Mass Frequency?

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How often should a good Catholic go to mass? Everyday? I’m currently a Methodist, and my dad is a Methodist minister, but last Sunday I went to mass for the first time (actually my 3rd or so, but the first time I payed attention).

It was the first time in a while (read: a year) that I’ve been moved by God at church. It was confirmation Sunday, so Mass turned out to be about an hour and 45 minutes, but I didn’t notice at all. Usually at my home church I glance at the clock every 5 seconds.

To put it simply, I feel like I found my home. I’d like to start going to mass as often as possible.
 
A catholic is required to attend Mass every Sunday, and to go on Holy Days of Obligation.

I’m glad you like the Mass! It is a wonderful prayer and I try to make daily Mass as much as possible (only about once a month).
 
Holy Days of Obligation being like Christmas/Eve and the the like?
 
In the last year I started going 3x a week. It has made a big difference in the growth of my faith and the grace I receive from God. I would go more if my schedule allowed, I just love it!!
 
gnat:
How often should a good Catholic go to mass? Everyday? I’m currently a Methodist, and my dad is a Methodist minister, but last Sunday I went to mass for the first time (actually my 3rd or so, but the first time I payed attention).

It was the first time in a while (read: a year) that I’ve been moved by God at church. It was confirmation Sunday, so Mass turned out to be about an hour and 45 minutes, but I didn’t notice at all. Usually at my home church I glance at the clock every 5 seconds.

To put it simply, I feel like I found my home. I’d like to start going to mass as often as possible.
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Aside from our days of obligation (all Sundays and days defined by the Church), we should strive to attend Mass as often as possible, for it is at the Mass where we enter into the fullest possible communion with Christ as we receive His body, blood, soul, and divinity. 😃

Speaking from personal experience as an ex-Lutheran, I can second the not feeling moved by God feeling at church. I began to dread giving up precious hours of sleep to attend Lutheran services. But every time I went to Mass, I came away refreshed, though a bit sad that I was not in full communion with Rome at the time. If I may be daring, I’d like to venture the opinion that the reason why so many protestants feel that God isn’t moving them at their services is because God isn’t fully there. Not in the same sense that He is present at Mass, at any rate. Although the structure of the Mass never changes, we are truly witnesses of and recipients of the fruits of the Sacrifice of Christ, our great high priest, and that makes it worth going to time and again. It never gets old!
 
gnat:
Holy Days of Obligation being like Christmas/Eve and the the like?
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Here are the Holy Days of Obligation:
USCCB:
On December 13, 1991 the members of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States of America made the following general decree concerning holy days of obligation for Latin rite Catholics:
In addition to Sunday, the days to be observed as holy days of obligation in the Latin Rite dioceses of the United States of America, in conformity with canon 1246, are as follows:

January 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God;
Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter, the solemnity of the Ascension;
August 15, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary;
November 1, the solemnity of All Saints;
December 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception;
December 25, the solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Whenever January 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, or August 15, the solemnity of the Assumption, or November 1, the solemnity of All Saints, falls on a Saturday or on a Monday, the precept to attend Mass is abrogated.
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nccbuscc.org/liturgy/q&a/general/obligation.shtml
God bless.
 
I’ve got two questions: Does going to Christmas Eve Mass count as going for Christmas? My dad usually takes us to that one because he doesn’t like to get up early. Also, how bad is it to not go to all the Holy Days? We go to Christmas, and Easter.
 
Try to check out an Eastern Rite service. It is very beautiful and very holy. If there is a tridentine latin mass please go to that also.
The Catholic Church has many rites of mass, most of which are in the Eastern Church. Best Wishes and God Bless !!!
 
gnat:
Holy Days of Obligation being like Christmas/Eve and the the like?
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If you live in the USA, the list provided above will work. But be aware that different countries have different days of obligation. For instance, here in Canada, it is all Sundays as well as Jan 01 and Christmas Day.

Malia
 
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FuzzyBunny116:
I’ve got two questions: Does going to Christmas Eve Mass count as going for Christmas? My dad usually takes us to that one because he doesn’t like to get up early. Also, how bad is it to not go to all the Holy Days? We go to Christmas, and Easter.
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Yes, Christmas Eve counts towards your Christmas Day obligation.

Not going to Mass on a Holy Day of Obligation without a serious reason could be a mortal sin, depending on the circumstances.

