Why Should I Go To Mass?

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I am looking for some different approaches and insights into answering teens as to why they should go to Mass. I began with that when we go to Mass we hear the living Word of God and we receive the Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity of Christ through the Eucharist. I commented on how we gain spiritual strength when we come together as a community. I shared how with my personal experience those I know with faith tend to handle the adversities in our life with strength and patience. So the questions that arose were: “Why should I go to Mass when I can pray on my own.” And, “I know people who are good that don’t go to church and bad people that do, so if I don’t see a difference as to why go to Mass?”
 
Luke 22,17-20
17 Then he took a cup, 6 gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; 18 for I tell you (that) from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 7 Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; **do this in memory of me.” **20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.
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We do not merely pray at Mass, we participate in the Eucharist.
Christ commanded us to do this in memory of Him.

We also come to Mass to be taught (the Liturgy of the Word.) Can you be taught if you stay home from school?
 
One of the very best things I’ve ever found on the Mass is a FREE CD from the the Mary Foundation called The Mass Explained by Fr. Larry Richards, and he relates very well to young people.
 
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Ruh:
I am looking for some different approaches and insights into answering teens as to why they should go to Mass. I began with that when we go to Mass we hear the living Word of God and we receive the Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity of Christ through the Eucharist. I commented on how we gain spiritual strength when we come together as a community. I shared how with my personal experience those I know with faith tend to handle the adversities in our life with strength and patience. So the questions that arose were: “Why should I go to Mass when I can pray on my own.” And, “I know people who are good that don’t go to church and bad people that do, so if I don’t see a difference as to why go to Mass?”
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You might try these Free Courses. They are excellent, and might give you some ideas to use.

Link to Order is Here

**WE WORSHIP—A GUIDE TO THE CATHOLIC MASS **
This course tells why Jesus wants us to attend Mass, gives the fascinating history of the Mass, explains Mass ceremonies step by step, shows how to pray the Mass, answers frequently asked questions, and describes how to live the Mass after we leave to “love and serve the Lord.”

**THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING CATHOLIC **
Explains the most distinctive beliefs of Catholics and points out how they are based on the goodness of God’s creation, our Redemption by Jesus, and the love of the Holy Spirit. Shows what it means to be a Catholic, and why we believe as we do, explaining the reasons for doctrines like the Real Presence, confession, sacramentals, and devotion to the saints.
 
Having much experience with teens, not only raising my own but being a former high school teacher, I find the simple answer is usually the best.
“Because God said so.”
Of course, they’ll respond immediately, which opens doors to discussion of the Decalogue, then Catholic worship. That, in turn, leads to the Eucharist, which, when they’re conviced, is THE reason for them to go to Mass.
I taught many students who were much brighter than I am, but I never taught one who’s been around as long as I have. Wisdom and experience go a long way in these kinds of discussions.
The trick is to not get too dogmatic or formal in the beginning. Once you get their interest, even if it’s a debate, you’ve got them, as long as you keep control.
Good luck.
 
Oh man…I hope i am not stepping in it here…but I thought that it was not “mandatory” to go to weekly Mass…there where days (Holy) that where mandatory. Or am I confusing that with Recieving Communion???
 
Oh man…I hope i am not stepping in it here…but I thought that it was not “mandatory” to go to weekly Mass…
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From the Catechism:
The Sunday obligation

**2180**The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass."117 "The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day."118

2181 The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor.119 Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.

2182 Participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of belonging and of being faithful to Christ and to his Church. The faithful give witness by this to their communion in faith and charity. Together they testify to God’s holiness and their hope of salvation. They strengthen one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
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scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c1a3.htm

If you have been failing to go to Mass on Sundays and other Holy Days of Obligation make sure you go to confession. Confess all unconfessed mortal sins by kind and (approximate) number to receive a valid confession.

It is a grave sin to receive the Eucharist when you are in a state of mortal sin. However, even if you are in a state of mortal sin you are still oblidged to attend Mass.
 
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Madia:
From the Catechism:
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Thank you for that info.
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Madia:
If you have been failing to go to Mass on Sundays and other Holy Days of Obligation make sure you go to confession. Confess all unconfessed mortal sins by kind and (approximate) number to receive a valid confession. .
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I shall be sure to do that when and if I become a Catholic (thank you for being concerned though:) )…but thank you for pointing this out to me…as I have to get my teenage son to go to confession in light of this info!
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Madia:
It is a grave sin to receive the Eucharist when you are in a state of mortal sin. However, even if you are in a state of mortal sin you are still oblidged to attend Mass.
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So not going to Sunday or Saturday Mass ona regular basis is a mortal sin? Can you clarify this please!!!

