The palms are in remembrance of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem the week before His death where the people cheered “Hosannah, in the Highest” and laid palms at His feet. It brings a stark contrast to the Gospel, which of course is the Passion, where these SAME people were shouting for Jesus’ crucifixion.
Oh, that’s very good that you have a CD from the Mary foundation and have basically been taught what the Mass is.
Mine is a cathedral parish so we tend to do the full traditional rites for Palm Sunday. We gather in a public plaza away from the cathedral. The choir sings “Hosanna to the Son of David”. The bishop blesses the palms. There is a gospel reading about Our Lord’s entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The choir, bishop and priests lead the congegation in a procession singing “All Glory, Laud and Honor”
Thanks, and just to let you know, I am Catholic. You can read another post I started here: ( forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=105384 ) in reguards to my status as a Catholic. Thanks again for the great explanation.
Welcome back. I do suggest you get in touch with your Parish Priest and let him know your circumstances (I read your opening post and a few of the responses in the other thread so if this is a repeat of what was said, please understand).
Okay, many told you that there should be a Missal or Missallette in the pocket on the pew in front of you. This is true for most Churches. Some do not have those little pockets and you must get one as you enter and leave as you leave. In my Parish, both the Mother Parish and the Mission Parish, we have permanent Missals or perpetual ones so we aren’t always getting a new months or Church Seasons worth. Do feel free to borrow one if this is what the Parish you are attending has, there should be a place in the book (hardcover most likely) with the “Order of the Mass” in it, you will find the prayers that don’t change weekly there with a note that say, Reading 1, Reading 2 and Gospel, Homily etc.
You can do exactly what you did except the feeling dumb part. Tomorrow go extra early, like 1/2 an hour and sit up as close as you can to the Altar and watch the people to see if any do the arms crossed/get a blessing that others told you about. If this Parish does this you must get in a line for a Deacon or a Priest as only one of these can give you a Blessing at this time (you should be able to tell if someone is a Deacon or Priest by the fact that they are not in “street clothes”, ask if this is confusing I will try and explain better). Do this until you find out what your Parish Priest wishes you to do, most likely attend the RCIA classes so you can make your First Communion and be Confirmed (will most likely happen next year at the Easter Vigil Mass).
Since this will be your first Sunday Mass, you are in for a treat! As some others have pointed out it is Passion or Palm Sunday and tends to be quite a bit longer than a regular Sunday Mass sometimes with many more readings than the usual 2 Readings and 1 Gospel! Go early so you can get a seat as this is one of the two Sunday Masses that every Catholic and then some go to (along with Christmas and Ash Wednesday). Expect the same next week, Easter Sunday, as well. Mass will become more “normal” after that
(I’d get the prayer book. The ones they make as gifts for kids receiving their First Communion are usually chock full of information on all sorts of things, as well as the Mass responses.)Well, we sing the Psalms, and some hymns. During the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest and congregation will sing the Sanctus. If you attend Mass during the Easter Season, or during Ordinary Time, we will also sing the Gloria and the Alleluia. Sometimes the priest and congregation chants the Eucharistic prayer. (The text of the Gloria, Alleluia, and the Sanctus should all be online, and in the Missal.)