Member sent me message/ I went to Catholic mass yesterday

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English is not my first language, so I’m sorry for any misspellings.

Member in this forum sent me message and I like it and I agree with most of what s/he said. so thank you for the message.

Yesterday I went to catholic mass, I liked it but I was wondering at the same time, maybe this question will not sound smart but I have to ask it wether you think it’s smart of not.

Most of the people at the catholic church seemed to be not really glad to be in the church, they seemed kind of lazy, not communicate with the pastor whatsoever, and that is so different than the Baptist church that I went to before, they seemed communicate with the minister, happy to be there and active. So, why is that?!
 
TheBreak said:
English is not my first language, so I’m sorry for any misspellings.

Member in this forum sent me message and I like it and I agree with most of what s/he said. so thank you for the message.

Yesterday I went to catholic mass, I liked it but I was wondering at the same time, maybe this question will not sound smart but I have to ask it wether you think it’s smart of not.

Most of the people at the catholic church seemed to be not really glad to be in the church, they seemed kind of lazy, not communicate with the pastor whatsoever, and that is so different than the Baptist church that I went to before, they seemed communicate with the minister, happy to be there and active. So, why is that?!
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Although our Church is universal, each parish is made up of individuals. Even at the same parish church, different Masses can have a completely different atmosphere - one has a formal choir, one is just a cantor and a pianist, etc. So don’t make generalizations about a church at that level.

You changed your post from Episcopalian to Baptist before I could respond - I wonder what?
 
Well I don’t like all that “hoopin n’ hollerin’” as my grandmother would say 😛

I prefer a solemn ceremonial Latin Mass where everyone is quiet. That doesn’t necessarily mean I want them to be depressed, and I should hope that they want to be there but if they don’t then oh well at least they’re sacrificing time out of what they want for God. Better they should come then not come.
 
TheBreak said:
Most of the people at the catholic church seemed to be not really glad to be in the church, they seemed kind of lazy, not communicate with the pastor whatsoever, and that is so different than the Baptist church that I went to before, they seemed communicate with the minister, happy to be there and active. So, why is that?!
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I’m happy you were able to attend Mass yesterday. I hope you will be able to attend Mass again.

When you say that the people in the Baptist church seemed to communicate with the minister - how is it that they show this? Do you mean during the church worship service they communicate with the minister?

I assume that the Catholic people at Mass yesterday responded with the proper prayers during the parts of the Mass when the people in the pews are suppose to pray out loud in unison.

Help me understand a bit more what it is that you noticed about the people at Mass and maybe I can help explain.
 
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My experience in looking at the other people at Mass is that they are so deeply in prayer, so intent, that they are totally focused, often not even blinking, on what the priest is doing up on the altar.

The Mass is considered to be the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

The Divine Liturgy.

When the priest says, “This is My Body” and “This is My Blood”, the bread and wine become the actual Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, of Jesus Christ … in a process known as Transubstantiation.

It is also known as The Real Presence.

When a Consecrated Host is placed in a sacred vessel with a little circular window [called a Monstrance … Latin origins of all these words] … we actually worship that Host … in something we call “Eucharistic Adoration”.

It’s not a social situation.

We do get together after Mass for a brief social gathering … such as at a Communion breakfast, perhaps once a month, usually in the hall or in a local restaurant. The priests will join in and circulate.

Or maybe just coffee and donuts.

And there are frequent meetings such as the Knights of Columbus or the Auxiliary and other parish groups. The schedule of various social meetings and get-togethers is listed in the parish bulletin.

One parish compiled a list and there were more than 50 such parish groups that gathered for various social purposes.
 
I guess maybe I didn’t see it in different way, maybe as you said that they were focused in prayer. I really do hope so, because even though I’m agnostic until now, I don’t think that someone knows Jesus could not be happy when s/he be in his present.

I’m going to the Baptist church on Fridays and the Catholic on Sundays and I’m in hope that one day I can back to the cool peaceful man called Jesus, I miss him and I miss be with him but sadly we live in world full of skepticism and questions that looking for answers.

Thank you so much for your answers 🙂
 
TheBreak said:
… I don’t think that someone knows Jesus could not be happy when s/he be in his present.

I’m in hope that one day I can back to the cool peaceful man called Jesus, I miss him and I miss be with him …
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Jesus is right with you right now!!!

Don’t worry if you think people didn’t look happy. Maybe they are happy if you had asked them. Maybe some were sad - but still wanted to be with God at Mass.

People carry their emotions in different ways. They express their emotions in different ways. How you perceive their emotion may not be accurate.

A Catholic Mass and a Baptist Worship service are not designed to appear the same. The reactions and responses are not the same. Understanding one does not equate to understanding both.

Go to Mass to worship God. Don’t worry about how you think the other people are expressing their emotions.

May God give you peace and may you know Jesus is with you today.
 
