People look at you funny when you skip mass on ash wed etc

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Flopfoot

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I always go to mass on holy days of obligation which in my country is every Sunday as well as Christmas and the Assumption. But when others around me are going to mass on ash wed or good friday and I tell them I don’t want to go they start asking questions like “are you losing your faith?” I’m only violating a custom, not a moral rule, why are people weirded out by this?
 
Yeah, people tend to focus on minor faults (not that your decision was immoral) than on major, fundamental faults.
 
People like to go to Mass when it involves getting stuff, so they are worried if you do not.
 
Nothing haha
If I’m right, I don’t think they even give Mass on Good Friday (because no consecration takes place.) Any communion given is consecrated before Good Friday
 
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I have no idea why you would decide to avoid Mass on Ash Wednesday, unless it is a serous inconvenience. Perhaps you could explain why you personally choose to avoid it? It might be helpful to others reading these posts.

I have often found, in working with people, that those who thin others are looking at them are people who have an unresolved issue, and presume others can see it. They can’t; unless you bring it up.

And the same question applies to Good Friday; if you say you are a Catholic, then the Triduum - Holy Thursday Mass recalling the Last Supper; Good Friday recollection of Christ’s torture, execution and death, and Holy Saturday Night, the highest feast day of the Church appears to be something for which you have little appreciation.

And by the way, Good Friday is not a Mass. But it baffles me why, considering the absolute intimacy to the liturgical calendar and to what we do at Mass, that you would avoid it. Perhaps you could give some more details?
 
While I do understand your irritation when people look at you weird when you don’t attend Ash Wednesday Mass, I do find it nice that going to Mass on Ash Wednesday has sunk itself into the psyche of the average Catholic.

Little blessings, y’all.
 
I went to Ash Wednesday Mass for the first time in my life tonight and it was the most blessed, anointed, and glorious Mass I’ve been to since I started going to Mass in September of 2018. Beautiful liturgy. The Church calendar is glorious and Lent is so amazing.
 
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Flopfoot said:
What do you get on good friday?
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Veneration of the Cross, the Church meditates on the passion of her Lord and Spouse, and there is the distribution of the Eucharist (Presanctified) in the Latin church. It is also an opportunity to assist in prayers for all.
 
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Yes the Church calendar is glorious and Lent is amazing. If today was amazing just wait until Holy Week

I missed morning Mass today so I went to a noon Liturgy of the word. The priest gave a nice homily followed by ash distribution. It’s a small church but It was packed.
 
Understanding that it isn’t a holy day if obligation. Have no idea why you respond “I dont want to go” weird.
 
You cannot go to Mass on Good Friday because there is no Mass on Good Friday.

Ash Wednesday is not a day of obligation, but IMHO it ought to be. It is an important day and marks the beginning of Lent.

Rather than be annoyed with people who criticise you why not examine your own intentions. People will always criticise us throughout our lives for what we perceive to be minor matters. To get too upset about this causes unnecessary stress. It may be good for your own benefit to consider why you think you should not go to Mass on Ash Wednesday.

Whilst the Church does prescribe days of obligation She would prefer you go out of commitment rather than the observance of a rule.
 
I also didn’t go. I don’t always go in Ash Wednesday.

And as much as some find it beautiful, glorious or blessed; I find it crowded and hectic.

For me, it is the same feeling I get on Palm Sunday. (Also a day where attendees receive a souvenir.)

I do attend on Palm Sunday, but since Ash Wednesday isn’t a Holy Day of Obligation, I don’t normally attend then.
 
There is no Mass on Good Friday.

There is a Good Friday service, but it is not a Mass.

I agree with Tom - you are not obligated to go, but you should think about why this is bothering you. Plenty of people just go to the prayer services for ashes on those days without attending Mass, and are not bothered about it.
 
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Entwhistler said:
I do find it nice that going to Mass on Ash Wednesday has sunk itself into the psyche of the average Catholic.
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Indeed. I think for many Catholics who do not necessarily spend a lot of time reflecting on what the holy days of obligation are, they just know that Ash Wednesday is a day that Catholics go to Mass. It’s ingrained very deeply into Catholic culture.
 
Who are these people asking you? I wonder because perhaps it’s just none of their business and you aren’t obligated to justify your decision.
 
I could not go because I could not physically get there this year. Work scheduling is always weird!

But I did have the blessing of seeing a lot of my fellow Catholics reveal themselves!

Seriously, though, it is beautiful to go to Mass on feasts that are not obligations. And reinforcing that by giving out sacramentals or special blessings would not hurt. (Parish patronal feasts, for instance.)
 
Mintaka said:
And reinforcing that by giving out sacramentals or special blessings would not hurt. (Parish patronal feasts, for instance.)
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The parish patronal feasts often give out coffee and donuts, which you typically don’t get on a weekday 🙂
I know it’s not a sacramental, but it’s a nice thing.

Of course there are the churches that do a festival on the patronal feast, also, although those are becoming more rare. For some reason, the two churches I know that have the biggest festivals for patronal feasts are both named St. Rocco. St. Rocco must like to party.

One can also get a Plenary Indulgence under the usual conditions by visiting the parish church on the Patronal Feast. I discover a lot of interesting new churches doing that.
 
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I have known Catholics who have believed that Ash Wednesday is a HDO and told other people that it is and that they must go to mass, yet have not known what days that actually are HDOs are about.
 
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