Graces from attending mass

[taylormcbee]

Hi , i have a question. what i mean by when somene is talking about the graces we receive at mass. and can non catholics who have been baptized in another christian church using water and the trinitarian formula but not in full communion with the catholic church receive these graces by going to holy mass? thanks

 

[Scoobyshme]

Hi , i have a question. what i mean by when somene is talking about the graces we receive at mass. and can non catholics who have been baptized in another christian church using water and the trinitarian formula but not in full communion with the catholic church receive these graces by going to holy mass? thanks

I think they could receive some graces from attending Mass, but like Catholics, they receive graces according to the mode of the receiver, as St. Thomas Aquinas puts it. However, I would think that this grace would be more limited than for Catholics, all other things being equal, because they would be barred from receiving Jesus in the Eucharist. But, yes, in general, they could receive some graces, I would think.

 

[couponfit]

Hi , i have a question. what i mean by when somene is talking about the graces we receive at mass. and can non catholics who have been baptized in another christian church using water and the trinitarian formula but not in full communion with the catholic church receive these graces by going to holy mass? thanks

There’s a long and a short answer to this: the short answer would be that the fullness of grace of attending mass lies with communion by receiving the Eucharist. This is the highest direct grace we receive in mass as it sustains us. Further we join in unity as a Grace. Further from the Church we receive example of holiness and can with Gods grace obtain holiness over time (paraphrased from 2030 and 2045). But you ask for those who merely pray and attend but who are not in communion is there grace. The answer would be yes but not with the same efficacy as when we are in communion. Here is a long list of 77 graces and fruits from mass: catholicapologetics.info/modernproblems/newmass/graces.htm

Part of the reason this is hard to answer this is because graces are so tied to the sacraments and we teach them in relationship to our communion. But there was a time when catholics who had not received communion yet, who were not catechized yet, could leave service. So from the great entrance to the small entrance there are graces. So for sure you can receive the graces from the introductory rites and the liturgy of the word, and you can also received grace from the Liturgy of the Eucharist itself prior to the communion rite. For example just reciting the penitential rite during which we strike our breasts in mass brings one to receive some element of fruit or grace even though it lacks the same efficacy of the sacrament of penance in that it lacks absolution of sins.

Another issue to point out as you learn more on this is that it is not just about each individual. Mass is the church’s means of collecting all it’s members together and focusing prayers towards God. It is a means of praying in mass! It is a means of hearing the liturgy of the word of God and being taught that meaning by the priest during the homily in mass. That liturgy and the teaching is consistent throughout the church each sunday, so that all catholics are receiving the same word, and that interpretation and guidance by the priest is from doctrine collectively agreed to and shared.

Imagine 1 billion people praying the same cause each week! Guided by a singular common unity. Focusing our prayer collectively towards not only our own personal salvation but that of others. It’s easy to focus on the grace that we receive in mass, but there is grace produced by your presence alone praying with us in mass towards God!

This is by no means complete and exhaustive.

 

[martininthefiel]

The first step in entering full Communion with the Church is attending Mass, so, yes, it can lead you the Graces of the Mass.

And prayer never hurts. Maybe someday you will be a Catholic. You may already be a Catholic. You just don’t know it yet.

But you must be initiated into the Church to receive the Eucharist.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

Given that Catholics who have lost their sanctifying grace and are cut off from God and in mortal sin still receive actual graces from the Mass, I would imagine they can receive actual graces from attending Mass.