Bringing a Muslim to mass

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Hey all,

I help teach a conversational English class for international students from my campus. I was having a one-on-one session with one of our regulars, a man from Turkey. He asked about the ashes on my forehead and we started talking about Lent, etc. He is very curious about Christians and how they pray, etc. and he said he wanted to come to mass. I am taking him to a daily mass on Friday evening and I wanted to make sure I do everything right… If I understand correctly, only baptized Christians are allowed to use the holy water, right? Other than that (and the Eucharist, of course), is there anything that I might need to be aware of? Has anyone ever taken a non-Christian friend to mass before and might you have any recommendations or suggestions?

Thanks
 
It’s my understanding that anyone is welcome to bless themselves with the holy water, baptized or not. Is that incorrect?
 
🙂 Good for you!
“…only baptized Christians are allowed to use the holy water, right?”
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Well, making the sign of the Cross (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) with the blessed water is a representation of our Christian baptism.

It would be fair to him to first explain why and what Catholics are doing with they use this sacramental.

Once he understands the significance of the gesture, he will probably not cross himself or dip into the blessed water.

But, there’s nothing wrong with him doing so if he wishes to.
 
I think the only restriction would be that he can’t receive the eucharist. There is no rule about the Holy Water. I mean, if the Priest chooses to bless the whole congregation with Holy Water how would he know that there is a non-catholic among the crowd, and even if he did, how would he avoid sprinkling them with the water? I think the holy water is a free for all…but now you have me curious so I am going to google it.
 
Blacksword said:
It’s my understanding that anyone is welcome to bless themselves with the holy water, baptized or not. Is that incorrect?
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I don’t know about the Holy Water. If he is comfortable or so desired, could he receive a blessing when everyone goes up for communion?

If his English is pretty good, a pamphlet might be a help.
I remember my godmother used to take me to Mass as a child, & I vividly remember the holy water and sitting in the pew while others went to receive. I did not know a blessing could be done until I got to RCIA.

How exciting he wants to attend 👍
 
I googled and found that Holy Water is used in many religions. However there is no mention about anyone not being allowed to use the water.
 
Just curious…would you be allowed to pray alongside him in his mosque?
 
I am a Muslim, baptised an Eastern Orthodox, who was confirmed in and practised Catholicism.

Before my wife converted to Islam, she went to Mass occasionally, but by no means was a fully “practising Catholic”. I went along; the Priest knew I was a Muslim, as I thought there may have been a problem, and raised no objections to my presence. I did not use any sacrament (communion, etc.).

I do believe this may be a matter that is not set in stone and is variable, as I can find no references in Canon law or the Catechism on it. I believe you would be best off asking your priest or a deacon personally, to see his opinion.

Off topic: My priest went so far as to say the Church of Christ was always open, and I was welcome to do confession/penance to receive communion again (I can not remember the exact conversation, but it was quite a bit lengthier than the aforementioned) - far from my expected reaction of automatic excommunication - he seemed truly disappointed - a righteous man who cares for his parishioners, although he did not try overly hard to proselytise, “bring me back in to the fold”, etc. We remain on good terms.

This was in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
 
I am not able to receive communion yet, but I go up each time. I cross my hands over my chest then the priest sets his hand on my forehead and gives me a blessing. If you friend is comfortable doing this, he is welcome to do so.

I don’t know for sure about the holy water. I do use it each time I go, but I am also baptized. My guess is that it’s OK for him to use it if he wishes but I like somebody else’s suggestion here to ask your priest ahead of time.

Let us know how it goes!
 
cominghome1966 said:
I am not able to receive communion yet, but I go up each time. I cross my hands over my chest then the priest sets his hand on my forehead and gives me a blessing. If you friend is comfortable doing this, he is welcome to do so.
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This (setting the hand on the forehead of those who do not receive communion) is unfortunate new custom, but it is wrong:
  • laying hand has liturgical meaning, it is the privilege of the bishop or at least ordained priest. Simon Magus wanted to buy this privilege, Peter rebukled him harshly (Acts 5)
  • the Eucharistic meal is reserved for practicing Catholics, the rest should stay at the pew
  • there are hygienic problems too, the ordained or lay Eucharistic minister is using his hand to distribute the communion, what people eat.
It is possible that the Church will make a rite for blessing those who do not receive communion, but that certainly will be not laying hand.
 
bkayw said:
🙂 Good for you!

Well, making the sign of the Cross (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) with the blessed water is a representation of our Christian baptism.

It would be fair to him to first explain why and what Catholics are doing with they use this sacramental.

Once he understands the significance of the gesture, he will probably not cross himself or dip into the blessed water.

But, there’s nothing wrong with him doing so if he wishes to.
Click to expand...
The challenge here is that his English is really, really limited. I have a feeling he is just going to follow along with whatever I do.

As far as the blessing is concerned, I rarely ever go up to the front for a blessing… it’s got to do with an experience I had once with an Italian priest who was not familiar with the custom and tried to administer communion to me… ever since then I’ve been shy to go up there. I figured I would just stay in my seat and he would probably do the same. I can’t receive the Eucharist yet anyways since I haven’t yet received the sacrament of confirmation.

