How do you do things in mass?

Question

I never been to mass before but, I do not know what to do. So what do I do?

Answer 1

Black or Hispanic women!!!!

Answer 2

You design a machine to do the thing you want to do very efficiently, and then you make many copies of the machine working at the same time.

That's how you do things in mass.

____

Answer 3

Just follow along with everyone, after a few times, it becomes an old habit.

Answer 4

You go into the church....dip your fingers into the thing of water. Touch your forehead, chest, left shoulder, right shoulder. (you don't have to do that part)

Then you go up to the pew you want, kneel in the isle before sitting. (making the sign of the cross again if you want)

Then you kneel on the pedestal thing in the pew and pray... then sit down.

Then you do what everyone else does in the mass. But when it's time for the Eucharist don't go up and get it...stay in your seat.

Or you can go up and get blessed by the priest...I forget what you do but...there is something with your hands and he'll know to bless you...

Answer 5

You don't do much.  You stand up, sit down, kneel, stand up, sit down, kneel.  Then you watch people line up for communion.  maybe stand up and then kneel and sit down.  the mass last one hour and then you go home.  That's it.  As far as I know, I used to attend a catholic church a long time ago.

Answer 6

You can speak to the Lord of your love for Him in your heart.

Answer 7

I am a non-Catholic who regularly attends mass as part of my duty as a teacher in a Catholic school.

Mass is really easy. Just do what everyone else does. No one will think less of you and most won't even notice if you make a mistake. Just don't go up for Communion.

Mass involves standing, kneeling and sitting at certain times. Just watch the crowd, it's no big deal. You don't have to say any prayers that you don't know. You don't have to sing either if you're not comfortable with it.

Catholic Mass is a straightforward ceremony. Unlike in other Christian denominations, you will not have people shaking in the aisles or calling up people to be "healed" or "saved." The priest will talk, someone will read from the Bible, there might be music, people get communion, and that's about it.

Oh and don't feel bad about not taking Communion. You won't be the only one who isn't. Nobody will notice or care. It is appropriate to kneel when the others are going up. Or if you really want to go up, cross your hands over your chest (fingertips on opposite shoulders). This is a signal to the priest that you just want a blessing, not communion. But again, people won't notice because the focus of the mass is on the priest and the communion, not on the congregation.

Answer 8

Oh, I remember my first Mass so very well. I was nervous, but I had a very nice nun helping me through it.

Before you go in, it's a good idea to dip your fingers in the holy water font and cross yourself. You don't have to do so, but it's a blessing.

When you get to the pew you want to sit in, genuflect to the altar before sitting down. If you pass the tabernacle before getting to your pew, you should genuflect or bow to the tabernacle, as well, because it contains the consecrated Host. If you're unsure about what the tabernacle is, it's easy to identify because right by it will be a glowing red candle, representative of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

When Catholics get into their pew, they don't sit, they put down the kneelers, kneel, and pray! Many of us pray the Rosary, if there's time. It usually takes about 20 minutes, longer if you're inexperienced. We cross ourselves before and after we pray.

There will be two books there. One is the hymnal. The other is the missal. The missal contains the order of the Mass, plus all the Bible readings for an entire year, as well as a hymnal in the back, and near the front, in most missals, or sometimes in the back, are copies of the Gloria, the Niaceen creed, and various other things that will be either recited or sung during the Mass.

Mass begins when everyone rises and sings the opening hymn while the priest, altar servers, and deacon enter.

Once the opening hymn is sung, the priest greets everyone, usually with "The Lord be with you." The correct response is "And also with you." If you're at a Cathedral, and the Bishop happens to be running mass, he'll say "Peace be with you." The response is the same.

The greeting is followed by the Gloria. Then you finally get to sit. There is a reading from the Old Testament. The Holy, Holy, Holy is sung. There's a reading from the New Testament. Collection is taken up (don't worry about putting anything into the plate. You're a guest. Let it pass you by.) Another song is sung during this. Also, at this time, the gifts are brought up to the altar.

There is a Gospel Allalujah, followed by a reading from one of the four Gospels. The priest or deacon doing the reading will announce "A reading from the Holy gospel according to Matthew" (or Mark, Luke, or John.) The correct response is "Glory to you, Lord," while using your thumb to cross your forehead, mouth, and chest, indicating that you wish for the Lord to be in your thoughts, speech, and heart.

The Gospel is read. The priest or deacon says "The Gospel of the Lord." The response is "Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ." The Priest gives his homily, or sermon. Then comes Holy Communion.

As Catholics, we believe that Holy Communion represents a unity both with God and with our fellow Christians. We also believe in the miracle of transubstantiation, meaning that the bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Christ. Because we believe that acceptance of Communion indicates acceptance of the tenents of the Catholic Church, we do not admit non-Catholics to Communion, with the exception of special circumstances, such as weddings, when we do admit Protestants to Communion.

Since you're not Catholic, you won't be able to take Communion. You can, however, get blessed by the priest by going up during Communion with your arms crossed over your chest. Another hymn is sung during Communion.

After Communion, there are announcements and basic housekeeping. There's a closing prayer, and the priest, deacon, and altar servers take off while a closing hymn is sung.

And that's it!

Good luck with your first Mass, and God Bless!

Answer 9

When you get there, sit and look at one of the books. Look in the table of contents for "Order of Mass". This will help you a lot. Each part will be listed. Responding to what the priest says is less noticeable than knowing when to sit and stand. Usually, in the book, there will be words on the right of the page saying, "SIT", etc. Even people who have been Catholic their whole lives make mistakes during mass so just try to enjoy it and get something out of it, whether it be from the readings from the Bible or the music. Oh, and yes, only full Catholics should go to communion. You can cross your arms across your body, touching each shoulder if you want a blessing. It looks like an "x" across your chest.

Answer 10

don't go, that's my best thought. save yourself the incense headache and sore knees.

Answer 11

Be sure to place your order for what flavor wafer you like with the priest. Go up to the altar and say that you'd like a lemon Eucharist or whole wheat Eucharist or extra crispy. They'll give you a little card to bring with you when you come to receive communion.

KIDDING!!

Just follow what others are doing and use the missalettes  in the pews to follow the musical selections.

Answer 12

Usually, it's like this:

Stand for singing and for group prayers (The Lord's Prayer, the Nicean Creed, etc.)

Sit during readings from the Bible and during the Homily (sermon).  Also, sit during Communion.

Kneel during individual prayers or as directed.  Also kneel for a brief individual prayer after Communion.

If you go up for Communion, say "Amen" after the priest says, "The Body/Blood of Christ."  If you don't want the wine, cross yout forearms over your chest as you go by the person offering wine.

My personal feeling is that, if you've had First Communion in a Protestant church, you should be able to have it in a Catholic church, but I know that isn't proper practice.  Personally, I don't think Jesus would mind.