New to Mass - scared of doing something wrong

[plainsongflower]

Hi, so here’s the sitch:

Had issues with social anxiety in the past. Went to second mass this morning. Not entirely sure what’s going on (when to stand up, sit down, what to say, when to make the sign of the cross, when not to make the sign of the cross…) and doesn’t want to do anything wrong/seem disrespectful/etc. Really excited to join the Church but irrationally nervous over mass.

Thoughts? Advice? Prayers?

Thank you very much.

 

[KidCatholic1]

There is an old saying that I was taught, “When in Rome, do as the Romans!”, I think that if you follow what the others are doing, you should be okay. You can also follow along with the readings in the books if you want to keep up with where the mass is currently.

I will say prayers for you about this. God bless you.

 

[pianistclare]

Sit towards the back, and relax. God is happy that you are there. So is the pastor. Welcome.
Soon it will all be second nature.
If they have missalettes, there are instructions in small print.

 

[tweedlealice]

Jesus loves you and he has called you to His table. Just follow the group. Catholic aerobics up and down, up and down. The gospel you make a small cross on your forehead and your lips and your heart. and say. Lord seal your word in my mind… seal your word on my lips, seal your word in my heart. Open the book in the pew which will give you the words to say in other places. At Communion when the priest lifts the host and then the cup, I bless myself and say" Lord, I do believe. I do this for the wine also. Back to up down and cross yourself w everyone.
Never fear Jesus. Ask the person next to you to guide you. You are in the body of Christ. We are one.

in Christ’s love
tweedlealice

 

[BartholomewB]

There are always a few people at mass who are clearly new to the whole thing and are still feeling a bit lost. It doesn’t matter. They’re not there to pass a test. They’ll soon get the hang of it, and so will you.

 

[GLam8833]

I know of this person who is intellectually challenged
who disrupts the service sometimes esp. when his
knee acts up. people try to shush him up and give him
stares, upset that he would disrupt the order of the
service. I think and hope that he will not be banned
from attending church, for THAT will be unjust.

 

[InNomineDomini]

I don’t have any advice for social anxiety, but there’s really no need to be afraid.

Anyone who will look down on you for being new, or who would mistake you for being someone who just isn’t reverent enough, probably has their own issues they should be praying about. No one has the right to police you and think things about what you’re doing.

Also, the liturgy itself is really quite simple, and there isn’t too much to do. But here’s a cute little secret: we Catholics often suffer from what a dear priest of ours once described as *Catholic amnesia. *We’ll often forget what to do if there’s not a lot of people around us, like when we’re at a Daily Mass with a couple dozen others.

Don’t worry about it, just try to focus on how awesome the miracle of Transubstantiation is.