First Time Attending Mass... Help!

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Sorry it has taken so long to post! I had a very busy day.

For those who are wondering/interested, I attended and did enjoy the Mass yesterday. The homily was very inspiring! The helpful tips made me feel much more comfortable, and I wasn’t caught completely off guard… though there were a few things thrown in that were not in the missal.

Overall, I would say that I admired the level of reverence that Catholics have during Mass. I’m still confused by some of the statements and I’m trying to find more answers to my questions. Which, to clarify: I will not be asking my students any questions. I will go to priests, nuns, adult Catholics, etc. 🙂

Thank you all for your help and kind encouragement! Feel free to message me if you would like to continue to chat/discuss your beliefs, because I do have lots of questions! (I’m aware now that instead of asking, I should just search for answers without speaking, since asking a question that has already been asked apparently takes up valuable space and forces members to have to re-answer! Since I’m not a cruel person, I’ll save you the indignity lol!) 😜

Again, I so appreciate your willingness to help me understand the Catholic faith!
Blessings!
 
It’s awesome that you had such a good experience at Mass. It can be somewhat confusing (wait…we’re kneeling again?) but also rewarding. There are many threads on the forums that will answer your questions but don’t hesitate to post a question that you can’t find an answer to. After all, this is Catholic ANSWERS forums. Not all of us bite. 😎

But if you have a question you don’t want to run by the entire forum or want an idea more fully fleshed out, feel free to message me. I might not be the most knowledgeable person on this forum but I can at least promise a civil conversation. 😁
 
I’m so glad you had a positive experience. Feel free to PM me with any questions/discussions. I’m always happy to help. This is such a positive way to start off the school year. I’ll be praying for you.
 
That’s so sweet of you! I really appreciate your help! 🙂
One confusing point: WE DIDNT KNEEL! O.O
Hahaha! It was okay though, since it was one less step for me to stress over. 😉

Again, thanks so much for your answers and advice!
 
Thanks so much! I might take you up on that offer, since I’m still trying to figure out some things that were meant, and I honestly just prefer real people’s answers (you can get so much more clarity that way!).

Thanks again for all of your encouragement!
 
Addlib said:
I’m aware now that instead of asking, I should just search for answers without speaking…
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And deprive us of the pleasure of reading, answering, and dialogue? No way! Keep those questions coming.
 
Addlib said:
One confusing point: WE DIDNT KNEEL! O.O
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Was the Mass in the school’s gym? It would make sense then to not have young kids kneeling on hardwood. And at Masses at a church doing a renovation and therefore having Mass in the gym, they don’t kneel there either. (Though some people bring cushions so that they can kneel.)
 
Addlib said:
One confusing point: WE DIDNT KNEEL! O.O
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Interesting. That’s what I’ve seen when the Mass takes place in an auditorium or temporary setting where there are no kneelers (cushions for kneeling upon).
 
No, it was in the chapel, which had tile floors and no kneeling benches. We stood during all the times that kneeling was expected. It was also a faculty/staff-only Mass, and it felt a little more relaxed than I was expecting! I did notice one or two others who didn’t go forward for communion, so I assume they were not Catholic. 🙂
 
One of my old parishes was like that – no kneelers – so we stood during the times when we should have been kneeling. A few people knelt anyway, but I am super clumsy and was afraid I’d bang my jaw on the pew in front of me as I tried to kneel, and bleed all over the place and end up distracting everyone, causing a bio-hazard, and needing stitches. So I stood.

I’m also a teacher, though in the public schools and we don’t report until Thursday. Even in my 23rd year, I’m both excited and anxious about the upcoming school year. I did get to buy 20 boxes of crayons, 6 folders, 2 boxes of tissue (with superhero designs on the boxes), and a new spiral notebook for myself last night. It’s the simple things in life. 😄

God bless you in your work for the children and families at your school. How are you feeling about the climate of the staff so far? Here’s hoping you’re getting loads of support as the new kid on the block.

And keep those questions coming! :+1:t4:
 
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I’m new to this but my parish says this I think most if not all do…please let me know experienced mass goers. Something along the lines of this:

“I confess, to almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters that I have greatly sinned: thorough my thoughts and through my words, through what I have done and what I have failed to do. Through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore, I ask Blessed Mary Ever Virgin, all the Saints and Angels, and you my brothers and sisters, to pay for me to the Lord our God.”

