Going to my first Mass tomorrow

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Mi3hael

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Hi,

Do you have any tips or advice for my first Mass.

I’m quite shy to be honest, I’m planning to sit at the back and take it in without the pressure of knowing exactly what to do.

Is there things I should do, I don’t want to seem rude??? Kneeling before I sit down, or making the sign of the cross. Should there be a piece of paper so I can foolow whats hapening? Help me…

Michael
 
When you enter the church, sign yourself with the holy water. When you find a pew, genuflect (bow if the tabernacle isn’t next to/on the altar, if you’re unsure, just genuflect) then sit down. You can kneel and say preparatory prayers before Mass if you wish, but it isn’t necessary. Just sit in the back and follow what the rest of the people do. Stand when they stand and kneel when they kneel. If you don’t know the responses or the hymns, don’t worry about it; not everyone responds or sings anyway. There should be a missal in the pew for you to be able to follow the Mass with. If you get lost in it or there isn’t a missal, just listen to the priest. When it comes time for Communion, if you cannot receive for whatever reason, just stay kneeling in the pew. If you do this, you should be fine. You won’t seem rude unless you start yelling during the Mass or something. 🙂
 
on_the_hill said:
Mi3hael;14038755:
I’m planning to sit at the back and take it in
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In that case, you’ll fit in just fine!

😃
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Always reminds me of a joke a priest told me about how to tell if someone is a cradle Catholic or recent convert. The convert sits as far forward as possible and cradle Catholics fill in from the back pew.

To the OP, don’t get discouraged if you feel a little lost. I converted 9 years ago and still occasionally find myself sliding into a kneel after starting to stand up when I get distracted.

This site might help you.
 
You can simply sit and watch if you want. Visitors are welcome. I assume that you know that non-Catholics should not receive Holy Communion.

The Catholics will do things like cross themselves with holy water, and genuflect, touch one knee to the floor, before entering a pew. Catholics will stand, sit, kneel, at different times during the liturgy. You can either do those things or stay seated. There may also be the Sign of Peace during the Mass, during which most people will shake hands.

Watch a Mass on tv or the internet to get an idea. It is modeled after the ancient liturgy of the Early Church so everything has a reason.
 
Be prepared for people to be nice and pleasant and for them to want to greet you, more so after than before. On the other hand, you may be in a parish where no one will acknowledge you at all. If that’s the case, don’t think anything of it. Every parish tends to behave a little differently in that respect, and it isn’t intended to be seen as rudeness, it is just that everyone is “on a mission” so to speak with getting to Mass, praying, and leaving to go about their day, especially during the workday. Mass is not seen as a social event by many (but for many, it is). They may be accustomed to visitors popping in for a one-time-only visit and figure the only person we really need to give any attention to is the Lord.

Feel free to introduce yourself to the priest after Mass if he doesn’t have to dart off elsewhere. Most priests will be glad to greet a visitor, especially one curious about the faith.
 
One item on watching a mass on video. Most recorded masses are from Sundays and so might be slightly different than attending on Thursday. Daily masses normally only have two readings instead of three. Depending on the parish they might not sing or offer the sign of peace at a weekday mass. Some of those changes will make the mass shorter (25-30 minutes vs an hour on Sundays) so don’t try to be too much like many Catholics and show up 15-20 minutes late. 😉

Really more just giving you a heads up that daily masses are slightly different incase you wondered if something was “skipped” that you missed.
 
Mi3hael said:
Hi,

Do you have any tips or advice for my first Mass.

I’m quite shy to be honest, I’m planning to sit at the back and take it in without the pressure of knowing exactly what to do.

Is there things I should do, I don’t want to seem rude??? Kneeling before I sit down, or making the sign of the cross. Should there be a piece of paper so I can foolow whats hapening? Help me…

Michael
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You might want to arrive a little early to get comfortable with the church. There are usually, books/booklets/hymnals, etc… already in the pews that should help you keep up with what is going on. Except for refraining from communion, feel free to participate as much or as little as you feel comfortable. Welcome and let us know how it goes!
 
Just to add to what others have said-

We’ve all done something silly one time or another; no one will care if you do make a mistake. They will be focusing on our Lord, so there’s a good chance no one will even notice. That being said, I’m sure you’ll be fine and I don’t mean to discourage you. I’m very happy for you that you’re going to Mass. You’re in my prayers.
 
