Find an EF Mass.
The Mass is a prayer. The centerpiece of the Mass is the Eucharist. If you understood that you would not ask the question.
I used to go to the Novus Ordo Mass. I found it less-than-interesting, not terribly stimulating, and merely OK.
I think the more you learn about what is going on at Mass the more meaningful it is to you. Perhaps you could suggest to your pastor that he offer a class that goes through the Mass step by step. My guess is that you’re not the only parishioner who would benefit from it.
)Ooh! I read that book! Excellent book! I love it! I don’t remember that particular letter, but I do remember a good portion of the others. It’s been a while since I read it.This also reminds me of a part in the book, The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis where the demons are discussing how it’s not necessarily bad for them that the “patient”, the person they are trying to damn, is going to church as long as he is not focused on the mass and is distracted from it. If you haven’t read that, it’s also a really good book and once again, an easy read (wow, you can tell I like the easy readers
I do now, but I did not always. I had the same experience you describe growing up. When I got to HS, I was thoroughly disgusted by the “reforms” of Vatican II. I was so disgusted with Beatles music (“Mother Mary come to me”) during Mass,and people dancing down the aisle in leotards, I left the church. I was gone for a long time, and attended only protestant services. When I came back into the Church, it was through the Charismatic Renewal, and although there were still abuses, I did see a deeper form of reverance and piety. I decided to explore Eastern Orthodoxy, and became enchanted with the mystical nature of Divine Liturgy. Slowly I got overy my avoidance.
It’s the second one. The patient starts attending church and the demons try to get him to focus on his own sense of accomplishment just for going rather than the reason for going. Maybe not the case with the OP per say, but he also talks about this as a period of time where one makes a transition from emotional experience to reason. He talks about how God allows this transition although it can be difficult to move from the romanticized idea of the beauty to the logic and reason behind it. He uses a great example of transitioning from the hearing of the Story of the Odyssey to the task of actually learning Greek. In leaning Greek and Greek history, the story of the Oyssey comes alive and is fuller. The demons also say that once this transition has occured the patient would be cut off to them.
Sorry, but this train of thought doesn’t help.The Mass is a prayer. The centerpiece of the Mass is the Eucharist. If you understood that you would not ask the question.
If you are looking for something to hold your attention, may I recomend The Hooten’ and Hollarin’ Charismatic Temple down the road? They do the Benny Hinn Bunny Hop every Sunday morning.
I was joking. Hence the smileys.Sorry, but this train of thought doesn’t help.
I’m thinking you should get one of the books readily available - I’m sure there’s some here on CA in the shop - that explains the mass. Books on how the liturgy evolved from the earliest times may be of interest too.
Yes, Friend. I ‘understand’ all this. In this instance, ‘understanding’ doesn’t help. I think priests who supervise disorganized, boring, distracting Masses are passing up vital opportunities to inspire many. I must accept the fact I don’t like Mass as a sacrifice I must offer up to Christ, He for whom I live exclusively. I’m just disappointed by priests and laity who lack the imagination and skills to make Mass awesome and a *powerful *force in combatting the Culture of Repudiation that’s killing Christianity in the West today.
To each his own. For me, the most important part is carrying on the work of Jesus, in our daily lives. The Mass is a ritualistic institution, a community celebration, a commemoration of Jesus’ final teaching – submission to the ultimate consequences of doing God’s will on Earth. We must all be prepared to undergo our own ‘last supper’.