Attending Mass

[mrs_abbott]

Would it be alright for me to attend Mass on Sundays (obviously I’m not going to receive Communion) even if I’m not being a good Catholic? By good, I mean not following some of the things the CC stands for, like praying to Mary and the saints.
I really want to go to church again and worship but I’ve been distant for so long that I feel lost and unsure of where to begin.

 

[LilyM]

Would it be alright for me to attend Mass on Sundays (obviously I’m not going to receive Communion) even if I’m not being a good Catholic? By good, I mean not following some of the things the CC stands for, like praying to Mary and the saints.
I really want to go to church again and worship but I’ve been distant for so long that I feel lost and unsure of where to begin.

Of course - more than alright, it’d be a great thing to do. Perhaps go to confession, if you feel the need, if only just to talk to the priest about the struggles you’re having.

 

[mrs_abbott]

Of course - more than alright, it’d be a great thing to do. Perhaps go to confession, if you feel the need, if only just to talk to the priest about the struggles you’re having.

But if I’m not heartedly sorry for those doubts, wouldn’t confession be something that would be pointless to do?
That’s how I feel right now, anyways.

 

[LilyM]

But if I’m not heartedly sorry for those doubts, wouldn’t confession be something that would be pointless to do?
That’s how I feel right now, anyways.

Oh I don’t mean to confess, I mean just to discuss. I thought I made that clear.

Actually, perhaps you should make an appointment outside confession times to do that … the parish I go to for confession has many many scheduled hours of confession so usually it’s not an issue to go just for discussion rather than for sacramental absolution.

 

[Spiller]

Would it be alright for me to attend Mass on Sundays (obviously I’m not going to receive Communion) even if I’m not being a good Catholic? By good, I mean not following some of the things the CC stands for, like praying to Mary and the saints.
I really want to go to church again and worship but I’ve been distant for so long that I feel lost and unsure of where to begin.

Catholics do not pray to Mother Mary or any of the others saints. We ask for their intercessions to the Three Persons of God. In essence we ask for their prayers – just as you might ask your family and friends to pray for you.

By all means, go to Mass and spend time in the Real Presence of God. That alone will help you sort things out.

 

[Kevin42]

Would it be alright for me to attend Mass on Sundays (obviously I’m not going to receive Communion) even if I’m not being a good Catholic? By good, I mean not following some of the things the CC stands for, like praying to Mary and the saints.
I really want to go to church again and worship but I’ve been distant for so long that I feel lost and unsure of where to begin.

That’s what I have been doing for the past 6 months. Luckily I have just recently sorted things out and will be back to receiving Holy Communion as soon as I schedule a general confession with my priest. Good luck, and our prayers are with you!

 

[EasterJoy]

Absolutely…come to Mass! The whole point of the penitential rite is that we come to Mass aware that we have failed in the enterprise of being “good Catholics.” That includes everybody. As for doubting, it is, by itself, no sin. Some of the great saints were plagued by doubts.

Make an appointment and approach a priest with your questions, even if you don’t feel you have anything to be sorry about. You may find your contrition is missing because you’re not considering those things that really require contrition. Confess any serious sins before receiving Holy Communion, but don’t just assume that accusing yourself is sufficient for something to be a mortal sin. Ask someone who really knows, so your conscience might be properly formed.

 

[Linda_Marie]

Would it be alright for me to attend Mass on Sundays (obviously I’m not going to receive Communion) even if I’m not being a good Catholic? By good, I mean not following some of the things the CC stands for, like praying to Mary and the saints.
I really want to go to church again and worship but I’ve been distant for so long that I feel lost and unsure of where to begin.

There are two ways.

One - just find out the Mass times and go. No one checks you for the secret handshake at the door. Make a Spiritual Communion and spend time in prayer.

Two - Call your local parish and make an appointment to speak with the priest about how you feel you are being called back to the Church and the problems you have with some doctrines, especially the Communion of Saints.

Maybe do both.

Praying for you on your jouney home.

 

[yinekka]

There is no obligation for a Catholic to pray to Mary or the saints although they are members of the family who are in heaven who can intersede to God for us.

Maybe, as well as making an appointment to speak to a priest, you should purchase the Catechism of the Catholic Church or the Compendium or the Catechism (Q & A) format and bring yourself up to date on the Faith.

 

[Newbie2]

Would it be alright for me to attend Mass on Sundays (obviously I’m not going to receive Communion) even if I’m not being a good Catholic? By good, I mean not following some of the things the CC stands for, like praying to Mary and the saints.
I really want to go to church again and worship but I’ve been distant for so long that I feel lost and unsure of where to begin.

Well, we do pray to Mary and the Saints during mass, right?

Catholics do not pray to Mother Mary or any of the others saints. We ask for their intercessions to the Three Persons of God. In essence we ask for their prayers – just as you might ask your family and friends to pray for you.

Methinks that “praying” is simply the means of communication by which we ask for such intercession from those who are no longer with us here on earth, in the physical sense.

In that sense, we pray to them, but I agree with your implication that we do not worship them, as we do God through prayer.

