First Mass attended in 18 years

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snowpea

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Hi-

Went to my first Mass in about 18 years 2 weeks ago and had some concerns-I guess alot has changed!

I was glad to go and it was generally a good experience-I may try a different church next time to see what other priest’s styles are re: the homily (that’s the preaching part right?)

This was a saturday 5pm mass

A few things, a ton of people were dressed like they were going to a barbeque-grown men in loose shorts with big bulky sneakers, alot of young girls in short shorts and women in tight clothes-I dont know i was just surprised 🤷

Also the book that you follow the mass with (dont remember the name of it) didnt have anything in it but a few lines and a million songs-nothing that was said during the mass was written in it (the readings and prayers).

All in all it was a good experience but I am going to check out other churches.

also could someone please explain - or send me a link about the different types of Catholic masses-i.e. what is OF (old fashioned?) EF and some of the other types thanks!
 
snowpea said:
Hi-
A few things, a ton of people were dressed like they were going to a barbeque-grown men in loose shorts with big bulky sneakers, alot of young girls in short shorts and women in tight clothes-I dont know i was just surprised 🤷
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Welcome back to the Church!

I’m sorry, I don’t know enough to comment much apart from this, but we once had a priest who used to be Church of England. He told us that we should be dressing smarter for Mass, saying that we would dress well for the Queen, but not for Christ.

I think that Catholics are more laid back about what they wear at Mass than some other Christians. I don’t think it’s important to look your best for Mass- you’re there for God, and he doesn’t care about our appearance. I only think he would care if you were dressed like you were about to go clubbing.
 
snowpea said:
Hi-

Went to my first Mass in about 18 years 2 weeks ago and had some concerns-I guess alot has changed!

I was glad to go and it was generally a good experience-I may try a different church next time to see what other priest’s styles are re: the homily (that’s the preaching part right?)

This was a saturday 5pm mass

A few things, a ton of people were dressed like they were going to a barbeque-grown men in loose shorts with big bulky sneakers, alot of young girls in short shorts and women in tight clothes-I dont know i was just surprised 🤷

Also the book that you follow the mass with (dont remember the name of it) didnt have anything in it but a few lines and a million songs-nothing that was said during the mass was written in it (the readings and prayers).

All in all it was a good experience but I am going to check out other churches.

also could someone please explain - or send me a link about the different types of Catholic masses-i.e. what is OF (old fashioned?) EF and some of the other types thanks!
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For the prayers of the Mass, you may find this helpful: catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/Mass.htm
 
Thyme said:
Welcome back to the Church!

I don’t think it’s important to look your best for Mass- you’re there for God, and he doesn’t care about our appearance. I only think he would care if you were dressed like you were about to go clubbing.
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Thank you for the welcome back and HUH? to the God wouldnt care what we wear in his house - I think He deserves respect, call me crazy 🤷
 
snowpea said:
Hi-

Went to my first Mass in about 18 years 2 weeks ago and had some concerns-I guess alot has changed!

I was glad to go and it was generally a good experience-I may try a different church next time to see what other priest’s styles are re: the homily (that’s the preaching part right?)
!
Click to expand...
welcome Home! this is the best news I have had all day

you might want to pick up an inexpensive Sunday missal from St. Joseph, $3 or $4 each year, which has the order of the Mass and the readings and prayers, if your parish can’t afford or does not provide missalettes. You might want to look in the back, some have them stashed near the entrance for those who want them.

just a query on your other observation? have you noticed in the last 18 years that wherever you go on a Saturday evening people dress far more casually than in the past? That has carried over, unfortunately, to church as well among those who don’t know any better. Hope your better example helps others.
 
OF = Ordinary Form- this is the newest Mass in English

EF = Extraordinary Form - this Mass is in Latin and is the Mass as it was said in 1962.
 
snowpea said:
Hi-

Went to my first Mass in about 18 years 2 weeks ago and had some concerns-I guess alot has changed!

I was glad to go and it was generally a good experience-I may try a different church next time to see what other priest’s styles are re: the homily (that’s the preaching part right?)

This was a saturday 5pm mass

A few things, a ton of people were dressed like they were going to a barbeque-grown men in loose shorts with big bulky sneakers, alot of young girls in short shorts and women in tight clothes-I dont know i was just surprised 🤷

Also the book that you follow the mass with (dont remember the name of it) didnt have anything in it but a few lines and a million songs-nothing that was said during the mass was written in it (the readings and prayers).