And what did I hear in regards to there where certain days you had to be at Church was it in reference to Confession then…you only had to (mandatory) Confess certain times?
 
Mass is for the unconditional worship of the God that created us.

The roof over my head only comes through his grace, as does the water that comes out of my faucet, the job I have that provides me with money to buy clothes, cameras, nail polish, etc. It is through his grace that I have a chance at salvation. This time on earth is only a staging area. It is like being on probation.

Why were we created? We were created to know, love and serve God. All that we do should be aimed at getting to know, love and serve Him better. We learn through the homilies and through readings, and of course, through the Eucharist.

What is unconditional worship?

This means that if I believe He exists, then he must magnificent. He created me and therefor is deserving of my undivided attention for at least one hour a week for the purpose of that worship, and to do as He commanded, “Take and eat…”. It should not be conditional on whether I feel like going, or whether I have had enough sleep, or whether the climate is good enough, or my work is done. This is God’s hour and we owe him our undivided attention to give him due worship and to.

Notice he did not say “Eat if you feel like it”.

The point is, such people who say I can pray at home, do not realize that the Eucharist IS the real deal. It IS Jesus. Only a validly ordained Catholic priest can turn the elements of bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. It is only through the Eucharist that we can fulfill the command to take and eat of the bread of life.
 
QUOTE=abcdefg] Only a validly ordained Catholic priest can turn the elements of bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. . And how does a Priest gain these powers(to turn bread and wine into God’s body) ??? And why only a Priest???

FYI: asking to understand not poke fun!
 
At the Last Supper, Christ said “do this in anamnesis of me”. It’s usually translated as “rememberence”, but that’s not the true meaning because we don’t have a word in English to express what it really means. Anamnesis is memory, but it is memory through participation in an eternal event; the Hebrew for this concept is zikkaron.

Plato used this word to describe the idea that when people learn something new, they are actually just reaching their minds into an “eternal truth”, and remembering it. When Jesus used this word, it was in the context of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is a “zikkaron”, or a direct participation in the first Passover. In other words, every time Jews celebrate the Passover, they’re not simply “doing it again”, but rather doing it with their ancestors for the first time. All Jews future and past were present at the first Passover, and at every single Passover meal.

The Mass is our zikkaron/anamnesis. We are not simply getting together and praying, we are literally reaching through time to the Last Supper. This isn’t just “feel good” talk, either, but rather the very real meaning of the words used by Jesus. There are other words for “remember” that don’t imply eternal participation, but the word used here is anamnesis, a word used only one or two other times in Scripture, and one of those times by Paul in direct reference to the Last Supper.

In other words, when we go to Mass we are literally in a room in Jerusalem two-thousand years ago, praying and celebrating with the Apostles and Christ Himself. Jesus is really present in the Eucharist, just as we are really present at the Last Supper. Again, this isn’t a feel-good mystic interpretation, it’s a direct promise from God Himself, and it’s at the Mass that it occurs.

If that’s not a reason to go to Mass, I don’t know what is 😃
 
If your teens ask you if they can go to a party, just tell them that they don’t really have to go, they can just stay home in their rooms and celebrate by themselves.

See what kind of reaction you get. :hmmm:

The Mass is a gift and celebration, a sacrament from God. I’d suggest these teens also get some adult level catechesis and reading to give them some mental food to go along with the spiritual. We humans are social creatures, no?
 
So not going to Sunday or Saturday Mass ona regular basis is a mortal sin? Can you clarify this please!!!
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Yes, we are required to go to mass on Sun, or the Sat. vigil if one is unable to go on sunday. We are also required to go on additional “Holy Days of Obligation.” Neglecting to do so IS a mortal sin. This is a part of the way we observe the 4th commandment. One is exusued if they are sick/have a sick child who needs to be cared for/are in an area where mass cannot be gotten to- although that;s rather difficult these days, but it happens.
And what did I hear in regards to there where certain days you had to be at Church was it in reference to Confession then…you only had to (mandatory) Confess certain times?
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Confession is not required but for once a year min, as well as if someone is in mortal sin. If so, the person is still required to go to mass, but refrains from recieving communion.
I shall be sure to do that when and if I become a Catholic (thank you for being concerned though )…but thank you for pointing this out to me…as I have to get my teenage son to go to confession in light of this info!
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If you son was unaware of this, he may not be culpable, or, if he had no way of getting to mass. That may be something that should be discussed with a priest, though.

