Behavior at Mass

[OBUBison2010]

Hey folks,

So I’m not Catholic. Just wanted to say that up front. But I am very interested in learning more about the church and potentially converting. I was raised as a Baptist and currently belong to an Assemblies of God church. I was baptized as a Baptist when I was a child. I am meeting with the priest on Friday to discuss RCIA but I had a few questions that have been on my mind since yesterday at mass and thought maybe someone here could answer them.

I have a few questions relating to mass. I went to my first mass this past Sunday and basically had no idea what to do, since so much of what is done at mass is different than in a protestant service.

Since I’m not Catholic, should I genuflect, make the sign of the cross, etc. or should I not? And if I should, when are those things done? If I do those things, would it be seen as respectful or as disrespectful?

Also, I read somewhere that in certain cases it’s allowable for a baptized protestant to take the Eucharist. Are there cases when that’s allowed and if so, what are they?

Any answers/suggestions? Thanks.

 

[benedictgal]

Hey folks,

So I’m not Catholic. Just wanted to say that up front. But I am very interested in learning more about the church and potentially converting. I was raised as a Baptist and currently belong to an Assemblies of God church. I was baptized as a Baptist when I was a child. I am meeting with the priest on Friday to discuss RCIA but I had a few questions that have been on my mind since yesterday at mass and thought maybe someone here could answer them.

I have a few questions relating to mass. I went to my first mass this past Sunday and basically had no idea what to do, since so much of what is done at mass is different than in a protestant service.

Since I’m not Catholic, should I genuflect, make the sign of the cross, etc. or should I not? And if I should, when are those things done? If I do those things, would it be seen as respectful or as disrespectful?

Also, I read somewhere that in certain cases it’s allowable for a baptized protestant to take the Eucharist. Are there cases when that’s allowed and if so, what are they?

Any answers/suggestions? Thanks.

First of all, welcome home.

Regarding the protocol during Mass, I would probably read through a missallette. These are the small, often paperback, books that are found in the pews that contain the readings for the Mass, the prayers, and some of the music. These little tools are a godsend because they cue you in as to when you are to stand, sit and kneel.

For example, you stand for the Entrance Hymn/Procession all the way through the Penitential Rite, the Gloria and the Collect (Opening Prayer). As soon as the faithful say Amen, then everyone sits down. Then, the readings are proclaimed and the responsorial psalm is sung (or read, depending where you are).

You will then stand up for the Gospel Acclamation, which, most of the time is Alleluia (sung); however, during Lent, it is something else that is also sung. You remain standing for the proclamation of the Gospel. After the faithful respond with a simple acclamation to the Gospel having been proclaimed, then you sit down for the homily (which you would understand as a sermon).

At the Profession of Faith, everyone stands and remains standing undil the end of the General Intercessions. Then you sit down for the presentation of the gifts. You remain seated until the priest prays, “Pray brethren (or my brothers and sisters)” and then you stand. You remain standing for the preface and at the end of the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) you kneel for the Eucharistic Prayer. You stand up for the Pater Noster (Our Father) and remain standing until after the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) when the priest holds up the body of Our Lord and says “Behold, the Lamb of God…” At that point, you kneel. You can either remain kneeling or be seated as the faithful go to receive Holy Communion.

Now, when the priest says “Let us pray”, you stand and remain standing until the final blessing and dismissal.

Regarding your question, I am afraid to tell you that it is not the general practice of the Catholic Church to allow open communion for members of Protestant ecclesial communities, even those who expressly wish to convert. Communion means that the faithful are receiving the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord and tha they believe in the Real, bonafide presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Communion is not merely a symbolic meal. We are feeding on the very flesh and blood of the Living God. Communion also means that we are in union with the Church throughout the world with Peter (the Pope) as Christ’s Vicar on Earth. While the Church allows members of her Sister Churches (Greek Orthodox) to receive Holy Communion it is because she recongizes them as such. They also have apostolic succession and valid Holy Orders and share our belief in the Real Presence of Jesus.

