I remember my first mass. I saw a "nun" for the first time that was real and not dressed up for Halloween. I didn't know much about what would call her to the church, nor did I knew she should be called a sister not a nun but I loved her beauty that was nothing physical.
I remember walking in and seeing people dressed at varying levels some casual some dressy. A water bowl at the door and people kneeling to the front before sitting. I got in a pew in the back, see I didn't want to sit to close to the front to look like I was apart of it. I wanted a seat to observe. I refused to sit and stand and kneel when the people around me did because I didn't know why they were doing it. I had to know the reason behind the ritual. Thankfully there were answers that I've learned. So top 10 things I wish I knew before I went to mass the first time.
1. Everything in the mass is about Jesus. It's not about you, the priest, your how many people we can attract. It's about Jesus and His glory. We kneel for Jesus, We bow for Jesus. We ask for His mercy and forgiveness, we celebrate His life, death and resurrections. It's about Him.
2. The homily is not intended to blow your socks off. While it might, the mass is not sermon centered like in the protestant churches. It's supposed to be a short concise reflection on the readings to teach you one thing to apply to your life that ANYONE in that room can understand. It's not to grow head knowledge but to grow your heart. You don't even have to like the homily because that's not what the mass is for or about.
3. Holy water: there is a little bowel (font) by the door and a bigger one for baptism filled with water. Don't drink it. Don't be surprised when people are sprinkling it on themselves. They didn't forget to shower, it's holy water. How is this water different? It's been blessed and is the water we use for baptism.
4. The priest is not wearing a dress. It's a vestment. It's color coordinates with the liturgical calendar. It looks like a dress but it isn't. The priest is there to say the mass. He's not to be worshiped and neither are the statues and pictures you see around. While you may see people kneeling in front of statues or art, know that they are praying. We only pray to God but we do ask our family, friends, brothers, sisters, angels and saints to pray for us. God alone answers prayer but we are all a family of God. Death does not separate us from our family.
5. Eucharist: Catholics believe that the bread and wine, through a miracle of the Holy Spirit becomes the body and blood of Jesus. It's not symbolic it's literal but yet it doesn't look like or taste like flesh and blood. It still have the form of bread but yet it contains within it the body, blood soul and divinity of Jesus. You will see some people just take the bread, and not the cup. Jesus is fully present in both so you don't have to take both to have all of Jesus.
If you are not catholic, or have committed any mortal sin that has not been absolved in confession, then you can not take the Eucharist. However, we are all welcome at the altar. It doesn't matter what you've done or failed to do, who you are or are not you are welcome. You simply go up and cross your arms across your chest so the priest or Eucharistic minister knows to bless you and not feed you. Don't feel like you need separate in the pew. Be part of the community and come up if you feel comfortable. Because it is our Lord we protect it. Only those in full communion of the Catholic church are given the Eucharist. There are a lot of details and explanations but this isn't the blog post for that.
Because it is Jesus: I recommend you sit as close as you can. I want to be as close to His presence as I can get.
6. We stay until the final hymn. You will see people duck out after the Eucharist, or walk out behind the priest. However the mass doesn't actually end until the final hymn. Angels attend the mass so out of respect for them we try not to talk in the church. It is COMPLETELY appropriate to kneel and thank God for the mass before you leave and after the hymn.
7. When you come in you will see people getting on one knee toward the front. It's called genuflecting. We do that to recognize the King of Kings is present. The red candle up front will be lit if Jesus in the form of the Eucharist is there. He's there almost every mass except a few special ones. When you sit we then kneel and pray God will prepare our hearts for the mass. I use it as time to pray for all the people I said I was going to pray for. I want to leave that with Jesus before the mass so I'm focused.
In the pew you will see all sorts of things. EVERYONE is welcome at mass. No matter your race, religion, sexual orientation, beliefs, social status or anything else you could think of to divide over. The Catholic Church opens their pews and doors to everyone, with no exception. It doesn't matter what you wear, but try and dress in a way that is honoring to God.
The children are invited to mass. You will hear babies crying, children fussing and talking. They are learning so be patient with them. Enjoy their presence. We want everyone to come to mass and be part of the family.
8. There isn't a bible in the catholic church pew, but there is a book that has the specific readings from the bible printed in it so you can easily follow along. It's not that we don't like the bible, we do, it's our book. We know that everyone doesn't know the order of it though or how to find things so we want everyone to be able to follow along. Simply find the date in the book and it will get you through the readings. Still having trouble? Can't read? The early christians didn't have any of this. Simply sit and listen and soak up the words. Listen to them as though you know you won't hear this part in mass again for 3 years. You see the church reads through the bible in 3 year cycles (year A, B and C). We then start over.
9. Don't worry about missing what's happening at your parish mass: the mass is the same all over the world. On the given day you go: everyone around the world is reading the same readings. We read from the old testament ,psalm, new testament and gospel. Daily mass is shorter than Saturday vigil or Sunday but remember the mass is about Jesus and the Eucharist. That happens every mass. Mass is being said every minute of the day somewhere in the world and you can use great resources like masstimes.org to help you find one wherever you are.
10. Tithe- We don't demand 10% in the catholic church like many churches do but we know that everything is Gods and we give "as each is able." The Catholic church feeds and clothes more than anyone other organization in the world. That money is stewarded well and know there are a lot of people looking and checking to make sure the funds are being used appropriately. None of the priests live in big fancy houses. Most priests make about $25,000 a year to cover their living expenses. Sometimes they take a second collection toward the end for a special intention: like a group of sisters who need help, for the bishops project, the mortgage on the church. God loves a cheerful giver and wants you to give what you can. Make it a priority. Let it be the first check you write out of your budget. All of the activities of the church, maintenance, electricity, ect
Friend I love that you are taking the step to attend a mass. Don't be worried. Just go and if you even just stand there the whole time no one will be concerned because it's not about you it's about Jesus.
I hope this helps you in your journey to explore mass. No matter what mass you attend it will be beautiful because Jesus is there.
God bless
Anita
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