My First Mass

  • Thread starter Thread starter GameSetMatch4
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
G

GameSetMatch4

Guest
Hey everyone! Today was the first mass that I have attended. I am in my early 20’s and married with a child on the way due in May. My wife and I come from a Protestant background. I have felt close to the Catholic Church in some way for the past couple of years and have just never been until today. I went to the 11 am mass at a parish that is only 5 minutes away. The main thing that kept me from trying it out all these years was that I didn’t want to feel like an outsider. As soon as I got there, I got the “butterflies” in my stomach again but I toughed it out till the end. I was doing ok at first since there weren’t many people there (I got there about 30 min before mass started), then once 11 am came around, it filled up quickly. I did sit in the very last row so I wouldn’t stand out too bad but even then people sat next to me because it was packed. I was happy to see and hear that there was a “Joyful Noise” praise band that I am usually accustomed to in the Protestant churches. I figured the Catholic Church always had choirs. There were tons of young families with children and they did have a cry room which was right next to my pew. I didn’t know what to say and what to do the whole time but I really feel like this is where I belong. During communion, I stayed kneeling in the pew and kind of felt left out. I don’t know if this priest does blessings or not and even then if he does, I don’t really know what to do. The homily was short and to the point and the praise band was actually pretty good. I have been begging my wife to try one out with me but she keeps saying the Catholic Church is way too traditional for her. I thought it was be extremely traditional but I think it probably varies from parish to parish. This one was actually pretty blended between traditional and modern I would say. They still did everything other Catholic parishes would but they have a praise band. Are most Catholic Churches going this route? After mass, I called my wife and told her my experiences and she said, “Maybe I’ll go with you next Sunday if the baby hasn’t come yet.” I really hope she does! I can tell the Catholic Church has a big family emphasis and that is another thing I love about it. I am not baptized but my wife is. I have always felt called someway to the Church and hopefully the Church is the one is for my family and I.
 
Hey, bro, that’s awesome. Don’t let the fact that we like traditions scare you off; I come from a family that was the same way: not really into the whole tradition aspect. You’ll learn the general route of things, and please, don’t hesitate to ask the parish priest any questions you might have, as I’m sure he’d love to help and make you feel more welcome! Everything we do has a purpose. I hope you find yourself at home in the Church.

God bless you and your family! 🙂
 
welcome home! i hope you will be guide by the priest of your church about the different parts of the mass and it is important to have some bible studies to get more knowledge about our religion. It is great to start a family and becoming part of our catholic family! I hope that you feel embrace by your parish. It is a great feeling. If you have any questions or do not feel at easy because you are a newcomer, share it with the priest and with other members of your parish. People are really helpful and you and your wife can find new friends and feel that there is always a helping hand that our Lord puts in your road, wherever you need it. As you grow in your religion and know more about it, feeling the presence of our Lord in the new family you just started will really help you in any obstacle your life might present to you. Love God, our Lord with all your heart, trust Him blindly, He is always right.
May the Lord be close to your heart and the heart of your wife and of the coming baby!
 
I didn’t know what to say and what to do the whole time but I really feel like this is where I belong. During communion, I stayed kneeling in the pew and kind of felt left out. I don’t know if this priest does blessings or not and even then if he does, I don’t really know what to do.
Click to expand...
Welcome home. Please feel free to approach the Priest during communion with arms crossed on your chest which would express your desire for a blessing.
 
There are different music venues in each parish, so you were fortunate to find one that was close to your experience. There are also different blessing traditions, and generally the children below age 7, are the ones who are blessed with crossed arms, I would investigate that with the Priest before attempting it as an adult.

It was good to remain seated during communion. I would suggest that given the attraction you have, you inquire at the parish office to attend the next RCIA class, which is an introductory class into the Catholic faith for both people intereseted in joining, as well as for Catholics who may want a refresher course. You are not forced to join with taking the class, just explain that you are intereseted in learning more abouth the faith, and want to attend.

Also, go to www.salvationhistory.com and get the conversion story CD of Scott Hahn. And go to www.thereasonforourhope.com and get the CD TRUTH by Father Larry Richards.

It sounds as GOD’s providence is moving you to become Catholic.
 
I attended mass at our local parish for about two months before I contacted the office about joining the Church. One of the nice things about our parish is that I did not feel like an outsider when I attended, and no one pressured me to join (no alter calls!). I decided when I was ready, then I started attending RCIA. Good luck to you and your family on your journey!
 
Welcome!

Don’t feel too bad about not knowing what to do. My first mass I made a bit of a fool of myself, and I had a catholic friend there to help me out. It just takes time.

The one thing I suggest is reading about the basic order of mass. here is a great link that helped me.

catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/Mass.htm

Naturally it will change a bit from parish to parish but it should help out about prayers, kneeling, crossing etc.

Also, go to a few more masses, then get in contact with the RCIA director. Oh! And don’t be afraid to ask for help from an usher, greeter etc. They are usually very welcoming and forgiving of new comers!

In Christ.
 
Welcome. I was in your shoes some years ago. I converted with my children.

There is still nothing to me as deeply peaceful and rejuvenating as Mass. It is the pinnacle of worship for me because of Christ in the Eucharist. One thing you can experience now, as a non-Catholic, is Adoration. This may help clarify for you whether you are being called to the Catholic church.
 
I just realized by doing some research on the bulletin and website of the parish I attended that the music group I was referring to in my original post isn’t a “praise band” like in Protestant churches. They are called a “Joyful Noise Choir” but really they just sing a mixture of hymns and contemporary songs that are out there today and they have guitars. Also, my wife agreed to go with me Sunday! Everyone please pray that she will find it as great as I already do.
 
