Why do some call Mass a 'Service'?

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

This is one of my pet peeves! Why do some Catholics call the Mass as a ‘Service’ - as in when are your Sunday Services or I am going to the 10:00 Service.

WE ARE NOT PROTESTANTS!!! We do NOT go to Services, we go to Mass, to the Liturgy!!!

 

[Joannm]

Hello,

This is one of my pet peeves! Why do some Catholics call the Mass as a ‘Service’ - as in when are your Sunday Services or I am going to the 10:00 Service.

WE ARE NOT PROTESTANTS!!! We do NOT go to Services, we go to Mass, to the Liturgy!!!

I do not think people mean to be disrespectful. I just think that they are used to hearing “church service” in the secular world and don’t make a distinction. Even when I teach classes on the Mass and use the word "“liturgy” many do not know what that means. Most do not know that “liturgy” encompasses much more than Mass. If you hear someone say “service” instead of Mass use it as a teachable moment.

 

[Digitonomy]

Hello,

Hello.

JMJ_coder:

Why do some Catholics call the Mass as a ‘Service’ - as in when are your Sunday Services or I am going to the 10:00 Service.

…We do NOT go to Services, we go to Mass, to the Liturgy!!!

Actually, we do go to services. I have attended wedding services, funeral services, baptismal services, and there are also communion services. And masses are also services by the normal English definition, “a meeting for worship.” It is simply Catholic usage where we make the distinction, for obvious reasons. It sounds like the people you hear have been talking a lot with their Protestant neighbors, and gotten into the habit of calling any liturgy a service. Give them the benefit of the doubt, but if the situation is appropriate, you can do as Joannm said and use it as a teaching moment.

 

[palmas85]

Most of the people I’ve seen that use this terminology are converts who were either poorly catechized or still hang on to some of their protestant beliefs. Either that or they are progressive minded Catholics who think the word Mass is an elitist term that separates the Catholic Church from the rest of Christianity.

I didn’t make that last one up, believe it or not…

 

[anamchara]

Hello,

This is one of my pet peeves! Why do some Catholics call the Mass as a ‘Service’ - as in when are your Sunday Services or I am going to the 10:00 Service.

WE ARE NOT PROTESTANTS!!! We do NOT go to Services, we go to Mass, to the Liturgy!!!

I don’t know where in heavens name you are hearing this but I’ve never met a Catholic that would use that term. I have heard possible converts asking “what time is your services” not knowing it’s called a Mass and I’ve even heard converts use the word mistakingly. When I first converted, I said that by accident a few times

I don’t think this is coming from the progressives if you’ve seriously heard a cradle Catholic use it.

 

[dulcissima]

I’m a convert and I always call it Mass, even when I am talking to my Baptist family. I’m sure that they would be more comfortable with me calling it a service then they could just forget that I am Catholic, but oh well…

 

[proudnifi]

I may feel bad later for confessing this, but I am Catholic from a Catholic family and I wouldn’t be surprised if I used the term “service”. I know I use the word “church”. It’s possible I’ve said “What time are you going to church? I think I will make the 10am service.” I use the word “mass”, too. But I don’t feel restricted to it. It’s like squares and rectangles. I see a mass as a kind of church service but not all church services are masses (naturally, masses are better). I understand it can be a pet-peeve, but in most cases it’s nothing serious.

Word usage can help evangelization though, and so I see value in calling a spade a spade, or in this case, a mass a mass.

 

[kage_ar]

CCC

**1069 **The word “liturgy” originally meant a “public work” or a “service in the name of/on behalf of the people.” In Christian tradition it means the participation of the People of God in “the work of God.” Through the liturgy Christ, our redeemer and high priest, continues the work of our redemption in, with, and through his Church.

 

[CarrieH]

I may feel bad later for confessing this, but I am Catholic from a Catholic family and I wouldn’t be surprised if I used the term “service”. I know I use the word “church”. It’s possible I’ve said “What time are you going to church? I think I will make the 10am service.” I use the word “mass”, too. But I don’t feel restricted to it. It’s like squares and rectangles. I see a mass as a kind of church service but not all church services are masses (naturally, masses are better).

Agreed. What’s the big deal, anyway? The important thing is that the person is attending Mass/church/service, not which term they use to describe it.

 

[baltobetsy]

Our downtown Jesuit parish currently runs a radio ad encouraging people to come to their “services.” It goes on to enumerate all the “masses,” including a “high Mass,” but the first word used is “Services.” Gotta love the Jesuits.

Betsy

 

[catharina]

Hello,

This is one of my pet peeves! Why do some Catholics call the Mass as a ‘Service’ - as in when are your Sunday Services or I am going to the 10:00 Service.

WE ARE NOT PROTESTANTS!!! We do NOT go to Services, we go to Mass, to the Liturgy!!!

I don’t know why and I’m glad to say I’ve never heard it used. As for your final prayer “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem,” let me add the ending “those who live her shall prosper.” My notion of prospering is the peace that passes all understanding!

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

Our downtown Jesuit parish currently runs a radio ad encouraging people to come to their “services.” It goes on to enumerate all the “masses,” including a “high Mass,” but the first word used is “Services.” Gotta love the Jesuits.

