Taking a Non-Catholic to Mass - What should I warn him about?

[Teakafrog]

We take protestants to mass as often as possible and I think a general overview of what will happen and why is very important. Also, make sure you ask him afterwards what questions he has and be prepared to answer!
Explaining that we follow a liturgy, which is a standard way of doing everything, including prayers, goes a long way. They don’t do this at all in their church. I also second the ‘getting there early to point out all the ‘stuff’’ idea. Explain about the tabernacle, the stations, the statues, the baptismal font, etc.
If you’ve never been to a Baptist service (have you been to any other evangelical services?–they are very similar) it will be a little more difficult for you to anticipate what he’ll ask. But a lot of it will be the ‘stuff’, as I said, their churches are very plain. Then the liturgical things.
I wish you luck!

 

[st_michael]

The liturgical laws of the Church do not permit this practice, and although it’s done in some Catholic Churches, it shouldn’t be. The Communion queue is for those properly disposed to receive Holy Communion. Everyone, visitors included, gets blessed five minutes later, at the dismissal. Personal blessings are superfluous and send a wrong message.

Hello Katholikos,

Can you cite the Liturgical laws you refer does “not permit”.

From all of my understanding the law is they do not take the Eucharist, as you said… but any person can receive a blessing during communion!

 

[st_michael]

I’d never heard anything about it not being allowed either.

I’m really going to have to get a copy of the GIRM sometime (I know you can get it online, but I like having hardcopies of things).

Sorry if I misled you!

usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.shtml

Here is the GIRM

 

[Maria3m]

Print this out and give it to your friend in advance.
That will give him time to really look it over using his Bible if he’d like.

No warning necessary…just informing.

catholicfiles.com/soom.html

 

[YinYangMom]

I’d never heard anything about it not being allowed either.

I’m really going to have to get a copy of the GIRM sometime (I know you can get it online, but I like having hardcopies of things).

Sorry if I misled you!

I do know that at the training for extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist they were told they are not to bless people coming up with their arms crossed.

They didn’t go into the explanation, but it was interesting how one of the members countered with, we bless our children everyday, what’s different about blessing someone in church?

There was no answer, but it seemed clear that blessings during the mass are to come from a priest not a lay person.

I do think having lay people bless other parishioner while standing beside a priest sends the wrong message about both the extraordinary minister and the priest.

Perhaps the practice of going up for a blessing has been one of those misinterpreted vatican II things.

I do know that young children are encouraged to go up for the blessing as they are preparing for their first communion, perhaps observing that practice for the youth and in some adults preparing for the sacrament led to others following their lead???

 

[st_michael]

Church law tells you what to do – not what not to do. But any practice not authorized by the Church is not permitted

I disagree with this statment…

Many times in history the development of rites are caused because of differences in the way a particular group expresses the Holy Liturgy. The local parishes have many areas of flexability… If the Parish crosses the line of area’s the Church has expressed with clarity as in the *Redemptionis Sacramentum *http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/documents/instructioneng.shtml then yes the parish has no flexability and must submit to the instruction given.

 

[Elzee]

Let him listen to a cd by Fr. Larry Richards called ‘The Mass Explained’ - would be great to give it to him before he went, but if not, afterwards. It’s free from the Mary Foundation at www.catholicity.com

Before hand, point out how Scripturally based the resposnes and prayers are, and when you explain the Liturgy of the Word, tell him that we cover basically the entire bible every 3 years on our reading.

Let your priest know ahead of time you’ll be bringing him, and that he is non-Catholic. If your priest is like mine, if he has this littel bit of info before-hand, when you shake your priest’s hand after Mass and introduce your friend, your priest will make him feel especially welcome. Sometimes it’s hard, in large parishes, for a priest to spot a visitor - coming from a Baptist church your friend is probably used to the Pastor ‘going all out’ to make visitors feel welcome. I’d also let you Minister of Hospitality (if you have them) for that Sunday know too - again, just so he/she can say ‘welcome, we’re glad to have you here’.

This may sound strange, but if your parish has a choir - go to the Mass time where the choir sings (unless you have a parish that sings well by itself). Again, being a Baptist, he is probably used to people singing. Going to a Mass where people - or at least a choir- sings may make him feel more welcome.

