Trouble getting to mass

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cutiesmak

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i’m new here and have posted a little bit today, but basically i am here to get back into the whole catholic thing. i LOVE being catholic, i am just really bad at it!

the biggest problem is that i have the hardest time being consistent about going to mass. yeah, y’all are totally allowed to yell at me… my DH hates saturday mass after years of serving saturday masses, and i usually sleep in for the 9:30 mass. then there’s the noon mass, but by that time i just want to poke around at home and not get all ready for mass. i know, i know, it’s so lazy. i usually attend mass at 9:30 2x a month, and that’s TONS better than even a year ago, where if i went 6x in a year i was doing good.

does anyone have any suggestions for being more consistent? thanks!!
 
Uh, be more consistent!😉

Ask your guardian angel and the saints to intercede for you and to help you realize that Christ died on the cross for you. The very least you can do is to worship Him in the Mass once a week for one hour. Right? You might also try to hang crucifixes all around your home to remind you what Christ has done for you. There’s nothing we can do that will compare to that sacrifice.

Also, you might want to get to confession pronto. Aside from the need to have your sins absolved, you can also gain graces from the sacrament and the priest can further direct you on how to get over the laziness.
 
cutiesmak said:
i’m new here and have posted a little bit today, but basically i am here to get back into the whole catholic thing. i LOVE being catholic, i am just really bad at it!

the biggest problem is that i have the hardest time being consistent about going to mass. yeah, y’all are totally allowed to yell at me… my DH hates saturday mass after years of serving saturday masses, and i usually sleep in for the 9:30 mass. then there’s the noon mass, but by that time i just want to poke around at home and not get all ready for mass. i know, i know, it’s so lazy. i usually attend mass at 9:30 2x a month, and that’s TONS better than even a year ago, where if i went 6x in a year i was doing good.

does anyone have any suggestions for being more consistent? thanks!!
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Yeah, I have a real good suggestion. Stop saying how much you love being Catholic and actually be one. Its very simple. Practice the faith, live the faith, be witness to the faith. Don’t just talk about how much it means to you. talk is very very easy and very very cheap.
 
If you remember that missing Sunday Mass is a mortal sin and requires repentance and confession, maybe that will inspire you to stop sleeping in and missing Mass.

Try to go out of love of God, though, not out of fear of God. Ask Him for the grace you need to get to Mass.
 
cutiesmak said:
i know, i know, it’s so lazy.
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I believe laziness can be just as much a result of a spiritual lack of energy as it can be a physical lack. I think the confession idea will serve you twofold: confess foro missing mass, lighten up your spirituall load 🙂
 
Are you chronically late for work? For the theater? For social functions? Do you break dates with a friend frequently? Or are only lazy for making time for church or even daily prayer with God?

Because the last time I checked the 1st Commandment says…I am the Lord your God, do not place false gods before me.

So if you are not putting God first in your life, by making the effort to spend time with Him by keeping the Lord’s day holy…than you are not fulfilling what God has created us all to do.

To know Him, to love Him, to serve Him and one day be happy with Him in heaven.

If you remember, a couple weeks ago…the reading dealt with Faith without works is meaningless…You may say you believe in Jesus Christ but you don’t keep the commandments, or live your faith by following the greatest commandment…to Love God with your whole heart and your neighbor as yourself…than you are truly missing the best part of our faith.

And you may be throwing away your inheritance to heaven because of your own self-serving reasons.

It’s your choice! I made mine…God is first. And the graces I receive because of it…are out of this world!
 
cutiesmak said:
does anyone have any suggestions for being more consistent? thanks!!
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I was like that when I was younger. Decide when you’re going to go to Mass and develop a routine about going. Learn about the Mass. Learn all that you can about it. I used to dislike all the rituals, stand, sit, stand, sit, kneel…Father says this, we say that. When I returned, I realized how much I didn’t know about the Mass and after learning more I love going and find comfort in all the rituals. The Mass has so much more meaning for me now.
If your church has Adoration, getting in the habit of going there should be helpful in getting a routine going which might help you in going to Mass on the weekend.
 
I think it’s great that you are making a commitment to go to Mass. And, congrats on improving on your attendance. I think the more your learn your faith, the more you will hunger for Mass.

