Why Do Fewer Catholics Attend Mass?

[Exorcist]

You could also add a small box saying: “Decline of Pharisaical Formalism (an emphasis on the ritual and observance of religion, rather than its meaning)” and reference today’s Gospel reading.

Pardon?

 

[Stylites]

Pardon?

You were looking to understand all the reasons concerning Church attendance today, The decline of religious formalism could be a factor among a handful of people . . .

"Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

 

[jmcrae]

You were looking to understand all the reasons concerning Church attendance today, The decline of religious formalism could be a factor among a handful of people . . .

"Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

I think a lot of people have misread that and think it says, “Be doers of whatever you think the word ought to be, but don’t hear it at all - Mass attendance (the hearing of the Word of God) is not required just as long as you do things that you think Jesus would approve of, in your own personal opinion.”

 

[Jerry-Jet]

If you miss Mass on Sunday and have no valid reason for missing mass and are unrepentent for missing mass and suddenly you die…guess what–you spend eternity screaming in Hell!

If all Catholics KNEW that this was true there would be more people going to mass.

Hell is real and missing mass and going to Hell for it is real!

Now when next Sunday comes are you going to go to mass or take a chance and not go to mass and risk going to Hell forever?!

 

[Pug]

You were looking to understand all the reasons concerning Church attendance today, The decline of religious formalism could be a factor among a handful of people . . .

"Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

I think I may be confused about your use of this quote here. Indeed we are not to sit there in mass, nodding our heads in apparent agreement at words like “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” [this is about feed the hungry, clothe the naked, etc.], but then walk out and act that that has nothing to do with us. What good is it if we think feed the hungry sounds nice, yet we don’t feed the hungry?

Are you trying to say that Catholics in this day and age have stopped doing corporal works of mercy and the like, and that is why there is less mass attendance? Or, are you somehow saying that doing corporal works of mercy leads to stopping going to mass? Or that doing a certain amount of corporal works of mercy has somehow for some people become the sole thing that God wishes for us? That last I have perhaps observed now and then.

 

[paulrus]

And yet, you have not a shred of data to support such an idea. I’ll tell you what this “Boomer” knows: you can find any kind of Catholic Parish you want if you live in an urban area: Totally Trad, Mid-Road, or Liberal Lad. There’s no THE Church anymore, not in America.

I wasn’t aware it was customary to provide data to support one’s opinion. I agree with your second statement about the variety of parishes in an urban area, but I’m not sure how that is supposed to change my assessment of this list. And please don’t take offense at my use of the term “Boomer.” I wasn’t suggesting that only Boomers or all Boomers have this kind of attitude. It does however seem to be most common among that demographic. And if you looked at the linked article, it said the average respondent was a 53 year old woman, in other words, a lot of Boomers were responding.

 

[fastenatingguy]

fascinatingly;9722598:

The Shrine is great!! They are open late on Thursdays until 8. My 4 year old begs to go their all the time. He tries to carry the Cross!! LOL Every time he get mad because he can’t lift it!! ( Its adhered to the ground)

Fr. Maletta is also an attorney. He says what needs to be said. He tore down the house last weekend regarding the real presence. He dose not play. He is VERY magisterial.

**I grew up in the Chicago -Northwest side. I went to Immaculate Conception. The principle was a Nun. I was so happy to find a school for my children that have Nuns. **

stjohnparish.org/ Here is the link . They have a 24 hour Eucharist adoration in the old Long cabin down the road.

A catholic family donated that land and gave money to build that shrine. They got the idea from a shrine in Texas. Then Man, said " I have the means, God is pulling me to do this." It is so hilarious, we have these droves of people who come by the bus loads. One time a Calvinist Church came and said “wow, we loved it. The Catholic got the crucification right”. LOL WT-HECK?

BTW we get to keep your Mother of the Millenium. LOL We just have build her a home… Its just siting in our church parking lot!! LOL

We’re old neighbors (almost). I have lived my entire life in QAS Parish. My son attends Notre Dame HS. And we had Mother of the Millenium in our parking lot for a few weeks a few years back. Spent a lot of my time at Res when my mother was ill.

Also, Bishop Grutka (who ordained Fr. Maletta) was the priest who married my in laws.
My mother in law and he remained friends for many years and she attended his funeral.

 

[JillianRose]

JillianRose;9722692:

We’re old neighbors (almost). I have lived my entire life in QAS Parish. My son attends Notre Dame HS. And we had Mother of the Millenium in our parking lot for a few weeks a few years back. Spent a lot of my time at Res when my mother was ill.

Also, Bishop Grutka (who ordained Fr. Maletta) was the priest who married my in laws.
My mother in law and he remained friends for many years and she attended his funeral.