 

[st_michael]

I told my friend that it was ok to do so, but he’s already said that he probably wouldn’t. So, thankfully, no harm done. If it comes up again, I’ll point out that I was wrong.

What is great about our Faith is that we have a living body of teachers to ask… Ask the priest… tell him about your concerns about a non-Catholic receiving a blessing during communion. I am sure the Priest will tell you the person can receive the blessing during communion…

I believe Katholikos has a misunderstanding about this issue. The Law does say they cannot take the Eucharist… however, if the law is silent on a blessing during the communion then this does not automatically mean they cannot… it is up to the teaching body of the Church. Since the magisterium maybe silent on this particular issue it would be up to the parish to care for the flock in a pastoral sense and allow or not allow this practice of receiving a blessing…

It is not up to Katholikos to determine they cannot because the law is silent… it is up to the living body of teachers within the Catholic Church to determine.

 

[Maria3m]

I would also like to see where it is not allowed vs. up to the Priest or Bishop. I’ve always been told it varies from Parish to Parish.
Give it to me in writing & I will tell my children to stay behind with me.

 

[EBSSTF4]

I would also like to see where it is not allowed vs. up to the Priest or Bishop. I’ve always been told it varies from Parish to Parish.
Give it to me in writing & I will tell my children to stay behind with me.

CCC

1669 Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a “blessing,” and to bless. Hence lay people may preside at certain blessings; the more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life, the more is its administration reserved to the ordained ministry (bishops, priests, or deacons).

While I am not necessarily against the use of lay people to administer the Eucharist in certain situations, Blessings at this time are to come from the Priest / Deacon.

 

[st_michael]

CCC1669 Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a “blessing,” and to bless. Hence lay people may preside at certain blessings; the more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life, the more is its administration reserved to the ordained ministry (bishops, priests, or deacons).
While I am not necessarily against the use of lay people to administer the Eucharist in certain situations, Blessings at this time are to come from the Priest / Deacon.

Please explain how a blessing from a layperson to a person NOT taking the sacrament is not able to bless… when the CCC you quoted from say’s “every baptized person is called to be a ‘blessing’ and to bless.”

It is true the Eucharist is reserved for the ordained… however, the blessing people receive during communion does not fall in line of being close to a sacramental in which an ordained minister needs doing…

Also… it has been allowed for lay ministers to offer the Eucharist to the layperson. Thus if a lay person (properly educated by an ordained minister) can present the Lord to other Lay people it is easily understood that He can and properly should bless any who asks…

 

[jmcrae]

Giving blessings in the Communion line-up is a local custom in some places, but it is definitely not universal, and many priests have never heard of it, or else they disagree with it, and the wrong time to find that out is when you arrive at the head of the line and ask for a blessing. (It’s a real lesson in humility to say, “May I have your blessing, Father?” and Father says, “No, you may not - this is the Communion line-up.” )

Since it’s not really part of the Mass, and since it can potentially lead to all kinds of confusion, it’s really better for everyone who is not receiving Holy Communion to remain in their pew and pray an Act of Spiritual Communion, or any other prayer that seems appropriate to the person, unless specifically invited by the priest himself to come forward to receive a blessing (and then, only if you want to do that).

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

No warning required. You get in line with everyone else but cross your hands over your chest when you get to the priest (like they used to pose corpses…which is sort of odd now that I think about it LoL) He’ll bless you and you follow the line back to the pew.

And I’m in RCIA right now too, so I know for sure you can do this.

I went through RCIA many years ago, but the procedure is just as described. You can, by the way, unfold your arms after you have received the blessing. Every priest should know what this means, and will be happy to bless you. After all, they would much rather you came forward for a blessing than to receive the Body and Blood of Christ (under the appearances of bread and wine!) before you have entered into the Church.

As for warning your Baptist friend, don’t. Take him to a good, orthodox parish, and explain some of the things that were mentioned in earlier posts. If that parish does something flaky, don’t mention it unless he does. Many Protestants view the Catholic Church as monolithic and micromanaged (I only wish it were true), so the fact that there are differences between one parish and another, whether legitimate or illicit, is something he will see for himself. The whole point is that the Catholic Church, which contains the fullness of God’s revealed truth, through the continued guidance of the Holy Spirit transcends all liturgical abuses, scandals, and bad music. I wish we had more Baptist converts, to teach the lay people how to sing and the priests how to preach! Have your friend read the 6th chapter of John before he goes. THAT is what it is all about.

