5- I plan on attending my first Sunday Mass this sunday (3 days). What should I expect to be different? Other than lots and lots more people. Should I worry about not knowing what to do?
There will be processions beginning and ending Mass and lots of music. When the procession opening the mass occurs you’ll see altar servers carrying candles in front of the lector who will be carrying the Word above his head so all the congregation can see the Word. He/she will be followed by the priest. Observe the reverence shown by all involved toward the Book and the altar.
Daily mass has 2 readings…one from the old testament and then the gospel. Sunday mass has an additional old testament reading. We sit for the first readings.
Between the readings and the Gospel is the responsorial psalm. During daily mass this is usually read. During Sunday mass it’s usually sung.
Then the priest will stand and carry the Word to the podium as we stand and sing a short praise for the Word. He then will read from the Gospel. Then we sit down and listen to the priest’s homily.
There is music during Sunday liturgy at the part where the priest begins to prepare for the liturgy of the eucharist. During daily mass we usually hear everything the priest is saying in preparation for this part of the mass, but on Sunday we have a song to help us prepare for what’s about to take place.
The “holy, holy, holy” is usually sung on Sunday, where it isn’t for daily mass. Same with the “Lamb of God” and possibly the “Our Father”. And then there’s music while people go up to receive the Eucharist.
The rest is pretty much the same, but the priest will make some announcements and they will proceed out of the church as they proceeded in (except not carrying the Word this time).
I would highly recommend you visit the church between now and then to read through the missal a bit and if there are any people there praying, you might want to introduce yourself to them as they get up to leave to let them know you are a visitor and are preparing to attend your first Sunday mass. I’m sure they’ll be happy to answer any questions for you.
Welcome to the mass. It’s wonderful that you are open to learning more about it. I hope you enjoy your experience.
One thing to note, you are visiting during the season of Lent (representing the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert before His death/resurrection). This is a time of preparation for us so things are different right now than they are during the rest of the year.
Usually we sing a “Gloria” and we sing an “Alleluia” during the mass but since those are celebratory prayers we don’t use them now.
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highly recommend your visiting the Church all next week if you can. Next week is Holy Week leading into what we call the “Triduum”. On Thursday mass begins (in some churches it begins outside the front doors with a fire) and there will be a washing of the feet, but there won’t be a closing of that mass.
On Friday you won’t find any holy water in those bowls and you’ll find the tabernacle doors open (the red candle beside it will not be lit) because it will be Good Friday, the day we remember Jesus’ crucifixion. There won’t be a mass and thus no liturgy of the eucharist (because Jesus will be leaving us for a short while), but there will be communion distributed (reserved from Thursday’s consecration service, I think). There will be a veneration service where you’ll see people approaching the cross to venerate it on this very sad day for us. Some people will kneel before it, some will kiss the foot of the cross or where the hands would be nailed to it, some will genuflect, others will kiss their fingers and place them on a part of the cross. No prayers, no songs…
On Saturday there won’t be an opening procession or a closing procession because we are in waiting, just as the apostles and all the disciples were on that Saturday but we gather together anyway, just as they did - reflecting on what just happened and wondering why.
Late Saturday evening there will be an Easter Vigil…this is a beautiful, though long, ceremony when we listen to the readings from old and new testaments showing how Christ fulfills the old testament. It usually starts in darkness and ends in light as we await the Good News that Jesus has risen. It’s also the service when new members enter into the Church through baptism, communion and confirmation. Most of these new members prepared for 9 months to reach this very special day in their life…their rebirth in Christ.
And then, of course, is Easter Sunday when the church will be totally decked out in flowers and banners and light and song…it’s a wonderful day for all Christians.
Be patient. It takes time. I mainly learned the responses simply by listening.