Daily mass question

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sticknstring73

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I am a baptized Catholic in RCIA and have yet to make my first communion but am in a position to go to daily 7am mass which I do (without receiving of course). I get up early for work, the church is right across the street and I have the desire most importantly.

While reading around on the internet and in books this seems like a good thing at first blush but is it really? Most people doing this seem to be much older than I at least to my eyes (I’m going to be 42) or discerning a vocation, which I am pretty sure I’m not.

While at RCIA the priest referred to people who might be “churchaholics”, which even with daily mass I don’t feel like. To my mind was funny considering I’ve never seen any of my class members in any mass and the masses are never as full as, to my mind, any priest would like to see them. Even on Holy days there is still plenty of room and I’m in NYC. The classes seem like they are almost afraid to scare people away in any case. How can anyone be a “churchaholic” when most of society seems very “churchphobic”?

My girlfriend seems to be a bit weirded out by it as well and yes she is also a Catholic.

All I know is that it feels right to do so. It’s like something I never even knew I needed. It’s not taking anything away from my life except perhaps freaking out my friends who were thoroughly disturbed when I said I believed in God in the first place. At this point in history a belief in God does that to people I guess.

So I ask all of you because I do not have anyone else in my life who might be able to objectively answer it am I overdoing it? Is there a point in which a person who is not discerning can be overdoing it?

I also plan on showing up a little earlier at RCIA to ask the priest about it.
 
Go to Daily Mass. I did it when I was in RCIA for a couple of months. I still attend most weekdays. It will help you learn the responses in the Mass for starters and also the parts, as in what comes after what. When it becomes to much church is based on the individual. Don’t skip work to attend.

Also you may find that the Daily Mass attenders are supportive and likely to pray for you.
 
As long as you are not adversely impacting other areas of your life (like showing up for work late because you went to daily Mass), it is a great thing to do.

Many Catholics do not attend daily Mass, for a variety of reasons. My guess is the most common reason is they were not made to go daily as children, and their adult role models also did not attend daily Mass.

Keep in mind the requirement is to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days - attending Mass at other times is commendable.
 
Since I’ve been doing this I haven’t been late. Actually it has put many things in proper perspective for me, imo.
 
If you feel the need to go, then go. There is nothing wrong with going to daily mass and becoming closer God. I myself go sometimes and I’m only 18 and just recently became closer to my faith. I find it helpful, only if you pay attention. 👍
 
If daily Mass is important to you and nourishes your spiritual life, then you should go. Don’t let the fact that someone else has different views discourage you.

When the priest referred to “churchaholics,” I think he was using the term much like “alcoholic” – someone who overdoes things to the point of being unhealthy. Can you overdo Mass? Yes, I think so. We all need balance in our lives, whether it’s balance among forms of prayer or balance between prayer and other elements of our lives. If you attend multiple Masses a day, for example, but don’t participate in any of the corporal works of mercy, I’d say there was an imbalance. If you spend hours in prayer but ignore your responsibilities to your family I’d also say there’s an imbalance.
 
Mass is the greatest thing that can happen on this earth.

And those who cannot receive can make a spiritual communion.
 
SuscipeMeDomine said:
If daily Mass is important to you and nourishes your spiritual life, then you should go. Don’t let the fact that someone else has different views discourage you.

When the priest referred to “churchaholics,” I think he was using the term much like “alcoholic” – someone who overdoes things to the point of being unhealthy. Can you overdo Mass? Yes, I think so. We all need balance in our lives, whether it’s balance among forms of prayer or balance between prayer and other elements of our lives. If you attend multiple Masses a day, for example, but don’t participate in any of the corporal works of mercy, I’d say there was an imbalance. If you spend hours in prayer but ignore your responsibilities to your family I’d also say there’s an imbalance.
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I would be careful saying one can “overdo” Mass. Although for most people it is not possible to go to daily mass, it is always a source of grace and should be encouraged. This is not a “zero sum game”. God’s grace, when accepted, provides us the opportunities and means to act with charity in the rest of our daily life. I encourage you to read the lives of the Saints…almost always they go to Mass at every opportunity. Think of Christ’s own words when teaching us to pray “Give us this day our daily bread”. I have never heard of anyone (except Priests and ministers) going to more than one Mass per day…this would not make sense having already heard the Word of God and received His Body and Blood for their daily spiritual strength.
 
Daily Mass is normal and healthy.

Nobody worries about you if you go jogging every day for an hour, so what could be wrong about adding Mass to your daily routine?

Re: “churchaholics,” they were talking about “religiosity.” That’s totally different from just going to Mass every day, or even a saintly amount of fervor. It’s usually either the intersection of religion and mental illness, or in gentler cases, of trying to overcome doubts or problems just by piling on religious activities. If you told me you were praying forty different novenas a day, I’d worry that you were suffering from religiosity.
 
tm21 said:
I have never heard of anyone (except Priests and ministers) going to more than one Mass per day…this would not make sense having already heard the Word of God and received His Body and Blood for their daily spiritual strength.
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I had someone who started – but dropped out of – RCIA who attended multiple Sunday Masses. Her theory was that if one was good, two or three were even better.
 