I would just add to really listen to the Mass to what the Priest says during Mass. So many questions are answered in what is said that I totally missed as a kid. Now I savor what is said. It’s incredibly beautiful. Welcome to the Mass.
 
Don’t worry about being shy - it isn’t a “mixer” or other social function. You won’t (shouldn’t) be expected to do anything except unite your prayers with the celebrant. One can achieve “full, active, conscious” participation without saying a single word or performing a single gesture.
 
Mi3hael said:
Hi,

Do you have any tips or advice for my first Mass.

I’m quite shy to be honest, I’m planning to sit at the back and take it in without the pressure of knowing exactly what to do.

Is there things I should do, I don’t want to seem rude??? Kneeling before I sit down, or making the sign of the cross. Should there be a piece of paper so I can foolow whats hapening? Help me…

Michael
Click to expand...
Just show up. The first few times I went to Mass I did nothing but take it in. The very first one I only knelt during what I now know to be the consecration. I didn’t go up with my arms crossed for a blessing even though it was something that parish encouraged.

You can probably find a document with the order of the Mass online. Some parishes have pew cards and some don’t. It’s in the books but for a first timer it may be difficult to follow from there.

There is only one possible thing that you could do wrong and that is to go up for communion. When the people start to go up to receive just stay in your seat.

And most of all - Yes it will seem strange & foreign at first but keep going back. Once you start to understand the Mass…I know for me the more I understood, the more I loved it, the more I appreciated the sacrifice made for us. It’s the highlight of my week.

Please come back with more questions or thoughts
 
I like how your profile says you’re a “Catholic under construction.” I think that describes a lot of us. 🙂
 
Do you have any tips or advice for my first Mass.
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Everyone has already given you good advice so all I will say is…enjoy being in God’s home and don’t worry about making “mistakes”.
 
Mi3hael said:
Hi,

Do you have any tips or advice for my first Mass.

I’m quite shy to be honest, I’m planning to sit at the back and take it in without the pressure of knowing exactly what to do.

Is there things I should do, I don’t want to seem rude??? Kneeling before I sit down, or making the sign of the cross. Should there be a piece of paper so I can foolow whats hapening? Help me…

Michael
Click to expand...
Hopefully, you feel wonderfully welcomed by those at the parish. Weekday Mass is a great time to attend for the first time because the congregation is smaller.

In all the parishes where I was a priest, those who were non-Catholic were welcomed to come forward to receive a blessing from me when others came forward to receive Communion. This is something you can ask the priest concerning the local custom regarding this in the parish you will be attending.

Mass will be a new experience the first time you attend and many times thereafter and so allow yourself to grow into the experience. And I am sure you will find people at the parish to help you become acquainted with the rite.
 
Generic_Name said:
Don’t worry about being shy - it isn’t a “mixer” or other social function. You won’t (shouldn’t) be expected to do anything except unite your prayers with the celebrant. One can achieve “full, active, conscious” participation without saying a single word or performing a single gesture.
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The Council Fathers universally disagree with you.

*Sacrosanctum Concilium *30

To promote active participation, the people should be encouraged to take part by means of acclamations, responses, psalmody, antiphons, and songs, as well as by actions, gestures, and bodily attitudes.

And indeed much has been done since December 4, 1963, to refine this mandate from the bishops of the world.
 
Don_Ruggero said:
The Council Fathers universally disagree with you.

*Sacrosanctum Concilium *30

To promote active participation, the people should be encouraged to take part by means of acclamations, responses, psalmody, antiphons, and songs, as well as by actions, gestures, and bodily attitudes.

And indeed much has been done since December 4, 1963, to refine this mandate from the bishops of the world.
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Let’s not scare the new guys away 😃
 
Don_Ruggero said:
The Council Fathers universally disagree with you.

*Sacrosanctum Concilium *30

To promote active participation, the people should be encouraged to take part by means of acclamations, responses, psalmody, antiphons, and songs, as well as by actions, gestures, and bodily attitudes.

And indeed much has been done since December 4, 1963, to refine this mandate from the bishops of the world.
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Encouraged and required are two very different words, as I know you are aware. I assure you, Father, I fully, actively, and consciously participate without saying a word when hearing the new Mass.

My intent was to convey to the OP that while there is not anything wrong with (most) things done by the laity at Mass, it certainly isn’t necessary even for “seasoned” Catholics to do any/all of those things.
 
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