Fr. Larry Richards has a really good tape on Mass.
catholicity.com/maryfoundation/massexplained.html

Is there someone who can hold you accountable? How about going to Mass and then rewarding yourself with a really delicious breakfast or lunch out. Can you meet someone for Mass? How about volunteering to pick up someone who needs a ride? Or, you could volunteer to do fulfill a function at Mass–lector, choir, greeter.

Remember not to go to Communion if you’ve missed Sunday Mass. You need to go to Confession first.
 
I just read something that someone forwarded me in an email. It doesn’t have the writer’s name listed who wrote it but I think it is worth sharing with you.

Food for thought from one preacher: Moral education is important. Think that Sunday Mass, bible study, religious instruction isn’t important for you or your kids? Wrong! If we are really serious about growing closer and more in the image of God for which we were created, then we can’t do that by sitting our butts in a pew once a week, or more likely, less. That takes discipline, practice and modeling. I got very convicted this summer traveling when I realized that I was not practicing what I myself was preaching…that faith is not another entertainment option. When a mom says to me in the grocery store that , Well we haven’t been to church or enrolled our son in religious education because Jimmy has had soccer practice, and that’s the only day he gets to sleep in and well he’s 11 now and he can make his own decions and yada, yada, yada…I am more inclined to respond now by asking whether she cuts him the same slack on a weekday morning for school. Which education is more important…academic or moral? Plus when this kid grows up and is faced with moral issues, a failing marriage, an addiction, depression or a whole host of other results of sin, won’t you and he be both glad that he spent all that time at soccer practice? Until we get serious with our people about the fact taht faith isn’t a hobby, we’re not doing our jobs very well."
 
stbruno said:
I just read something that someone forwarded me in an email. It doesn’t have the writer’s name listed who wrote it but I think it is worth sharing with you.

Food for thought from one preacher: Moral education is important. Think that Sunday Mass, bible study, religious instruction isn’t important for you or your kids? Wrong! If we are really serious about growing closer and more in the image of God for which we were created, then we can’t do that by sitting our butts in a pew once a week, or more likely, less. That takes discipline, practice and modeling. I got very convicted this summer traveling when I realized that I was not practicing what I myself was preaching…that faith is not another entertainment option. When a mom says to me in the grocery store that , Well we haven’t been to church or enrolled our son in religious education because Jimmy has had soccer practice, and that’s the only day he gets to sleep in and well he’s 11 now and he can make his own decions and yada, yada, yada…I am more inclined to respond now by asking whether she cuts him the same slack on a weekday morning for school. Which education is more important…academic or moral? Plus when this kid grows up and is faced with moral issues, a failing marriage, an addiction, depression or a whole host of other results of sin, won’t you and he be both glad that he spent all that time at soccer practice? Until we get serious with our people about the fact taht faith isn’t a hobby, we’re not doing our jobs very well."
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That’s a good one! 👍
 
cutiesmak said:
i’m new here and have posted a little bit today, but basically i am here to get back into the whole catholic thing. i LOVE being catholic, i am just really bad at it!

the biggest problem is that i have the hardest time being consistent about going to mass. yeah, y’all are totally allowed to yell at me… my DH hates saturday mass after years of serving saturday masses, and i usually sleep in for the 9:30 mass. then there’s the noon mass, but by that time i just want to poke around at home and not get all ready for mass. i know, i know, it’s so lazy. i usually attend mass at 9:30 2x a month, and that’s TONS better than even a year ago, where if i went 6x in a year i was doing good.

does anyone have any suggestions for being more consistent? thanks!!
Click to expand...
I am not going to yell at you because when I first came back to the Church I had to almost ‘trick’ myself into being consistent…I did things like “ok, you will only do this for one month…” and then “ok, you read the readings for this week so now you will go and see if the sermon is good”. I know it sounds so childish but what I really needed to do was get back into the swing of things, so to speak.
Start by going to Confession and then tell yourself that every time you miss Mass on Sunday you will go to confession and tell on yourself in order to receive absolution. That is another thing I did…and I got so tired of always telling on myself I became devoted to going…then as I studied more and prayed and realized WHY I was going it became a JOY.
 
