Questions about Mass.

[joyfulseraph]

I’ve never been to a Mass before, but I was thinking about going. But I’m kind of worried about doing something wrong or what it would be like. I know every church is different though and I know that I just can’t recieve communion.

How early do people get there? Is it okay to arrive early? Do you think it would be possible for me to find a place to sit at the back, on the end? I hate being squished/crowded in the middle, and just in case I need to leave suddenly during it, I wouldn’t want to disturb anyone or be noticed much. Will I be able to go and leave without talking to anyone? I’d prefer not to talk to anyone…

 

[Like]

I’ve never been to a Mass before, but I was thinking about going. But I’m kind of worried about doing something wrong or what it would be like. I know every church is different though and I know that I just can’t recieve communion.

How early do people get there? Is it okay to arrive early? Do you think it would be possible for me to find a place to sit at the back, on the end? I hate being squished/crowded in the middle, and just in case I need to leave suddenly during it, I wouldn’t want to disturb anyone or be noticed much. Will I be able to go and leave without talking to anyone? I’d prefer not to talk to anyone…

You bet! You can do all of that except receive Communion.

 

[Lycoming]

I’ve never been to a Mass before, but I was thinking about going. But I’m kind of worried about doing something wrong or what it would be like. I know every church is different though and I know that I just can’t recieve communion.

How early do people get there? Is it okay to arrive early? Do you think it would be possible for me to find a place to sit at the back, on the end? I hate being squished/crowded in the middle, and just in case I need to leave suddenly during it, I wouldn’t want to disturb anyone or be noticed much. Will I be able to go and leave without talking to anyone? I’d prefer not to talk to anyone…

My all means GO and just emulate what the other people are doing… In time you’ll learn what’s required.

Get there 15 minutes early – particularly on a big feast day like Easter or Christmas. Yes, feel free to “hug the aisle.” No, don’t leave early. Catholic parishes typically have more than one Mass and they aren’t overly social so in many cases a visitor won’t even be noticed.

If you are worried that someone will identify you as a non-Catholic, don’t worry about it – you are welcome. If you want them shiver with fear, if they look your way smugly say to yourself (so they can barely hear) “we don’t do THIS in the BYZANTINE Catholic Church!”

 

[mrs_miggins]

Hi joyfulseraph - I know how you feel - I’ve just come back after many years so had forgotten a lot of the sitting / kneeling / standing bits but I find sitting at the back means you can see easily what those around you are doing. I find the Easter services ‘the worst’ as they are (obviously) only done once a year so remembering their sequences is much harder - I went to the Veneration service yesterday and found myself, instead of contemplating the cross and being prayerful, stressing over whether I was going to fall over when I genuflected and where on the cross I was supposed to kiss

The only advice I can really give though, as a non-communicant myself at the moment, is to sit on one of the outside aisles - people don’t have to squeeze past to go to communion and it’s easy just to stand for a minute and let them through when they return.

Oh and watch out for the ‘Our father’ - it doesn’t have the ‘deliver us from evil’ ending that it does in the protestant church - I’d almost forgotten that - just as well I tend to be a mumbler!

But apart from that enjoy - I hope you find what you are looking for - I did !

 

[wolfgang]

Hi joyfulseraph - I know how you feel - I’ve just come back after many years…

Oh and watch out for the ‘Our father’ - it doesn’t have the ‘deliver us from evil’ ending that it does in the protestant church - I’d almost forgotten that - just as well I tend to be a mumbler!

But apart from that enjoy - I hope you find what you are looking for - I did !

“deliver us from evil” is included in the Our Father.

Welcome, joyfulseraph! I am so glad you are doing this.

:angel1:

 

[mrs_miggins]

Sorry - meant after that - the ‘for thine is the kingdom’ bit - people who know both versions will know what I mean - should have been more specific though obviously.

 

[csg1976]

I didn’t know anything about the Mass when I first started going and I’m going to be baptised tonight

I was afraid I would stick out like a sore thumb and was VERY self-conscious but you know what? No one took a bit of notice and it is the most amazing experience - give it a chance and you’ll know what I mean.

 

[wolfgang]

There should be a missal handy for you to look at. If you decide to stick around - and I hope you do - get a copy of Magnificat (magnificat.com) and it will have the order of the Mass in it. Then you have it to study whenever you want.

:angel1: