How does one explain the Mass to Muslims?

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AustinGM

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How does one go about explaining the Mass and what it is about for people that have absolutely nothing similar in their current and or former religious practice/s?

I once told one of my neighbours that I went to a Mass one Sunday and he remarked “what is Mass”. I simply told him Salah (Muslim prayers throughout he day) because he is Muslim but after thinking back for awhile it came to me that the most comparable thing to Salah would be the Liturgy of the Hours/Divine Office and not the Mass. This lead me to then ponder upon other religions as there are several of them that do not seem to even have the concept of a communal meal or sacrifice.
 
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You don’t need to liken it to anything Muslim. Simply tell him it’s the unbloody sacrifice of Jesus Christ who died for our sins.
 
Muslims think Jesus was a mere mortal and never resurrected. What I have done before is say ‘Jesus is God, should I go on?’ usually they respond: no thanks.
 
AustinGM said:
How does one go about explaining the Mass and what it is about for people that have absolutely nothing similar in their current and or former religious practice/s?

I once told one of my neighbours that I went to a Mass one Sunday and he remarked “what is Mass”. I simply told him Salah (Muslim prayers throughout he day) because he is Muslim but after thinking back for awhile it came to me that the most comparable thing to Salah would be the Liturgy of the Hours/Divine Office and not the Mass. This lead me to then ponder upon other religions as there are several of them that do not seem to even have the concept of a communal meal or sacrifice.
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The Mass transcends time and the world since all heavenly angels, living believers, and departed saints are united in adoration of God, in the Kingdom of God, and give thanksgiving, and make intercessions, and petitions for all. And the Mass is the same sacrifice as that of the Cross.
 
Let me rephrase this; how should one explain the sacraments (mysteries)? This is because there are a whole bunch of sacramental actions that are compounded together in the Mass but then there is the confection of the Sacrament. No other religions that I know of retain this not even Neo-paganism. There are similar ritual or mystical practices in other religions (Mikva in Judaism and the ablutions before entering a mosque) but I do not think that there are any other religions that go so far as to imply that God’s grace is somehow imparted unto us through these sacred actions.
 
Tough to explain as they don’t believe in our scriptures unless they can also find it word for word in their book.

We both believe Adam sinned through eating.

You could explain that God meets us where we are at. Man sinned through eating, so He now gives us a antidote for sin, Himself, through the eating of Holy Communion.
 
Keep it simple.
You can say it’s when we gather to worship.
That we pray and listen to Bible stories and hear a homily.
And then you can explain that we have Eucharist, which we believe is the Body and Blood of Christ.

If they have more questions at that point, you can answer.
 
I think that was a good answer. What’s Mass? We gather to pray. Unless they are asking you another question, keep it simple. Too much information and they may get turned off and never ask another question. And, you want them to ask more questions! lol

Sometimes it’s a better strategy to ask them what they believe and have them open up talking to you. Building a bridge.

Great to think on these things. God may arrange another conversation if we’re preparing our answer. Maybe with someone else. Who knows?
 
You say, “Acts 2:42.” Mass is what the Church did from day one, and we’ve been doing it ever since. We remember the Lord’s death, burial, and Resurrection, until He comes again.
 
AustinGM said:
[…] after thinking back for awhile it came to me that the most comparable thing to Salah would be the Liturgy of the Hours/Divine Office and not the Mass. This lead me to then ponder upon other religions as there are several of them that do not seem to even have the concept of a communal meal or sacrifice.
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I vaguely remember being told by a Muslim colleague that during one of the Eid festivals (can’t remember which one) it’s customary to actually sacrifice a goat. It’s the only time of the year that Muslims commit an actual sacrificial offering to Allah. Perhaps this would be a decent analogue? @Niblo Am I barking up the wrong tree here?
 
I would discribe Mass to a moslem in this way:

It is a Thanksgiving Celebration for Jesus victory in a holy war (jihad) against motality, after He died on the cross, He rose again. And now we are waiting for His coming again to re-establish God’s Kingdom on earth as in Heaven where all who believe Him will live together with Him in Heaven.
 
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Sabbath in Christianity is the inclusion or adoption in Christianity of a [Sabbath] day. Established within Judaism through [Mosaic Law]. Christians inherited a Sabbath practice that reflected two great precepts: the commandment to [remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy] and God’s blessing of the seventh day [Saturday] as a day of rest in the [Genesis creation narrative] and declared as made for man by Jesus. The first of these provisions was associated in [Judaism] with the assembly of the people to worship in the [Temple in Jerusalem] or in [synagogues].

The position now dominant in [Western Christianity] is that observance of the [Lord’s Day Sunday] honours, supplanted or [superseded] the Sabbath commandment in that the former "celebrated the Christian community’s deliverance from captivity to sin, Satan, and worldly passions, made possible by the [resurrection]. Early Christians observed the seventh day Sabbath with prayer and rest, but they also gathered on the first day. By the 4th century, Catholics were officially observing the first day, Sunday, as their day of rest, not the seventh.
 
I have answered different Muslim’s questions about who Jesus is to us when they ask me.
 
“A ritual prayer service where we worship God according to the Biblical teachings of Christ”.

That should suffice for a non-Christian that does not believe in the divinity of Christ and the Trinity.
 
Pope Francis at his address on the World Day of prayer for Creation has urged all to join the ecumenical “Season of Creation” initiative, which runs from the September 1st Day of Prayer through the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4th

Regarding this, just ask them to pray with you.
 
Sacraments are physical actions (matter) used to bring about a spiritual encounter with God. Baptism (water) cleanses the soul. Eucharist (bread) becomes God.
 
AustinGM said:
Let me rephrase this; how should one explain the sacraments (mysteries)? This is because there are a whole bunch of sacramental actions that are compounded together in the Mass but then there is the confection of the Sacrament. No other religions that I know of retain this not even Neo-paganism. There are similar ritual or mystical practices in other religions (Mikva in Judaism and the ablutions before entering a mosque) but I do not think that there are any other religions that go so far as to imply that God’s grace is somehow imparted unto us through these sacred actions.
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Ritual sacrificial offerings is an ancient practice.
Lev 1:4 and shall lay a hand on the head of the burnt offering, so that it may be acceptable to make atonement for the one who offers it. … The priest shall then burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, a sweet-smelling oblation to the Lord.

Lev 7:1 This is the law of the guilt offering. It is most holy; … 5 the priest shall burn them on the altar as an offering by fire to the Lord; it is a guilt offering. … 6 … it shall be eaten in a holy place; it is most holy. … 9 And every cereal offering baked in the oven and all that is prepared on a pan or a griddle shall belong to the priest who offers it. 10 And every cereal offering, mixed with oil or dry, shall be for all the sons of Aaron, one as well as another. … 37 This is the law of the burnt offering, of the cereal offering, of the sin offering, of the guilt offering, of the consecration, and of the peace offerings, …

(Note: the sons of Aaron are the anointed priests.)

Atonement in the Mass, is the Satisfaction of Christ, whereby God and the world are reconciled or made to be at one (at-one-ment = atonement).

In the Mass, for those that are properly disposed, there is an increase in sanctifying grace in reception of Communion. There is also actual grace leading to conversion. The purpose: Christ died for all men, that all might be saved and receive the Beatific Vision.
 
I have a dear, dear friend who is Muslim and other acquaintances. We can agree on so much, the Muslims have a greater respect for the Blessed Virgin Mary than do 90% of the Protestants I know.

Focus on similarities.

This is a must read book if you are interested in honest conversation (as you seem to be)

 
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