Today, I went to Mass.
I like going to Catholic Mass.
I have no intentions of converting to Catholicism, I don't know exactly when to stand up or sit down, I don't have the communal responses memorized, and I can't partake in the Holy Eucharist.
But I like going to Mass.
Why?
There's so much...
richness, to the Catholic faith. I think the High Church liturgy is one of these many treasures. I feel like in Protestant churches we flounder around a lot, trying to be as unpredictable as possible (though we prefer to call it "relevant," "dynamic," or "engaging") so as to emulate the Holy Spirit, and to veer away from that terrible danger of monotony and listlessness. We like to keep things fresh and exciting so we're not babbling on like the pagans do.
But in all this fantastical, state-of-the-art style of worship, I hunger for stability. And even change can become monotonous when change becomes a constant; when every week it's the same old different thing.
Chaplain Mike of internetmonk.com
shares this frustration in the lack of a deeper pattern of spirituality within evangelical churches, and suggests the Church Year as a more wholesome "shape" to orient our lives to. We emphasize our individual faith, our personal salvation, our own walk with Jesus Christ, so if the pastor isn't meeting our needs with a culturally-tailored sermon series, we can simply walk down to the nearest Christian bookstore and find something that suits our fancy.
The closest we get to a communal understanding of spirituality is having a small-group bible study or possibly the once-a-quarter observance of Communion. There's no deep undercurrent that moves us along together; nothing that ties us in so that we are of one heart and one mind. Nothing bigger than ourselves, nothing that gives us an identity or a sense of belonging -- Sunday School curriculum and age-appropriate programs are hardly sufficient for our wandering hearts.
So I like going to Mass every once in awhile, because I like feeling grounded. I like the spirit of reverence. I like feeling small because God is big and the body of believers is big, not because I am overlooked in a megachurch crowd. I like the celebration and observance of the Church Year. I like participating in the liturgy, even if I fumble through the missal because I don't know the hymns or my sign of the cross is awkward and untimely -- I'm a part of something outside of myself. We're all doing the same thing together, so it's not about me. I like that.
I like that very much.
What do you like about going to Catholic mass? What do you think other Christian churches are missing in their services?
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Comments (26)
Some of us still forget what to say on occasion : )
To answer the question at the bottom, other churches are lacking reverence. I went to a protestant church a couple weeks ago with some old friends and I was immediately disgusted by the lack of reverence in the santuary. People were coming and going at their own whim, carrying on conversations in the aisle during worship, even allowing their children run unchecked around the back. It took about twenty minutes between the worship and the mesage because several of the pastoral staff thought it would be fun to laud each other's accomplishments for the year and the was a standing ovation or two from the congregation. Last I checked, the church was supposed to come together to worship Christ and be mindful of His love and sacrifice, not pass out brownie points because some guy got a record number of people to attend Sunday service.
i'm not Christian, but frankly if i ever did have to become Christian (for appearance's sake) i'd be Catholic. i find the majority of Protestant services i've gone to to be extremely mediocre and boring. i appreciate the formality, ritual and tradition of Mass.... especially Latin Mass.
i think that any religious ceremony should be a true experience... something that makes you feel as though you're in another time and place.
The writer touches on all the points that made me convert from Protestantism to Catholicism. When I first started going to Mass, I quickly discovered that the reading from the Old Testament lines up with the reading from the Gospel. I found myself yearning to partake of the Eucharist. I became a Catholic six years ago and I love every second of it. My understanding of Scripture has deepened, and I love Jesus more now than ever before.
@crystal_air@xanga - I couldn't agree with you more! The focus at Mass is Christ.
I'm Catholic and I love attending Mass.
I love the Eucharist and the beauty of the Mass. I also like knowing that the Mass has always been, and will always be, the same in its essentials.
thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!!
you all might consider reading a book by Dr. Scott Hahn called The Lamb's Supper. i'm currently reading it right now, but i understand the connection made by Dr. Hahn in the book (as well as all of Catholic Tradition since Her Institution in the Upper Room).
i pray that all of you will come to understand and appreciate the Mass and the Catholic Church as we close the first decade of the third millenium of Christianity, and may it be an era of Reunification!
did i express my thanks for this post?
At Mass we are able to participate in something which is beyond us. It is good that it is not about me... and yet lets me be a part...
I too have loved going to the occasional Mass at a Catholic church......and have felt some of those same feelings......deep reverence.....stability in tradition....etc. I also felt an affinity for brothers and sisters in Christ. That said, I could never become a Catholic because of their stance on Mary and infant baptism among other things.
I'm Catholic and love going to mass. I love the structure and the respectfulness of it, and the priest at my church usually has good, engaging homilies that make you think while incorporating humor into it. The services are beautiful, and I always feel welcome.