palmas85 said:
Yeah, I have a real good suggestion. Stop saying how much you love being Catholic and actually be one. Its very simple.
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hmmm… first of all, everyone else had really nice suggestions and readings and all those ideas are going to help A LOT. i guess i just have trouble being creative about ways to be consistent. also, i agree about the confession thing. the idea that you get so annoyed about constantly going to confession that you actually go to mass is hilarious! i never thought about it that way. also, i have a really nice crucifix, but it’s not in a very prominent position in my apartment. better get the tool kit out tonight and change that!

as for the above comment, is this a common response on these boards? i came here to get ideas and support, not to get attacked. uh, yeah, duh, of course i need to start acting more catholic, that’s why i’m here. but to have someone throw that in my face really isn’t being very helpful in my opinion. we are all sinners. let’s be here for each other and help.

if this IS a common attitude, anybody have any suggestions of less harsh forums to check out?
 
cutiesmak said:
i’m new here and have posted a little bit today, but basically i am here to get back into the whole catholic thing. i LOVE being catholic, i am just really bad at it!

the biggest problem is that i have the hardest time being consistent about going to mass. yeah, y’all are totally allowed to yell at me… my DH hates saturday mass after years of serving saturday masses, and i usually sleep in for the 9:30 mass. then there’s the noon mass, but by that time i just want to poke around at home and not get all ready for mass. i know, i know, it’s so lazy. i usually attend mass at 9:30 2x a month, and that’s TONS better than even a year ago, where if i went 6x in a year i was doing good.

does anyone have any suggestions for being more consistent? thanks!!
Click to expand...
You’re doing better than me! 🙂
I know what you mean, though, about not being that motivated yourself and then having a spouse who’s not interested at all. Someone suggested to me to make it an appointment that can’t be missed. Schedule it in and make sure you go. Keep going to the 9:30am Mass, since you’ve been going already. Good luck to you! 👍
 
I’m sorry the other poster sounded rude, but that does sometimes happen on the internet. He may have written it thinking a jocular tone of voice without realizing how harsh it would sound when read by someone else.

From reading your post, it sounded like you do not attend the Sat evening Mass because your husband doesn’t like it,but that you would otherwise pick that one. Does that mean that he’s going to Mass on Sunday and you are not? Then just ask him to remind you to join him and to remind you at that time that you want to go, even if you don’t feel like it.

If your husband is not attending Mass, then you should go when *you *want to go, not when *he *would go if he were going. So go to the Sat Mass and then you can go to Confession beforehand.

Other than that, don’t let your *feeeelings *get in the way of doing what you want to do. You want to go to Mass, but you let your feelings at the actual time dictate to you. You know who’s happy about that, right? yep, that’s right: this is a temptation, sent by the devil. You need to be spiritually strong (andthe sacraments will help with that, and if you add in regular prayer, you’ll be spiritually even stronger) and do what God wants you to do. Thinking about God throughout the week, thanking Him for the good things you have in your life, and asking for His help with your probelms, will increase your desire to meet with Him on His ground.

Good luck! I know what you mean because it took a year for us to get the whole no-meat-on-Friday thing together 😉
 
cutiesmak said:
i’m new here and have posted a little bit today, but basically i am here to get back into the whole catholic thing. i LOVE being catholic, i am just really bad at it!

the biggest problem is that i have the hardest time being consistent about going to mass. yeah, y’all are totally allowed to yell at me… my DH hates saturday mass after years of serving saturday masses, and i usually sleep in for the 9:30 mass. then there’s the noon mass, but by that time i just want to poke around at home and not get all ready for mass. i know, i know, it’s so lazy. i usually attend mass at 9:30 2x a month, and that’s TONS better than even a year ago, where if i went 6x in a year i was doing good.

does anyone have any suggestions for being more consistent? thanks!!
Click to expand...
First, understand what you are missing?

At Mass, you are in the presence of Jesus, your savior.

At Mass, you receive his body and blood in the Eucharist.

If you really believe and know who Jesus is, how could you ever allow yourself to miss being with Him?

Allow Jesus to open your heart to the wonderful gift he gave us in the Mass.

“Where your treasure is, so will your heart be.”

