Community and feeling welcome at mass

[Chris_Jacobsen]

Quote “But how could you NOT feel comraderie knowing that they are all there for the same reason as yourself? Especially in today’s world where it can feel like you are alone in your faith when it comes to the outside (work and non-church events). We are the body of Christ. Joined by the blood of our Lord. I feel comraderie even here on this catholic board though”

Sorry, as a single Catholic, I really have nothing in common with the family members.

And many people, at least around here, do not really believe what the Catholic Church believes and teaches.

 

[HelpingHands]

TeriGator:

Not everyone is comfortable showing their emotions. I myself have been moved to tears during the mass, but am very loath to show it to others. The joy I feel in the Eucharist is not that of laughing and shouting, but of earth-shaking, soul-rattling, down-to-the-core-of-my-being joy that I cannot express to others. None of my previous experiences in Protestantism ever made me feel such profound feelings, even when I was having fun during the services.

Your description of Catholics as appearing “dead” is very offensive to me, and indicates that you really don’t know what’s going on inside us. As the old saying goes, you cannot judge a book by its cover.

I agree about expressing emotions. I never felt comfortable in emotive churches and I’m inhibited. I don’t understand why you’re ‘offended’ though, by the perception expressed by Singing. A lot of other people have noticed the same thing, so she’s not alone in what she sees. Did you know that St Theresa of Avila said that we should never be offended?

 

[Singinbeauty]

Chris Jacobsen:

“But how could you NOT feel comraderie knowing that they are all there for the same reason as yourself? Especially in today’s world where it can feel like you are alone in your faith when it comes to the outside (work and non-church events). We are the body of Christ. Joined by the blood of our Lord. I feel comraderie even here on this catholic board though”

Sorry, as a single Catholic, I really have nothing in common with the family members.

And many people, at least around here, do not really believe what the Catholic Church believes and teaches.

Trying to find a place to hide before the others see this post

Just Kidding…

If there are those in the catholic church that feel disconnected from the body isn’t there something wrong?

 

[PaulDupre]

Chris Jacobsen:

Sorry, as a single Catholic, I really have nothing in common with the family members.

Do you mean that because you are single you have nothing in common with other Catholics?
Paul

 

[TeriGator]

HelpingHands:

I agree about expressing emotions. I never felt comfortable in emotive churches and I’m inhibited. I don’t understand why you’re ‘offended’ though, by the perception expressed by Singing. A lot of other people have noticed the same thing, so she’s not alone in what she sees. Did you know that St Theresa of Avila said that we should never be offended?

Which is why she is Saint Teresa and I am merely Teresa.

The reason I am offended is that I would be presumed to be emotionless and with dead faith, merely because I keep my face composed and my tears mostly hidden. I know that there are many in mass who probably are bored, and I could probably put my kids at the front of that line sometimes. What I dislike is the presumption that only people who show their emotion are actually feeling any. Makes me feel as though my emotions must be invalid.

Perhaps if she could see me at family events like graduations, she would know that even those personally touching moments, when I am crying inside from pride and love and even some sorrow at the same time, my face shows very little of it. Doesn’t mean I love my family or feel the emotions of a mother any less.

 

[HelpingHands]

LOL not-saint Theresa. That’s a very cute answer.

I think shy people are often judged by others to be arrogent and aloof. I’ve been judged that way and I’ve sometimes misjudged others. Oh well, I’m not a saint yet either. And some days it seems like I’m making very little progress!

 

[Singinbeauty]

The reason I am offended is that I would be presumed to be emotionless and with dead faith

But I never said ‘dead faith’… you put that in there… I just said that their faces looked ‘dead’ maybe even cut off… I never said that was the case I just said that is how it looks.

Again I am sorry if I offended you… It really was not my intention…

 

[Trick]

Chris Jacobsen:

Quote “But how could you NOT feel comraderie knowing that they are all there for the same reason as yourself? Especially in today’s world where it can feel like you are alone in your faith when it comes to the outside (work and non-church events). We are the body of Christ. Joined by the blood of our Lord. I feel comraderie even here on this catholic board though”

Sorry, as a single Catholic, I really have nothing in common with the family members.