Daily Mass is certainly not “overdoing” anything. If one started to feel it necessary to attend several Masses per day, that might be overdoing it. I am very lucky to be in a city that has daily Masses near my home, at different parishes, at 7am, 8am, Noon, and 5:15pm. All of them seem to have a fairly diverse mix of people attending.
 
The Australian Catholic writer and speaker, Matthew Kelly, describes attending daily mass as becoming a fuller Catholic, or a fulfilled Catholic.

The fears of daily attendance are either based on the fear that someone might change if they become a more fulfilled Catholic, or based on a sense of inadequacy on the part of the critic: “What are they asking of ME if THEY attend daily mass?”

We are not obligated to go to daily mass so going voluntarily must make some feel very inadequate by comparison. Yet most daily mass attendees have no interest in making others feel inadequate.

I have often noticed many older people at daily mass, my great auntie was one of them. They admit to having the time, and also state that they, being closer to the end, are “buying insurance”; but even more they have grown and matured in their practice of the faith in their later years and feel the value of a daily mass.

If you feel that at your age and spirit, then may God bless you and others.
 
Auntie_A said:
I have often noticed many older people at daily mass, my great auntie was one of them. They admit to having the time, and also state that they, being closer to the end, are “buying insurance”; but even more they have grown and matured in their practice of the faith in their later years and feel the value of a daily mass.

If you feel that at your age and spirit, then may God bless you and others.
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Thank you! Many people I know have said that I have turned to Catholicism because I am getting older and it is our of fear. But the reason this whole thing started is I have begun to feel a Profound feeling of thankfulness. I am by no means wealthy but i woke up one day and all of the “luck” I’ve had and good fortune feel as blessings. While I can go daily, schedule permitting, it’s a great way to start the day and it has fueled and informed my sense of charity.

It’s a very hard thing to explain to my self centered contemporaries, they just don’t seem to get it.
 
sticknstring73 said:
Thank you! Many people I know have said that I have turned to Catholicism because I am getting older and it is our of fear. But the reason this whole thing started is I have begun to feel a Profound feeling of thankfulness. I am by no means wealthy but i woke up one day and all of the “luck” I’ve had and good fortune feel as blessings. While I can go daily, schedule permitting, it’s a great way to start the day and it has fueled and informed my sense of charity.

It’s a very hard thing to explain to my self centered contemporaries, they just don’t seem to get it.
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Yes, it is very difficult to explain my actions to my self-centered contemporaries, too. I love it when I find someone who " gets it" and responds in a different, Christ-centered way. What a sense of peace!
 
While reading around on the internet and in books this seems like a good thing at first blush but is it really? Most people doing this seem to be much older than I at least to my eyes (I’m going to be 42) or discerning a vocation, which I am pretty sure I’m not.
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This past year I attended a Latin Low Mass every morning through the full yearly liturgical cycle, missing only occasionally. Yes, most of the attendees are retirees, and some are discerning a vocation. You would see the same faces there every day. Once it becomes part of your normal daily routine, it becomes a habit in a good way.

My day at work always starts better if I attend Mass all day. Things just seem to “click”. I can’t think of a better way to start your day.

The only potential downside I see is that sometimes you need to take a breather and avoid “burning out” if you commit to go every day. As with anything, moderation and life balance is always important. Nevertheless, practically all of the saints and the religious attend Mass daily. I learned a tremendous amount from my faith by attending daily. I was much more at peace, more relaxed, and less “edgy” if I attended morning Mass.
 
StGerardMajella said:
The only potential downside I see is that sometimes you need to take a breather and avoid “burning out” if you commit to go every day. As with anything, moderation and life balance is always important. Nevertheless, practically all of the saints and the religious attend Mass daily. I learned a tremendous amount from my faith by attending daily. I was much more at peace, more relaxed, and less “edgy” if I attended morning Mass.
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I would have to agree with all of that. I have a very stressful job that keeps me at the beck and call of many people. It really does help keep a sense of peace.
 
Going to daily Mass is a blessing if you can do it and keep it as part of your overall prayer life.

You’ll see mostly older folks because they’re retired and don’t have a job to get to.

The daily Mass in my parish is at 9AM and it’s too late for people who have jobs to get to, and a little late for myself. Also, the drive there and home takes too much of the morning out of my schedule. I do go once in a while however.

Jim
 
At my parish, we have always had a daily 6:30 am Mass. Our priest who currently says this Mass also has a job for the Archdiocese which takes him outside of the parish. Since I was an altar boy there (now 40 years ago), we have had the practice of distributing Communion before Mass starts for those who must hit the road right away (and of course, again near the end of Mass as always). This makes for a fine mix of retirees and working folks and even young students at the daily Mass. People even come from different nearby parishes, knowing what we have: a real blessing!
 
that seems like a wonderful practice, i wonder why more parishes don’t offer communion before mass?
 
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