Feel lost at church at mass

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eblude

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Hi all.
I am new catholic . Each time I go to mass i feel bit lost .
well to make story short I grow up in Jordan in missionary school where prayers where in Arabic/Latin and in Italy where they are in Italian/Latin.

So now living in the us. I have no idea what to say when priest answer or prayers in English which makes me sad and feel isolated. also since I never been baptized It makes me sad that I cannot have communion/confession etc.

I met many nice people at church and pray lord as hard as I can but I want to feel like any christian being able to pray with priest answer prayers and be part of catholic there.

Is there a guide or something to help? and how can I fight that sadness and isolation feeling I have for not being able to participate in sacraments church is my home but need to feel more unity,

thank you
 
Most Catholic Churches have a guide in the holder in the pews. It should be labeled “Missal” or sometimes “worship aid”. If you pick up a book and it has the songs (only) then look for “the other one” (most pews have both).

Or you could go up to any Catholic store and buy your own Missal.

HOWEVER! What you really need to do is go to the office of the parish where you are attending Mass and sign up for RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). This is a series of meetings/classes that end with (lead up to) your being fully received into the Catholic Church. These meetings will teach you a wide range of things, one of which is how to read/sue the Missal.

Welcome to your journey home to God’s family.
 
I did assign for RCIA . It will start soon . just want something to help me meanwhile.

That book is confusing for me and many times doesn’t look accurate. I get lost easily .

thank you for your help
 
Are you near a Catholic bookstore? I bought a book about the mass. It’s for kids but it’s helpful for even me. I make the mistake of neglecting the kids section, but sometimes I need things at an easier level.
 
eblude said:
I did assign for RCIA . It will start soon . just want something to help me meanwhile.

That book is confusing for me and many times doesn’t look accurate. I get lost easily .

thank you for your help
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O Eblude, it is people precisely like you that continues to restore and feed my faith. Congratulations and Welcome Home. I actually went to Jordan a few years ago and attended a beautiful Mass at some churches in Amman. One of them was St. John the Baptist.

Please be patient with yourself. Know that God is pleased with your efforts and it takes time to learn. For heaven’s sake, you’re not just learning to become Catholic, but you are in an entirely new country! You have much on your plate.

If you can watch some Masses on TV or on youtube (EWTN) it might help you memorize some of the responses in the privacy of your own home. It’s good, once you memorize the responses, to have them in your heart when you say them. …

For instance, when the priest says, “Peace be with you”, you can recall how Jesus, meeting with his apostles after his resurrection and the joy they must have had. Or you can think of your response, “And with your spirit” and truly pray for the priest. Our priests need our prayers for a strong and peace filled spirit so much. Their life is one of pure sacrifice and love.

Although you cannot receive the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist yet, you can say this beautiful prayer (from EWTN)

An Act of Spiritual Communion
I love you above all
things and I desire you in my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart. As though thou were already there, I embrace
you and unite myself wholly to you; permit not that I should ever be separated from
you. Amen.

Be patient with yourself, and please be patient with the Church as you go through RCIA and await receiving the sacraments of initiation. Know that the church is made up of manner sinners. You won’t always receive a response from people that is loving and full of concern. I apologize in advance for them. I remember my first year learning the faith. Sometimes our zeal and love for our new faith makes older catholics a little nervous. Eventually your love will teach them something, I believe.

I am so happy for you! Try, if you can, to attend as many Masses during Holy Week (beginning next Sunday). This is the most special time of the year in our Church. Pray to God that He gives you strength so that you may be among the elect for the following year. If you can, go to the Easter Vigil and see what goes on. It’s the most beautiful night of the year. So amazing…

Bless you.
 
Dear Eblude,
I use the Magnificat, a booklet you can get at a local Catholic bookstore, or google “magnificat” and you can purchase it online. It has everything you need for Mass along with wonderful prayers, meditations, saint biographies, etc. You will love it! It only costs $.15 a day! I don’t know what I would do without it! God bless you on your journey!
 
You might try a missal, such as the “St. Joseph Sunday Missal and Hymnal,” which provides the prayers and scripture readings for each mass on weekends and holy days. It provides all of the information in the missalette that most Catholic churches provide in the pews but organizes that information and makes it easier to use. If you cannot afford to purchase a missal, the parish office at your parish could help you connect with a priest, religious or lay person who can help you learn to use the missalettes that are normally provided in the pews at Catholic churches in the U.S. Feel free to take a missalette home with you if you’d like to spend time at home becoming familiar with it.

