catholic customs?

Question

I'm in a little bit of a pickle here. there's this girl that I like. We've been talking and will probably go out soon. she wants me to go to church with her. no biggie, but the problem is, she's catholic and i'm baptist. I have no clue what to do or how to act! I know behave myself (that's a given) but what do I do about the thingy... u know... spectacle, testicles, wallet, watch thing. and the hail mary? i know from hail mary to fruit of thy womb. also, is there much kneeling involved? my friend said he went to mass with his gf and he was busy admiring the architecture and triped over his gf cuz they kneel b4 entering the seats. please... HELP ME!!! I REALLY LIKE HER AND WANT TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION!!!

Answer 1

Thank you for showing respect by asking. And welcome.

Please:
+ If you feel comfortable then pray and sing with the rest of the congregation.
+ Sit and stand when everyone else does.
+ If you feel comfortable kneeling during the Consecration then do so, otherwise sit.
+ Out of respect do not to receive Communion, according to local custom, and only if you wish, you may approach the altar with their arms crossed over your chest to receive a blessing.

Here is an outline of the Mass:

+ Introductory Rites
. + Entrance (All stand)
. + Greeting
. + Act of Penitence
. + Kyrie Eleison (Latin for "Lord have mercy")
. + Gloria
. + Opening Prayer

+ Liturgy of the Word
. + First Reading - usually from the Old Testament (All sit)
. + Responsorial Psalm
. + Second Reading - usually from a New Testament Epistle
. + Gospel Reading (All stand)
. + Homily (All sit for the sermon)
. + Profession of Faith (the Nicene Creed) (All stand)
. + Prayer of the Faithful (prayers of petition)

+ Liturgy of the Eucharist
. + The Preparation of the Gifts - the bread and wine are brought forward and placed on the altar, our monetary offerings are also collected at this time (All sit)
. + The Prayer over the Offerings (All stand)
. + The Eucharistic Prayer - during this prayer the bread and wine change into the Body and Blood of Christ (Catholics kneel, visitors may kneel or sit)
. + The Lord's Prayer (All stand)
. + The Rite of Peace (We offer each other a sign of peace)
. + The Breaking of the Bread
. + Communion - non-Catholics are requested out of respect not to receive Communion, they may approach the altar with their arms crossed over their chest to receive a blessing (Stand or kneel according to local custom)

+ The Concluding Rites
. + Announcements (All sit)
. + Blessing (All stand)
. + Dismissal
. + Procession

For more information, see the General Instruction of the Roman Missal: http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/chapter2.shtml#sect3a

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Let's take this one piece at a time.

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Don't sweat it. Your girlfriend knows your Baptist, right? She has to know you are not familiar with the Catholic Mass, so there's no shame in telling her you "need help".

If at any point during the Mass you have a question, don't hesitate to ask. That why you can better understand and appreciate what goes on at Catholic Mass, especially when you are contributing.


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I have absolutely no idea what you mean when you say "spectacles, testicles, wallet, watch thing". Whatever that is supposed to mean, it sounds like you've been duped by someones inaccurate portrayal of the goings-on at the Catholic Mass.


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Catholics do not say the Hail Mary at Mass. There is kneeling during part of the second halk of the Mass, but not too much.


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Catholics genuflect before entering the pews. It's not a big deal. Let your girlfriend go first ("lady's first" anyway, right?), and copy what she does as she enters the pew.

And again, assuming your girlfriend knows you're not Catholic, hopefully she'll understand that you are not familiar with the Catholic Mass. Don't hesitate to ask her any questions. She wants you to come to Mass with her, so surely she is willing to answer any and all questions you have concerning the Mass.

Whatever happens, remember to enjoy yourself. The Catholic Mass is a beautiful thing. And, the more you know about it ahead of time, the more you will enjoy it yourself.

Answer 3

Out of respect for the tabernacle, the Catholic genuflects toward the "Holy of Holies" which is hidden in the altar. In the Roman Rite, this means they bow their heads, and fall to one knee (usually balancing one hand on the pew that they are going to sit in) at the same time, making the sign of the cross. In the Eastern Rite, they bow from the waist, making the sign of the cross at the same time. (The Eastern Rite also has a "profound" bow during Lent, where they bow completely to the floor, as they do in mosques.) This is reminiscent of bowing and showing obeisance toward the lord, a king or and emperor, depending on what your culture used to do.

Then, before mass begins, people usually kneel down and pray an "Our Father" and "Hail Mary" and a guardian angel prayer, just to get into the mood.

Then, there is a processional, usually accompanied by a hymn, the book is in the pew in front of you if you want to follow along, and the number of the hymn is posted somewhere to the right or left of the altar.