GameSetMatch4 said:
I just realized by doing some research on the bulletin and website of the parish I attended that the music group I was referring to in my original post isn’t a “praise band” like in Protestant churches. They are called a “Joyful Noise Choir” but really they just sing a mixture of hymns and contemporary songs that are out there today and they have guitars. Also, my wife agreed to go with me Sunday! Everyone please pray that she will find it as great as I already do.
Click to expand...
:gopray: I will pray! That’s very exciting for the both of you. You’ve come to the right forum.
 
So glad you will be able to go together, that’s a wonderful thing.

The Catholic Church is a big house with many rooms. The Mass is the Mass is the Mass - whether it’s in Latin with Gregorian Chant or in modern English with a rock band. The prayers, the Scripture readings, and especially the offering of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice to God the Father is the same everywhere and every time, throughout history and to the end of the age.

It’s the grace of the Spirit that brought you into a Mass that you feel comfortable in. I pray that you and your wife will quickly find yourselves at home.
 
Back when I first came to the Church, they did not have the practice of non-communicants presenting themselves for a blessing in the Communion procession. Moreover, there could also be reasons why a Catholic will refrain from Communion (for instance: they may be in mortal sin and have been unable to Confess prior to Mass).

I spent about 1 1/2 years remaining in the pew before I was finally baptised. I was not alone. Many others also remained in the pews, so do not feel left out. We do not think it odd, nor pass judgement, nor try to discern why any particular person will refrain from communion.

I wish I had known this prayer back then:
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You have already come, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Click to expand...
 
That is awesome, GameSetMatch. I’ll definitely keep you in my prayers. 👍
Bless the both of you, and I pray that God may keep your hearts open to the Holy Spirit.
 
My wife is still having problems with some theology of the Church. Her main issues concern purgatory, the Apocrypha, and praying to Mary and saints. Is there anyway you can back any of this up in the Bible?

Thanks again
 
The doctrine of the communion of the saints teaches us that the mystical body of Christ (the Church) is not separated by death. The saints are not dead, they are alive, and a real and present help to us through their intercessory prayers. We ask for their prayers in the same way that we ask for the prayers of the people we go to church with. When we pray, for example in the Hail Mary we say, “Pray fo us”. We are assured of the saints being alive in heaven because of the Church’s canonization process. We are not addressing the “dead”, but those who are alive in Christ to pray for us.

Mary (the Blessed Mother) is the first member of the Church. Remember she was present at Pentecost. She was the first to receive the body of Christ in her womb when she accepted the invitation of the Holy Spirit. She is our spiritual mother and intercedes for us through prayer.

Purgatory is much easier to believe in than not believing in purgatory. Purgatory is simply an extension of the sanctification process after death. When we die, most of us are not spiritually perfect. Just as when most of us are baptized we are not without sin in our lives. As the Holy Spirit works, we are sanctified. The Holy Spirit continues to resolve attachments to earth and to sin and to educate and purify the soul after death through purgatory.

Your wife’s problem with the “extra” books of the Bible is probably due to Protestant errors presenting the role of the Bible in relation to the Church. We are not to worship the Bible. The canon, which defined the Bible, was established by the Church through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that inspiration was never lifted. Jesus left us a Church, not a book. The Church NEVER contradicts Scripture.

This is a difficult thing to understand when you come from a Protestant background, and I am sure my answers will not be sufficient enough to address your concerns, but there are many, many resources to help you and your wife. A good place to start is with Scott Hahn, or just browsing through the non-Catholic religions forum. There are always several Protestant/Catholic debates going on about these issues.
 
GameSetMatch4 said:
My wife is still having problems with some theology of the Church. Her main issues concern purgatory, the Apocrypha, and praying to Mary and saints. Is there anyway you can back any of this up in the Bible?

Thanks again
Click to expand...
Purgatory: catholic.com/library/Purgatory.asp

Deuterocanonical books (apocrypha): catholic.com/thisrock/2000/0009sbs.asp

Praying to mary and the saints : ewtn.com/faith/teachings/maryc4.htm

Seriously, read those links, they have scriptural, historical, and logical arguments for them.
 
GameSetMatch4 said:
My wife is still having problems with some theology of the Church. Her main issues concern purgatory, the Apocrypha, and praying to Mary and saints. Is there anyway you can back any of this up in the Bible?

Thanks again
Click to expand...
Another stellar source for answers to common misconceptions about the Catholic faith (and a great place to start if you’re new to the faith) is Ray Guarendi and Father Fete’s DVD series “What Catholics Really Believe”. It’s as entertaining as it is informative (Ray is blessed with amazing humor), and for each topic, they reference sacred scripture as well as the Catechism. Some of the topics include Mary and the saints and purgatory, but I don’t think they get into the Apocrypha unless it’s included in the topic about the Bible. This series was one of the things that helped me get past some of my own “hurdles” regarding the teachings of the church – I highly recommend it!

Here’s a website link to Amazon so you can see what I’m talking about: amazon.com/What-Catholics-Really-Believe-DVD/dp/B000KI0VLK

Here are the DVD topics (copied and pasted from a different website):
  1. Jesus
  2. The Bible
  3. Scripture and Tradition
  4. Eucharist, Part 1
  5. Eucharist, Part 2
  6. Baptism
  7. Morality
  8. Confession
  9. St. Mary, Part 1
  10. St. Mary, Part 2
  11. St. Peter
  12. The Papacy
  13. Purgatory
Cheers, and welcome to your home!

Pax,
Palomas
 
Just to let you know, you can go up to the priest during communion and cross both of your arms across your chest in an “X”. Therefore the priest knows you are not ready for communion and simply blesses you instead. Only a priest can bless you in this instance so if there is someone else helping with communion, make sure you are in the line for the priest.

Apart from that, may Almighty God bless you on you and your family’s journey and may the Holy Spirit help answer your wife’s questions.🙂
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top