Going to attend Mass

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Tweedle_Dee

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I’m a Mormon questioning his faith and I want to go visit Mass this weekend but I have no idea what to expect. Can I just go in and kind of observe from the back? Will I really stand? I did sit out in the parking lot and observe people coming out of the church last week to see how everyone was dressed and I must admit I was a bit shocked at how dressed down everyone was (jeans, etc) so I’m not worried on that score.
 
Sounds like you just want to fit in, quietly.

Find a place close to the front, so you can see more. Sit when everyone sits, stand when everyone stands. You don’t have to kneel when everyone kneels, but it is polite for you to do so, since we regard that to be the most holy part of the Mass.

:heaven:
 
Tweedle_Dee said:
I’m a Mormon questioning his faith and I want to go visit Mass this weekend but I have no idea what to expect. Can I just go in and kind of observe from the back? Will I really stand? I did sit out in the parking lot and observe people coming out of the church last week to see how everyone was dressed and I must admit I was a bit shocked at how dressed down everyone was (jeans, etc) so I’m not worried on that score.
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Yup, it’s fine to sit at the back and observe. If possible stand and kneel when everyone else does (for us they’re signs of respect for the Gospel and the Eucharist). You’ll get people wanting to shake your hand at one point - that’s the Sign of Peace, and the correct thing to do is shake their hand and say ‘Peace be with you’.

When time comes for Communion (people start lining up to receive the Eucharistic bread and wine) obviously don’t do so yourself. If there are other people in your row you may wish to scoot your legs to one side so’s they can get past you to leave and return to their seats.
 
I just wanted to add you should see missals to follow along with too.
 
Tweedle_Dee said:
I’m a Mormon questioning his faith and I want to go visit Mass this weekend but I have no idea what to expect. Can I just go in and kind of observe from the back? Will I really stand? I did sit out in the parking lot and observe people coming out of the church last week to see how everyone was dressed and I must admit I was a bit shocked at how dressed down everyone was (jeans, etc) so I’m not worried on that score.
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there is usually a missalette that you can use to follow along with the mass. it will also give you hints of when to stand-sit-kneel.

try to observe the mass for itself, as there will envariably be some people in attendance who aren’t as reverent as they should be.

but jesus is truly present with the mass, and if nothing else, silently enjoy his presence and pray to him as you are going thru your discernment process.
 
Attending Mass for the first time can be DAUNTING. Don’t worry about it. I agree that sitting where you feel inconspicuous is a good idea. I would also sit on the aisle so that when people get up to receive Communion, you can easily stand to let them out and they don’t have to climb over you.

You will not stick out by doing that; even Catholics who have broken the fast, who have canonical impediments, who have sin on their conscience, are not supposed to receive Communion. It’s OK not to go.

Let us know how it goes. Do Mormons kneel in church? I remember how, as a Protestant, the first time I knelt in church, I felt SO WEIRD! Everyone else was so normal about it, but I thought I was on another planet!
 
Tweedle_Dee said:
I want to go visit Mass this weekend but I have no idea what to expect. Can I just go in and kind of observe from the back? Will I really stand?
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hey that makes two of us. im not catholic and gonna try out their Adoration thingie on friday night. I plan on sitting at the back and try not to attract any attention. 😃
 
Hi,

This link may be helpful.

It is an explaination of the Mass, published by a Catholic parish in Scotland. It should serve as a general guide – there are a few places in the Mass where choices are possible in the porayers chosen – and don’t be concerned if things at the parish you visit aren’t exactly like this one.

More than anything else, it will give some insight into the purposes of the various parts of the Mass. And by looking it over, you just might (I have to admit) learn a few things about the Mass that perhaps a few of the Catholics in the church with you do not know.

Feel free to come back to these parts with questions.

Blessings,

Gerry
 
Tweedle_Dee said:
I’m a Mormon questioning his faith and I want to go visit Mass this weekend but I have no idea what to expect. .
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This hasnt been stated yet, so let me do the honors…

Welcome!
Now your Mormon experieince may make you expect that a newcomer will get all sorts of attention–which is sometimes known as love bombing.

