Attending Mass

[SwizzleStick]

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.

Hmm, this complicates things, so my suggestion above to go to Confession probably does not help. Sorry. Well, then you just need to go to Mass anyway. Pray, pray and pray some more. Also, maybe try to make some Holy Hours, Adoration before our Lord. Seeking the counsel of your priest sounds good. Hopefully, then you will be able to find what it is that you are seeking. But, please go to Mass every Sunday and Holy Day even if you cannot go to Communion because you are not yet ready to go to Confession. Then, hopefully, before you know it, you will be ready for Confession and can come back Home completely.

 

[valient_Lucy]

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.

Sure!

 

[drafdog]

This is your Father’s house you’re visiting. He celebrates an on-going open house. Come on in! We’re glad to see you’re home.

Matthew

PS None of the rest of us is perfect either.

 

[EasterJoy]

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.

As already noted, the only one I can think of is this:

…I ask 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, by the way, perfectly illustrates the place that the saints and our Blessed Mother have in our prayer lives.

 

[Inman]

I think we are getting a bit hung up on semantics regarding what the words pray and prayer.

Catholics clearly ask Mary, and the other saints to pray (intercede) for us to God. To the extent it is part of the mass such as in the confiteor, or given as a penance in confession–say 5 Hail Mary’s–it is obligatory. Otherwise it is a private practice that is encouraged, but not required. (assuming the decision not to engage in this practice is not intended as a rejection of catholic teaching)

There is a significant difference between that asking for interecession to God and petition God to act directly.

Many non-catholic christians do not appreciate this distinction. While catholics understand (or should) that when we “pray” to a saint we are only asking that saint to pray for us to God, non-catholics mistakenly view this type of pray as what catholics would address to God.

I am not suggesting that we change or water down the truth, but if we bring one more soul to the chruch, through the use of more precise language, imho it would be imprudent to not do so.

 

[Jean_Anthony]

Please stay on topic, everyone. Take side discussions to new or existing threads in the appropriate fora. Thank you all.