Question about Mass

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marcaevans

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Hello brothers and sisters,

Would anyone be able to tell me why some say that they “don’t get anything out of Mass”? I personally find this quite puzzling because I always seem to find Mass (don’t take this the wrong way) a magical experience. I have recently been attending mass 3-4 times a week, I always get enormous benefit out of attending and enjoy the experience.

This isn’t meant to be a criticism of those who struggle to find benefit from Mass, Im just curious and trying to explore my faith more.

Many thanks in advance.
 
marcaevans said:
Hello brothers and sisters,

Would anyone be able to tell me why some say that they “don’t get anything out of Mass”? I personally find this quite puzzling because I always seem to find Mass (don’t take this the wrong way) a magical experience. I have recently been attending mass 3-4 times a week, I always get enormous benefit out of attending and enjoy the experience.

This isn’t meant to be a criticism of those who struggle to find benefit from Mass, Im just curious and trying to explore my faith more.

Many thanks in advance.
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I have heard people say this before. I think those that say this don’t fully understand the meaning of the mass or how important or beneficial it is to our soul. A miracle happens each time we are at mass and what is more beautiful in this world to be present before Our Lord! The more masses we attend goes in our favour on judgement day.
 
To me , I feel bad if I miss Mass ,for I go to be in Jesus present ,too receive him in my Heart
at Holy Communion,and I fine peace when I,am in church .AMEN
 
Some years ago when my boys were teenagers and complained that they didn’t get anything of of Mass, I would always respond with " well, what do you put into it?"

As I recall, it had the typical effect of typical advice given by a typical parent to typical teenagers: absolutely none! :yup:
 
felsguy said:
Some years ago when my boys were teenagers and complained that they didn’t get anything of of Mass, I would always respond with " well, what do you put into it?"

As I recall, it had the typical effect of typical advice given by a typical parent to typical teenagers: absolutely none! :yup:
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I have son,s that use go to Mass ,but for some reason they stop going,I pray they will go back to church ,for they are 26& 33 yrs old,I leave it in God,s hand,s.
 
You get out what you put into it, participate and it will come back many fold. This past Saturday night, the Monsignor at the church we attend stopped us on the way out and said he was sorry he didn’t know our names, my wife who is just starting to ‘become’ catholic blurted ‘I’m not catholic’, he immediately got her a card to fill out and pretty much made her week! I deliberately wasn’t pushing her (hoping after 34 years of married lifr…) and really feel connected there. I was lapsed for at least 20 years mainly from being in the military and at sea most of the previous 20 years, I always felt Catholic, just kind of lost the need to attend weekly mass. We returned last June and I get something out of every mass I attend, even if its something new to regret ( like being lazy lapsed for so long) . I really hope never to fall back into that state again. Sorry for the testimonial, I just felt the need to say it. Thanks!
 
I think part of the problem is that we’ve lost two generations to the “burlap banner” school of religious education. Not an environment - despite the best efforts of volunteer teachers - to foster a deeper appreciation for the Mass.
 
There are people who need to have stimulating music and powerful sermons in their churches. Modern Catholic Masses are kind of a let-down in that department. People who ‘don’t get anything’ out of Mass are probably looking to be entertained.
 
A few points:

(1) Like you, I get a ton out of Mass! I absolutely love to go, and I go whenever I can.

(2) Our culture does seem to base a lot of its religious experience on feelings. Also, people tend to judge whether or not something is good based on the way it makes them feel. Emotions and feelings are not a rule of faith! (One of my biggest pet peeves, and this is my own fault, is how people always say I feel when they should be saying I think. “I feel that Mass is beautiful. I feel that the pastor’s homily was very useful. I feel that our music is just too complicated to follow along with. I feel that we have too many EMHC. I feel that I should go to Mass more often. I feel, I feel, I feel.” Ugh! No! :rotfl: You *think *those things, you don’t feel them. Don’t let people trick you into thinking that everything needs to be analyzed by feelings, and not by thought! But I digress.)

(3) The most important reason to go to Holy Mass, is not to get something, but to make sure that God gets something. If we can’t receive Jesus and, in such a state, offer His own love to the Father, then our simple duty as Christians is not being fulfilled. We need to go there to see Him, and to love Him, and to be with Him.
 
Mass is incredible and the more you learn about it the more you will get out of it. Every single element of the Mass has a history down to relics of a saint being under the alter. It’s 2,000 years of tradition and if a first century Christian walked in they would recognize the basic processes.

It’s the closest we can get to heaven while on earth.
 
I used to not understand the readings so I would just shut down as soon as they were read.
And all the other stuff; responsorial psalm, the priest saying something about I have no idea why he’s saying this stuff. Why do I have to say stuff to. I hate singing! I don’t know you and I don’t want to shake your hand. Now I have to awkwardly shuffle like a penguin in line for the smallest rice cracker in the world.

Clearly, I did not understand scripture or the mass. Only by the grace of God did that change. I certainly did not merit that grace by anything I had done before. Now I understand and can get and give something because of it. It is indeed a reminder to prayer and praise every week. Obligatory because of our nature to backslide and forget.
 
It’s the closest we can get to heaven while on earth.

This is so true!
 
marcaevans said:
Hello brothers and sisters,

Would anyone be able to tell me why some say that they “don’t get anything out of Mass”? I personally find this quite puzzling because I always seem to find Mass (don’t take this the wrong way) a magical experience. I have recently been attending mass 3-4 times a week, I always get enormous benefit out of attending and enjoy the experience.

This isn’t meant to be a criticism of those who struggle to find benefit from Mass, Im just curious and trying to explore my faith more.

Many thanks in advance.
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It’s possible that they have the wrong kind of expectations. I’m like you - I find the Mass to be very exciting and very interesting! :extrahappy:

But I suppose if I were expecting it to be like a stage play or like a musical production, or even like a University lecture, I would be disappointed. :cool:

So I expect it has something to do with people’s misplaced expectations.
 
boomerang said:
There are people who need to have stimulating music and powerful sermons in their churches. Modern Catholic Masses are kind of a let-down in that department. People who ‘don’t get anything’ out of Mass are probably looking to be entertained.
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Well they should be in church, to take part in Mass and receive Jesus in our Heart,s, church is not a hall, were people carry on ,if people go there to get entertainment,they should stay home, because in church Jesus is present,s ,the church is a sac-rite place off worship. AMEN
 
felsguy said:
Some years ago when my boys were teenagers and complained that they didn’t get anything of of Mass, I would always respond with " well, what do you put into it?"

As I recall, it had the typical effect of typical advice given by a typical parent to typical teenagers: absolutely none! :yup:
Click to expand...
I used to hear this same thing as a young adult out of high school. One of my old Catholic friends started going to Brand X church instead and said, “I get more out of it!” I’m willing to bet he was putting more into it. If he had approached his own Catholic Church with the same level of zeal he might have gotten better results.
 
alphomega said:
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I thing you need too read how Important going too Mas help those who come to the Lord,plus it,s a place of peace were one can go to speak with the Lord, with out being brother. Church is not boring ,and we should pray for those in Purgatory,s ,so they may Enjoy the Kingdom off Heaven. AMEN
 
The Mass is the un-bloody re-enactment of Christ’s crucifixion and death on the cross at Calvary. Can you imagine someone standing at the foot of the cross and saying “I’m just not getting anything out of this…”?

Perhaps we have spent so much time over the last few decades making Mass as exciting as possible with music and dance, etc, that when someone experiences Mass in a solemn atmosphere, they don’t get anything out of it because they are formed to expect something that pleases our human, rather than spiritual nature
 
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