Some more questions from a non-Roman Catholic

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mango_2003

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So, as some of you may know, I’m going to a Mass on Saturday evening, and it’s the first I’ve ever been to.

I know a lot of the things that you say aloud. But…I have a few questions about what to do and when to do it.

1.) When I enter the church, is there anything special I need to do?

2.) When do I do the genuflect (sp?) thingy?

3.) When do I kneel?

4.) Is there anything else that I need to know?

I’m not even sure if I, as a semi-Protestant, have to do these things…but I want to make sure that I am respectful during the service. Any help will be appreciated.

~mango~
 
First of all, welcome!

I hope you find the Mass prayerful and meaningful!

When you enter the Church, find a place you feel comfortable sitting. I would recommend sitting toward the front so that you can see well. I don’t know about protestant churches, but you don’t need to wait to be seated. Just walk in and sit where you like (unless of course there is a reserved sign, but this is very rare!).

It is customary to genuflect (simply kneel with your right knee touching the floor) toward the tabernacle next to the pew you are about to enter.

It is also customary (but optional) to kneel and say a short prayer if Mass has not started yet.

When Mass starts, everyone will stand. Just follow the congregation. You can open up a missalette (there should be one in the pew) and try to follow along.

As far as when to kneel, the missalette will have Stand and Kneel listed at various points. But the easiest thing will be to just follow along with what everyone else does.

Obviously, do not receive Communion. If there are others in the pew who need to get out to receive simply get up and exit the pew, allow them to pass and then sit down again.

Above all, listen and open your heart to God. You will witness the greatest sacrifice in the history of creation.

God bless you!
 
Mango - reading your post made think of a question about protestants (or semi-protestant - could you define that, I know that actually makes two questions for you:) ?) in Catholic churches. Why do few protestants kneel in a Catholic church? Is it kneeling in general - or specific to being in a Catholic church? Thanks so much.

Keep us posted. I’ll be curious to hear of your reaction.

Kris
 
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kwitz:
Mango - reading your post made think of a question about protestants (or semi-protestant - could you define that, I know that actually makes two questions for you:) ?) in Catholic churches. Why do few protestants kneel in a Catholic church? Is it kneeling in general - or specific to being in a Catholic church? Thanks so much.

Keep us posted. I’ll be curious to hear of your reaction.

Kris
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About kneeling…

UH…hmmmm. I dunno. I don’t feel that kneeling is every necessary, although I do see it as a way to humble yourself before the Lord. I suppose it’s a little more specific to kneeling while in a Roman Catholic church…it’s seems like a respectful thing to do.

As for the question of semi-Protestant…lol. Well, I guess I use that because I’m not really a member of any congregation, other than in Christ’s church of believers. I was raised in an interesting fashion in terms of religion, so I’m still wading through which denomination I want to be a part of. I adhere (as of now) to a lot of what Protestantism teaches for the time being…so I tack that label on myself. It’s a lot easier to say it that way. 🙂

~mango~
 
First, Welcome!!!

You may want to read this article from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops for a better understanding of what the gestures convey.

I would imagine for the most part you could follow the lead of the rest of the congregation. In many missals, found in the pews there are specific instructions together with the mass readings and prayers that are used. Genuflecting in the direction of the tabernacle, in reverence to our Lord present in the Holy Eucharist, is generally done on arriving at the Chruch, just before entering the pew, and at the end of mass before leaving. During communion, in many diocese, those who are not eligible to receive communion can approach the priest with their arms folded across their chest to receive a blessing.

I’d love to learn of your impressions of the experience.

God Bless…
 
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mango_2003:
So, as some of you may know, I’m going to a Mass on Saturday evening, and it’s the first I’ve ever been to.
Click to expand...
Great decision!! 👍
…but I want to make sure that I am respectful during the service. Any help will be appreciated.