And many people, at least around here, do not really believe what the Catholic Church believes and teaches.

I think you probably have a lot more in common with your fellow Catholics than you think, those with and without famililies .I think I would try to find out.

Trick

 

[carol_marie]

Singinbeauty:

But I never said ‘dead faith’… you put that in there… I just said that their faces looked ‘dead’ maybe even cut off… I never said that was the case I just said that is how it looks.

Again I am sorry if I offended you… It really was not my intention…

Siningbeauty,
I know just what you are talking about. I agree with you. Without question at the Evangelical churches that I went to the congregation by far was more more emotional about their relationship with Jesus. It was in the music - in the sermon - everywhere. It’s not like that at the Catholic Church. Catholics in my opinion are MUCH more reserved.

I’m not saying Catholics don’t feel like the Evangelicals - they just aren’t so likely to show it at Church. We’re just different - that’s all.

I personally prefer the atmosphere at the Catholic Church. It’s more reverent - more holy in my opinion.

 

[Lillith]

Singinbeauty:

But I never said ‘dead faith’… you put that in there… I just said that their faces looked ‘dead’ maybe even cut off… I never said that was the case I just said that is how it looks.

Again I am sorry if I offended you… It really was not my intention…

Hi singingbeauty…possibly the dead faces that you see are actually meditating faces, which has a lot to do with Catholic practice. I try not to look at anyone during Mass, lest I become distracted leading my mind to wondering.

I cry often in Church…not boo hooing but silent tears of joy and sorrow, joy over the love that G-d gives and sorrow over the fact that I am not worthy…I don’t feel like the best daughter I could be. At mass I am often confronted with my shortcomings, and I probably appear sad…another reason for a dead looking face.

I am aggrevated by how loud My own Church can be after Mass, they are good before Mass. After receiving the most Holy Eucharist we are with Jesus in the most intimate way, and should continue mediating on what has just occurred, but at my Church after the procession has ended when the priest is out of the building, folks act like little kids and start talking in loud voices …It should not occur. For twenty minutes after receiving the Eucharist we should just be still, because G-d whispers, and those loud conversations could ruin someones alone time with Jesus.

 

[Loboto-Me]

Lillith, that was very well said. I just love that you said “God whispers” this is so true, and from now on I’ll try to listen more intently.

I too confront my weaknesses, and am prayerful before and during Mass. I often cry and don’t know why the tears are rolling down my cheeks… Mass is an EXTREMELY emotional time for me. I doubt that anyone would be able to tell from afar that I’m crying. I would probably look “dead” to an observer) My daughter often looks at me and smirks (she’s at the age where she finds emotionalism silly).

What I’m trying to say is that emotions are fine and dandy, but we can’t forget who we have present in front of us. Jesus MUST take precedence over socializing. We need to respect other people who are praying (before and after Mass) by staying quiet. Bubbly, and loud people are most welcome, but please, let’s wait til we get into the Narthex (if it’s closed off from the Church) or into the parking lot to express ourselves loudly or to “congregate”. There are so many styles of people and worshippers that come to Mass each week, we must all try to respect each other’s differences.

 

[O.S.Luke]

Psalms asked a question in the first post about feeling welcome at a Mass. As a Protestant and an ordained minister, as well as doing extensive study and teaching about liturgics and sacramental theology, I would caution visitors from the community about inviting them to Mass without some warning.

It is extremely painful for many Protestants to attend Mass and not be able to receive the Eucharist, even (and especially) if one believes in Real Presence; in short, when in Rome, you cannot (and should not) do as the Romans do. That is why I usually do not attend weddings and funerals if I know that a Mass will be celebrated. One needs to be respectful of other traditions and church theologies, and does not need to attend and be resentful.

Certainly, if one has thoughts of converting, then I would wholeheartedly encourage them to attend Mass.

It is probably wise to forewarn visitors of such before they come inside the church doors, to spare an embarrassing and possibly hurtful moment during the celebration of a Mass.

O+