Someone asked whether I would be allowed to pray alongside him in the mosque. I do not know if we are allowed to pray in the mosque, but I do know that they have had “open mosque” days before where we were invited to come and visit and speak to imams, etc. I think they said that we could attend, but that we had to leave our shoes at the door, etc.

I wonder if there is a website that has pamphlets explaining the Catholic mass in different languages? It would be nice if I could find one in Turkish and give it to him.
 
laszlo said:
This (setting the hand on the forehead of those who do not receive communion) is unfortunate new custom, but it is wrong:
  • laying hand has liturgical meaning, it is the privilege of the bishop or at least ordained priest. Simon Magus wanted to buy this privilege, Peter rebukled him harshly (Acts 5)
  • the Eucharistic meal is reserved for practicing Catholics, the rest should stay at the pew
  • there are hygienic problems too, the ordained or lay Eucharistic minister is using his hand to distribute the communion, what people eat.
It is possible that the Church will make a rite for blessing those who do not receive communion, but that certainly will be not laying hand.
Click to expand...
What you said about hygiene makes sense. I’ve had both an RCIA instructor and a Sister tell me it’s OK, even good, to do. But I will pray about it and talk to more people. Thanks for your perspective.
 
momor said:
Just curious…would you be allowed to pray alongside him in his mosque?
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As LDNCatholic noted, Muslims don’t generally have a problem with outsiders attending prayers (usually observing from the side or back, in my experience). Frequently they have an outreach during Ramadan, where non-Muslims attend evening prayer and then break the fast with them. However, generally the men are segregated from the women, so it wouldn’t be alongside him in the strict sense.
 
In my parish, if you want a blessing at the time of communion instead of the host, you get in the line that either the Priest of Deacon is distributing too. Our lay ministers never bless anyone…not even toddlers who approach with thier parents.
 
Digitonomy said:
As LDNCatholic noted, Muslims don’t generally have a problem with outsiders attending prayers (usually observing from the side or back, in my experience). Frequently they have an outreach during Ramadan, where non-Muslims attend evening prayer and then break the fast with them. However, generally the men are segregated from the women, so it wouldn’t be alongside him in the strict sense.
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That’s what I thought. Whereas Catholic churches don’t have segregated areas for the non-catholic visitors, I am pretty sure mosques are not as accepting of having a non-muslim praying beside a muslim (gender aside). That might be important for a muslim to understand about attending Mass - the non-separation in everything except the Eucharist.
 
Maureen1125 said:
In my parish, if you want a blessing at the time of communion instead of the host, you get in the line that either the Priest of Deacon is distributing too. Our lay ministers never bless anyone…not even toddlers who approach with thier parents.
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Ok, we need to look into the CCC on this one, I believe there are blessings laity can do. I always knew in an emergency lay are allowed to baptize i.e. A newborn is dying & there is no priest etc. As long as you use the Trinitarian words…
😉
 
cominghome1966 said:
I am not able to receive communion yet, but I go up each time. I cross my hands over my chest then the priest sets his hand on my forehead and gives me a blessing. If you friend is comfortable doing this, he is welcome to do so.

I don’t know for sure about the holy water. I do use it each time I go, but I am also baptized. My guess is that it’s OK for him to use it if he wishes but I like somebody else’s suggestion here to ask your priest ahead of time.

Let us know how it goes!
Click to expand...
That posture is the posture for reception in the Byzantine Churches, both those in Union with Rome, and the Eastern Orthodox.

It is an inappropriate symbol.

And the approaching of those not yet worthy to receive is a liturgical abuse. One improperly foisted upon the unwitting.

The proper place for those not receiving is remaining. in the pew.
 
Aramis is correct here. Certainly receiving a ‘blessing’ by the priest placing his hands upon you is HIGHLY inappropriate given the aforementioned significance of the laying of hands. Furthermore, the Church does not intend for anyone not admitted to Communion to approach the Sacred Species, so at the very least those who are not Catholic have no business being in the Communion line. If you cannot or choose not to receive the Blessed Sacrament, remain in your seat and make a Spiritual Communion.
 
Like I said before, I never go up to the front for communion, not since that incident with the Italian priest

As for bringing my Turkish friend to mass, it went fairly well; I tried to explain some things to him beforehand but like I said his English is extremely limited so I just let him follow along. Explaining the Eucharist was next to impossible. I think he knew he wouldn’t be able to understand very much during the service but I think he just wanted the sights and sounds, to see how we do liturgy, how we pray, etc. I pointed to the statues and talked about them, the crucifix, the altar, the tabernacle, and to the stations of the cross, and showed him the missalette and explained some about how we do the readings each day. He mostly just imitated the things I did, and tried to make the sign of the cross (though he couldn’t quite figure out how to do it correctly) and even knelt and genuflected along with me. I had a feeling that he might have been slightly intimidated by all the icons and the solemnity of everything in mass; I know that I definitely was when I first attended mass two years ago on Palm Sunday. Having gone to mass and studied Catholicism for two years now, it’s funny how everything has become second nature to me, and I’ve gotten so used to everything; seeing someone else who is totally new to it all kind of takes me back to those days.
 
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