You sound almost exactly like me! I'm beginning RICA classes in a few weeks. The feeling that I get when I go to Mass is completely different than a Sunday Church service at the Non-Denomination church I used to attend. I feel like I become one with God each time I go to mass.
@feelslikejuly@xanga - WONDERFUL! If you ever have questions about what you are or are not learning in RCIA, please feel free to message me! God bless you!
@JimBob - If you have questions about Mary or infant baptism, please feel free to message me any time (though it might be a few days since my internet is spotty for the next week or so). You might be surprised what you'll learn!
Wonderfully stated! So refreshing to hear that from someone who isn't even Catholic. Many people bash the Catholic faith for the exact reasons you give as to why you like it. So many of my non-Catholic friends ask how I can stand the same thing week after week - but it's exactly that, that I love - the richness of the traditions and the consecration of the Holy Eucharist. Plus, I like that an average Catholic sermon only lasts 10 minutes. People's attention spans are not that long, and it's harder to focus much more than past 20 minutes.
But I do understand that our religion is a little more complex, so people speak harshly because they simply just don't understand. But I challenge those to do some research before forming opinions. The most annoying question I get is, "Why do you worship Saints?". We don't worship Saints as we do Christ. We ask for their prayers as we would ask a friend to pray for us during a difficult time.
What I think what other churches I've been to is lacking - reverence. I personally don't care for these modern churches with christian rock music and everything being loud. I feel like their is a time and place for it, but not during Sunday service. I enjoy prayer groups, bible studies, and listening to christian rock - but outside of Sunday Mass. So another thing I love about being Catholic - it is so reverent, respectful, and inspiring.
People think I'm old - but I'm only 25 :)
@Betsy_Emily@xanga - This is full of win.
I, too, love the structure of Catholic mass. Sure people can argue that the repetition may become monotonous, but I love that it has always been the same, and always will be. And I love the reverence of mass as well. We're all there to celebrate the Eucharist and that should be respected.
Although I will admit I enjoy some of the more modern churches which may be a bit contradictory to my previous statements...
thanks for posting this. i agree with the majority of the readers.
I'm in RCIA right now. My decision to join the Church started from enjoying Mass ;)
I'm Catholic and I absolutely love mass. I especially love the power of the Eucharist. There's an incredible love and power in the Eucharist. Really glad I stumbled upon you blog entry. :o)
I feel like mass is supposed to be exactly what Catholic mass is: a constant. While everything else in your life changes, you can count on it to stay the same. It gives you a rock on which to build your house.
I agree with everything said, and I also agree there's a certain reverence at Catholic mass that I don't see in other churches. I also believe Catholic mass-goers are more engaged. The sitting/standing/kneeling/singing is very engaging. Even having to respond to "the word of the lord" and the recitation of the Nicene Creed are very powerful engagements.
Agreed with previous comments: I love the reverent obedience especially during the moment of transubstantiation. The traditions, the meanings behind the delicate details.
To leave it unbiased as much as possible, Before I became Catholic I loved finding out that the word meant "universal". It made sense because no matter where you go in the entire world, even though the Mass can be said in a language you've never even heard of, the outline is exactly the same as any Catholic Mass in your hometown. I listened to a Korean Mass once and it made me feel at home even while being a complete stranger.
I guess its just this comfort and warmth.... Knowing that the Body of Christ is much bigger than I think and there are actually so many others that believe what I believe, feel what I feel. Thank you for posting this! :)
@JimBob - What's their stance and what's yours?
Sorry, I'm a Muslim, I'm just curious. :D
I really enjoyed this post and the comments. I'm Muslim so I can't say much about Catholic vs. Protestant services. I've visited churches and cathedrals but never during service times.
I completely agree that religious services should be about a community getting together to worship. Together. I lovelovelove that you said you like that it makes you feel small "because God is big". I feel that's the essence of all worship.
All I know about Protestant religious services is what I've read here, but it seems that both Catholics and Protestants tend to think these services have no order or consistency to them. I'm so used to the main form of worship in Islaam to being a set sequences of actions, a ritual that never changes, and so I feel that's what worship is about. I can't imagine "spontaneous worship".
@PPrincesaD3@xanga - I love your comment.
@Ancient_Scribe@xanga - And I love your comment. :D Your love for your faith shines through.
Awesome post!!!
It's refreshing to hear what Mass is like from a different perspective. I love it for the exact same reasons, but also for being able to partake in the Eucharist when not in the state of mortal sin. I look forward to it as a source of strength and love, and feel so one with God and Christ when I do. I wish more people (even Catholics themselves) would learn to admire Mass as you do. Thank you for this post!
Mass thrills me. When I was in third grade and had received First Communion, I couldn't help being wonderfully happy being a part of mass and walking through the aisles after partaking in the Eucharist. On the one hand I felt truly a part of the celebration and on the other I knew God was at that moment close to me. To this day, I can't keep that small smile from slipping in sometimes.