Please help me work through this - daily mass

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birdie74

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I go to daily mass at my parish at 8 am in the mornings. There is a small but failthful crowd who always attends, and the liturgy is done beautifully. My problem comes from myself. I feel extremely self conscious about going everyday, for these reasons:
  • my non-Catholic (and even some Catholic) friends and family think I’m crazy for going everyday, that it is excessive, superstitious, scrupulous, you name it
    -I feel strange being the only young adult ever there. I wonder sometimes if the older crowd, who seem pretty tight knit with each other, think I’m lame. Even the priest seems to be pretty great friends with the regulars, but he has never done more than nod a greeting to me. I try to focus just on mass but I always end up feeling weird.
    I try and try to remember why I’m there - to be there when God becomes present in the Eucharist - and not listen to the naysayers around me and in my own head. I have been diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder - that may be a part of it.
    I’m not fishing for praise or approval or anything, but what do people honestly think of young people going alone to daily mass? Any suggestions for how to deal with people who think it is excessive devotion and how to conquer my own self-conscious sensitivity?
    Thanks!
 
You have that desire to go to mass everyday and thats beautiful. Continue so and pray for the conversion of hearts to Jesus. 👍
 
Thanks be to God for giving you the blessing to be able to attend daily mass. The Church needs young people like you. When one understands more about what the mass is all about, he/she will want to go to mass more often.

About the priest - he might think of you the same way - you might want to initiate a conversation instead of waiting for him to start first. You should give it a try: come to him and give a handshake each time; then, later talk to him about something in his homily that you want to understand more.

If others think you are crazy, etc …, you can give them a smile and when going to mass, pray for them.

I am not good with words, but I tried to give you my thoughts. 🙂
 
I’m trying to make it a habit to attend daily Mass also. Good luck to you.

Water-
I think that’s good advice.
 
You are building up so much grace for yourself by attending daily Mass. When I first returned to the Church, I went every day as well (despite the recriminations from “friends”) and I believe that it cemented me firmly back into faith.

It took awhile for me to make “friends” with the “elders” of the daily Mass crowd but after a time, we did get to know one another. I’ve since moved to a different city where daily Mass is very hard to find and I miss it and those friends terribly.
 
quite honestly I would not be discussing my spiritual life with people who are not sympathetic or not in a position to help me, unless in response to a direct question where I feel that person could benefit from an answer. I also doubt if anyone really cares whether or not I go to daily Mass, how and when I pray, how often I confess, nor expect for my priest and spiritual director, should anyone else care.

I can say without fear of contradiction that everyone who attends daily Mass is thrilled to see young people there.

in our parish we discourage socializing and conversation inside the church because we say the rosary right after Mass, and do our socializing and talking outside. so people might not be approaching you inside for that reason. if you really want to get to know some of the Mass goers, hang around afterward outside, invite some for coffee, or find out where the “regulars” go for breakfast.
 
Hi Birdie,

I have to agree with puzzleannie, seeing young people attending Mass voluntarily (!) is a wonderful, welcome sight in everyone’s eyes!

That said, I also am pretty shy in certain public situations, and I also attend daily mass. Though am not a “young person”, I am younger that the majority of regulars at my daily mass. They all kind of have a routine, sitting in the same spot, etc… but as time has gone by, ( about a year or so) we have begun to say hello or give a little wave or nod to one another. Not everybody! But a few. All this is to say that I can understand the basis of what you are feeling, and that I know my fears are irrational. Daily mass attenders love to see more folks come out! Do not be led astray by doubts and fears about your welcome-ness there. JESUS welcomes you always with open arms and is delighted you are being faithful in growing closer to Him.

A good rule of thumb is, do not ever allow any fear to keep you from Your Lord in any way. A wise and loving priest once said to me, “it takes courage to love God above all things, ask for this courage.”

God Bless you, and keep up the good work!

Peace,

Kelly
 
Hello Birdie

You don’t mention how long you have been going to daily mass. I’ve been attending for about three years. I am a middle aged man. It probably took about 6 months attendance before anyone came up to me to introduce themselves. I am a big time introvert and could have gone for years with never making that move myself.

Sometimes, with new daily mass attendees I believe the ‘regulars’ wait awhile to see if that person is only visiting or undergoing some trouble that has brought them to mass.

Stick it out. Daily Eucharist is such a blessing. Now I can’t can’t get out of mass without saying hello to at least 10-15 people. Sometimes the goodbyes take longer than the mass. If I chose, I could have breakfast with a different group everyday but I usually have to get to work so I tend to go on Saturdays.

