Mass again? I could even watch Mass online later that day. Plus, I watch the nondenominational service last week and didnt go to church last Sunday. What do I do?
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Here is a link to the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
http://www.vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html
 
If you are confused about Catholicism, attending another church might not help you. It may confuse you more. Instead, you should try to learn more about whatever is confusing you by reading, or meeting with other Catholics or asking your priest.
 
There is more to Catholicism than music. I doubt the OP is confused about his faith because of the music. Even if the non-denominational churches had “better” music, they do not have the Eucharist. Let’s not forget what matters, or make the OP more confused by him thinking it is okay to go to other churches for services.
 
Irishmom2 said:
There is more to Catholicism than music.
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True words. Besides one of the most beautiful pieces I’ve ever heard is based on the verse: if you love me, feed my sheep… you will not hear that in any Protestant setting.
 
I totally agree with you about the good music not replacing the Eucharist.

There is nothing, absolutely nothing like the Mass and the Holy Eucharist, (Real Presence of our Lord Jesus Christ!), and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Prayer and the sacraments build us up. That is most important!
 
thomasrobert said:
I’m Catholic and have been attending Mass for awhile. I still do regularly, but I’ve had a lot of questions about my faith and have been seeking alot spiritually. I have alot of friends who attend a nondenominational church and signed up to go this Sunday. I don’t think I’ll switch but have been seeking. I signed up to go this Sunday, but I still feel the draw to stay in the Church. I’m in a bind where I have to go to their service now and my wife also wants to go. Is it bad to go to that service even if I’m bound to go now? I know there is a dispensation for Mass during the coronavirus. Would that make a difference? If not, would I have to go to confession before going to Mass again? I could even watch Mass online later that day. Plus, I watch the nondenominational service last week and didnt go to church last Sunday. What do I do?
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Lots of good questions. You’re truly blessed to be a member of the Church. I think it would help to dive in the deep end & learn what it means to be Catholic (no offense intended). If you knew the treasure you have, you wouldn’t be looking in strange places.

It’s hard to say where you should start, because I don’t know where you are. So pray. Pray the Mass, every day. Everything you hear the priest say, say it in your mind. Every hymn, sing in your mind. Every reading, read along.

Live the Liturgy, get in rhythm with the liturgical calendar. Live Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, & ordinary time. Know that you are united with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit through all the seasons.

Live with Christ, in Christ, for Christ, through Christ.
 
We are blessed with a fabulous choir. So our parish does have all the blessings and graces from attending Mass and great music too.

@thomasrobert Do not go to the nondenominational church. There is nothing there that can clear up any confusion about the Catholic faith. Make an appointment with your priest to seek guidance.
 
So, OP, what happened? Also, what is this about you signing up to visit, and you were “bound” to attend?
Sounds bogus – you don’t owe them anything.
 
thomasrobert said:
I don’t think I’ll switch but have been seeking.
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Saint Augustine (died A.D. 430): “No man can find salvation except in the Catholic Church. Outside the Catholic Church one can have everything except salvation. One can have honor, one can have the sacraments, one can sing alleluia, one can answer amen, one can have faith in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and preach it too, but never can one find salvation except in the Catholic Church.” ( Sermo ad Caesariensis Ecclesia plebem )
thomasrobert said:
I signed up to go this Sunday, but I still feel the draw to stay in the Church.
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Imo, that’s God & your Guardian Angel trying to touch your mind & heart.
thomasrobert said:
I’m in a bind where I have to go to their service now and my wife also wants to go.
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You are not bound to attend a non-Catholic service, nor is she (if she’s Catholic).
thomasrobert said:
Is it bad to go to that service even if I’m bound to go now?
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Yes. You are placing her soul as well as yours in spiritual danger.
thomasrobert said:
If not, would I have to go to confession before going to Mass again?
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AFAIK, if you go to that nondenominational service, you will have to mention in confession that you attended there as well as the fact that you led another there (i.e. your wife). To attend a non-Catholic service without a grave reason (e.g. funeral) is a mortal sin against the divine virtue of Faith. It destroys the virtue of Faith in the soul - and not just your soul but your wife’s as well.

