Quick, dumb questions

[kesa82]

Ok, I JUST started going to a Catholic church two Sundays ago. It’s a big congregation, I don’t know anyone. I’ve been studieing the church for many years, but hey, it’s a very broad topic. Ask me about Julius II or the Augsburg confession, but don’t ask me what a holy water font is for. I WOULD call the RCIA director or the office, but I don’t have a phone.
Anyway, todays schedule says ;

                  1;30 PM  - Liturgy of the Hours
                   
                   2:00 PM - Stations of the cross ( no benediction )

                  6:00 PM - Good Friday of the Lords passion

So the question is, Should I attend these services, or is this something that someone who HAS NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE DOING should bow out of ??

I don’t want to do something wrong.

 

[maryjk]

1;30 PM - Liturgy of the Hours

                   2:00 PM - Stations of the cross ( no benediction )

                  6:00 PM - Good Friday of the Lords passion

So the question is, Should I attend these services, or is this something that someone who HAS NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE DOING should bow out of ??

I don’t want to do something wrong.

I would attend all of it and I have never been to Liturgy of the Hours.

For Stations and the Passion, there will be books for you to follow. (Just do what everyone else does.)

I guess they would have the same type of thing for the Liturgy of the Hours.

 

[Marsha_Adams]

Liturgy of the Hours is the praying of the Psalms in a group, one side of the Church will pray this verse, then the other side will pray the next verse and it goes back and forth. Each Psalm begins with an antiphon (a one line introduction) and ends with the Glory Be and a repetition of the antiphon. It is a beautiful service but a little complicated. There will be handout to follow. Even if you don’t feel comfortable praying the LoH aloud, you will be blessed by witnessing it. In the middle/dark ages, Mass was not always available everywhere, but people would go to the monasteries to hear the monks pray the LoH.

Stations of the Cross: have you noticed the small pictures on the wall of the Church depicting scenes of Jesus carrying His cross? Those are the stations. During the Stations, you follow/journey with Jesus from His judgement to His being taken down from the Cross. Again, there will be a booklet most likely, but if you prefer, just follow along in your heart and meditate on this journey with Jesus.

Good Firday of the Lord’s Passion: This is the main service on Good Friday. There is no Mass today. This service will have a reading of the Passion, a prayer service and a communion service. Since you have been happily attending Mass, you will be able to happily attend this service.

 

[kesa82]

Thank you both !

 

[Texas_Roofer]

Ok, I JUST started going to a Catholic church two Sundays ago. It’s a big congregation, I don’t know anyone. I’ve been studieing the church for many years, but hey, it’s a very broad topic. Ask me about Julius II or the Augsburg confession, but don’t ask me what a holy water font is for. I WOULD call the RCIA director or the office, but I don’t have a phone.
Anyway, todays schedule says ;

                  1;30 PM  - Liturgy of the Hours
                   
                   2:00 PM - Stations of the cross ( no benediction )

                  6:00 PM - Good Friday of the Lords passion

So the question is, Should I attend these services, or is this something that someone who HAS NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE DOING should bow out of ??

I don’t want to do something wrong.

tomorrow night is the big service 2-5 hrs that is the one you should not miss. It should not start until sundown and the local RCIA people will be there to receive their sacraments.

 

[kesa82]

Thanks for the heads-up Texas. I don’t want to miss anything.

 

[Catholic1954]

The nice thing about attending a Catholic church is that you can just sit there through the whole liturgy, not standing, not making the responses or singing, and no one will give you a second look! We are Catholic; we don’t react to that sort of thing. So, go to whatever appeals to you and join in when you are comfortable. Welcome!!

 

[Dirk_Skene]

Go. And go as often as you like. No phone? Tell somebody you want to talk to somebody about some thing. A preist, the RCIA director, whoever. Granted not every body may know who you should talk to, but somebody will.

 

[PJM]

=kesa82;5060971]Ok, I JUST started going to a Catholic church two Sundays ago. It’s a big congregation, I don’t know anyone. I’ve been studieing the church for many years, but hey, it’s a very broad topic. Ask me about Julius II or the Augsburg confession, but don’t ask me what a holy water font is for. I WOULD call the RCIA director or the office, but I don’t have a phone.
Anyway, todays schedule says ;

                  1;30 PM  - Liturgy of the Hours

This is a for many priest and Religious a mandated Personal Piety Practice, that involves meditations ans Scripture. It’s a good but not required practice for the rest of us. And it is a daily happening.

                   2:00 PM - Stations of the cross ( no benediction )

Especially on Good Friday, when we commenorate the death of our Lord, this is a COMMON and widely practiced personal piety practice. The reason there is no Benediction, is that Jesus is now “dead” and burried, until Easter Sunday!

                  6:00 PM - Good Friday of the Lords passion

This is a type of Liturgy (not the Mass) that recounts and considers the Supreme sacrifice of Christ. Very much worth attending.

So the question is, Should I attend these services, or is this something that someone who HAS NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE DOING should bow out of ??

By all means attend and participate. That my friend is a GREAT way to learn.

I don’t want to do something wrong.

Sit towards the rear and just follow along.

God bless you!

 

[Junebug999]

dear kesa – keep asking questions, keep going to everything you can, you will learn so much. I was in your shoes about 1 1/2 year ago, and now I’m 100% Catholic and trying to teach others – and you will be there too.

Here is a beautiful song you will love. It is called Litany of the Saints, and I first heard it walking down the aisle to my baptism this Easter Vigil, and the song makes me cry cry cry with joy, it is so beautiful.

God bless you. What a grace God has given you to bring you to His Church. In His Church you will find the fullness of Christian faith. Go to things, go to RCIA, be friendly and introduce yourselves to people and soon you’ll know a lot of people. I ran into a gal today in the parking lot at Costco and I have seen her sit in the pew ahead of me. We hugged. And exchanged names.

My prayers are with you. I’m specifically mentioning you tonight when I pray Rosary tonight.

Here is the link to the sweetest song I’ve learned so far.

imeem.com/people/FPmqCt/music/FL_kIyH5/st-marys-music-litany-of-the-saints/

 

[Marsha_Adams]

Kesa:

Tell us how it went and what you enjoyed most.

 

[adowcday]

I just love discovering people who are checking out the Catholic Church. I invited a Hindu friend of mine from college to a Catholic mass once. Who would’ve thunk it: the bishop was visiting that day and the Knights of Columbus honor guard showed up! What a show! I spent the who service explaining to him what was going on and the symbolism. Had people from a couple rows around me trying to listen in. I tried to be discrete, but you know how that goes…

Seriously, call the RCIA director in your parish. They or someone they know can explain things to you.

Please come to my church: if you see a guy about 5’10" tall, balding with a gray beard, that’s me. Ask me anything…

Don’t hesitate to ask questions. You are most welcome just coming and watching.

 

[T700]

I WOULD call the RCIA director or the office, but I don’t have a phone.

Do you have a computer and internet access? Download Skype and buy a $10 headset and microphone. You can have a phone for next to nothing with unlimited service all over the US and Canada.

(No connection to Skype other than being a long time, happy, customer.)

Paul