Mass=Shabbat?

[Bob_Crowley]

Whoa whoa whoa! Slow down there. I wasn’t born into this faith. I don’t know what these words mean.

Introductory Rites
Rite of Sprinkling or Penitential Rite
Confiteor
Kyrie
Gloria
Opening Prayer (Collect)
Liturgy of the Word
Homily
Profession of Faith (Creed)
Prayer of the Faithful (General Intercessions)
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Preparation of Gifts (Offertory)
Offertory Prayer
Preface and Sanctus
Eucharistic Prayer
Pater Noster (Our Father or Lord’s Prayer)
Sign of Peace
Fraction Rite — Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)
Communion Rite
Prayer after Communion
Concluding Rite

We could go into a lot of rigmarole about each of these terms, and all we’d do is confuse you (and probably ourselves in the process).

My suggestion is that you just go to a mass, and sit in on it. Since you’re a Jew and not a Christian, it would be up to you whether you’d want to go forward during the communion (when the congregation go forward to receive the bread and wine (body and blood of Christ). If you do decide to go forward, just cross your arms over your chest, and the person handing out the bread will give you a verbal blessing, tracing a cross on your forehead with their finger. You won’t be able to take the bread or wine itself, since this is restricted to practising Catholics.

Or you could just remain seated during the communion process.

For your own peace of mind, I think it would be better if you just remained seated the first couple of times. That’s my suggestion anyway.

You’ll feel a bit out of place, but I think I’d feel a bit strange if I went to a synagogue, particularly if any Hebrew was used. It would be all Greek to me. Without the Jewish head covering, I’d stick out like a sore thumb. At least you won’t have that problem. And if you don’t go forward during the mass, the people around you will probably assume you’ve already been to mass somewhere else that week or weekend, and don’t need to take communion again.

After you’ve been to a mass a couple of times, then some of these terms will start to fall into place.

The ‘sign of peace’ for example is just a handshake with nearby parishioners (or maybe a kiss between husband an wife), which follows on from the “Our Father” prayer.

Frankly it would be easier to explain some of these terms if you’ve been to a mass or two, and have seen what goes on.

You could even go to the priest just before the mass (they usually hang around the front door just before the mass begins), and say, “Er, look, I’m a Jew, but I was wondering if it would be OK if I just sat in on this mass, as I’d like to get some sense of what it’s about?” It would be a very rare priest who refused this request. He might even have a couple of suggestions to make. But he wouldn’t have much time, if mass is about to start.

 

[GFresa9]

I don’t have anything to add because I too am not Catholic; I only wanted to say shalom! ¿Favlas ladino?

I actually don’t. I was taught Hebrew just because my parents thought it would be more practical and useful towards my future aliyah, at least that is what they were hoping. Outside of prayer and occasional conversation with my uncle in Beit Shemesh (he speaks ladino), I rarely use my Hebrew skills.

 

[Kosta]

I actually don’t. I was taught Hebrew just because my parents thought it would be more practical and useful towards my future aliyah, at least that is what they were hoping. Outside of prayer and occasional conversation with my uncle in Beit Shemesh (he speaks ladino), I rarely use my Hebrew skills.

Well, they’re not wrong at all; Modern Hebrew has what, 5.5 million speakers? I’d wager that Ladino only has a couple thousand left, alas. I love Europe’s many Jewish languages, although I’m not really familiar with Ladino much other than a word here or there. I am, however, preparing to visit Thessaloniki (“Selanik,” “Solun,” take your pick) for about half a year; I’m determined to find the city’s few Ladino speakers left!

 

[Elizium23]

My suggestion is that you just go to a mass, and sit in on it. Since you’re a Jew and not a Christian, it would be up to you whether you’d want to go forward during the communion (when the congregation go forward to receive the bread and wine (body and blood of Christ). If you do decide to go forward, just cross your arms over your chest, and the person handing out the bread will give you a verbal blessing, tracing a cross on your forehead with their finger. You won’t be able to take the bread or wine itself, since this is restricted to practising Catholics.

Or you could just remain seated during the communion process.

For your own peace of mind, I think it would be better if you just remained seated the first couple of times. That’s my suggestion anyway.

First of all, it’s not bread. It’s not wine. Get that straight. The miracle of the Eucharist and the belief in the True Presence tell us that the Eucharistic elements are no longer bread and wine but the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.

Secondly, if a non-priest attempts to bless anyone in the Communion line, that is an abuse. It is also completely invalid. Laypersons are incapable of bestowing blessings in the context of the sacred liturgy. Still less if they attempt to TOUCH the person - first, they are handling FOOD. You don’t grub your filthy fingers all over someone’s oily head when you are serving FOOD. Second - “the laying on of hands carries a special sacramental significance” which cannot be aped or copied by an EMHC. Leave that to the experts, please.

The only acceptable (and still iffy) way to “receive” something in the Communion line without actually receiving Him is to approach a priest and only a priest. The best way, and the way it’s been done for thousands of years, is to remain in your place and don’t request anything at all. Pray a spiritual communion, which good parishes have printed on a pew card or a missallette for your convenience.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

First of all, it’s not bread. It’s not wine. Get that straight. The miracle of the Eucharist and the belief in the True Presence tell us that the Eucharistic elements are no longer bread and wine but the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.

Secondly, if a non-priest attempts to bless anyone in the Communion line, that is an abuse. It is also completely invalid. Laypersons are incapable of bestowing blessings in the context of the sacred liturgy. Still less if they attempt to TOUCH the person - first, they are handling FOOD. You don’t grub your filthy fingers all over someone’s oily head when you are serving FOOD. Second - “the laying on of hands carries a special sacramental significance” which cannot be aped or copied by an EMHC. Leave that to the experts, please.

The only acceptable (and still iffy) way to “receive” something in the Communion line without actually receiving Him is to approach a priest and only a priest. The best way, and the way it’s been done for thousands of years, is to remain in your place and don’t request anything at all. Pray a spiritual communion, which good parishes have printed on a pew card or a missallette for your convenience.

There appears to be some confusion about the practice of blessings frankly, and I wrote according to what I’d seen. I was at one stage a minister of communion (years ago), but dropped out and stuck to being a Minister of the Word, which I don’t do much these days either.

The following blog gives a rundown on the confusing state of the business of “blessings”.

massexplained.com/communion-blessing/

My intention was to encourage the Jewish OP to attend a mass, so that he can see for himself what it’s about.