I hope I’ve explained this to you without getting too technical.

 

[SeekerJen]

Hey folks,

So I’m not Catholic. Just wanted to say that up front. But I am very interested in learning more about the church and potentially converting. I was raised as a Baptist and currently belong to an Assemblies of God church. I was baptized as a Baptist when I was a child. I am meeting with the priest on Friday to discuss RCIA but I had a few questions that have been on my mind since yesterday at mass and thought maybe someone here could answer them.

I have a few questions relating to mass. I went to my first mass this past Sunday and basically had no idea what to do, since so much of what is done at mass is different than in a protestant service.

Since I’m not Catholic, should I genuflect, make the sign of the cross, etc. or should I not? And if I should, when are those things done? If I do those things, would it be seen as respectful or as disrespectful?

Also, I read somewhere that in certain cases it’s allowable for a baptized protestant to take the Eucharist. Are there cases when that’s allowed and if so, what are they?

Any answers/suggestions? Thanks.

Welcome home.

I can’t think of any circumstances when it would be permitted for a non-Catholic Christian to receive the Eucharist so during Communion you can either remain in the pew or go up to receive a blessing from the priest (walk up and cross your arms over your chest). Otherwise, you’re free to participate in the Mass- prayers, gestures, etc. I think most of us would see it as very respectful. However, you won’t be in the wrong if you sit in the pew and merely observe.

Really, you’re free to participate according to your comfort level. For instance, you may not yet feel comfortable genuflecting to the tabernacle. This is what you see us doing when we enter or exit our pews- we are genuflecting to the Eucharist dwelling within the tabernacle. If you can’t spot the tabernacle, look for a lit candle in a red glass holder (lit to signify the physical presence of Christ in the church). The tabernacle should be nearby. As for the sign of the cross, you will see us dipping our fingers in the holy water fonts at the doors of the church when we enter and exit, and crossing ourselves with those fingers. You will also see us crossing ourselves at the beginning and end of Mass, when the priest blesses us “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”. We also make mini-crosses on our foreheads, lips, and heart during the Gospel Acclamation (usually a sung Alleluia). As we do this, we pray “Glory to you, O Lord.” The crosses are so placed that the Gospel might be in our minds, on our lips, and in our hearts.

A lot of this comes with time and repetition, as does anything worth learning. The nice thing about the Mass is that the structure is always the same (with a few omissions at Lent and Advent). I find it extremely comforting; I can walk into a Catholic Mass anywhere in the world and be at home in the liturgy. You might want to see if the church provides missalettes (worship aids, usually seasonal) or if the Order of Mass is available in a hymnal or missal in the pews. This will help you to follow along with the liturgy. You might also be interested in a daily devotional like Magnificat, which does double duty as a missalette and a devotional. You can follow along with the daily Mass readings of the church as well as some of the daily prayers from the Liturgy of the Hours.

 

[George_C]

So I’m not Catholic. Just wanted to say that up front. But I am very interested in learning more about the church and potentially converting. I was raised as a Baptist and currently belong to an Assemblies of God church. I was baptized as a Baptist when I was a child. I am meeting with the priest on Friday to discuss RCIA but I had a few questions that have been on my mind since yesterday at mass and thought maybe someone here could answer them.

Good luck with the meeting. I am in the midst of an RCIA class. I was likewise baptized at age 12 in a First Baptist church. It took a while, but I found a parish offering RCIA.

I have a few questions relating to mass. I went to my first mass this past Sunday and basically had no idea what to do, since so much of what is done at mass is different than in a protestant service.

Yup. I’m still getting my feet wet.

Since I’m not Catholic, should I genuflect, make the sign of the cross, etc. or should I not? And if I should, when are those things done? If I do those things, would it be seen as respectful or as disrespectful?

