The Real Purpose of Mass

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“The faithful are reminded that our primary purpose in attending Mass is to participate in the act of worship and praise given to God. Therefore, one does not need to receive Holy Communion each time one attends Mass.”

I’m sorry but I read this as a reminder that the Eucharist is not the primary purpose and you are still able to worship and give praise and worship by watching the streamed Mass and that it’s ok not to get the Eucharist for as long as the Church stays close.

I just don’t agree with it. I guess I really thought that the purpose of Mass was the Sacrifice and not singing and praising, etc. I am reading the book “The Mass of the Early Christians” and I get the gist that the Sacrifice has always been the primary purpose.
 
I didn’t say that. How did you make that illogical leap?

The summit of worship is the Eucharist. You do not need to receive the Eucharist to worship.
 
markschleich72 said:
I’m sorry but I read this as a reminder that the Eucharist is not the primary purpose and you are still able to worship and give praise and worship by watching the streamed Mass and that it’s ok not to get the Eucharist for as long as the Church stays close.

I just don’t agree with it. I guess I really thought that the purpose of Mass was the Sacrifice and not singing and praising, etc. I am reading the book “The Mass of the Early Christians” and I get the gist that the Sacrifice has always been the primary purpose.
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You are interpreting “Worship and Praise” from a Protestant perspective, To a Catholic, “Worship and Praise” means the Sacrifice of the Mass. Most of us who weren’t Protestants don’t associate those words with singing and whatever else some Protestants do. Many of us actually have little or no idea what exactly Protestants do at their churches, besides sit and listen to some preacher for 2 hours.

The blurb was probably written by a cradle Catholic who would not have thought of you misinterpreting it in this way.

If you’re still concerned, maybe when you are able, discuss with your priest. In the meantime, please try to understand the meaning of “worship” and “praise” from a Catholic perspective.
 
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markschleich72 said:
it’s ok to just sit at home and watch the streamed Mass because “you don’t need the Eucharist all the time anyway”.
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This is not what the text you quoted in your OP says.

You are bound to go to Mass and participate in the Eucharistic liturgy – the sacrifice of worship and praise in which Christ offers His life for us, so that we too may become a living sacrifice of praise – each Sunday and day of obligation (unless you’re in a diocese where the Sunday obligation has been temporarily lifted these days for pandemic-related reasons).

Participating in the liturgy does not mean “commune every single time”. You are not bound to receive every time you go to Mass. Actually, as others have pointed out, there are times when one should abstain. This is what the text you quoted explains.

I’ve been a regular Mass-goer for two years now (I think) and I’ve never received once.
markschleich72 said:
not singing and praising
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I think you are misinterpreting the expression “worship and praise”. As several here – myself included – said, the celebration of the Eucharist itself is worship and praise. It does not mean “bring out the drums and guitars and let’s sing”.
 
markschleich72 said:
I’m sorry but I read this as a reminder that the Eucharist is not the primary purpose and you are still able to worship and give praise and worship by watching the streamed Mass and that it’s ok not to get the Eucharist for as long as the Church stays close.
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Would you rather then the laity does nothing at all on Sunday during the pandemic?
markschleich72 said:
I just don’t agree with it. I guess I really thought that the purpose of Mass was the Sacrifice and not singing and praising, etc.
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Worship at Mass is not limited to singing and praising. You’re supposed to also be praying. I suggest you start going to Adoration when/where it’s available to you to get an idea of the prayerful mindset you should have at Mass.
 
I’m well aware what it says and means but I don’t agree. The Catholic Church is a Sacramental Church, when the Sacraments are denied and we are reduced to a “virtual church” for any means, I can’t agree with the decision, temporary or not.
 
markschleich72 said:
The Catholic Church is a Sacramental Church, when the Sacraments are denied and we are reduced to a “virtual church” for any means, I can’t agree with the decision, temporary or not.
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No one is saying this is the same thing as attending Mass in person and receiving the Eucharist.
 
