My 1st Mass!

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Homerun40968

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I am a teenager growing up in the secular West, but managed to see the true value in Catholicism. I was disappointed week after week at the inconsistencies at Protestant ministers, the lack of firm stances among the different denominations, the casualness and lack of formality, and the fact that church was generally a social event - not worship. I convinced my mom to let us all go to the Catholic Mass this Sunday as guests with our friends. We are a Protestant family, but I found Catholic stances to make a whole lot more sense (especially the Eucharist). A few questions (remember that I am going as a guest with another family):
  1. Am I allowed to receive Jesus in the Eucharist?
  2. Any opinions on TLM or ordinary Mass?
  3. Any other tips that might be new to me, coming from a Protestant lifestyle?
I want to be Catholic because it is the same church that (1) has not had the gates of hell prevail against it for 2,000 years of existence (2) still worships in the same style/manner since its foundation (3) St. Peter himself oversaw as the first Pope (4) has a true sense of purpose, due to the formality and general conductivity (5) does not allow practices that Jesus clearly outlawed - divorce, abortion, etc. (6) honors saints and thus feels like a large body of people, both on earth and in heaven (7) receives Jesus in the Eucharist - body, blood, soul, and divinity.

I ask that you answer my questions, tell me if my motives are valid, and wish me luck.
 
Homerun40968 said:
  1. Am I allowed to receive Jesus in the Eucharist? NO
  2. Any opinions on TLM or ordinary Mass? That should be up to your ‘hosts’/friends
  3. Any other tips that might be new to me, coming from a Protestant lifestyle? **Relax and follow along as best you can.
    **
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I can answer the first question: No, you can’t receive the Eucharist. Not until you’re confirmed a Catholic. Talk to a priest about becoming Catholic. You’ll probably take classes and be confirmed next year (the night before Easter Sunday.)

The second question… uh… this board has a LOT of opinions regarding the TLM and Novus Ordo Mass. All you gotta do is read through some of the threads. If I were you, I wouldn’t worry about that just now. Go to a parish and Mass convenient to you and talk to the priest. Keep reading the information at Catholic Answers and any apologetics books. You may find you want to switch parishes for any variety of reasons. It’s OK.

Welcome. 🙂
 
Homerun40968 said:
  1. Am I allowed to receive Jesus in the Eucharist?
  2. Any opinions on TLM or ordinary Mass?
  3. Any other tips that might be new to me, coming from a Protestant lifestyle?
Click to expand...
You are very articulate.

As for your questions:
No, you may not receive Our Lord, yet. As you already know, we believe in transubstantiation. In that, we hold firm to 1 Cor 11 27-29:
Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself: and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the chalice. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord.
We only allow Catholics who are in a state of grace to receive. But have faith. Once you go through RCIA, you will be receiving the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord.

TLM is a fully Latin Mass (also called Extraordinary Form) while the NO Mass (or Ordinary Form) is in the vernacular. Which one you attend is up to you.

Pick up the following books:
Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic
I think it’s called Fundamentalism V. Catholicism (by Karl Keeting)
Lamb’s Supper by Scott Hahn
Hail Holy Queen by Scott Hahn
The How-to Book of Mass
Catholicism for Dummies

When you attend Mass, look in the front of the Missalette or the Song Book- they will have an order of the Mass for you to follow. And it will be your cheat sheet for what to do and say when.

You will soon be home, Brother!
 