 

[st_michael]

Giving blessings in the Communion line-up is a local custom in some places, but it is definitely not universal, and many priests have never heard of it, or else they disagree with it, and the wrong time to find that out is when you arrive at the head of the line and ask for a blessing. (It’s a real lesson in humility to say, “May I have your blessing, Father?” and Father says, “No, you may not - this is the Communion line-up.” )

Since it’s not really part of the Mass, and since it can potentially lead to all kinds of confusion, it’s really better for everyone who is not receiving Holy Communion to remain in their pew and pray an Act of Spiritual Communion, or any other prayer that seems appropriate to the person, unless specifically invited by the priest himself to come forward to receive a blessing (and then, only if you want to do that).

I agree… Whenever you go to a different parish you should not expect all things to be done as you have been doing… many things are left to the parish to do and not to do… it is best to know the way the Catholic Church teaches and accept the differences each parish offers.

 

[jmcrae]

I’m going to be bringing a friend of mine to Mass this Sunday. He happens to be a Baptist, but has been curious about Mass for some time.

I’ve never been to a Baptist service before, so I don’t know what he’ll be expecting.

Typically, Baptists sing several hymns, hear readings from Scripture, then hear a sermon and/or testimonials from members of the congregation, and then (often, but not always) an “Altar Call” is given, and persons go forward to indicate that they have received Christ as their “personal Saviour.” This is followed sometimes by a service of Baptism, if those who went forward have chosen to be baptized, and then usually a Fellowship Hour.

I’ve already told him that he should not receive the Eucharist, but is there anything else I should warn him about?

He will not be used to the idea of liturgy.

Just tell him to either follow your lead, or just sit quietly and listen. Open the missal to today’s readings and show him the responses for today, but don’t try to have him follow the entire Mass from the missal on his very first day - instead, tell him that it is perfectly okay just to listen.

I have a Brethren friend who comes with me to Mass, and I haven’t even yet showed her the part of the missal that has the prayers. She is perfectly happy just to listen and sit quietly, although she does recite the antiphonal verse of the Responsorial Psalm. But she doesn’t stand or kneel; she just sits quietly, which is fine. She wears a long dress and a veil, so everyone thinks she is just lost in prayer - that’s a good assumption for them to make, I think.

 

[catsrus]

originally posted by Katholikos
When we got a new, very orthodox bishop

God Bless Bishop Thomas Olmstead!!!

Before Bishop Olmstead, and when I was in R.C.I.A., I was told to go up for the blessing. I did, every Sunday until I was Confirmed. I never knew not too because the R.C.I.A. director told us to do it and the Priests blessed anyone who presented with crossed arms.

 

[jmcrae]

God Bless Bishop Thomas Olmstead!!!

Before Bishop Olmstead, and when I was in R.C.I.A., I was told to go up for the blessing. I did, every Sunday until I was Confirmed. I never knew not too because the R.C.I.A. director told us to do it and the Priests blessed anyone who presented with crossed arms.

Yes, that’s not a problem - if your RCIA leader is saying to go ahead and do this, then it’s fine, because it’s a custom of the parish where you are at.

The problem comes when someone reads on the Internet that they should do this, and then it turns out that this is not a custom of the parish that they attend in real life - that’s when things get awkward.

 

[Zooey]

Speaking as Your Friendly Neighborhood Methodist, please tell your non-Catholic friend that people will be genuflecting as they go in the pew!!
I speak as one who was looking at the statues, & tripped over the friend who brought me!! I managed not to fall, & she wasn’t squished under me as a result, but if I had known in advance, we would both have been happier!!

 

[LilyM]

Hey Zooey, this happens to us cradle Catholics too sometimes - some of us genuflect and some don’t, resulting in the odd mistimed incident

It’d be much better if there was an absolutely standard procedure.

 

[Andruschak]

Hey Zooey, this happens to us cradle Catholics too sometimes - some of us genuflect and some don’t, resulting in the odd mistimed incident

It’d be much better if there was an absolutely standard procedure.

Come to think of it, I have no real idea how, or when, to genuflect. I wonder if this will be a part of our RCIA classes or if we are expected to pick it up on our own?