Just count yourself lucky to begin your day with Eucharist!😃
 
birdie74 said:
I’m not fishing for praise or approval or anything, but what do people honestly think of young people going alone to daily mass? Any suggestions for how to deal with people who think it is excessive devotion and how to conquer my own self-conscious sensitivity?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
God bless! You’re doing fine. I too (23yrs) would like to go to Mass on a more-than-Sunday basis, but it was so much easier in Ottawa where St. Patrick’s has 4 a day 😛
 
birdie74 said:
what do people honestly think of young people going alone to daily mass?
Click to expand...
It gives me great joy when I see young people at daily Mass. It gives me hope that there is a future for our Church, since young people are its future.
birdie74 said:
Any suggestions for how to deal with people who think it is excessive devotion and how to conquer my own self-conscious sensitivity?
Click to expand...
Unless it is keeping you from carrying out your duties (to work, school, family, etc.), it is not “excessive” devotion. Others may not understand because they have not yet experienced the conversion of heart that makes us realize what a treasure the Mass is. Be patient with them and pray for them that someday they, too, will have the same desire to attend Mass more often. God has His own timetable for drawing us to Himself. How blessed you are to have experienced this at a relatively young age.

When I started attending daily Mass and spending more time in prayer, I started getting criticism from my husband and teenage daughters. I found that laughing it off (for example, “Yes, maybe I am a little crazy, but it makes me so happy!”) worked a lot better than getting angry or defensive.

The devil will do anything to keep us away from the sacraments, including making you feel awkward. Don’t fall for his temptation to give up on it.

What you are doing is pleasing in God’s sight. That is infinitely more important than what others think.
 
birdie74 said:
I go to daily mass at my parish at 8 am in the mornings. There is a small but failthful crowd who always attends, and the liturgy is done beautifully. My problem comes from myself. I feel extremely self conscious about going everyday, for these reasons:
  • my non-Catholic (and even some Catholic) friends and family think I’m crazy for going everyday, that it is excessive, superstitious, scrupulous, you name it
    -I feel strange being the only young adult ever there. I wonder sometimes if the older crowd, who seem pretty tight knit with each other, think I’m lame. Even the priest seems to be pretty great friends with the regulars, but he has never done more than nod a greeting to me. I try to focus just on mass but I always end up feeling weird.
    I try and try to remember why I’m there - to be there when God becomes present in the Eucharist - and not listen to the naysayers around me and in my own head. I have been diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder - that may be a part of it.
    I’m not fishing for praise or approval or anything, but what do people honestly think of young people going alone to daily mass? Any suggestions for how to deal with people who think it is excessive devotion and how to conquer my own self-conscious sensitivity?
    Thanks!
Click to expand...
I’ve had the exact same feelings about daily mass. 😦 It’s hard! Sometimes I feel so left out that it’s a really discouraging way to start the day.

Ummm… that probably didn’t help at all, did it? Maybe you can help me work through it. 🙂
 
Going to daily mass is a wonderful grace! If someone questions you, ask them who wouldn’t want the opportunity to receive into the body and soul the very body, blood, soul and divinity of the King of the Universe every day! Most people eat every day (I should hope so anyway) to nourish their physical bodies. We also need to nourish our souls, and receiving Our Lord in the Eucharist does just this. With every Eucharist, assuming we are properly disposed, we become more and more like Christ as His Divine nature is incorporated into our own.

I am 21 and attend daily mass at my school. The regular congregation varies in age, from 20ish year old students, to middle-aged women, to elderly couples. I know many young Catholics who attend mass daily…some at 7 every morning :P. In fact I would say that the majority of my young Catholic friends attend daily mass. It is an incredible blessing.
 
water said:
Thanks be to God for giving you the blessing to be able to attend daily mass. The Church needs young people like you. When one understands more about what the mass is all about, he/she will want to go to mass more often.

About the priest - he might think of you the same way - you might want to initiate a conversation instead of waiting for him to start first. You should give it a try: come to him and give a handshake each time; then, later talk to him about something in his homily that you want to understand more.

If others think you are crazy, etc …, you can give them a smile and when going to mass, pray for them.

I am not good with words, but I tried to give you my thoughts. 🙂
Click to expand...
You said it beautifully.👍

I was away from the Church for about 30 years:( and started going again at Ash Wednesday Mass 2 years ago. Then 3 weeks later I started going daily and I find it a wondeful way to start the day. When I attended the Novus Ordo Mass daily I found many of the same regulars to be kind of stand offish at first, but after awhile of going they became friendlier. Why that is I am not sure.