Homerun40968 said:
  1. Am I allowed to receive Jesus in the Eucharist?
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Not yet; you will receive your First Holy Communion after you get Confirmed in the Catholic Church, when you convert. 🙂
  1. Any opinions on TLM or ordinary Mass?
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Both are very beautiful in their own ways when done well, and either one is a nightmare when done badly. Whichever you go to, I hope you get to go to a good one.
  1. Any other tips that might be new to me, coming from a Protestant lifestyle?
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Don’t worry about trying to “follow along” - this is physically impossible if you have never been to Mass before. Everyone else knows all the gestures, words, etc., because they have done them before many, many times. Of course if you want to you can stand, sit, and kneel with the congregation, unless this starts to seem complicated, in which case, feel free to sit through the whole thing, and just absorb the Mass into your soul as it proceeds on around you. 🙂
I want to be Catholic because it is the same church that (1) has not had the gates of hell prevail against it for 2,000 years of existence (2) still worships in the same style/manner since its foundation (3) St. Peter himself oversaw as the first Pope (4) has a true sense of purpose, due to the formality and general conductivity (5) does not allow practices that Jesus clearly outlawed - divorce, abortion, etc. (6) honors saints and thus feels like a large body of people, both on earth and in heaven (7) receives Jesus in the Eucharist - body, blood, soul, and divinity.
Click to expand...
I ask that you answer my questions, tell me if my motives are valid, and wish me luck.
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Sounds good to me!! 👍

Of course, you will not convert right away on one Sunday, after a single Mass. Convert classes (known as RCIA) typically start in September and run until Easter. Check around for a class that you can join this year, and we’ll be welcoming you “home” at around this time next year! :extrahappy:
 
As far as receiving Holy Communion - it is not so much as being allowed to receive as it is being one with the rest of the Church. One can only receive if they fully believe as the Church does.
 
jmcrae said:
Of course, you will not convert right away on one Sunday, after a single Mass. Convert classes (known as RCIA) typically start in September and run until Easter. Check around for a class that you can join this year, and we’ll be welcoming you “home” at around this time next year! :extrahappy:
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The process for those who have already been baptized depends on a lot of circumstances. You may not necessarily have to go through RCIA but in most parishes you would have to because they only have one process to initiate new Church members. The best way to begin is to go see a priest at your closest parish and then begin going to mass weekly and try to get involved with a youth group if they have one.
 
HOPEFUL_IN_UK said:
I can answer the first question: No, you can’t receive the Eucharist. Not until you’re confirmed a Catholic. Talk to a priest about becoming Catholic. You’ll probably take classes and be confirmed next year (the night before Easter Sunday.)

Welcome. 🙂
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Didn’t Cardinal Ratzinger give communion to a protestant? Brother Roger Shutz?

My advice to the OP: Seek out the nearest SSPX in your area and go to a traditional Mass, then learn about the TRUE Catholic faith and its traditions.
 
piouswoman said:
Didn’t Cardinal Ratzinger give communion to a protestant? Brother Roger Shutz?

My advice to the OP: Seek out the nearest SSPX in your area and go to a traditional Mass, then learn about the TRUE Catholic faith and its traditions.
Click to expand...
There is no way a TRUE Catholic would/should recommend a potential convert seek out a group not fully aligned with Rome.
 
Homerun40968 said:
I am a teenager growing up in the secular West, but managed to see the true value in Catholicism. I was disappointed week after week at the inconsistencies at Protestant ministers, the lack of firm stances among the different denominations, the casualness and lack of formality, and the fact that church was generally a social event - not worship. I convinced my mom to let us all go to the Catholic Mass this Sunday as guests with our friends. We are a Protestant family, but I found Catholic stances to make a whole lot more sense (especially the Eucharist). A few questions (remember that I am going as a guest with another family):
  1. Am I allowed to receive Jesus in the Eucharist?
  2. Any opinions on TLM or ordinary Mass?
  3. Any other tips that might be new to me, coming from a Protestant lifestyle?
I want to be Catholic because it is the same church that (1) has not had the gates of hell prevail against it for 2,000 years of existence (2) still worships in the same style/manner since its foundation (3) St. Peter himself oversaw as the first Pope (4) has a true sense of purpose, due to the formality and general conductivity (5) does not allow practices that Jesus clearly outlawed - divorce, abortion, etc. (6) honors saints and thus feels like a large body of people, both on earth and in heaven (7) receives Jesus in the Eucharist - body, blood, soul, and divinity.

