Went to Catholic church, have some questions...?

Question

1. Where were the nuns??
2. Why did the priest kiss the tablecloth?
3. What was the gold shiny book he had?
4. Where were the alter boys??
5. The preist poured some holy water (I think) into the wine before communion. Why?
6. How did everyone know what to say at all the appropriate times??

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

You asked some really good questions!

1. I bet there were nuns there- many orders no longer wear habits, so they are harder to spot....I LOVE nuns in their habits! What a witness!

2. The priest kissed the ALTAR. Catholic altars contain relics of martyrs ( small pieces of bone), because the early Church had to hide to say Mass when Christianity was illegal. They hid in the catacombs and said mass using the tombs of the martyrs as the altar. We remember this, and the priest kisses the altar as a sign of respect.

3. The gold shiny book---could have been either the book of the Gospels ( containing the specific Gospel readings for each Sunday.) or the Sacramentary. the sacramentary contains all the additional prayers. It seems complicated in it's setup, but it is a really cool book.
BTW- did you know that every Catholic Church in the world reads the same readings on the same day?

4. Acolytes ( technical term for altar servers) can be male or female, adults or children....and they really are optional. They are there to assist the priest- bring him the things he needs to celebrate Mass. They assist, and make Mass go much more smoothly when they are there and know what they are doing.

5. That was just tap water he poured into the wine before he began the prayers of consecration. It recalls the water and blood that poured from Jesus side when he was lanced.

6. Believe me, when you grow up Catholic, you just know! My youngest went to daily Mass with me and could say all the Mass responses when she was barely THREE! Whoever brought you to Mass should have shown you how to follow in the missal....I try to watch for obvious non Catholics- especially at weddings and funerals and help them follow along.

Answer 2

1. Most religious sisters (nuns) no longer wear habits so it is much harder to tell who they are.

2. The General Instruction on the Roman Mass (GIRM), section 49 states:

When they reach the sanctuary, the priest, the deacon, and the ministers reverence the altar with a profound bow. As an expression of veneration, moreover, the priest and deacon then kiss the altar itself; as the occasion suggests, the priest also incenses the cross and the altar.

The altar symbolizes the heart of the church. It is the Lord's Table and the center of the Eucharistic action. It has always been considered a symbol of Christ. That is why we cover the altar with a cloth, out of reverence for the celebration of the memorial of the Lord's sacrifice.

To kiss the altar is to kiss Christ.

Now, by this kiss, the priest also signifies the union of the Spouse (Christ) with his Bride (the Church).

3. There are two books used by the priest during the mass.

The first is the Book of the Gospels from which the priest or deacon proclaim the gospel reading. This is the one that would probably have a gold cover.

The second is the Sacramentary, which contains all the prayers that the priest has to say.

4. The alter servers (male and female with no upper age limit) are optional. If the Mass you attended was not on Sunday then they may have been in school.

5. The priest puts a drop of water into wine before communion to symbolize the two natures (human and divine) of Jesus.

6. Everyone knows what to say at the appropriate times out of practice. Most have celebrated the Mass every week for their entire life although it did change from Latin to English in the 1960s.

With love in Christ.

Answer 3

I only have a few answers for you...
1) You won't see nuns in every Catholic church. There just aren't that many of them any more.
2) It's a show of reverence
3) I honestly can't remember what it's called
4) I'm not sure. It's usually really had to miss the altar boys, so it's possible that the service you attended didn't have any, though that would be very unusual.
5) It's just symbolic, because the water and the wine are both consecrated.
6) Lots and lots of repetition!!! Also, most churches have a small book in the pews witht he order of the mass, which includes all the appropriate responses.

Answer 4

Not all Christian churches have nuns at them. Most of the nuns are in convents or on missionary/aid trips.
I think kissing the tablecloth is just a sign of love and respect.
The book was his glorified Bible.
I guess not every church has altar boys.
I think some churches use watered down wine or grape juice, just to save money or to keep you from getting drunk.
These people have been going to Catholic church for years. You just learn when to sit, stand, sit, stand, kneel, stand, shake hands, sit, etc. Plus, it's in the missal.

Answer 5

HI EDDYSMOMMA, I AM 41 AND BEEN CATHOLIC ALL MY LIFE, HERE ARE YOU ANSWERS IN ORDER YOU ASKED 1. SOME CATHOLIC PARISHES DO NOT HAVE NUNS. 2.IT SHOWS THE REVERENCE AND LOVE THE PRIEST HAS FOR THE LORD. 3THE SHINY GOLD BOOK IS A BOOK OF ALL THE GOSPELS OF JESUS CHRIST. 4. POURING A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER IN THE WINE REPRESENTS THE BLOOD AND WATER THAT COME OUT OF JESUS SIDE WHEN THE ROMAN SOULDIER PUT HIS SWORD INTO JESUS. 5. THE PEOPLE KNEW WHAT TO SAY WHEN IS BECAUSE THEY WERE FOLLOWING IN THE MISSLETTE OR HAD IT MEMORIZED, LIKE I DO. I HOPE THIS ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS..... DOUG H

Answer 6

doug h basically said it all.
it's not only alter boys, there's also girls. Everyone knew what to say at the right times because they have it memorized, or they had the booklet with them. after attending church for so long, you just 'know' what to say, and it comes like 2nd nature.

Answer 7

Nuns are in the convent.
Most of the time there is a relic in the altar.
Scripture
On vacation
5?
Missal

Answer 8

The most important question you need to ask, of the priest, is... " if I become a "catholic" will I go to heaven?


Then ask one of The True Christian Faith the same about the Christian Faith

The priest can not tell you if you will ever get into heaven...even he dose not now if he will get into heaven.

One of The True Christian Faith will tell you that they can not tell you if you will get into Heaven either. But they will tell you that they are absolutly certain of their place in Heaven...And... That it is possable for you too to know that kind of assurance... and one of The Christian Faith will do what they can to assist you in meeting The One who can, FOR SHURE, assure you of your True Salvation.

I accept email questions concerning The Christian Faith. Or, you may check me out at:

http://www.mikesoutreach.com

All honest seekers welcome

Answer 9

I think the catholic church is strange.

Answer 10

im not sure but u better visit some religious sites