Worshiping at home?

  • Thread starter Thread starter tenderlynew
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

tenderlynew

Guest
I have relocated twice in the last year in the process of striving towards finding a place to worship and, of course, I started out with the intention to find a Catholic Church and join RCIA. This intent has been daunted through illness and negative reception in my two new locations. Because of my illness I don’t wash enough, and I’m overweight; I’m healing, but it will take time.

So the Lord led me to make a point of formally worshipping at home on Sunday (yesterday). I went into this with great anticipation but the heat came on that night, was too hot, and I passed a terrible Saturday night, and approached worshipping nervously. Anyway, I put on the David Crowder band’s 5 Greatest Hits. I am a music-lover, and I have to avoid an old tendency to place my worship in musicians! And I did this and wound up feeling fellowship with David Crowder, who is an awesome Christian musician, is he Catholic?, in an intense spiritual moment.

But afterwards I feared. Someone placed a comment on my blog pointing to the passage that says you need the support of a congregation in worship. And I fell into some fear and confusion that made things seem a little strange. In my aloneness in my growing faith, and how I practice it, I think sometimes of the terrible case of the woman who drowned her children (years ago, in Texas, I think) after following her religion alone at home.

So is this a bad practice? I know that it would be better to go to church, but if you can’t, is it better to refrain from worship than to worship alone? I need to know as I won’t know what to do next Sunday.
 
Praying at home does not replace attending Holy Mass. If you find listening to a certain musician while praying to be helpful, that’s fine, but you should still attend Mass, if possible. If you become a Catholic, Sunday Mass is obligatory.
 
If you can eventually find a genuine set of people then that’s great but that is not a given so I believe if you do what you can based on your circumstances that’s fine. God wont demand from you what you dont have.

If you are worried for the safety of your children you should talk to someone before that seed is ever planted. There are toll free numbers for Catholic priests, some on this site you could call to talk to. God bless.
 
tenderlynew said:
I have relocated twice in the last year in the process of striving towards finding a place to worship and, of course, I started out with the intention to find a Catholic Church and join RCIA. This intent has been daunted through illness and negative reception in my two new locations. Because of my illness I don’t wash enough, and I’m overweight; I’m healing, but it will take time.

So the Lord led me to make a point of formally worshipping at home on Sunday (yesterday). I went into this with great anticipation but the heat came on that night, was too hot, and I passed a terrible Saturday night, and approached worshipping nervously. Anyway, I put on the David Crowder band’s 5 Greatest Hits. I am a music-lover, and I have to avoid an old tendency to place my worship in musicians! And I did this and wound up feeling fellowship with David Crowder, who is an awesome Christian musician, is he Catholic?, in an intense spiritual moment.

But afterwards I feared. Someone placed a comment on my blog pointing to the passage that says you need the support of a congregation in worship. And I fell into some fear and confusion that made things seem a little strange. In my aloneness in my growing faith, and how I practice it, I think sometimes of the terrible case of the woman who drowned her children (years ago, in Texas, I think) after following her religion alone at home.

So is this a bad practice? I know that it would be better to go to church, but if you can’t, is it better to refrain from worship than to worship alone? I need to know as I won’t know what to do next Sunday.
Click to expand...
Worshiping at home alone is not a bad thing in itself–all Christians are called to do so–but nothing can take the place of Mass and I hope that even before you take or finish your RCIA classes that maybe you’ll find a way to go to at least Sunday Mass Mass–even if it’s a smaller , less attended Mass at an earlier time or on Saturday night, if you are more comfortable with that. Since you, as yet aren’t Catholic, I’ll spare you by belaboring the point that for Catholics, worshiping at home never fulfills the Sunday obligation of attending Mass.

I would think it’s fine to feel uplifted by a good musician–and some of the Christian artists are indeed excellent. Music lifts our souls and is one way we worship God. Most all churches use singing as part of their worship service and lifting ourselves to God in song is always good. However, you yourself said that you have a tendency to place your worship in musicians–and though I’m not quite sure what you mean by this—I’d just remind you that no matter how great you think any musician is–he’s only that–a musician. You know nothing but what the press tells you about him personally–only that he makes his living selling Christian songs–as opposed to say, Miley Cyrus, who makes her living singing other types of songs. Another words, he’s a man not a god and don’t kid yourself, singing is his JOB–just like anyone else’s job. He sings–you pay money for his album as he isn’t doing it for free–and everyone is happy–or at least that’s the goal. It’s how he pays his bills. That’s the pecking order. So to listen to a song and feel uplifted by it and to feel more able to pray and live better by making the song part of your life is one thing. To adulate the musician is another and I hope you understand the difference and you probably do. Good luck–get yourself out and to church–it won’t get easier the longer you stay away! 👍
 
Check out EWTN on television (and the internet) and watch the Mass on Sunday. It will help keep you on track with your Catholic studies. It won’t replace attending Mass in person, but it will give you more of a sense of community. I hope you are feeling better soon and return to RCIA.
 
Thank you, this Sunday I’ll try EWTN, and thank you for the clarification re it is obligatory to attend mass, I am not formally a Catholic yet so I don’t think I’m in sin for not attending, yet. I trust that the Lord will lead me as I am able to follow through on my commitment to Him in the way He wants me to, according to my condition.
 
You are not Catholic yet so you are not under any sort of obligation to attend mass or other worship service.

When you become Catholic, if you are ill or unable to attend mass due to your condition, I would recommend contacting your parish about still being able to receive Holy Communion. There is a ministry that delivers Holy Communion to the sick.

Whether worshiping alone versus with others is better than one or the other I wouldn’t worry too much about. I mean, Jesus did say, “Where two or more are gathered, there I am in the midst of them.” But, worship alone is better than no worship at all.

Best of luck in your RCIA journey!

PS- David Crowder is not Catholic.
 
Thanks for the info about David Crowder:) He sure sings good!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top