I come from a protestant background so I know what the OP is talking about. I loved the Catholic mass when I started going to it because of the liturgy. But the OP is right, baptist churches are much, much more attractive on a personal level because there is much more of a familial atmosphere. At mass people come and they go. If you are a new visitor, you will pretty much be a little fish in a big pond. Nobody will notice you. I’m not saying that this is right or wrong, or that it’s anybody’s fault or that anything necessarily needs to be changed, I am just telling you that’s how it is.
 
TheBreak said:
English is not my first language, so I’m sorry for any misspellings.

Member in this forum sent me message and I like it and I agree with most of what s/he said. so thank you for the message.

Yesterday I went to catholic mass, I liked it but I was wondering at the same time, maybe this question will not sound smart but I have to ask it wether you think it’s smart of not.

Most of the people at the catholic church seemed to be not really glad to be in the church, they seemed kind of lazy, not communicate with the pastor whatsoever, and that is so different than the Baptist church that I went to before, they seemed communicate with the minister, happy to be there and active. So, why is that?!
Click to expand...
I do understand where you are coming from because in the Anglican Church we too are rather too serious when in church. We don’t look happy ever. Just serious. It bugs me too that people have been taught that Solemn Mass means you can hardly smile in church rather than it being a style of service etc. People are ok but to look at them you’d think something really serious as just happend rather than something to smile about. We also greet our priest at the end rather than at the beginning and I always find it hard to say ‘hello’ on the way out so to speak. When I’m serving on the Altar I do get to say ‘hello’ to him etc at beginning of the service. But any thing of me he finds out other ways and not in church. But I agree we are all too deadly serious and I don’t like it:thumbsup:
 
TheBreak said:
I guess maybe I didn’t see it in different way, maybe as you said that they were focused in prayer. I really do hope so, because even though I’m agnostic until now, I don’t think that someone knows Jesus could not be happy when s/he be in his present.

I’m going to the Baptist church on Fridays and the Catholic on Sundays and I’m in hope that one day I can back to the cool peaceful man called Jesus, I miss him and I miss be with him but sadly we live in world full of skepticism and questions that looking for answers.

Thank you so much for your answers 🙂
Click to expand...
For the Baptists, church is more of a social occasion and they listen to their minister talk abut God and the Scriptures. It is not about tradition, unless that tradition is mentioned specifically in the Bible. There also is no universal Baptist church. Each one is a separate entity although they do have some structure, but members are not loyal to all other Baptist churches. We Catholics have a truly UNIVERSAL church, the only one.

For Catholics, Mass is the Holy Sacrifice of Jesus’ Body and Blood, not a social occasion. We celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection with EVERY Mass. We’re not just studying Scripture and singing. You must understand, that taking Jesus’ Body and Blood IS a solemn experience. Every time I walk to receive Jesus, I am praying and asking Him for mercy on my sins. It is a SERIOUS thing. Yes, it is joyous but I am never 100% sure that I am worthy to receive Him. I pray for the souls in purgatory as well. These are intense experiences. If you study the Catholic Church you may understand why we are not dancing and singing as we celebrate the Mass. There is joy but it is a different experience entirely than you will find in a Protestant and especially a Baptist service.
 
TheBreak said:
I guess maybe I didn’t see it in different way, maybe as you said that they were focused in prayer. I really do hope so, because even though I’m agnostic until now, I don’t think that someone knows Jesus could not be happy when s/he be in his present.

I’m going to the Baptist church on Fridays and the Catholic on Sundays and I’m in hope that one day I can back to the cool peaceful man called Jesus, I miss him and I miss be with him but sadly we live in world full of skepticism and questions that looking for answers.

Thank you so much for your answers 🙂
Click to expand...
Consider that the Catholic Mass … said by a Priest … was instituted 2000 years ago. It is very unique.

If you are interested in learning more, make an appointment with the pastor of the church where you go to Mass and express to him your questions and concerns and also ask him about the RCIA program, which is basically an adult education program for people who are curious about some of the Catholic traditions and practices and beliefs and teachings.
 
I recall the first time I went to a protestant service. I can no longer remember the denomination, but assume it was a fundamentalist one. There were songs and a sermon - and then it was over. I recall thinking: “But I never prayed!”

I have since been to some mainline denominations - Lutheran, Episcopalian, and Methodist - and they had retained the Catholic Mass liturgy to a degree - which, of course, incorporates prayers to God.

In public worship gatherings, I very much appreciate established rituals where everyone can simultaneously be praying the same prayer together - either from memory, or by reading it in the missal, and either aloud or silently. Then I am able to take words not my own and still speak/pray them to God

With spontaneous prayer in a group, my mind is usually occupied with just hearing and trying to correctly grasp the content of what is being vocalized. Unless there is a deliberate pause of silence after each sentence or two, I never get a chance to make the vocalized prayer my own and speak it to God because I’m busy paying attention to the next words being spoken.

It’s not that I don’t like spontaneous prayer; I do. But I like it when praying in private – whether that privacy is because one is physically alone, or whether it’s in a group and a period of silence is specifically provided for individual silent communication with God.
 
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