My First Mass

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FanOfU2

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Hello everyone.

I am a Southern Baptist and I’m currently exploring Catholicism. I am planning on attending my first mass tommorow evening, and maybe RCIA in the future.

To sum this up, I’ve never been to mass before so I’m a little nervous as to how I should conduct myself. What should I do when I first enter the building? Should I sit in the back or not? Do I need to kneel if I pass by the altar? I don’t know anyone at the particular parish I am going to, so it’s just a little nervewracking, but they love Christ so it’s all good!
 
Don’t worry.

When Catholics enter a church, they will go first to the Holy Water font and bless themselves in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. It is a reminder of our Baptism when we rejected sin and Satan. Before entering a pew, we will genuflect to the Tabernacle or altar, giving homage to God there present.

You are not required to do this. You may enter and sit wherever you like.

One thing you will find different is our posture at different parts of the Mass. We stand up, sit down, kneel, stand, sit. kneel again. Just follow what those around you are doing and you’ll be right. You do not have to follow us though. You may sit through the entire Mass if you desire.

At Communion, when the faithful go up to receive, you may go up with them with your arms crossed over your chest. You will receive a blessing although this is not necessary. I found it much better to remain in my pew and make a spiritual Communion (this was before I entered the Church). At the end of Mass, everyone receives a blessing from the priest anyway.

Here is some more detail for you:

Order of the mass - How to answer the priest.
When to stand, seat and kneel.
theworkofgod.org/devotns/euchrist/guide.htm
 
FanOfU2 said:
Hello everyone.

I am a Southern Baptist and I’m currently exploring Catholicism. I am planning on attending my first mass tommorow evening, and maybe RCIA in the future.

To sum this up, I’ve never been to mass before so I’m a little nervous as to how I should conduct myself. What should I do when I first enter the building? Should I sit in the back or not? Do I need to kneel if I pass by the altar? I don’t know anyone at the particular parish I am going to, so it’s just a little nervewracking, but they love Christ so it’s all good!
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I think it wonderful that you are exploring Catholicism! Welcome and I’ll include you in my prayers.

First, try not to be too nervous. When you sit down in the pew before mass there will most probably be a missalette available. You can follow along using this which will tell you when to stand, sit, kneel, and what responses to give along with the prayers and statements used during the mass. OR, you can simply follow the lead of the parishners in attendance and stand, sit, and kneel when they do. There are three Bible readings given at mass (this can be found in the index of the missalette by what day it is… just take a look in the index). The first will be an OT reading; the second, a reading from one of the epistles and the last is a reading from one of the Gospels. The homily is then given and will usually tie in with the gospel reading.

At the back of the missalette, you will find a statement concerning Holy Communion, which is offered at every mass. Please take a moment to read this prior to the start of the mass. Its purpose to explain our belief as it relates to Holy Communion. God bless you and take care! 👍
 
Linda_Marie said:
Don’t worry.

When Catholics enter a church, they will go first to the Holy Water font and bless themselves in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. It is a reminder of our Baptism when we rejected sin and Satan. Before entering a pew, we will genuflect to the Tabernacle or altar, giving homage to God there present.

You are not required to do this. You may enter and sit wherever you like.

One thing you will find different is our posture at different parts of the Mass. We stand up, sit down, kneel, stand, sit. kneel again. Just follow what those around you are doing and you’ll be right. You do not have to follow us though. You may sit through the entire Mass if you desire.

At Communion, when the faithful go up to receive,** you may go up with them with your arms crossed over your chest**. You will receive a blessing although this is not necessary. I found it much better to remain in my pew and make a spiritual Communion (this was before I entered the Church). At the end of Mass, everyone receives a blessing from the priest anyway.

Here is some more detail for you:

Order of the mass - How to answer the priest.
When to stand, seat and kneel.
theworkofgod.org/devotns/euchrist/guide.htm
Click to expand...
No, he may not. Only those receiving can ‘go up’. He must remain in his seat in the pew.
 
JM3 said:
No, he may not. Only those receiving can ‘go up’. He must remain in his seat in the pew.
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That isn’t my understanding. I rehearse and coordinate weddings for my parish and part of what I am supposed to tell people is that non-Catholics may approach (with their arms crossed over their chest) for a blessing since they cannot receive Communion.

I think that’s a welcoming way to enable our non-Catholic friends and visitors to feel themselves included in our celebration. It’s always such a joy to have our Protestant brothers and sisters with us as we worship…they tend to show more reverence and respect than many Catholics do!
 
Welcome friend! We need more Southern Baptists because many Catholics are lacking in their knowledge of Scripture. I have a good friend who joined the Church a handful of years ago from a Baptist church. I have been in Bible and other types of studies with her and I am better for it.

When you get to Mass there may be ushers or hospitality ministers greeting people. Tell them this is your first Mass and ask about the Communion procession. The “rule” about approaching for a blessing is usually set by each parish. You will find as many different traditions and procedures as churches you visit.
 
TikiTokiguy said:
Huh? I’m not Catholic but I go up and get a blessing every time.
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Officially you are not suppose to go up for a blessing during communion, some parishes do this but some do not. Before I was received into the church, I would wait until the priest invited people up for a blessing, some did and some did not. Also, if you are at a praish that invites you up to receive a blessing make sure you go to a priest or deacon, the EMHC cannot bless you.
 
mswood said:
Officially you are not suppose to go up for a blessing during communion, some parishes do this but some do not. Before I was received into the church, I would wait until the priest invited people up for a blessing, some did and some did not. Also, if you are at a praish that invites you up to receive a blessing make sure you go to a priest or deacon, the EMHC cannot bless you.
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I don’t know what EMHC stands for, I assume the people who help the Priest during the Mass. Anyway, I was told at the two parishes I go to that not only the Priest can give a blessing but his helpers too.
 
TikiTokiguy said:
I don’t know what EMHC stands for, I assume the people who help the Priest during the Mass. Anyway, I was told at the two parishes I go to that not only the Priest can give a blessing but his helpers too.
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His “helpers” may try to give a blessing but it wouldn’t be worth any more than if I had given you a blessing. 🙂 The poster before is right; only a priest or a deacon can give God’s blessing. You will know them by their attire; the “helpers” generally wear street clothes.
 
Reminds me of the subdeacon at the Eastern parish I attend, he used to be Baptist.
 
At_Trent said:
Yes, he may. Why do you say otherwise ?
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“Therefore, absolutely no other person, not even a priest, may add, remove or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority” (“Sacrosanctum Concilium,” No. 22).

“The decision as to whether to adopt such a practice depends on the concrete pastoral circumstances involved. As in all similar initiatives, due reflection is required regarding the custom’s pastoral utility and as to any possible consequences that it may provoke in the short or long term, for example, changing the way people perceive the act of receiving Communion.”

ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur81.htm
 
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