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Zenkai
Guest
Do you have to speak at Mass? I’m new to Mass and I’m not exactly sure what to say and when to say it. So, is speaking required?
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YoungTradCath
Guest
Parts of the Mass follows an invocation/response format. Someone will say something and then it is the people’s purpose to respond.
Examples:
“The Lord be with you,” response: “And with your spirit”
“The Holy Gospel According to ____,” response, “Glory to You, O Lord”
“The Mass is ended, go in peace,” response, “Thanks be to God”
These things are all very repetitive, in that they never or rarely change, so you will eventually get it.
Examples:
“The Lord be with you,” response: “And with your spirit”
“The Holy Gospel According to ____,” response, “Glory to You, O Lord”
“The Mass is ended, go in peace,” response, “Thanks be to God”
These things are all very repetitive, in that they never or rarely change, so you will eventually get it.
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teachccd
Guest
Mass is a celebration where we participate in that celebration. As with any communal gathering, there are responses to the invitations. When you go to a party and someone asks how you are doing you can say nothing but the appropriate thing to do is to respond. As far as what to say and when to say it that will come with time. Just say what you know and go from there. The important thing is that you are there in mind, body, and heart. You do not have to speak if it makes you really uncomfortable but I think that as you continue to go you will feel more at ease and speaking will come naturally. God bless you and welcome to the Catholic Church!!
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ConstantineTG
Guest
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revert_jen
Guest
If you are not Catholic, there is NOTHING required of you at Mass at this time. You do not have to say anything. You do not have to genuflect or make the sign of the cross. You do not have to kneel (although it is good to sit a bit forward instead, rather than standing (distracting) or sitting back (makes it hard for someone behind you who is kneeling)). Do whatever you are comfortable with, and…
Welcome!!!
–Jen
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IronMIke
Guest
We no longer kneel, its sit or stand entire mass. Some RCC still do kneel.
I miss as did some other in our parish the old missal, so we incorporated some old and new into the Mass. And also with you…
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Catholic1954
Guest
You can just quietly observe until you are more comfortable with being there. Check and see if the parish provides response missals in the pews that you can use and follow along, all of the responses and music should be in there.
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Cider
Guest
As a guest you are not required to do anything, other than be respectful.
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Matthew_Holford
Guest
There is nothing that you have to say individually. There are various things that the congregation say but this is done collectively. There should be something available to help you. What that is may well depend on the church. It may be a missalette produced for that week. It will have all the parts the congregation say. There may also be a hymnal with the hymns in. An usher should give you these when you enter the church. If you feel uncomfortable, for whatever reason, you may remain silent.
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St_Francis
Guest
In the US, it is not uncommon for missalettes to be in pockets in the pews, so if no one hands you anything, do not despair!
And even if the church you go to has no missalette, don’t worry. No one will notice you are not saying anything, and if you keep going, you will start to pick up what the responses are. When I returned to the Church, I had a 2-year-old and a baby–I didn’t have any hands left for the missalette but I picked it up over time.
If someone offers to help you sort out the missalette, take them up on it–they can be a little confusing.
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Matthew_Holford
Guest
I apologise for trying to help.
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PaulfromIowa
Guest
Is this a Latin rite Catholic Church in the US? You don’t kneel at the consecration?
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PrayHarder
Guest
It seems like many have already answered your question. But I have one request. When you do learn the responses during Mass, please say them loudly and clearly. You obviously don’t have to shout, but don’t mumble them either. I’ve been at parishes where the Mass just seems dead because everyone mumbles or whispers responses. It feels like the congregation is ashamed or don’t truly believe what they are saying when it’s so quiet. Of course, if you are shy person I wouldn’t want to push you into doing something that makes you uncomfortable.
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revert_jen
Guest
In the US, the standard posture is to kneel for the entire eucharistic prayer. I believe this is universal for the whole US. In most dioceses (it is up to the bishop), people also kneel from after the Agnus Dei until Communion. AFAIK, the only place in the US that does not follow this is the diocese of Los Angeles, where people (I believe) stand instead. Most people in the parishes I’ve been at also kneel after Communion as well, until the priest sits down, but in some dioceses people stand, and of course nobody ever has to stand or kneel if their health is not OK for that.
I’m not sure where the OP is located, but that’s what’s supposed to happen (and in my experience does happen) in the US. Actually, I thought kneeling for the Consecration was a universal (world-wide) norm for the Latin Rite.
For the OP: Don’t be worried that this all sounds confusing. Just do what the people around you are doing, except you can sit instead of kneeling if you want.
–Jen
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Deo_Gratias42
Guest
No, you’re not required to say the responses. For many people, they participate in the Mass interiorly rather than exteriorly.
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IronMIke
Guest
Mass is easier if you simply sit or stand. Consider that we kneel for Mary and saints ,so its not pivotal for worship, reverence and love.
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Deo_Gratias42
Guest
Considering the Bibles indicates that at the mere mention of the lord’s name every knee shall bend, it stands to reason that we should kneel in the Jesus’ presence. This isn’t about “what’s easier”.
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IronMIke
Guest
Kneeling or not is the Bishop’s decision not yours, and the ruling has been made.
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paperwight66
Guest
Which bishop? Which diocese? I’d like to look this up on your diocesan website, before I’d believe that any bishop would order people not to kneel for the consecration.
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Deo_Gratias42
Guest
Until someone writes a letter to Rome about this and they intervene. Rome has said that unless there is a sufficient reason to not kneel during the consecration, we are to kneel during the consecration. Rome has also specified that the absence of kneelers isn’t sufficient reason.
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