I probably got most of it wrong but that’s the gist of it.
 
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You got it exactly right. Did you have a question about it? Or were you just concerned about getting the words correct?
 
Congratulations! I’m so happy for you. As a former protestant (my parents are nondenominational pastors), I love to see separated brothers and sisters at the Mass. (Having my family and in-laws in one was one of the best parts of getting married! :P) Welcome to the marriage supper of the Lamb!

In the Mass, Mary is only mentioned as a co-offerer of Christ’s sacrifice together with us and all of the saints. There are no petitions to her in the canon of the Mass (the prayers offered at every Mass). So don’t worry there. Just keep in mind the Mass is one great prayer, and that this prayer is more than vocal. All the gestures, “smells and bells”, and even thoughts you bring are part of what is offered, as we become living sacrifices. You don’t have to be in full communion with the Church to offer yourself to the Father together with Christ’s self-offering on the altar. You do have to be in full communion and the state of grace to receive the Eucharist.

Look up “Fr John Riccardo” and any of these topics (Mass, Mary, Eucharist). He does a lot of material for prospective and beginning Catholics, and will be very engaging and helpful for you in understanding some of these things! He has many Youtube videos if you prefer a visual. Here are some audio messages (Fix the address to read “.net”):

On the Mass:
avemariaradio.nt/audio-archive/christ-answer-july-3-2018/
On the Eucharist:
avemariaradio.nt/audio-archive/christ-answer-march-30-2018/
Intro, Why be Catholic
avemariaradio.nt/audio-archive/christ-answer-july-3-2017/
Mary, Monica and my Mother:
avemariaradio.nt/audio-archive/christ-answer-april-24-2018/

Also this is a great message for all Christian married people, on the four goods of marriage:
avemariaradio.n*t/audio-archive/christ-answer-july-24-2018/
 
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gorshdaddy said:
I confess, to almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters that I have greatly sinned: thorough my thoughts and through my words, through what I have done and what I have failed to do. Through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore, I ask Blessed Mary Ever Virgin, all the Saints and Angels, and you my brothers and sisters, to pay for me to the Lord our God.”
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At my parish it’s slightly different in instead of “…Blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the saints and angels…” we say “angels and saints.” So that’s an interesting difference.

And the next two thing I’ll mention are minor typos I’d usually ignore (I make a lot on my phone myself) but because it’s being mentioned as a source for memorization, I’m doing so for others.

“…sinned: thorough my thoughts…” is “through.”
“…and sisters, to pay for me…” is “pray.”
 
Hi OP. I’m excited for this new beginning in your life. I’m a cradle catholic who spent years quite happy in baptist and other evangelical churches. Mass is different from a Protestant service in two main ways. First, the whole mass is more like a “prayer meeting” than anything else. A great majority of things said either by the congregation or priest are prayers. Second, the congregation is an ongoing integral part of the service, hence the sitting, standing and verbal responses. So stay in an attitude of prayer throughout, and be an eager participant as you can. Mass became so much more meaningful to me when I began to imagine Jesus himself standing in front of me. And be open - they mean well, but much of what gets said about Catholicism in non-Catholic circles is just wrong. It will be different for you, but Jesus is there, eager to connect with you. Blessings!
 
gorshdaddy said:
Therefore, I ask Blessed Mary Ever Virgin
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Gertabelle said:
Did you have a question about it?
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@gorshdaddy was addressing the question that came up earlier about the possible emphasis on Mary in the Mass, and whether this constitutes a problem for non-Catholics attending Mass.

Indeed, Mary and other saints are mentioned in the Confiteor, and in Eucharistic Prayer, and possibly elsewhere on occasion (as @SeriousQuestion mentioned in Post #5).
 
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Regarding open versus closed communion, part of the church reasoning for a “closed” communion is based on 1 Cor 11:29 (“For those who eat and drink without discerning the body and blood of Christ eat and drink judgement on themselves”). Since for Catholics communion is far more than a symbol, so they also take great care to prevent a casual reception of communion that might trigger the judgement this verse warns about. In a similar way, there are tragic OT stories of those who touched the ark of the covenant in an unworthy manner.
 
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