Fr. Terry (my priest) said as a newbie, either way is alright. I just watch and learn. So I generally watch someone else and mimic them. And if they screw up, they get the blame!

Also, I read somewhere that in certain cases it’s allowable for a baptized protestant to take the Eucharist. Are there cases when that’s allowed and if so, what are they?

You’re not near death are you? Otherwise, I think you’ve been fed a bum steer. I’ve been told it’s a no-no until I’m confirmed.

Any answers/suggestions? Thanks.

Get yourself a Catholic bible. Douay-Rheims, Revised Standard Version-Catholic Edition, or New American. I got a free NAB bible from the parish which gives explanations of the verses.

 

[OBUBison2010]

Thanks for the replies, they’ve helped a lot.

One more question though… Catholic Bible? What’s wrong with the one I’ve got?

 

[George_C]

Thanks for the replies, they’ve helped a lot.

One more question though… Catholic Bible? What’s wrong with the one I’ve got?

Protestant bibles eliminate seven books of the Latin Vulgate and Esther and Daniel are heavily edited.

 

[George_C]

The books eliminated in Protestant bibles are I and II Maccabees, Baruch, Tobit, Judith, The Wisdom of Solomon, and Sirach.

Buy or rent an outstanding DVD called Where Did the Bible Come From? to learn what was changed from the original Latin Vulgate.

I have a review of this DVD on my blog.

 

[Genesis12345]

Hey folks,
I am very happy that you have joined the RCIA. In those meetings you should learn about the Catolic Church, that is the purpose of the meetings. If you do not understand something, than ask.

As for genuflecting, it is always a gesture to do this when you are entering a church. You are honoring God. In some churches, they bow, in lieu of genuflect. It is more or less a greeting of saying allow to God.

As for Protestants receiving Communion in the Catholic Church, this is FORBIDDEN because they are not in union with Rome. Why would a protestant want to receive communion if he doesn’t believe it is the body and blood of Christ? It is not sound theology.

Also, when you enter a Catholic Church, you should bless yourself with the Holy Water. This is called a sacramental.

But, when you attend y our RCIA classes, please feel free to ask any questions–that is why you are there. I congratulate you on becoming a Catholic. God bless you!!!

 

[MDK]

Thanks for the replies, they’ve helped a lot.

One more question though… Catholic Bible? What’s wrong with the one I’ve got?

The main problem is not even as much with the Bible you have, as with the way people have interpreted it. We look around and see all the different interpretations of essentially or even exactly the same Bible passage wording. Is that the way God intended that His Word really not be known properly?

The reason Christ established the leader of the Apostles (head Bishop) as recorded in Matthew 16:18 is that with Christ’s protection, there would always be a court of final appeals, and infallible teacher in faith and morals for the Church Christ was to build. This provides unity in belief for His Church, and guaranteed not to be in error in teaching His Word regarding faith and morals. All through the Bible, we read that God has worked His salvation through fallible men, who when the Holy Spirit is with them, do not teach fallibly. God still does the same today with His Church. The Church has never taught error in faith and morals, protecting Jesus’ deposit of faith for the faithful.

 

[Ruthie]

Dear Bison,

The basic texts of the Order of Mass may be found here. It doesn’t tell you when to stand, sit, or kneel, but you can just imitate those around you.

Before the Gospel reading, when we say “Glory to you, Lord,” is when we do the triple cross thing. A silent prayer I say along with it is, “Lord, be in my mind (sign of the Cross + on my forehead), on my lips (+ on my mouth), and in my heart (+ over my heart).”

Don’t feel obliged to dip into the holy water and make the + as you come in or go out. I’ve learned recently that it’s a renewal of our Baptismal promises, and if you haven’t made the promises, you don’t have to do it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t, either! The promises are to reject Satan, and all his works, and all his empty promises. You don’t have to be a Catholic to do that.

I pray you do decide to “swim the Tiber” and join us!

God bless you,

Ruthie