I ask that you answer my questions, tell me if my motives are valid, and wish me luck.
Click to expand...
First of all, welcome home!!! The reasons you give for wanting to become Catholic are excellent and true. Hold on to them!

As you may have already found out, as Scripture teaches, when you come to the Lord, be prepared for a trial. The Lord tests and reproves those whom He loves, and this proves that we are truly His children.

I truly hope you have an excellent experience at the Mass you attend. However, if you don’t, please don’t be discouraged. Sometimes priests try to make the Mass “more relevant” and “their own” and do not reflect what the Church desires to take place in Her liturgies. If this is the case, go to another Mass. Sometimes people drive great distances to get to a reverent Mass, either the TLM, the NO, or an Eastern rites Catholic Church. They do this because they are convinced, like you, of the seven points you make (and more). My prayer for you is that you will have a great experience the first time, but if you don’t, don’t be discouraged!

Also, please forgive any abruptness you may have found in this thread. I’m sure it was not intended.

While it is true that you cannot yet receive Holy Communion at Mass until you first formally come into Full Communion with the Catholic Church, I hope that the time between then and now will only increase your desire to receive our Lord in Holy Communion. St. Augustine teaches that sometimes God makes us wait for something good He wishes to give us, in order to increase our desire for it and make us more grateful to Him once we receive it.

You are in my prayers.

God bless,

Fr. Boyd
 
piouswoman said:
Didn’t Cardinal Ratzinger give communion to a protestant? Brother Roger Shutz?

My advice to the OP: Seek out the nearest SSPX in your area and go to a traditional Mass, then learn about the TRUE Catholic faith and its traditions.
Click to expand...
Just a suggestion to all who may wish to respond to piouswoman: Could we start a new thread and not discourage this courageous young man, just as he has found the Church? Division and specious argumentation are not from the Lord.
 
Also, I just noticed you are in Atlanta. There are some good parishes in the city, and you have an FSSP parish (TLM in full union with the Pope) in the area, too.
 
I have heard multiple times that there is no greater privilege on earth than to receive the Eucharist at Mass, because it is fully, wholly, entirely Jesus Christ. I looked it up in the Bible and it is clear on the real presence. If I must wait then so be it.
 
Your story is remarkably similar to my own. I am a Catholic teenager; I was raised Protestant, but later saw the inconstistancies of 100,000 different denominations, and so embraced Catholicism.

I attended the New Mass for the first two years after coming Home, and through my own study discovered the richness of Tradition. I now solely attend the Tridentine Mass.

Please Private Message (PM) me if you would like to chat more in depth
 
jmcrae said:
Convert classes (known as RCIA) typically start in September and run until Easter.
Click to expand...
Convert classes (RCIA) are only one option.
Many enter the Church by way of Private Preparation by a priest (no “classes”) 👍
 
HomeRun sez-
I want to be Catholic because it is the same church that (1) has not had the gates of hell prevail against it for 2,000 years of existence (2) still worships in the same style/manner since its foundation (3) St. Peter himself oversaw as the first Pope (4) has a true sense of purpose, due to the formality and general conductivity (5) does not allow practices that Jesus clearly outlawed - divorce, abortion, etc. (6) honors saints and thus feels like a large body of people, both on earth and in heaven (7) receives Jesus in the Eucharist - body, blood, soul, and divinity
Click to expand...
Thanks for reminding me about all the good things I have in my Faith. Good luck, you sound like a fine young man. Keep us posted on your journey.
 
Wow, your post truly gave me chills, I love how the Holy Spirit works.
I just wanted to welcome you to the faith.
:blessyou:
 
I’m very happy for you that you have found your way home! 😃

I, too, was Protestant, and did an awful lot of research about the Church and her history prior to deciding to begin my conversion. I’m coming into the Church fully on Easter vigil this year, and I cannot wait! Even though I had a good grasp on things, I’m very glad I chose to go through RCIA. I’ve met a lot of really fantastic people, and it has been a great experience. 🙂
 
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