All in all it was a good experience but I am going to check out other churches.

also could someone please explain - or send me a link about the different types of Catholic masses-i.e. what is OF (old fashioned?) EF and some of the other types thanks!
Click to expand...
Welcome back! Eighteen years is a long time. Back then, did you receive Holy Communion on the tongue or in the hand? How about now?
 
thanks e1 communion was on the tongue back then and we didnt usually have wine to sip like they did at the mass i recently went to
 
Welcome back.

My advice is to find an Extraordinary Form/Traditional Latin Mass. Not much has changed there in awhile and most people will be dressed appropriately to be in God’s House.

PM me if you’d like a list of Masses in your area and links to missals.
 
snowpea said:
thanks e1 communion was on the tongue back then and we didnt usually have wine to sip like they did at the mass i recently went to
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It is still like that at the Extraordinary Form you might want to see if there is one available in your area.
 
Avoid the new mass and stick with with the real thing. The EF aka Trinitine mass does not have the circus music, people are in respectable clothing, and the priests really cover catholic theology instead of the news of the day. If you are looking for something to read in order to feed your catholic spirity try
tan publishing.

tanbooks.com
 
Advocatus_Fidei said:
OF = Ordinary Form- this is the newest Mass in English

EF = Extraordinary Form - this Mass is in Latin and is the Mass as it was said in 1962.
Click to expand...
I would just point out that the OF can be said in Latin, and sometimes is, though that’s fairly rare around here.
 
kudos on coming back to the Mass. I just came back home myself!
 
snowpea said:
Hi-

Went to my first Mass in about 18 years 2 weeks ago and had some concerns-I guess alot has changed!

>>First of all, congratulations on taking a first step after being astray for so long.

I was glad to go and it was generally a good experience-I may try a different church next time to see what other priest’s styles are re: the homily (that’s the preaching part right?)

This was a saturday 5pm mass

>>After being astray for so long, I’d suggest giving your Church more than just a “one shot” to tickle your ear. Since you’ve been gone for 18 years (about 1000 masses), maybe give it a few chances while you work on other things. Remember, going to Church on Sunday alone does not make you catholic. Spend some time in prayer, learn about your faith, join groups/ministries and hang out with other Catholics/Christians, and then take part in the Sacraments (Reconciliation regularly) and do some community service. My prayers are with you and am sure you will be pleasantly surprised on your spiritual growth and love for the Church.

A few things, a ton of people were dressed like they were going to a barbeque-grown men in loose shorts with big bulky sneakers, alot of young girls in short shorts and women in tight clothes-I dont know i was just surprised 🤷

>>Amen brother. I’m a Lector and a dad of two girls. My girls always dress appropriately.

Also the book that you follow the mass with (dont remember the name of it) didnt have anything in it but a few lines and a million songs-nothing that was said during the mass was written in it (the readings and prayers).

**>>I believe you are referring to the Missalette (short form of the Missal). A nice to have, but not required to take part in the mass. My local parish promotes great Lectors and likes when people don’t have their nose down in the Missalette.

newadvent.org/cathen/10354c.htm** or merriam-webster.com/dictionary/missalette

All in all it was a good experience but I am going to check out other churches.

>>God Bless and good luck on your journey. As you read more (lots of incredible resources out there), you will learn to fall deeply in love with the Church. I’ve been Catholic my whole life, strayed a while after college - imagine that), but have returned stronger than ever. Life makes sense when you understand it from the Church’s perspective as God willed.

also could someone please explain - or send me a link about the different types of Catholic masses-i.e. what is OF (old fashioned?) EF and some of the other types thanks!
Click to expand...
>>There is the Order of the Mass and different rites (Eastern, etc.), but not sure what you mean by different types. Our Church has a 9:15 AM “Traditional” and then a Sunday evening “Youth” mass, but they all follow the same order. There are definitely crowds that like one over the other and I recommend searching out the one best meets your needs. I will say that I enjoy all of the Masses, but for my ‘norm’, attend one more regularly than the others. I’m sure there are others on this board that could better answer this for you. Also, don’t be shy from scheduling an appointment with your Pastor or other Priest. Having a spiritual director is a wonderful thing.
 
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