I’ve addressed those fairly legalisically, but if you want more info you can start a new thread for it 🙂
 
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sententia:
Yes, we are required to go to mass on Sun, or the Sat. vigil if one is unable to go on sunday. We are also required to go on additional “Holy Days of Obligation.” Neglecting to do so IS a mortal sin. This is a part of the way we observe the 4th commandment. One is exusued if they are sick/have a sick child who needs to be cared for/are in an area where mass cannot be gotten to- although that;s rather difficult these days, but it happens.

Confession is not required but for once a year min, as well as if someone is in mortal sin. If so, the person is still required to go to mass, but refrains from recieving communion.

If you son was unaware of this, he may not be culpable, or, if he had no way of getting to mass. That may be something that should be discussed with a priest, though.

I’ve addressed those fairly legalisically, but if you want more info you can start a new thread for it 🙂
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Thank you. He is aware of all of this and he can get to Mass** but I will not force him to go…I view it as he is 14 and can decide on his own if he wants to go or not. **
 
You can also tap into their imgagination (which teens seems to have plenty of) just by describing what’s happening during the mass. Imagine being able to stand with the chior of angles and saints in singing praise to God. Imagine a door between heaven and earth opening up; and an angel of the Lord coming down to take the bread and wine to God who then changes their reality into the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ, and then returns it to the alter. Then remind them that while they may say “this is my time to with what I please,” Christ says “this is my body, I give it up for you”. Mass is the only place where we can truly respect that gift. Praying alone is great and should be done often, but it’s not enough. Christ calls us to be physically present with Him in the Eucharist at a minimum of once a week at Sunday mass…more often if possible.

As an editorial aside, one reason I really dislike many of the so called “youth masses” as they tend to dumb down the mass and lose focus on the beauty, the true miracle of the Eucharist. Not to mention their tendency to toss the rubrics of the mass out the window in favor of secular hipness. This will sound harsh, but I consider youth masses an indication that parents have not properly catechized their kids. That’s probably not totally fair as I’m sure there are some parishes that do a great job in this regard…I just haven’t seen it in my area.
 
My father had been diognosed with cancer and given just six months to live. As each day passed, the family prayed but he deteriorated. When he was healthy he would take us for a walk “Over the tops” the “tops” being the Pennines in the United Kingdom. Mom would prepare Sunday lunch and we would be certainly ready for it when we returned home. Often, my father would walk home from work and even in the worse weather conditions would outstride anyone accompanying him. The cancer had taken more than the wind out of his sails; bent double and using a cain, he found it difficult just to walk to the end of the street. Then he had to rest before setting off back home.
It was a Sunday, June 4th just before my brother’s birthday, I rose early and was stunned to find my father dressed and getting himself ready to attend Mass. He said that he didn’t like Fr. Dolan being put out just to bring him Holy Communion. I couldn’t talk him out of it, so I accompanied him to the church. We set off early and a couple of times he had to stop to catch his breath. I could see he was in pain, but he kept going. Eventually, we arrived at the church and members of the community were looking around, shocked to see my father attending Mass. One of the men crossed from one side of the church to the other, just to shake my father’s hand and welcome him. After we took our seat, Mass started and Fr. Dolan noticed my father in the church and for a moment paused to assure himself he was not seeing things. When my father went to receive, Fr. Dolan held up the host and said, “Len, the Body of Christ.” Those were the last words the priest spoke to my father. Two days later on June 6th, the day after my brother’s birthday, my father died.

If a dying man can attend Mass - so can you!

Mick
🙂
 
For the ‘there are good people who don’t go to mass and bad people who do’ - we never claimed that going to mass makes someone a good person in other aspects of their life. You could also say there are good people who don’t give to charity and (otherwsie) bad people who do - does this mean that it’s not good to give to charity?
Going to mass every Sunday or Saturday night is the right thing to do. That’s always been good enough for me. (I’m still a teen for another 3 days).
How can you say that you get nothing out of going to mass? Aren’t you going to get even less out of it if you’re not there?
Why not go to mass? Got something better to do for 1 hour out of 168 in the week?
You can pray at home, but are you going to? Would you pray for 45 minutes straight? Why would you do that and then not do what God wants you to (going to mass?)
And, of course, you need to go to mass to receive the Eucharist.
 
sure you can pray on your own, however I go to mass because I feel that way I show my respect to God by speaking with him at his house. It is a way of honoring him beyond ways you can do from home. When we make the effort to get up, dressed and go to mass the experience becomes more meaningful.
 
To those who responded, I really appreciate your help. I especially related to the responses from Flopfoot, Zian, Strider. :clapping: Thank You
 
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