That’s not going to happen at a Catholic Parish–but you are welcome–and if your really interested, please inquire with the Priest or deacon about RCIA classes–they will inform you wat the catholic Church is and are non-binding–though they are the intended means of converting to the Church as an adult
 
Oh, you may want to watch the Mass on tv too, before you go. Here the free tv has it in the morning, I think EWTN has it on multiple times a day. there may even be other channels I am not aware of that do this too.
 
AgnosTheist said:
hey that makes two of us. im not catholic and gonna try out their Adoration thingie on friday night. I plan on sitting at the back and try not to attract any attention. 😃
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if you don’t already know, adoration is simply spending time with the Lord. it is silent.
 
this reminded me of when i attended the Assyrian’s Mass. We were collecting money for the poor and i was asked to go to that church. I attended the Mass even though i understood neither the language nor the liturgy but well, i did as they do but prayed in Arabic 😃

assyrians are those originally from Iraq i guess with a very old language and it is one of the oldest eastern churches i guess but am not sure if they are called Assyrians in English:o
 
AgnosTheist, I went to Adoration before I was Catholic, and so does my daughter. We love it!
 
Excuse me,

If I may ask… why is it Catholics attend mass? What scriptures of the Bible is mass based on? I have heard from my Catholic teacher that it is based on an idea called transubstantion… converting wine and bread to “Jesus’s flesh and blood” … what benefit is found in this? In John 6:63 I found a verse that says … “It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing: the wordes that I speake vnto you, they are Spirit, and they are life.” But I have also heard an argument from another… they used John 6:54 “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternall life, and I will raise him vp at the last day.” … but clearly John 6:63 has said that was incorrect… that only Jesus’s words gave life for they are Spirit… ?

Thank you,
Saithes
 
Hi Tweedle
And welcome to your journey home!
If you do have any questions on the day about the mass, the priest usually stands at the back and greets everyone as they walk out. If you have any questions, just ask him and im sure he would be more than happy to answer them for you.
Also, at the end of the mass, you will notice some catholics making a run for the exits as soon as the priest says ‘the mass is ended, go in peace’. This is not really the case, we usually sing a hymn at the end of mass and that is when the correct time to leave is, but this is entirely up to you. A hymn takes no more than 2 -3 minutes, if that.
I hope you enjoy the mass and feel Gods presence in you.
God Bless
 
Thank you all for the encouragement. I will read up about the Mass before I go. That should make it more meaningful.
 
Saithes said:
Excuse me,

If I may ask… why is it Catholics attend mass? What scriptures of the Bible is mass based on? I have heard from my Catholic teacher that it is based on an idea called transubstantion… converting wine and bread to “Jesus’s flesh and blood” … what benefit is found in this? In John 6:63 I found a verse that says … “It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing: the wordes that I speake vnto you, they are Spirit, and they are life.” But I have also heard an argument from another… they used John 6:54 “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternall life, and I will raise him vp at the last day.” … but clearly John 6:63 has said that was incorrect… that only Jesus’s words gave life for they are Spirit… ?

Thank you,
Saithes
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Everything within the Mass is Scripturally based. Knowing Scripture, as you obviously do, you will see exact lines from the Scriptures abounding throughout the Mass.
Mass is keeping the Sabbath holy and receiving our Lord, Jesus Christ, King of King and Lord of Lords in Communion where Transubstantiation does occur.
As for the verses, I will leave someone else with more experience in Apologetics to answer them.
 
Saithes-
Please remember that the Bible came out of the church and not the other way around. The earliest part of the New Testament was not written until 30 years after Jesus’ death.
The Catholic church does not do anything against scripture, but our faith is also based on the Tradition of the church, rooted long before the New Testament was completed.
 
Hellisreal said:
I just wanted to add you should see missals to follow along with too.
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Don’t worry about that the very first time you go - they sell Missals at the hospitality desk, but don’t worry about buying one just yet. Decide whether you want to make a regular habit of going to Mass, first, before you start laying out money for it. 🙂
 
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