Yes this is correct. I got this directly from my Priest when asking this specific question.
[/quote]

Can. 917 A person who has already received the Most Holy Eucharist can receive it a second time on the same day only within the eucharistic celebration in which the person participates, without prejudice to the prescript of ⇒ can. 921, §2.

(Can. 921 §1. The Christian faithful who are in danger of death from any cause are to be nourished by holy communion in the form of Viaticum.

§2. Even if they have been nourished by holy communion on the same day, however, those in danger of death are strongly urged to receive communion again.

§3. While the danger of death lasts, it is recommended that holy communion be administered often, but on separate days.)
 
markschleich72 said:
I’m well aware what it says and means but I don’t agree. The Catholic Church is a Sacramental Church, when the Sacraments are denied and we are reduced to a “virtual church” for any means, I can’t agree with the decision, temporary or not.
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The Catholic Church also calls for obedience to your bishop. If you don’t agree, then you need to just offer it up.

We were shut down here for about 3 months with no public Mass and no Communion. It was not pleasant for me. By the time they re-opened I was very much on edge. So I feel your pain. But it did give me a greater appreciation for the Mass and the Eucharist. And I defer to the bishop’s judgment, as upset as I was, because we are called to be humble, and obedient, and make sacrifices.
 
Which brings us back to the original statement: “The faithful are reminded that our primary purpose in attending Mass is to participate in the act of worship and praise given to God. Therefore, one does not need to receive Holy Communion each time one attends Mass.”

Watching streamed or TV Mass or “virtual” Eucharistic Adoration is NOT the same as in person and ACTUALLY receiving the Sacraments, would you agree?
 
markschleich72 said:
Which brings us back to the original statement: “The faithful are reminded that our primary purpose in attending Mass is to participate in the act of worship and praise given to God. Therefore, one does not need to receive Holy Communion each time one attends Mass.”

Watching streamed or TV Mass or “virtual” Eucharistic Adoration is NOT the same as in person and ACTUALLY receiving the Sacraments, would you agree?
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I would agree. And no where in my words nor that statement was the word “virtual” mentioned.
 
markschleich72 said:
Watching streamed or TV Mass or “virtual” Eucharistic Adoration is NOT the same as in person and ACTUALLY receiving the Sacraments, would you agree?
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I fail to see where the words “virtual” or “live-streamed” appear in the quote.
markschleich72 said:
"Therefore, one does not need to receive Holy Communion each time one attends Mass.”
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On the contrary, it clearly speaks of attending Mass.
 
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I would love to jump in but the op has already been given very good answers, and the conversation has become circular.
 
markschleich72 said:
Church shouldn’t downplay Eucharist and say, it’s ok to just sit at home and watch the streamed Mass
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That’s not what he said. He said:

“one does not need to receive Holy Communion each time one attends Mass.”

The operative word is “attend”
 
I understand what you are saying but it was put out during the Covid shutdown and I interpret (personally, I might be wrong) it as saying you can worship and praise without the Church and you really don’t need to have the Eucharist during all of this as you are not required to have the Eucharist all the time anyway. I guess I would hope that the Church could explain things a little better. We had absolutely no communication throughout the shutdown with the exception of statements like these in response to questions from the parish.
 
Well I suggest you seek a clarification before interpreting. A kind of “dubium”
 
If it wasn’t found with a listing for streamed Mass under Covid information I would agree.
 
I agree that it probably wasn’t the best idea communication-wise…

But I’m really not sure that the words “attend Mass”, which come up twice in two sentences, can mean anything else than “go to church and sit on the pew”, can they ?
 
OddBird said:
But I’m really not sure that the words “attend Mass”, which come up twice in two sentences, can mean anything else than “go to church and sit on the pew”, can they ?
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Especially since watching a streamed/recorded Mass does not and could not fulfill our obligation to attend Mass.
 
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