Is there room for me?

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pirogue

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i don’t do the whole “praise and worship” thing. I don’t throw my hands up in the air and “praise the Lord.” i do not equate adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass … Is there still room for me in the Catholic Church?
 
most Catholics, outside a charismatic community, or a congregation in a culture that is accustomed to it, would not welcome the praise and halleluiah hands in the air style of worship, outside a youth rally. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is not equal to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Adoration acknowledges the reality of what has happened at Mass, that Christ is now truly present in the Sacrament, but adoration does not equate to fulfilling one’s Mass obligation. so welcome by all means.
 
Either i am too conservative for the “Hands in the air crowd” or i am too “liberal” for the Conservative crowd who think that guitars are too secular for Mass. At times, i feel like i should just give up.
 
pirogue said:
i don’t do the whole “praise and worship” thing. I don’t throw my hands up in the air and “praise the Lord.” i do not equate adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass … Is there still room for me in the Catholic Church?
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Of course!!! 🙂
The Mass is “the source and summit”!

“The Eucharistic Sacrifice is the source and summit of the whole of the Church’s worship and of Christian life. The faithful participate more fully in the sacrament of thanksgiving, propitiation, petition and praise not only when they wholeheartedly offer the sacred Victim, and in it themselves to the Father with the priest, but also when they receive this same Victim sacramentally.”* [Vatican 2 Documents :9]*

The Eucharistic presence is also gift of Christ’s love and is “reserved to extend the grace of the Sacrifice.” (Vatican 2.9.3g) Which covers the Adoration

And um, I don’t think I’ve seen anybody waving their arms about lately!I haven’t! And I sure do belong! And so to you! 🙂 You will stand alone before the thone of God. Why would you betray your own spirituality and spirit just because those around you act differently in some regards, or hurt you by how they perceive things.

In a crowd, be yourself. Jesus was thus. He was killed for it, which isn’t likely to happen to you, but what an example to follow!
Just be authentically you before God, along with millions of Catholics who are in solidarity with you whether you see them present or not
 
I think you should follow the advice Lewis implies in The Screwtape Letters on this matter: don’t think you are a connoisseur of churches or parishes. If the Mass at your local parish is not to your liking, then get over it. Except in cases of liturgical abuse, you are not one to judge the divine liturgy. You can’t choose your natural family, so why think you can pick or judge your supernatural family?
 
Sacred music when done properly does not have to be on an organ or piano. But there is something timeless about that style of music and given a chance we can come to appreciate it and allow it to enrich our prayers.
Be patient don’t take the external things to heart for the Word, Body and Blood of our saviour is always present in the mass. His hour has come and you are invited to celebrate with the King of Kings. That is what it is all about Jesus !

Love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul.👍

God Bless you
jim
 
pirogue said:
i don’t do the whole “praise and worship” thing. I don’t throw my hands up in the air and “praise the Lord.” i do not equate adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass … Is there still room for me in the Catholic Church?
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I would say yes, indeed!
 
Not only is there room for you, there is a mansion for you in Heaven.

I agree, the Blessed Sacrament is not the Mass, it is the worship of our Lord and Savior on a very personal, beautiful level of love and communication. What are the two most sacred parts of the Mass? First, the moment the priest lifts the Host after pronouncing the consecration, and second the moment the priest lifts the chalice with the precious blood after pronouncing the consecration. Oh how I wished the priest would hold up the Body and Blood until their arms ached and they could not stand another second of the pain.
The Blessed Sacrament is that moment in the Mass, the most sacred and precious time to speak with Jesus and share your most intimate needs and wishes and thanksgiving and praise and adoration and reperation.

But first, you need to stop focusing on “ME” and focus on Jesus. Why worry about what others think of you? Why worry about whether your to conservative or liberal. Why worry about you? You need to establish a personal relation with Jesus, so the relation you have with yourself can improve. How, begin to talk to Jesus like He is a real person and present for you to discuss your life with. I mean “out loud” so you can hear yourself. Get in the car and drive. Or take a walk by yourself. Or go to your favorite quiet place, but just do it, just start talking to Jesus. Then spend time with Him in the Blessed Sacrament and just say one thing over and over again, 'Jesus, I love you, please help me". Just sit there, look at Him and repeat, “Jesus, I love you, please help me”. He knows the help you need.

By the way, that “give up feeling”, is not a feeling, it is a thing. You are being tempted by the devil to “give up Jesus, focus only on yourself, and walk away”.
I will put you in my prayers. Upon reading this, go now to the Blessed Sacrament.
 
Like everybody keeps saying, you’re most certainly welcome. I’d say to run away from Catholic churches who fling their arms in the ari and are more into self-entertainment than the mass. Find a nice conservative (not stingy, but active) parish, where you could say ‘Adoration is less important than the Mass’ and nobody will jump down your throat, they’ll actually either know what you’re talking about or ask. Of course, Adoration developed over centuries, and is an experience with Jesus, while the mass is His coming and offering Himself up for our sins. Way different 👍
 
pirogue said:
i don’t do the whole “praise and worship” thing. I don’t throw my hands up in the air and “praise the Lord.” i do not equate adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass … Is there still room for me in the Catholic Church?
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SURE IS !!!

Come one Home - The Porch light. (The “Porch Light” next to the tabernacle)

Peace
James
 
pirogue said:
Either i am too conservative for the “Hands in the air crowd” or i am too “liberal” for the Conservative crowd who think that guitars are too secular for Mass. At times, i feel like i should just give up.
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Look around a bit at several parishes. I’m sure you’ll find one that you feel comfortable in.