Jim
 
Get your hands on Scott Hahn’s “The Lamb’s Supper - The Mass as Heaven on Earth”. After reading that, I never looked at Mass the same way…
 
cutiesmak said:
hmmm… first of all, everyone else had really nice suggestions and readings and all those ideas are going to help A LOT. i guess i just have trouble being creative about ways to be consistent. also, i agree about the confession thing. the idea that you get so annoyed about constantly going to confession that you actually go to mass is hilarious! i never thought about it that way. also, i have a really nice crucifix, but it’s not in a very prominent position in my apartment. better get the tool kit out tonight and change that!

as for the above comment, is this a common response on these boards? i came here to get ideas and support, not to get attacked. uh, yeah, duh, of course i need to start acting more catholic, that’s why i’m here. but to have someone throw that in my face really isn’t being very helpful in my opinion. we are all sinners. let’s be here for each other and help.

if this IS a common attitude, anybody have any suggestions of less harsh forums to check out?
Click to expand...
Sorry that I hurt your feelings. But you said, and I quote here directly from your first post

i LOVE being catholic, i am just really bad at it!

the biggest problem is that i have the hardest time being consistent about going to mass. yeah, y’all are totally allowed to yell at me… my DH hates saturday mass after years of serving saturday masses, and i usually sleep in for the 9:30 mass. then there’s the noon mass, but by that time i just want to poke around at home and not get all ready for mass. i know, i know, it’s so lazy. i usually attend mass at 9:30 2x a month, and that’s TONS better than even a year ago, where if i went 6x in a year i was doing good.

does anyone have any suggestions for being more consistent? thanks!!

You say it is how did you word it, totally allowed to yell at me?, well, I didn’t yell. I just told you what you need to do. Judgemental, not at all. Mean spirited not at all. Uncharitable:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: Not really.

It is supremely easy to say that you love being Catholic and to say that you want to be better at it.

It is just a bit harder to actually do it, to actually live the life.

Don’t say you love being Catholic, actually love being Catholic. You say that you want to be better at it. Be better at it. Get out of bed and go to Mass. Very simple and if you really want to be Catholic and really love being Catholic then whats the problem?

Oh and if you don’t want people to point things out to you and give sound advice on how to correct them, and all you want is a pat on the back and sympathy for how hard it is to get out of bed on Sundays, then I really feel sorry for you
 
Cutie,
First of all…it has everything to do with how you view the mass. It is a celebration, a feast of our Lord and Savior…it is like being invited to the coolest party in town! When my kids were little I purposely made it a special treat to go to mass… "We are going to mass, we get to celebrate our Lord… now, when I am ill, my kids get upset if I am not going, but they all go without me. They wouldn’t dream of missing something that great!

I do know what you mean though, I have to get up early 6 days a week, so on Sunday I lay in bed and rationalize sleeping in. For a brief moment I think I won’t go…but then I remember how good it feels once I am there. So, I get my rear end out of bed and get dressed and when I get there, I am always very thankful I went.

One of the things that helps is to make plans for right after mass. When my kids were little it was going to Wal-mart for soda and popcorn. Now we make plans to do things together as a family…whether shopping or picnicing, it always is right after mass. This makes the timeline get all messed up if you skip mass, so even when you “aren’t in the mood” you try to keep to the planned schedule.

I hope this helps…
Just keep trying to correct this and pray about it. God will help if you let him!
 
Two more suggestions… check nearby Parishes, Hospitals, Convents, Newman Centers, etc. for other Mass times. In our city, we used to have a Sunday 5 PM Mass. Our family loved that Mass - there was something about spending Sunday together as a family, with the Mass at the end of the day that REALLY gave a great start to the week.

Another thought, ask your husband to try Saturday vigil Mass. For us, it is the beginning of a great Saturday evening - Confession, the Mass, then dinner out.
 
In my opinion, it doesn’t matter whether you love being catholic or not, but it’s whether you love Jesus. If you love Jesus, you’ll want to do whatever please Him and you want to be near Him always.

One important reason why I’m catholic is because I love Jesus and I want to be close to Him and also because of Eucharist, where there’s real presence which I won’t be getting in any other churches here in Singapore.

If only you know Him well, I don’t think you’ll want to skip mass.
Nowadays, I try to attend mass as often as could and I’ll be more than happy when the weekend come, because I’ll be going to attend Sunday mass, no other reason. LoL.

Another thing that you could do is to know the priests in your church. When you know them, their homilies are becoming interesting, because I believe homily is something personal and every priest has different style of giving homily.
Hope it helps. 🙂
 
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