 

[fastenatingguy]

Not to be too blunt, but I just don’t buy it. I’m sure these people really believe what they’re saying, but I think many of them are fooling themselves or perceiving what isn’t really there. For example, “eliminate the extreme conservative haranguing”? Where are these people going on Sunday mornings? Not to most Catholic churches I’ve been to in the last 20 years. My guess is many of these people just don’t like being told that they’re wrong.

This looks like a list made by a bunch of entitled Boomers infected by modern liberalism who are upset that the Church is actually, you know, a church, and not a touchy-feely seminar where they can feel self-actualized, or some such nonsense. You see this in the words they use to complain: “insensitive” (aww, poor babies), “extreme conservative” (in other words, orthodox), etc. I’m sure there are some priests who actually fit these descriptions, but in my experience attending mass over a couple of decades in several different areas of the country they are few and far between. Unless the Diocese of Trenton is a hotbed of fire and brimstone preachers that I just haven’t heard about, then I don’t put much stock in these responses.

Tell us how you really feel!

The truth hurts; the Truth saves.

 

[fastenatingguy]

If you miss Mass on Sunday and have no valid reason for missing mass and are unrepentent for missing mass and suddenly you die…guess what–you spend eternity screaming in Hell!

If all Catholics KNEW that this was true there would be more people going to mass.

Hell is real and missing mass and going to Hell for it is real!

Now when next Sunday comes are you going to go to mass or take a chance and not go to mass and risk going to Hell forever?!

And if you are still a risk taker…add in all the other mortal sins. That should get a bunch of the stragglers.

 

[Cat]

I never said it doesn’t happen. I will have to do my part. Every time I talk about shepherding my children with the seed of Christ I get this.

I need to put a disclosure on the bottom of my statement. Just because parents do have this happen, All the time, does not release you from your Catholic Duties as a parent. It is your responsibility to plant the seed. In my opinion you should invest in your child’s heart. You do the best you can do. If they don’t embrace the faith or turn away from it, its not your fault. You can’t rely on other people to do what you as a parent should be doing. God Bless those who do undertake that role. Its hard to do.

I will do my Christian duty as a parent. The reason? Because I will have to answer to God if I don’t. Like I said, if a child does not embrace the faith, at least you did your part. I am sure I will be in purgatory long enough. Why add to the list of reasons why?

And may God bless your work with your children!

Mine turned out OK, if it’s any encouragement.

 

[ZxM]

i find the liberalism and ecuminism very off-putting, thats why i dont attend anymore.

 

[ByzCathCantor]

i find the liberalism and ecuminism very off-putting, thats why i dont attend anymore.

Out of curiousity, what signs of ecumenism have you witnessed in the context of Sunday Mass?

 

[jmcrae]

i find the liberalism and ecuminism very off-putting, thats why i dont attend anymore.

There’s less of that going on, these days.

There is hope, however → here is the most recent study done by Reginald Bibby - it’s called “A New Day” and shows that trends are moving in our favour.

 

[pnewton]

As the first bubble is mistaken, I would say an error in the beginning is an error indeed. I also think it is parochial to only think in terms of the US when the Church is universal.

I will also mention that some (many is an unsubstantiated relativism) in this generation will be the last Catholic in their family to attend Mass is hardly new and has always been the case. As I am the first in my family to ever be Catholic, I say…

 

[pnewton]

One sentence – The Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and the meaning(s) of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass are not being preached once a month at some point during the homily.

The Church honors the seasons and the times. I note that up until this week, we had five weeks in a row on John 6 in which the meaning of Eucharist was expounded upon.

 

[Seeker1961]

The Church honors the seasons and the times. I note that up until this week, we had five weeks in a row on John 6 in which the meaning of Eucharist was expounded upon.

This maybe off-topic but it was John 6 that brought me back to the Church. I was attending a non-demoninational church with a friend and they were doing a study on John 6. Sitting there reading those verses made me realize what I was missing staying away. Then, when I returned, what did we begin but a section on that same chapter! It reinforced that the Main Thing about being Catholic is the Eucharist.

 

[JillianRose]

i find the liberalism and ecuminism very off-putting, thats why i dont attend anymore.

Brother or sister you just need to find the right church. The great thing about the being Catholic there is a place for you here with out giving up the holy Eucharist. Imo nothing is worth loosing your perfect communion with Christ. Opus Dei helpnsave my soul. Then I found a very magistrate priest and congregation. I will pray for u friend.

 

[JillianRose]

The Church honors the seasons and the times. I note that up until this week, we had five weeks in a row on John 6 in which the meaning of Eucharist was expounded upon.

Do we attend the same church. Oh my you should of heard our homilies. The priest tore up the place. We loved it.

 

[Minenedanielito]

I’m not too sure about this. When I pass by a Catholic Church say Wednesday morning at 7:00 am, they are usually empty. When I go to mass either Saturday evening or Sunday morning/afternoon they are usually packed ( with people standing on the sides no in the back). That doesn’t seem empty to me.