Visitors

[cowbell4484]

I attend a TLM in my area every week. I’ve really gotten involved. I even sing Gregorian Chant in the choir. A lot of my protestant friends have always found this a bit odd, to say the least. They can’t for the life of them understand why I’d want to attend a service without modern praise and worship music - much less a service entirely in Latin. I’ve actually convinced three of them to come with me to Mass this Sunday. It’ll be a Low Mass with no music, so I’ll be able to sit with them and help them follow along in the Missal instead of being in the choir loft. I was wondering: does anyone have any advice on what I can do to help my friends know whats going on? I’m excited to have them there, but they’ve never been to any Catholic Mass at all - vernacular or otherwise. I remember my first time at a TLM as a confirmed Catholic, and I was quite lost (I actually found it a bit frustrating at first). I want them to have the best possible experience, because I do pray for their conversion to the Church. Even if you don’t have any advice, please keep us in your prayers, as this could be a great opportunity for evangelism.

 

[Cat]

That’s cool! I’ll say a prayer for you and your friends.

I think that your love for them and your interest in helping them to feel comfortable is the best witness.

And I am convinced that Jesus will reveal Himself to them in the Blessed Sacrament. They will recognize Him. They may not admit it to themselves or to you, but they will recognize their Lord.

 

[Genesis315]

I would suggest going over the missal with them beforehand and explain the main parts of the Mass and their significance.

 

[muffinmojo]

I would acutally suggest waiting until your parish has a High Mass to bring them; a ‘service’ without music will seem so incredibly foreign to them that it will be automatically ‘bad’ and ‘lifeless’. I used to be a protestant, I know. I had the same gut reaction when I went to a Tridentine Low Mass(though I LOVE the TLM). It will be strange enough for it to be structured, with fancy vestments, traditional instrument(s?), chant, incense, etc, that removing music which is an integral part of protestant life would be too much.

Besides, the High Mass is the normal presentation of the Extraordinary form anyways.

 

[tonio5555]

I would acutally suggest waiting until your parish has a High Mass to bring them; a ‘service’ without music will seem so incredibly foreign to them that it will be automatically ‘bad’ and ‘lifeless’. I used to be a protestant, I know. I had the same gut reaction when I went to a Tridentine Low Mass(though I LOVE the TLM). It will be strange enough for it to be structured, with fancy vestments, traditional instrument(s?), chant, incense, etc, that removing music which is an integral part of protestant life would be too much.

Besides, the High Mass is the normal presentation of the Extraordinary form anyways.

I agree 100%, don’t get me wrong a Mass is a Mass, but I think you’re odds of helping to plant seeds for conversion would be at a High Mass.

 

[DustinsDad]

I attend a TLM in my area every week. I’ve really gotten involved. I even sing Gregorian Chant in the choir. A lot of my protestant friends have always found this a bit odd, to say the least. They can’t for the life of them understand why I’d want to attend a service without modern praise and worship music - much less a service entirely in Latin. I’ve actually convinced three of them to come with me to Mass this Sunday. It’ll be a Low Mass with no music, so I’ll be able to sit with them and help them follow along in the Missal instead of being in the choir loft. I was wondering: does anyone have any advice on what I can do to help my friends know whats going on? I’m excited to have them there, but they’ve never been to any Catholic Mass at all - vernacular or otherwise. I remember my first time at a TLM as a confirmed Catholic, and I was quite lost (I actually found it a bit frustrating at first). I want them to have the best possible experience, because I do pray for their conversion to the Church. Even if you don’t have any advice, please keep us in your prayers, as this could be a great opportunity for evangelism.

I would take 'em to a High Mass or Solemn High Mass - you may just get “one crack” at 'em here, go for broke !

Peace in Christ,

DustinsDad

 

[Rawb]

You HAVE to explain the difference between a Protestant service and a Catholic Mass, or they will think it was completely pointless:

A Protestant goes to their community to be taught, to learn something during the preaching from Scripture.

A Catholic goes to Mass to be directed towards and give all glory and honor to God.

Protestants believe they are doing this anyway, but they won’t understand worshiping God just to worship Him. Explain that we learn our faith outside of Mass, at Bible Studies and RCIA, or they will think we are mindless and don’t know anything about Scripture or our religion. The Mass is entirely about focusing on worshiping Christ, and we don’t believe that learning is worship.

 

[Tsuwano]

A lot of times people are more attracted by the sincere faith of a friend than by the rituals of a liturgy they probably won’t understand at first. I would suggest you relax and not worry so much about the liturgy. Let your friends see the sincerity and joy you have in your faith and allow the Holy Spirit to work through you. My prayers are with you.

 

[ethelzguy]

If you feel very strongly attached to the TLM, then by all means go for it.

What I would NOT recommend is for someone who is Catholic and NOT particularly interested in a TLM/High Mass to introduce someone to Catholicism in that way.

**Your **passion for the TLM will likely have as much impact on them as the Mass itself.

 

[joamy]

You HAVE to explain the difference between a Protestant service and a Catholic Mass, or they will think it was completely pointless:

A Protestant goes to their community to be taught, to learn something during the preaching from Scripture.

A Catholic goes to Mass to be directed towards and give all glory and honor to God.

Protestants believe they are doing this anyway, but they won’t understand worshiping God just to worship Him. Explain that we learn our faith outside of Mass, at Bible Studies and RCIA, or they will think we are mindless and don’t know anything about Scripture or our religion. The Mass is entirely about focusing on worshiping Christ, and we don’t believe that learning is worship.

I would second this one. I think if you explain this well, it wouldn’t matter if it is High or Low mass… (I love both…) I would suggest really going over what we as Catholics believe about the Eucharist. That was key in my conversion (and for many other converts, I think.)

 

[deigloriam]

I’ve taken a few non-Catholic friends to the TLM. All were one-time events, but one has since borrowed a lot of books on Catholicism. We also had many non-Catholics (Protestants, Jews, Athiests, Agnostics) at our TLM wedding 5 years ago. I’d be very interested to hear their reactions, so please let us know.