Malia
 
What if we didn’t know it was a sin? I only recently started hearing that it was (and that makes me very worried for friends who don’t go to Mass) and what if our exscuse was we couldn’t cough drive…does anyone think that would count?
 
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FuzzyBunny116:
What if we didn’t know it was a sin? I only recently started hearing that it was (and that makes me very worried for friends who don’t go to Mass) and what if our exscuse was we couldn’t cough drive…does anyone think that would count?
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Well, I don’t know exactly, but it seems like if you’re unable to drive, can’t find someone to take you, and it’s too far to walk, that’s probably a good excuse.

I go pretty much every Sunday (well, Saturday night during the summer as I work Sundays). The last month or so, I’ve gone to Mass on Tuesday, too. I’ve really enjoyed that extra Mass during the week.
 
For the past couple of years I’ve been going to daily Mass. It’s not required, but I certainly love it.

Gnat,

Does your dad know you went to a Catholic Mass? Please remember that as the Body of Christ, the Church would not want you do be disrespectful of your parents. So, if you’re living in your parents home, it would be expected that you honor your parents. If your dad is open minded enough to be comfortable with your exploring your spirituality in other churches, this is excellent. If not, you may need to put your new-found love of Catholic Liturgy on hold for a while, until you are out on your own and such decisions are yours to make.

God Bless you as you explore all that God has left for us,

CARose
 
and what if our exscuse was we couldn’t cough drive…does anyone think that would count?
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That’s a perfectly valid excuse. I have elderly relatives who don’t drive due to bad eyesight and dementia and can only make it occasionally. Probably millions, in the sprawls of America are in similar situations.

If that’s the circumstance you find yourself in, that’s just the way it is.
 
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Kielbasi:
That’s a perfectly valid excuse. I have elderly relatives who don’t drive due to bad eyesight and dementia and can only make it occasionally. Probably millions, in the sprawls of America are in similar situations.

If that’s the circumstance you find yourself in, that’s just the way it is.
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Amen!
And there is always, what we in Cleveland had, Mass for Shut-ins! TV Mass.
EWTN has Holy Mass many times a day! It’s beautiful!
 
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CARose:
For the past couple of years I’ve been going to daily Mass. It’s not required, but I certainly love it.

Gnat,

Does your dad know you went to a Catholic Mass? Please remember that as the Body of Christ, the Church would not want you do be disrespectful of your parents. So, if you’re living in your parents home, it would be expected that you honor your parents. If your dad is open minded enough to be comfortable with your exploring your spirituality in other churches, this is excellent. If not, you may need to put your new-found love of Catholic Liturgy on hold for a while, until you are out on your own and such decisions are yours to make.

God Bless you as you explore all that God has left for us,

CARose
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Yes. And when I told him I was going back this Sunday, his words were, “Do whatever you need to do.”

Also, my mother’s side of the family is Catholic. She became a Methodist when she married my father.

However, even if he didn’t like it, I don’t know if I would stop going. I think there are times to honor your parents, but I don’t think conforming to their beliefs is one of the instances.
 
Catholics are obligated to go to Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation (for the United States, those days are: Mary Mother of God (Jan. 1), Ascension (the Thursday 40 days after Easter- this day is often transferred to the following Sunday though), the Assumption of Mary (August 15th), All Saints’ Day (November 1st), Immaculate Conception (December 8th) and Christmas Day (December 25th). Most places have daily Mass as well, and attending daily Mass is a good thing do to, but it is not required. I think people should go as often as they can to daily Mass- but not everyone can, and if they cannot, they are no less devout or holy than those who do.
 
Try to check out an Eastern Rite service. It is very beautiful and very holy. If there is a tridentine latin mass please go to that also.
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There is a Tridentine mass here at 4:00 on Sunday. I was planning to go to regular mass on Saturday as well as on Sunday, so if I feel up to it, I will go the latin mass.
 
Well, I’m going to talk to him. He is Catholic, but I imagine the only reason is because he didn’t know about it, heck neither did I. I’m sure he’ll be keen to it 😉 I was just making sure that so far I haven’t done it too heinous. Now all I have to worry about is all my non church-going Catholic friends :X
 
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FuzzyBunny116:
What if we didn’t know it was a sin?
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If you honestly didn’t know any better, then it isn’t subjectively mortal sin, even though it remains a serious matter.
 
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