I now go to daily Mass at my TLM church and for some reason they were more accepting. I might add a young man comes to Mass daily as do many teens and it is a wonderful thing to see and brings a smile to my face.🙂

I remember when I started going daily my husband said to my daughter “What is Mother doing?”…as if to say…had I lost it? Now on days when I miss the early Mass or have to miss Mass altogether because of bad weather he will ask me…“Aren’t you going to church today?” He has seen the benefits I have reaped from daily Mass and how much it has come to mean to me.

God Bless you…

:heart:Blyss
 
I wish it were possible for me to attend Liturgy and receive Communion daily. I believe in it, but I’ve never been in a position to be able to practice this.
 
Do what’s right in your heart, and don’t worry about the others there. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s that there are plenty of folks who qualify as “Good Catholic, Bad Christian” out there. Many attend daily Mass out of routine rather than devotion.

Follow your heart, only you and God know what’s really in there.
👍
 
Thanks all for your kind and encouraging responses! You’ve given me really good things to think about…

Natural Enquirer, your post did help, a lot. Sometimes I feel guilty for feeling bad about attending daily mass - it helps to know that these feelings are not crazy and that there are people out there with the same struggles! I guess it’s just something we’ll have to offer up and hope to conquer…good luck, you’ll be in my prayers as I continue to take advantage of daily Eucharist!
 
birdie74 said:
I go to daily mass at my parish at 8 am in the mornings. There is a small but failthful crowd who always attends, and the liturgy is done beautifully. My problem comes from myself. I feel extremely self conscious about going everyday, for these reasons:
  • my non-Catholic (and even some Catholic) friends and family think I’m crazy for going everyday, that it is excessive, superstitious, scrupulous, you name it
    -I feel strange being the only young adult ever there. I wonder sometimes if the older crowd, who seem pretty tight knit with each other, think I’m lame. Even the priest seems to be pretty great friends with the regulars, but he has never done more than nod a greeting to me. I try to focus just on mass but I always end up feeling weird.
    I try and try to remember why I’m there - to be there when God becomes present in the Eucharist - and not listen to the naysayers around me and in my own head. I have been diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder - that may be a part of it.
    I’m not fishing for praise or approval or anything, but what do people honestly think of young people going alone to daily mass? Any suggestions for how to deal with people who think it is excessive devotion and how to conquer my own self-conscious sensitivity?
    Thanks!
Click to expand...
👍 Attending daily mass is a wonderful practice. We are called to pray throughout the day and there is no better way to start that prayer than by attending mass. Attending daily mass brings you closer to Christ and will help you grow spiritually. There is no craziness in seeking to be closer to our savior.
Invite your friends to go with you. Thier comments seem to hold a bit of jealously, since you are finding your way and they are not.
As far as being the only young person, that is unfortunate. Perhaps you are leading the way. Look for other young people in your parish and invite encourage them as well to attent.
Lastly, don’t every be self-conscious about practicing your faith. You have something that those who “think your crazy” cannot understand or refuse to do so. It may be as simple as their own conscience in bothering them because they are not following your excellant example of faith.

Peace,
FAB
 
FAB said:
👍 Attending daily mass is a wonderful practice. We are called to pray throughout the day and there is no better way to start that prayer than by attending mass. Attending daily mass brings you closer to Christ and will help you grow spiritually. There is no craziness in seeking to be closer to our savior.
Invite your friends to go with you. Thier comments seem to hold a bit of jealously, since you are finding your way and they are not.
As far as being the only young person, that is unfortunate. Perhaps you are leading the way. Look for other young people in your parish and invite encourage them as well to attent.
Lastly, don’t every be self-conscious about practicing your faith. You have something that those who “think your crazy” cannot understand or refuse to do so. It may be as simple as their own conscience in bothering them because they are not following your excellant example of faith.

Peace,
FAB
Click to expand...
I wish I could frame this response. It is very well said. thank you.👍

:heart:Blyss
 
birdie74 said:
Thanks all for your kind and encouraging responses! You’ve given me really good things to think about…

Natural Enquirer, your post did help, a lot. Sometimes I feel guilty for feeling bad about attending daily mass - it helps to know that these feelings are not crazy and that there are people out there with the same struggles! I guess it’s just something we’ll have to offer up and hope to conquer…good luck, you’ll be in my prayers as I continue to take advantage of daily Eucharist!
Click to expand...
I appreciate it. So far, so good - went to mass this morning and felt great. 🙂 So keep up the prayin’!

You’re in my prayers, too.

God bless.
 
Birdie during the week I go to mass when I can on Capital Hill and its all 30-50 age, I’m 41. But on Sat I go to my home parish for the 9am at that one I am one of the youngest people. I ahve been going for two years and it took one year before anybody really talked to me. Now I go out for coffee with six of the regulars after mass and its a blast. The other ages range from 59 to 86. And occasionally the 32 year old but he is joing the seminary soon. went
 
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