Isn’t my question the very core of the Catholic faith? That to pray “one” prayer to God in common offered up to God by the priest is the one body of Christ. It seems pretty obvious that this is the “oneness” of the Catholic church.You’ve gotten yes and no answers.
My question is why do you want to know?
“Required” is very definitive. I don’t think you will find a regulation anywhere that says a Catholic is “required” to pray it with the priest, that it is compulsory. If I’m wrong and those words are used in the GIRM, please let me know. (I’m not denying that praying along with the priest is what is desired/intended/requested/etc. – but “required” and “compulsory” are mandatory words, a command. I don’t think the Church has mandated that action.)The only part of the Mass that I am aware of that invokes Mary and the saints (and the angels) directly is the Confiteor. And yes, when the priest chooses that option, the assembly is required to pray it with him. So yes, it is compulsory for Catholics to believe in and pray to the Communion of Saints.
You have to make the responses, you have to sing, you have to participate “fully, actively, and consciously” in the Mass in order to live up to the requirements of the Church.
Stop confusing praying to God and using intercessors and read the Book of Tobit.What about the parts that pray to Mary and the saints?
So it would be OK if the people omitted all the responses? Would it be OK for the priest to omit the penitential rite? What about the Eucharistic prayer? Would that be OK? Where is the regulation that the priest is required to include them?“Required” is very definitive. I don’t think you will find a regulation anywhere that says a Catholic is “required” to pray it with the priest, that it is compulsory. If I’m wrong and those words are used in the GIRM, please let me know. (I’m not denying that such is what is desired/intended/requested/etc. – but “required” and “compulsory” are mandatory words, a command. I don’t think the Church has mandated that action.)
“General Instruction of the Roman Missal” said:96. Moreover, they are to form one body, whether in hearing the Word of God, or in taking part in the prayers and in the singing, or above all by the common offering of the Sacrifice and by participating together at the Lord’s table. This unity is beautifully apparent from the gestures and bodily postures observed together by the faithful.
No, your question is not the very core of the Catholic faith.Isn’t my question the very core of the Catholic faith? That to pray “one” prayer to God in common offered up to God by the priest is the one body of Christ. It seems pretty obvious that this is the “oneness” of the Catholic church.
am I wrong?
Why?I’ve just read a few parts and they say that the people are suppose to participate and pray the mass along with the priest and the church members.
Can Catholics select which parts they pray together in common and still be a Catholic?
One must understand the whole and what is meant in each section.I’ve just read a few parts and they say that the people are suppose to participate and pray the mass along with the priest and the church members.
Can Catholics select which parts they pray together in common and still be a Catholic?
Your profile says you are “Catholic”, shouldn’t you already know this answer?I just want a yes or no answer about simple questions. Do Catholics have to pray along with the Mass and its prayers to be a Catholic? Yes or no?
Or do Catholics get to leave parts out as they choose and not pray together in common one unified prayer that goes up to God?
Thank you very much. I was so confused by all the answers and you have saved me! I was getting so inspired by reading the books my grandfather left me.So it would be OK if the people omitted all the responses? Would it be OK for the priest to omit the penitential rite? What about the Eucharistic prayer? Would that be OK? Where is the regulation that the priest is required to include them?
Here is the requirement for the people:
Thank you.The first precept of the Church is that we should assist at Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation. That includes reciting the laity’s part in the liturgy.
Baptized as such as a baby.Your profile says you are “Catholic”, shouldn’t you already know this answer?
Just trying to find out where you’re coming from with all of this.
[52.] The proclamation of the Eucharistic Prayer, which by its very nature is the climax of the whole celebration, is proper to the Priest by virtue of his Ordination. It is therefore an abuse to proffer it in such a way that some parts of the Eucharistic Prayer are recited by a Deacon, a lay minister, or by an individual member of the faithful, or by all members of the faithful together. The Eucharistic Prayer, then, is to be recited by the Priest alone in full.[131]
[53.] While the Priest proclaims the Eucharistic Prayer “there should be no other prayers or singing, and the organ or other musical instruments should be silent”,[132] except for the people’s acclamations that have been duly approved, as described below.
[54.] The people, however, are always involved actively and never merely passively: for they “silently join themselves with the Priest in faith, as well as in their interventions during the course of the Eucharistic Prayer as prescribed, namely in the responses in the Preface dialogue, the Sanctus, the acclamation after the consecration and the “Amen” after the final doxology, and in other acclamations approved by the Conference of Bishops with the recognitio of the Holy See”.[133]
vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html#Chapter%20II
What I was saying has to do more along the lines of this:What I was getting at earlier --I though was the question --was that there are parts that are to be prayed by the Priest and then parts to be prayed by the People. Hence my responses.
Ridiculous comment. A baptised Catholic remains a Catholic for life no matter what they do or don’t do!!I’ve just read a few parts and they say that the people are suppose to participate and pray the mass along with the priest and the church members.
Can Catholics select which parts they pray together in common and still be a Catholic?
I was saying the word “must” is too strong. “OK” is not the only alternative to the word “must”. “Should”, “are expected”, etc. would be a better words.So it would be OK if the people omitted all the responses?
It’s never OK to disregard Church regulations. There are some parts of the Mass, that should the priest choose to omit them, the Mass would still be valid. However there are some “musts”, and if the priest omits them there would be no valid consecration and no valid Mass.Would it be OK for the priest to omit the penitential rite? What about the Eucharistic prayer? Would that be OK? Where is the regulation that the priest is required to include them?
Thank you. It beautifully expresses and explains the unity we should have at Mass.Here is the requirement for the people:
So if I’m baptized but don’t really believe parts of the mass and refuse to pray them I’m still a Catholic? What is confirmation for?Ridiculous comment. A baptised Catholic remains a Catholic for life no matter what they do or don’t do!!
Did you go through full catechesis? (CCD or “Sunday School” for several years and reception of First Communion, Confirmation, etc.)Baptized as such as a baby.
The extent to which a Catholic does not believe is the extent to which he is apostate.So if I’m baptized but don’t really believe parts of the mass and refuse to pray them I’m still a Catholic? What is confirmation for?
What if on purpose, by an act of free will, you refuse to say the Confiteor because you don’t believe in praying to Mary and the saints? Is that allowed? Or “must” Catholics say it, ( unless by some accident as you point out above)I was saying the word “must” is too strong. “OK” is not the only alternative to the word “must”. “Should”, “are expected”, etc. would be a better words.
“Must” implies a necessary component. Now, if for some reason (daydreaming for eg.) you miss joining in on the Confiteor - or being attentive, aware, and mentally praying along at the Consecration, that does not mean you have missed Mass and failed to fulfill your Sunday obligation. Neither does it mean that the offering of the Mass was invalid because you were there but failed to participate as you should have.
Mass.