Daily mass question

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bisco1 said:
that seems like a wonderful practice, i wonder why more parishes don’t offer communion before mass?
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It is just so beautiful and meaningful when we enter into all the parts of the Mass!

Some parishes have very early morning Masses, as they have more than one on weekdays.

And, fortunately, there are parishes downtown where some people work, and they can attend an early Mass there, or go to a `12:00 noon Mass.
 
agreed, but for people who can’t make it, the ability to be strengthened by the eucharist everyday is an invaluable gift.
 
bisco1 said:
agreed, but for people who can’t make it, the ability to be strengthened by the eucharist everyday is an invaluable gift.
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We see it the same way. The majority of Mass-goers do stay for the full Mass. Only those with pressing obligations take Holy Communion and leave early. And mind you, this only happens at the regular, early daily Mass, not on Sundays or Holy days. It works well for us.
 
i heard al cresta talking to someone about a shorter weekday mass for working people, but i don’t know if the hierarchy is discussing it at all.
 
bisco1 said:
that seems like a wonderful practice, i wonder why more parishes don’t offer communion before mass?
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Some bishops have discouraged communion services when a priest isn’t available. What you are suggesting is even less than that so I can’t imagine it would be seen as something to promote. Or, as my pastor once put it, “Jesus isn’t fast food.”
 
sticknstring73 said:
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?
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Yes, someone could overdo going to church, but I would think mostly in the sense that the rest of their life is seriously suffering because of their Mass attendance.

Just to offer some examples:
  • A person who constantly shows up 20 or 30 minutes late for work because they attend a morning Mass.
  • Someone who develops scruples and, if they don’t attend daily Mass, fears they are committing a mortal sin.
  • Someone who refuses to take care of certain obligations they have because they would interfere with Mass attendance.
  • A person whose family life is being strained because they’re constantly involved in parish activities, and are often away from home.
But in general, desiring to develop in holiness is what we are all called to do as Catholics. Unfortunately, some people don’t get that, and they treat their faith as if it’s something like a mixture of hobby and a “just-to-be-on-the-safe-side” obligation. (This type of person has been described as belonging to a form of religion we could call “moralistic, therapeutic deism;” see here for more information:patheos.com/blogs/standingonmyhead/2014/11/anglicans-wonder-why-no-one-comes-to-church-on-sunday.html.)

Frankly, if someone were to tell me that attending the Mass often is “weird,” I would want to discuss with them what exactly it is that they think the Mass actually is. I would find in that sort of comment an open door for attempting, in my own humble way, a deeper catechesis.

EDIT:

Regarding the notion of holiness being just for priests or religious, psh… if your priest feels that way, tell him he needs to get with the times! With all due respect to Father, that’s an old abuse of an idea that the Second Vatican Council spoke to in chapter five of Lumen Gentium. You can read it here: vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html
 
sticknstring73 said:
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.
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I don’t think you are overdoing it at all. I’m going through the RCIA as well and go Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sat and Sunday! It shows a real interest in the Gospel and Catholicism and my priest has praised my attendance.
 
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