Then there is a general liturgy where prayers are said and intentions read out

Then the epistle is read, then the gospel. Both of theses are chosen according to the liturgical calendar year (I believe there are 3 cycles, but I'm not sure)

There is then a sermon, and after the sermon, in the Eastern Rite, they still have a part of the mass that calls for the doors to be closed, and all those who are not yet true believers must leave. (I've never seen anyone leave, though) However, the Roman Rite, no longer has this as part of their mass. (I don't think so anyway).

Then the Eucharistic celebration begins with the consecration of the gifts, the reciting of the creed (Nicean or Apostolic), and then, not long afterwards, Holy Communion.

You can go up, putting your right hand resting on your left shoulder, and instead of recieving Communion, the Minister or priest will give you a blessing.

Afterwards, people go back to their pew and say a prayer of thanksgiving and another hymn is sung, then the dismissal is read. Any community announcements are made, and the Priest again in procession, leaves the altar and heads for the back of the church (not in the Eastern Rite, though), where he greets the parishoners as they leave the church.

After that, everyone goes out for breakfast

Answer 4

Bless your heart ... going to Mass with her will make a pretty big impression all by itself.

Don't sweat it. You don't need to make the sign of the Cross (that's what the "spectacles...thing" is), or genuflect (sort of a quick kneel, on one knee) before entering a pew. You may feel that you want to go along with the crowd when they sit, stand, kneel, stand, etc., and that's fine.

There's a small booklet available, called a missalette, either in the pews or just as you walk in. Your girlfriend will help you find the proper place in it, and you can follow along with the readings and responses.

When everyone goes up for Holy Communion, you should remain seated. It's not the same as your Lord's Supper. You're not likely to be the only one who doesn't receive; some Catholics don't, or are unable to, for many reasons. You can go up, though, and receive a blessing -- just make sure that as you approach the priest, you cross your arms over your chest so that he knows you're not receiving Communion. He'll say a brief blessing and then you just follow everyone back to the pews.

Otherwise, the hymns and the sermon will be pretty familiar territory for you. You'll do fine. Just watch out for those kneelers while you're admiring the church's interior!

Answer 5

+PAX

If you are not Catholic, you are not obligated to do anything. You may sit through Mass or you may follow your girlfriends lead as to when to stand etc. Most Parishes have some sort of Misslette that can be used so you can read along. But technically, you don't have to say a word.

You are not allowed to receive Holy Communion. Remain in your seat during this time.

Stop worrying and have a good time in God's home,

In His love,
J

Answer 6

while you're with a non secular relatives, they are going to probable say grace at nutrients, or a minimum of, at dinner. you additionally can see a crucifix right here and there and probably (yet no longer unavoidably) some non secular paintings. Going to church, you're able to even see some human beings deliver rosary beads to help in meditation and prayer. In church, there will be some hymns, and the provider will constantly be a Eucharist. interior the racks in the back of the pews, you will probable see a "month-to-month Misselette" which includes prayers, readings and different parts of the liturgy appointed for use in the process the month in which you bypass to. it incredibly is going to be very confusing till you comprehend what website to bypass to. making a track will probable be led by skill of a choir of nuns, yet in a huge church lay human beings is often interior the choir. The sermon will usually be short - quarter-hour tops. incredibly, you stand whilst they stand, kneel whilst they kneel, and take a seat whilst they take a seat. human beings will flow themselves and work together different motions reckoning on what's being reported and performed. you are able to hear sanctus bells to call interest to particular key areas of the consecration of bread and wine. Very probably you will see incense being burned and scent the aroma of frankincense and myrrh. The incense itself is burning in a coated pot, (the sensor) it is swung from element to element to unfold the fumes around. The receiving of communion is constrained to Roman Catholics, individuals of the orthodox church homes, and particular branches of the Lutheran and a few different church homes. As a Presbyterian, you're ineligible to get carry of, so merely stay seated on an identical time as each physique else is going as much as the sanctuary. some issues, like the creeds and the Lord's Prayer, would be prevalent - connect genuine in. it fairly is approximately it. relish.

Answer 7

Don't worry about the prayers and the crossings. You need to go to catachism class for those. Just sit, listen, and be respectful of the space. Kneel, stand, sit when everyone else does. If you know any prayers from your church, you can say them quietly to yourself. Believe me, the ceiling won't cave in. Even if you don't agree with what you hear, understand that your gf is serious about it. Be mindful of her needs.

If you feel up to it, get a meeting with her priest before you go. Let him know what's in your heart. He'll help. Really.

Answer 8

Just be yourself. she would not know how to be a baptist~! You can just ask her all these question and tell her your concern, She would probably be impressed and appreciate you showing respect of the difference, etc. You are in the right track my friend.

Answer 9

“…spectacle, testicles, wallet, watch thing…”

What the heck are you talking about?

At the Mass, please try to be respectful. You are in God’s house. The Mass is a time for prayer and worship, not dating.

Answer 10

You will find the service little different from a Baptist service. Just play it by ear, and remember that any church expects visitors who don't know all the details of the rituals.