what do u do in a catholic church?

Question

like when u go in and than sit, what hapens first and wat goes on inside. who reads and who participate. when do u say amen

Answer 1

This can be found at the USCCB website with all the explanations for the whens and the whys, but basically it follows this basic structure.

A. The Introductory Rites

The Entrance
Greeting of the Altar and of the People Gathered Together
The Act of Penitence
The Kyrie Eleison
The Gloria
The Collect


B. The Liturgy of the Word

Silence
The Biblical Readings
The Responsorial Psalm
The Homily
The Profession of Faith
The Prayer of the Faithful


C. The Liturgy of the Eucharist

The Preparation of the Gifts
The Prayer over the Offerings
The Eucharistic Prayer
The Communion Rite
The Lord's Prayer
The Rite of Peace
The Fraction
Communion

D. The Concluding Rites

Answer 2

Much of what others have answered is true. As for who participates, well the priest of course and then there are others. Some people who help the priest are:

Altar servers - usually these are children who help the priest do things. They bring him the bible and also the "gifts" which is the eucharist and wine which will be used during the mass.

Eucharistic ministers - people who've volunteered to assist the priest in handing out the "bread" and "wine" towards the end of the mass.

There are other people too who will do the readings during the mass. Most churches will also have people who can be up front to help lead in the singing of any hymns.

During the mass there are many prayers said, or course. Otherwise the structure is usually. Prayer, reading, responsorial psalm, reading, gospel (said by the priest). A sermon by the priest, then all say a prayer called "the creed", collection of $, then the priest will sort of enact the last supper and eat the bread and wine himself, then it's the "Our Father" (prayer), a sign of peace to one another, and then time for eucharist (people receive communion), soon after that he blesses all assembled and a hymn is played as the mass concludes.

In our church there are refreshments available on the way out on an honor system free-will offering. Yum.

Answer 3

oh man, i used to have that memorized.

opening prayer.
you stand, cross yourself.
you sit for the first reading.
at the end you say whats written in the misselette
you sit for the song.
sit for the second reading.
say what's in the misselette.
then you sing the hallelujah, standing up.
then the priest gets up to the podium to read the gospel, you stand.
this is when you touch your forehead, lips, and heart with your thumb and say "glory to you lord".
after the gospel you sit and listen to the homily.
(at this point most catholics space out)
then you get ready to go to communion.

i forget the exact order, but you say the our farther, a few other prayers, and right before communion you kneel for the "lamb of god deal" they repeat this 5 times i think.
then i think is when you do the whole peace ie. shaking hands thing.
when the priest holds up the wafer you kneel, the alter boy rings the bell, the priest eats the host, then everyone gets up to go to communion.
if you don't go, you sit and wait.
you can only leave when they start singing the song.
after the peace be with you go love and serve the lord.

hope that helps a bit.
i haven't been to church is years, but this is what i remember.

Answer 4

In addition to all the outlines above, I suggest you come and see.

Visit a Catholic church on a Sunday. If possible, go with a Catholic friend who can help explain things.

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

to one side of the door will be a bowl of Holy Water, dip your index finger in it and make the sign of the cross; proceed to a pew and genuflect (go very briefly to one knee); find a place to sit and look on the back of the pew in front of you there will be a small "magazine" called a Missile and it give exact instructions for what to do and say at what phase of the mass for that month by date.

Answer 6

Every sunday there are televised catholic masses on TV. Just tivo one and watch it. They are almost exactly the same word for word in every church. Good luck.

Answer 7

i do nothing. the last time i went to church was for my 7 year olds coummunion, despite me being an atheist. what i did was try my best not to laugh outloud at peoples beliefs (no matter how foolish they are)

Answer 8

You sit, stand, kneel, stand again, sit again, over and over until your legs are going to fall off.

Answer 9

Just do what everyone else is doing. It is a religiion after all.