~mango~
Click to expand...
Just wanna add that the Holy Mass is not a service. It’s much more than that, Holy Mass is a Liturgy (Divine Liturgy as the Greek Orthodox calls it, and rightly so).

A service is something man facilitates, this Liturgy is something Christ Himself facilitates through the priest in persona Christi.

We are there in Heaven with the angels and saints doing the same Liturgy they do in Heaven. The consecration of the host and wine is in union with Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross.

It’s sooooo much more, it’s not a service 👍
 
Probably too late for Saturday, but I recommend you get a copy of Mass Appeal by Jimmy Akin. He explains in a short, easy to read way the things you see in a Catholic Church & the things that happen during Mass. Just a small booklet & only costs like $1.99 - if you have a Catholic bookstore nearby or order it from Catholic Answers.

I’ve been in your shoes. I just showed up one day & did what everyone else around me did. Don’t forget to let us know how it goes & your thoughts on what you experience.

–Jennifer
 
Just an FYI – at some Protestant churches, it is customary to greet new faces before the service. This probably will not happen at a Catholic Church, partly because the congrations are too large to keep track of every face, but mostly because when people enter before Mass, they usually devote that time to focusing themselves through prayer. I know for me it is a personal time, and if I’m talking to anyone, I’m usually telling my kids to be quiet.

So, don’t take it personally if you aren’t “welcomed” – it isn’t an intentional slight. If you do want to be made welcome, there is often coffee and donuts following the morning Masses (although my parish doesn’t do this in the summer).

I know a non-Catholic woman who went to a Catholic Mass and was very upset that no one came up to her and said, “Hi.”
 
Just an FYI – at some Protestant churches, it is customary to greet new faces before the service. This probably will not happen at a Catholic Church, partly because the congrations are too large to keep track of every face, but mostly because when people enter before Mass, they usually devote that time to focusing themselves through prayer. I know for me it is a personal time, and if I’m talking to anyone, I’m usually telling my kids to be quiet.

So, don’t take it personally if you aren’t “welcomed” – it isn’t an intentional slight. If you do want to be made welcome, there is often coffee and donuts following the morning Masses (although my parish doesn’t do this in the summer).

I know a non-Catholic woman who went to a Catholic Mass and was very upset that no one came up to her and said, “Hi.”
 
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mango_2003:
So, as some of you may know, I’m going to a Mass on Saturday evening, and it’s the first I’ve ever been to.

I know a lot of the things that you say aloud. But…I have a few questions about what to do and when to do it.

1.) When I enter the church, is there anything special I need to do?

2.) When do I do the genuflect (sp?) thingy?

3.) When do I kneel?

4.) Is there anything else that I need to know?

I’m not even sure if I, as a semi-Protestant, have to do these things…but I want to make sure that I am respectful during the service. Any help will be appreciated.

~mango~
Click to expand...
Hey mango. You are going with a friend right? Mass is (or should be) very quiet and focused, Bill made an excellent point about not expecting people to come up and greet you with hugs, handshakes, etc. before Mass… they will be praying or reading. Different churches do it different ways, the one you are going to might have the misalettes in the pews with the hymnals or they might have them at the back of the church, but they will be there somewhere. I would recommend getting there about fifteen minutes early if you can to avoid anxiety and to feel your way around (try to do so by asking questions in the vestibule before you enter the church). That will give you time to find the day’s Mass readings in the misalette (they go by date) (after you find the misalette 😃 ) and read through the order of the Mass which will also be in there somewhere (they have it printed in there for everyone, you might find it either close to the beginning or right before the hymns start, but they’ll have the Our Father, the Creed, all of the sequence in order along with stand sit kneel) Having time to read through that might make you more comfortable your first time through. But everybody does everything at the same time, and a lot of times the priest tells everybody what to do “please stand, let’s pray,” that kind of stuff. And you will definitely find a much greater degree of reverence than in protestant churches (which is why you have posters objecting to the term “service”) because of the Eucharist. We’ll be praying right along with you!
 
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