 

[puzzleannie]

Would it be alright for me to attend Mass on Sundays (obviously I’m not going to receive Communion) even if I’m not being a good Catholic? By good, I mean not following some of the things the CC stands for, like praying to Mary and the saints.
I really want to go to church again and worship but I’ve been distant for so long that I feel lost and unsure of where to begin.

this is exactly where to begin, at Mass with the rest of us sinners, where we belong, because our only healing is with Christ, and when you have lost him, you look where he is likely to be found. Coming back to Mass will also give you the grace to return to confession and combat whatever has been keeping you away.
Welcome home! Since you do not have to pray to Mary or the saints to be a good orthodox Catholic, obviously that alone is no reason to say “I am not a good Catholic”. Why not put away that side issue and use this time to look at the real reasons you have not been here?

 

[Ted_in_Charlott]

Mrs. Abbott,

Please attend mass. I converted and I had to take it one step at a time. Maybe talk to the priest over doughnuts.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

You know that Catholics should go to mass every Sunday. You say you feel like you’re not a good Catholic. But this is one thing you can do easily. So do that as a first small step.

At mass, listen to the readings and the prayers and very likely God will speak to you through them. You can adore Jesus in the Eucharist. Ask God to help you understand the things you have doubts about.

Other posters have given you good advice about talking to a priest and going to confession.

About praying to Mary and saints… In the Creed we say that we believe in the Communion of Saints. That means that we are united to all the members of the Church, those who are alive and those who have died. We know that Mary and the saints are alive with God in heaven. And because we are all united in the Communion of Saints we can pray for those in purgatory and we can ask those in heaven to pray for us and to help us in any way God allows them to. We don’t have to pray to saints but they are our friends in heaven (like, any friend of God is a friend of mine).

God bless you at this important time in your life.

 

[Jimdandy]

Each and every Mass that you participate in are the most productive prayers than you can ever have.

The Holy Spirit will restore your Faith if you but ask Him in sincerity.

Attend daily Mass as often as you can and do not miss Sunday Mass-within a short time you will be in the confessional and on your way to receiving the Eucharist.
OR: examine your conscience then go to confession ASAP and after saying “it has been xxxx years since my last confession”, and then after listing the kinds and frequency of your sins-simply say " for these and all my sins that I have forgotten or have excused away I am really sorry and I struggle daily with doubts about my faith"

(Praying beforehand in front of the Tabernacle, asking for the mercy of God and asking St. Pio to help you make a true confession will help you tremendously)

Then listen to your confessor’s advice, recite an act of contrition, say/do your penance and then go receive the Body of our Lord.

Jesus awaits you at His table.

In the meantime recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet frequently.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Well, we do pray to Mary and the Saints during mass, right?

Please give one prayer from the Roman Mass of either form that is addressed to Mary or a saint.

 

[palmas85]

I find it strange that no one has brought up that not only would it be all right for the poster to go to Mass, but as Catholics we are **REQUIRED **to go to Mass on Sundays and Holy days of Obligation,. not just should go as some here have said. To miss Mass on such a day is still a grave sin.

As to those who have stated that we as Catholics don’t pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints, I suggest you do a bit of research before you make such statements. I know that the more strident ecumenalists among us will say that we don’t pray to them, because that will certainly turn off more than a few protestants.

We don’t worship them, but we do pray to them for their intercession, their prayers, their help and guidance.

 

[japhy]

Well, we do pray to Mary and the Saints during mass, right?

Please give one prayer from the Roman Mass of either form that is addressed to Mary or a saint.

Ideo precor beátam Maríam semper Vírginem, omnes Angelos et Sanctos, et vos, fratres, oráre pro me ad Dóminum Deum nostrum.

precor - beg/implore/entreat; wish/pray for/to; pray, supplicate, beseech

 

[palmas85]

Well, we do pray to Mary and the Saints during mass, right?

Please give one prayer from the Roman Mass of either form that is addressed to Mary or a saint.

During Mass we certainly pray to Mary and the Saints for their intercession and their prayers.

 

[jmcrae]

Well, we do pray to Mary and the Saints during mass, right?

Please give one prayer from the Roman Mass of either form that is addressed to Mary or a saint.

From the Confiteor:

“And I ask blessed Mary, all the angels and Saints, and you my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.”

Some priests also make use of the option to pray the Hail Mary at the end of the Prayers of the People.

 

[SwizzleStick]

Would it be alright for me to attend Mass on Sundays (obviously I’m not going to receive Communion) even if I’m not being a good Catholic?(

Actually, as a Catholic, you are required to attend Mass EVERY Sunday and EVERY Holy Day of Obligation or you commit a mortal sin each time you do not attend. So, the obvious answer to your question is “Yes.” Please do attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. Go to confession so that you can also receive the Eucharist, if possible. I don’t know the particulars of your situation, so that may not be possible, but if it is possible to just go to confession so you can receive, please remedy that as soon as possible. Even if you still cannot receive the Eucharist after going to confession, attend Mass anyway. That is just a part of being Catholic and we, your fellow Catholics, welcome you.