I wouldn’t watch it on livestream either.

Suggestions: Contact your priest and ask him what time(s) are available for confession so you and your wife can go together to your parish.

Full disclosure: I’m Ukrainian Greek Catholic. My parish is very small, we don’t have any kind of “ministries” or clubs. Before this crisis hit, we made pierogies and had Bingo every week.

Contrast that with the 2 Orthodox churches in my area. One has Vespers, Matins, 6th Hour, a potluck after services, various ministries for men & women, a library and a parish festival (with fabulous food from what I’ve heard).

I’ve been tempted to go there “just to see what it’s like”. I was there 17 years ago for a Baptism/Chrismation/First Eucharist (invited by the family).

As much as I’d like to go there I can’t bring myself to do it. I’m the lay cantor at my parish, and my parish needs me. If I’m not there, everyone recites the Liturgy 😱😫. Even if I’m not there for a good reason (like when my mom passed away), no one takes my place.

Finally, I beg you in the name of Our Lady of Sorrows NOT to attend that nondenominational service. She watched Her Son die on the cross and cried for Him. She will cry for you, your wife, me and all of us when we offend Him.
 
Many Evangelical Protestants who attend churches that provide excellent music would be upset and offended over the implication that they are “being entertained.” I also think many Protestants AND Catholics would be offended that someone believes their music is “fun, catchy music.” This is not at all what Protestant music is.

I’ve played piano/organ in church for most of my 63 years (since I was in 6th grade), and I still play in Protestant churches. I know what Protestant music is and what it is NOT, and it is NOT “entertainment.” It is part of worship.

I Chronicles 25 is an interesting chapter that outlines the foundation of church music. It is obvious when reading this chapter and many other passages in the Old and New Testaments, as well as reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church, that music in Mass is definitely not “entertainment.”

The Passover, which the Holy mass replaced, included music/songs, and the Lord Jesus and His disciples concluded His Last Supper with the singing of a hymn (a traditional part of the Passover which the Lord apparently did not see fit to eliminate,
even though He was hours away from His torture and death.

I think it is sad that many Catholics cannot sing at Mass and cannot accept that music is not only appropriate at Mass, but an “aid to memory” that helps Christians grow closer to God and each other. Instead, the devil uses our songs, hymns, and spiritual songs to divide us.

In years past, the Lord has used great pieces of music to bring the Church back to Him. I pray that we will see this happen in the world today–we are in desperate need of spiritual revival, as Protestant churches of all denominations, as well as Holy Mother Church, are seeing their churches decreasing in attendance and participation, and actually seeing people claim that “church” is not necessary to grow close to God. My question is, “What “god” are these souls growing close to?”

Here’s a lovely and thought-provoking quote from John of Salisbury (12th Century) regarding music: “See that what you sing with your mouth you believe with your heart, and that what you believe with your heart you obey in your works.”
 
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We get that some Protestants find music very important, and that even some Catholics put an emphasis on music that to some of us seems okay and to others of us seems excessive.

However, Jesus is present in physical form at the Catholic Mass, even if the music sounds like an 8-year-old’s guitar lesson. And the Real Presence is the important thing. I’d go so far as to say, the ONLY important thing.

Sure it would be nice if every Catholic could experience his or her own idea of fabulous, uplifting music at every Mass, and if those who would prefer silent Mass also had that option, but as the song goes, you can’t always get what you want.

But at Mass, as the song also goes, we get what we NEED, and that is Jesus, in the Real Presence. Accept no substitutes.

It’s unfortunate that you picked this thread to make a long speech about Protestant music, because it’s just suggesting to the OP that maybe he’s correct in his idea of going to a Protestant service because the music is better there, or that our Mass is somehow deficient if it doesn’t have great music. It gives a murky sense of Catholic priorities.

I’m honestly so tired of having these debates over music that I’m ready to throw it all in the dumpster and go to silent Mass for the rest of my life rather than listen to any more gunk about Protestant music.
 
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