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A few times during the year, we go to a mass with lots of people attending, and sometimes the “extra crowd” of people distracts from what is going on. But at the same time, we hope that the Church is able to reach everyone.
What does the church say about those people who only come to Christmas and Easter mass?
I think they are only getting a small part of the faith. Jesus told us to be ready at all times, not just the “special or extraordinary” times. They miss all that very important stuff that takes place outside of those two masses.
I don’t understand it. It is like trying to stay in shape by exercising only twice a year.
Don’t get me wrong, I am glad they are there, but, for their sake, I just wish they would come more often.
Speaking of the distractions, I think those big masses can get in the way of actually enjoying the season. My experience has been generally in very packed churches on Christmas where it gets hot and there are all the “smells and bells” of a Catholic mass thereby making it much longer than usual.
Now, I do love Jesus, but making a mass longer when you’re wearing hot and uncomfortable clothing has got to be one of the most idiotic things I’ve seen.
As for the people that don’t come, I’d say their faith just probably has not been awakened yet and it is our job to reach out to them as well as people that have never heard the message of Jesus. Lapsed people are in just as much need of hearing the gospel as are the unchurched.
It is nice that they show, but I often wonder if they show out of “obligation” or because they are actually drawn to church by God.
I think we should offer a prayer for all of those that only go to mass a few times a year and choose not to go the rest of the year.
” title=”Smile” />What if Christmas and Easter are (for whatever reason) the only “window to Christ” that these people have? What if the only time that these people experience the faith of others is at these masses of Christmas and/or Easter?
Well, what if? I mean, what are you trying to say?
I already said that the people probably need their faith awakened.
What are you getting at?
” title=”Confused” />on a side note – this thread might sound like some Catholic elitist thread, but I assure you it is not. We think no less of Catholics that do not go to mass on a regular basis. We are a welcoming online community.
My grandfather calls them “Two-hour Catholics.”
” title=”Wink” />But I’m glad they attend so that they may feel enriched to attend every Sunday.
Our only absolute attendance requirement as Catholics is once during the Easter season. However, we are expected and highly encouraged attend Mass weekly, if not daily.
As for Christmas and Easter Mass, I have always enjoyed the Vigils. My first Easter Vigil was, I think, the most moving experience in my life.
I first attended an Easter vigil mass when I was about 17 and it filled me so much that I will only attend that Easter Mass every year. I also love Christmas midnight mass–although it is sometimes held at 9 p.m.
I am going back to Jon’s comment regarding how packed and uncomfortable these masses are. I believe that I have just enough claustrophobia and agraphobia to make me genuinely miserable at these 2 masses.( any other time I love being at mass and wouldn’t care how long it took) Its just a cross I bear-if there was a way to attend a lonely mass on these occasions with my beloved family I would.
I know the guardian angels work vigil masses overtime, more than one time I have seen that people have no idea how close they have come to having their hair or clothing set on fire with children or unobservant folks holding candles. I know that I should leave the vigilance to God and the angels but my heart and brain just don’t register that :rolleyes:
"Benedict" wrote:Our only absolute attendance requirement as Catholics is once during the Easter season. However, we are expected and highly encouraged attend Mass weekly, if not daily.I thought we were required to attend Mass weekly and required to recieve the Eucharist at least once a year during Easter, provided we’ve been to confession.
The Catechism states:
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“The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass.”117 “The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day.”118”and
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“The Church obliges the faithful to take part in the Divine Liturgy on Sundays and feast days and, prepared by the sacrament of Reconciliation, to receive the Eucharist at least once a year, if possible during the Easter season.224 But the Church strongly encourages the faithful to receive the holy Eucharist on Sundays and feast days, or more often still, even daily.”
The requirement is to attend Mass weekly, yes, but it is not an absolute. Of course, the conditions necessary to be exempt from that are all but nonexistent these days.
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