Betsy

Yea, you do. What’s the big deal? It’s just an English term to denote a time/place of worship. Mass is the Qualifier.

 

[catharina]

Yea, you do. What’s the big deal? It’s just an English term to denote a time/place of worship. Mass is the Qualifier.

No big deal. Just an appropriation form Protestant usage.

If the Jesuits are doing it, it’s fine with me.
They likely consider it to be “outreach” in “familiar terms.”
I earned my degrees from the Jesuits.

Do I wanna see the term replace “Mass?” Uh, no.

 

[Guitar]

WE ARE NOT PROTESTANTS!!! We do NOT go to Services, we go to Mass, to the Liturgy!!!

A lot of things I am paid or volunteer to play for are services - 2nd Rite of Reconciliation, weddings & funerals outside Mass, graveside and crematorium services, occasional non-Catholic services etc. so I go to a lot of services and a large subset of those are Masses. I tend to refer to a Mass as “Mass” but I couldn’t absolutely say I never use the term “service” and I wouldn’t have a tizzy if I did. It is not wrong, it is a generic term rather than a specific one that for some people presses a “cutural” button. Which is fine - plenty of language presses that button with me. (So don’t anybody now say, “thank you for sharing that with us.” uch: )

Not to seem nit-picky but the church as I understand it has two official liturgies, Mass and the Divine Office. And referring to the Mass as “the liturgy” used to annoy my father the same way “service” annoys you!

 

[catharina]

A lot of things I am paid or volunteer to play for are services - 2nd Rite of Reconciliation, weddings & funerals outside Mass, graveside and crematorium services, occasional non-Catholic services etc. so I go to a lot of services and a large subset of those are Masses. I tend to refer to a Mass as “Mass” but I couldn’t absolutely say I never use the term “service” and I wouldn’t have a tizzy if I did. It is not wrong, it is a generic term rather than a specific one that for some people presses a “cutural” button. Which is fine - plenty of language presses that button with me. (So don’t anybody now say, “thank you for sharing that with us.” uch: )

Not to seem nit-picky but the church as I understand it has two official liturgies, Mass and the Divine Office. And referring to the Mass as “the liturgy” used to annoy my father the same way “service” annoys you!

Seriously, thank you for sharing that with us.

(Sorry.)

 

[sphilomena]

If the Jesuits are doing it, it’s fine with me.

You might want to qualify that. As the Jesuits meet in Rome at this moment they have been admonished to “get with the program” and return to being defenders of the Church, as they once were. Just read the article minutes ago; I’ll have to find it.

The only time I hear the word “service” instead of Mass, is from a convert that at times, still thinks like a non-Catholic.

 

[catharina]

You might want to qualify that. As the Jesuits meet in Rome at this moment they have been admonished to “get with the program” and return to being defenders of the Church, as they once were. Just read the article minutes ago; I’ll have to find it.

The only time I hear the word “service” instead of Mass, is from a convert that at times, still thinks like a non-Catholic.

No, I’ve no need to qualify it. Although I’ve heard problems re some Jesuits, I’ve never known any who were/are problematical. Plus I’ve never heard the word “service” instead of “Mass” used by anyone, Jesuit or not. If some Jesuits are using the word as a evangelical “tool” it’s ok with me unless/until Rome says otherwise. I won’t be using the term!

PS -
if you can locate the referenced article, I’d appreciate having the link.

 

[b_justb]

liturgy -

1. a form of public worship; ritual.
2. a collection of formularies for public worship.
3. a particular arrangement of services.
4. a particular form or type of the Eucharistic service.
5. the service of the Eucharist, esp. this service (Divine Liturgy) in the Eastern Church.

[Late Latin *lītūrgia, from Greek leitourgiā, public service, from leitourgos, public servant, from earlier lēitourgos : lēiton, town hall (from lēos, dialectal variant of lāos, people) + ergon, work; see werg- in Indo-European roots.]

The Mass is a combination of two Liturgies. The Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. No fuss, no muss.

 

[sphilomena]

chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/185721?eng=y
Focus - Dettaglio articolo | Chiesa

Hi Catharina, here’s the link, if I can get it to work. No offense intended to you. I’m just sad about some of the orders - nuns as well as priests. I spent my college years with the Religious of the Sacred Heart, and it was such a spiritual time. Now they are out in left field.

Sorry about the digression, folks.

 

[lizaanne]

I don’t know where in heavens name you are hearing this but I’ve never met a Catholic that would use that term. I have heard possible converts asking “what time is your services” not knowing it’s called a Mass and I’ve even heard converts use the word mistakingly. When I first converted, I said that by accident a few times

I don’t think this is coming from the progressives if you’ve seriously heard a cradle Catholic use it.

My Dad is a cradle Catholic, 61 years old, 13 years of Catholic school, and an altar boy for years. Just today he said in an email: “The boys spent the night and went to Mass with us. Chris met up with us after services and the boys wanted to hook up again, so we started where we left off.”

Dunno what to tell ya. Doesn’t get much more Catholic than my Dad.

~Liza