I’d also recommend the “United States Catholic Catechism for Adults,” which provides a summary of Church teaching.

Both the St. Joseph Sunday Missal and Hymnal and the United States Catholic Catechism for adults are available from Amazon.com.

Many Catholics, once they become familiar with the prayers of the Mass, like to use a devotional guide to help them reflect on the Mass and to help them with their daily prayer. One example is the magazine “Magnificat.”

You might also look for a Catholic bookstore in your area, which may have additional portable guides to the mass.
 
Here is a link to a description of the actions of the Mass and the responses. It’s a bit detailed, but you might be able to ask someone for help. You could wait til everyone has finished talking with the priest after Mass and explain your situation to him and he might find someone to help you, or you could ask someone. If you ask someone your own age, try to ask someone who is the same sex you are (man if you are a man, woman if you are a woman). I try to help those around me even if they don’t ask, because sometimes someone who is unfamiliar with our type of missal will visit, or an older person may not hear the number of the hymn.
 
adowcday said:
You might try a missal, such as the “St. Joseph Sunday Missal and Hymnal,” which provides the prayers and scripture readings for each mass on weekends and holy days. It provides all of the information in the missalette that most Catholic churches provide in the pews but organizes that information and makes it easier to use. If you cannot afford to purchase a missal, the parish office at your parish could help you connect with a priest, religious or lay person who can help you learn to use the missalettes that are normally provided in the pews at Catholic churches in the U.S. Feel free to take a missalette home with you if you’d like to spend time at home becoming familiar with it.

I’d also recommend the “United States Catholic Catechism for Adults,” which provides a summary of Church teaching.

Both the St. Joseph Sunday Missal and Hymnal and the United States Catholic Catechism for adults are available from Amazon.com.

Many Catholics, once they become familiar with the prayers of the Mass, like to use a devotional guide to help them reflect on the Mass and to help them with their daily prayer. One example is the magazine “Magnificat.”

You might also look for a Catholic bookstore in your area, which may have additional portable guides to the mass.
Click to expand...
Here are some weblinks that may help:

St. Joseph Sunday Missal: catholiccompany.com/st-joseph-sunday-missal-vinyl-cover-i29236/

Pew Card: english.magnificat.net/the-roman-missal-third-edition/the-magnificat-pew-cards-pew-size.html

Catechism: amazon.com/United-States-Catholic-Catechism-Adult/dp/1574554506

Magnificat magazine: magnificat.net/english/index.asp
 
eblude said:
I did assign for RCIA . It will start soon . just want something to help me meanwhile.

That book is confusing for me and many times doesn’t look accurate. I get lost easily .

thank you for your help
Click to expand...
Ask the RCIA Director or the Director of Religious Ed to lend you a missal.
They have them around the office. They will be delighted that you asked.
 
St_Francis said:
Here is a link to a description of the actions of the Mass and the responses. It’s a bit detailed, but you might be able to ask someone for help. You could wait til everyone has finished talking with the priest after Mass and explain your situation to him and he might find someone to help you, or you could ask someone. If you ask someone your own age, try to ask someone who is the same sex you are (man if you are a man, woman if you are a woman). I try to help those around me even if they don’t ask, because sometimes someone who is unfamiliar with our type of missal will visit, or an older person may not hear the number of the hymn.
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THANK YOU for that link. It’s very helpful and I will refer others with questions to that site. Have a Blessed Lent!
 
eblude said:
I did assign for RCIA . It will start soon . just want something to help me meanwhile.

That book is confusing for me and many times doesn’t look accurate. I get lost easily .

thank you for your help
Click to expand...
Don’t be offended by the name of the book I’d recommend but it’s “Catholicism for Dummies”. Truly an easy to read book filled with church dogma and doctrine. I began reading it when I was called to be an RCIA instructor and wasn’t too sure about my Catholic faith. Along the way, I’ve learned so many things that I thought wasn’t included in our church but is truly rooted in the Bible.

The other book I’d recommend is the “How-To Book of the Mass.” As you know, everything we do during the Mass is based on the Bible or on the tradition of the early church fathers. Still, after 2000 years, every Catholic could use a refresher on how we celebrate and participate in the Mass and why we do it.

I second all the other comments in this section so far: take your time in learning the faith. It is rich in history and tradition. To rush through your learning it would be a disservice to yourself, the church, and to God.

God bless you for being a faithful follower of Christ and welcome home!:signofcross:
 
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