Peace
James
 
I don’t see how you get from “praise and worship music” to “Adoration is more important than Mass.”

Seems to me those into the former would have no room for Adoration.
 
YES ! There is room for you, and all of us, at Mass and in the Catholic Faith.

It may help to remember the difference between “style” and “substance.” Whether you are attending a “liberal” style Mass or a “conservative” style Mass, the substance is still the same - worshiping God through His Living Son Jesus Christ.

I sometimes attend the Life Teen Mass with my granddaughter. The music and atmoshere is an attempt to attract her age group, not mine. But I know that I am there to maintain and enhance my personal relationship with God. The readings and Gospel, the Creed, the Offeratory, the Consecration, Holy Eucharist capture my attention and the rest fades into background as I keep my mind and heart in focus on the actual words of the Mass.

I’ve also attended Mass in Japanese, German, Italian, and French without an English Missle but still felt I belonged even when I did not understand a word, because I knew what was going on - the same substance in our world wide universal Catholic Mass.

We have dozens of other meaningful devotions, Adoration and Benediction being among the best because we are in the Presence of the Living Son of God, Jesus Christ, Our Savior. Just as we want to be in the presence of a human we love dearly, we should also want to be in the Presence of God who loves us completely.

But Adoration is not required; it is an acquired taste, so to speak, an indication of the level of our understanding of our loving relationship with God. Many do not attend, or only rarely, because the pace of their life seems too hectic for them. Some folks may find it hard to be still for a period of time, some stay for only a few minutes while others stay an hour or more. But, it is in the stillness, that we often hear God’s soft voice in our heart. We may not litterally hear God speak, but perhaps a useful thought comes to mind, and or in time we realize that we are behaving more in concert with God’s expectation for us and THAT makes us feel better about ourselves and our efforts and THEN we realize that God is indeed loving us. This realization comes to us because we are open to receive God’s love.

Be patient with yourself as God is patient with each of us. Continue to make the effort to be open to God, invite Him into your heart. In time you will gain the comfort you seek in attending Mass and in other devotions to appeal to you.

The more time you spend at Mass and focused on what is really happening in the Mass and lifting your mind and heart to God, the less time and the harder time the Devil has in trying to pick you off.
 
pirogue said:
Either i am too conservative for the “Hands in the air crowd” or i am too “liberal” for the Conservative crowd who think that guitars are too secular for Mass. At times, i feel like i should just give up.
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Please don’t ever give up. Don’t let anything make you loose the hope of Heaven. Things will be okay…
 
Originally Posted by pirogue:
*i don’t do the whole “praise and worship” thing. I don’t throw my hands up in the air and “praise the Lord.” i do not equate adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass … Is there still room for me in the Catholic Church? *

Originally Posted by Trishie:
The Mass is “the source and summit”!
*“The Eucharistic Sacrifice is the source and summit of the whole of the Church’s worship and of Christian life. The faithful participate more fully in the sacrament of thanksgiving, propitiation, petition and praise not only when they wholeheartedly offer the sacred Victim, and in it themselves to the Father with the priest, but also when they receive this same Victim sacramentally.” *[Vatican 2 Documents :9]

Have you come across any informed Catholic (charismatic or contemplative, layperson or religious, traditionalist, conservative or otherwise) who doesn’t agree that The Mass is “the source and summit” of Catholic liturgy (i.e. Catholic public worship)? I certainly haven’t! Everyone accepts that charismatic-style Praise & Worship, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, etc are merely devotions just like public or private recitations of the Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, etc. Certainly, none of these devotions can be equated to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass or reception of the sacraments.

By the way, most of the charismatics I know are highly devoted Catholics- many attend daily Mass and do the Rosary and Chaplet of DM on a daily basis. When they visit the Adoration Chapel, they contemplate in silence like all good Catholics. Would it come as a surprising revelation to you that some of my highly charismatic friends attend ‘silent retreats’ lasting for days, that they can be BOTH contemplative AND charismatic?

Coming back to the very first posting by pirogue:
*i don’t do the whole “praise and worship” thing. I don’t throw my hands up in the air and “praise the Lord.” i do not equate adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass … Is there still room for me in the Catholic Church? *

Jesus Himself gives pirogue the answer in this scripture from John 14:2
There are many rooms in my Father’s house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so. (Good News Translation)

If we Catholics see the image of Christ in each other, there will be tolerance instead of prejudice, and loving acceptance of one another.

In Christ’s love,
OnceLostSoul
 
bpbasilphx said:
I don’t see how you get from “praise and worship music” to “Adoration is more important than Mass.”

Seems to me those into the former would have no room for Adoration.
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As a normal human person, do you not partake in the full range of human experience- rejoice at weddings, cry at funerals, laugh with your friends at social gatherings, feel elated with success but unhappy when facing setbacks or disasters, etc?

So it should be in your prayer life!

Are there any real reasons why any one person cannot sing exuberantly with the charismatics; adore Jesus in silent contemplation inside the adoration chapel; meditate on the 20 mysteries of the Rosary; fast and do penance during a pilgrimage; and also kneel, stand and respond as normal along with the rest of the congregation during Holy Mass?

Sure there are some individuals who shun weddings or funerals for their own reasons (say out of fear or out of prejudice or whatever)… but should you choose not to participate across the full spectrum of Catholic worship, will you not be missing something in your prayer life?

What’s important is to see the image of Christ in our fellow Christians, rather than stereotyped images, so that we can all pray together with the love of Christ !!
 
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