Most Evangelicals and other Protestants I know of are a bit mystified that Catholics can “have church every day” – if they are even aware that we do…
When I worked downtown sometimes I attended the “lunchtime low” at the Cathedral during the weekdays – well attended by business folk on their lunch hour.
A somewhat curious co-worker of Southern extraction was surprised:
“Y’all have church at lunch?”
“Yup. We have church at lunch.”
“Every day?”
“Yup. Every day.”
In turn most Catholics in America are likely largely unaware of the daily prayers of the Roman Church in praying the Divine Office… We will save that for another post.
More mystifying still to some who think about it, is that when I speak of “my Church” I mean the Catholic Church – throughout the world, in all parishes (though I admit, some I would be more hesitant to claim!) – not just my particular parish. For many non-Catholics this sense of “availability” of multiple locations seems odd on the face of it. “Their church” is often meant to mean “my congregation” – levels of comfort in finding another congregation they could worship with when traveling (for example) seems to vary widely.
But I am curious to ask our readership who are converts: How have opportunities to participate in the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church outside of Sunday (& maybe Wednesday night) services affected your prayer life?
Non-Catholics, have you been involved with congregations that had daily opportunities to gather for prayer? If you don’t belong to a mainline denomination, how do you assess places of worship when away from your congregation?
March 8, 2008 at 7:46 pm |
As a Catholic (Roman) religious, we prayer together 3 times a day plus twice in private. It’s a busy day just praying.
Your post, SS, reminds me of when I lived in Richmond, Va in the buckle of the bible belt. I used to go to daily mass downtown during Lent. It was no problem except on Ash Wednesday when in the afternoon, my boss threatened to send me home if I did not wash my face. One of many co-workers who had never seen ashes exclaimed “That’s positively Medieval!” Alas, a cooler head prevailed and I remained in my cubicle for the rest of the day, not to show my face.
March 10, 2008 at 10:23 am |
As a small non-Catholic child growing up in Eastern Kentucky, I had an elderly neighbor who used to maneuver his large Cadillac (with great effort) out of his almost-too-small garage every morning and leave in it, only to return about an hour later. My sister and I used to make up stories about where he went on these daily trips — to meet a lady, to send a message to Castro or Kruschev on a hidden radio, etc.
Only years later, when I had my first job working directly across the street from the Catholic Church, did I learn the real destination. The old fellow (who was still alive and still had the same Cadillac!) went to Mass every morning.
I never understood why people (Catholics?) went to church to pray. After all, God is everywhere (I surmised). Why go to Church to pray to him?
Now I know why. Because, in a very Real sense, He is There!!
Catholicism is reformatting my brain ;-).
March 12, 2008 at 5:21 am |
“My sister and I used to make up stories about where he went on these daily trips — to meet a lady, to send a message to Castro or Kruschev on a hidden radio, etc. “
That one made me laugh out loud!
March 14, 2008 at 3:21 pm |
“But I am curious to ask our readership who are converts: How have opportunities to participate in the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church outside of Sunday (& maybe Wednesday night) services affected your prayer life”
Daily Mass was one of the things (there were many) that intrigued me, and lured me, to the Catholic faith.
I remember at one of my jobs, there was a man, who was as close as I could come to a living Saint. And I said to myself, how does he do it? What does he have that I don’t? So, I followed him to a 7AM Mass.
It was beautiful. So solemn, so contemplative. the people there were those who WANTED to be there, not those who HAD to be there. People stay after and pray silently, or just adore the Lord in the Tabernacle
It is soooo much different than a Sunday Mass. People stumbling in late, leaving right after they gulp down Jesus, are chatty, no fussy babies crying and kicking the back of the pew behind you, and don’t forget the demolition derby in the parking lot after Mass. I was a bit crestfallen in RCIA to hear that going to a daily Mass does not fulfil the Sunday obligation, as I enjoy daily mass so much more than Sunday.
As a convert, it has caused some friction with my cradle Catholic girlfriend. She is dumbfounded that I am I am a daily communicant. Before she met me, she was a C&E Catholic at best. She would say, why DO you go daily? I answered, because I CAN!
Not in a negative sense, but as a Protestant, Church was 1 hour on Sunday, and you might linger an hour more for fellowship and coffee in the vestry, and maybe a bible study on a weeknight, but that was all that was offered. In the Catholic faith, you can have “church” as you say every single day. And add to that perpetual adoration, you can have “Jesus” all day, every day.
Also, having Mass available to me daily is important because, after my journey of discernment, and a moment of profound Grace, I realize, what we is REALLY HAPPENING at the Mass, and what IS REALLY PRESENT in the eucharist, and I want to be a part of that any, and every time that my schedule allows.
This is one thing that I have had a lot of “adjustment” to deal with with my fellow Catholics, when they tell me they go to Mass “when they can,” and they “don’t get anything out of it.”
Sorry for the rant, but you did ask.
March 14, 2008 at 3:24 pm |
PMG,
Not a rant at all! It was very fascinating to read.
March 14, 2008 at 4:12 pm |
Rant?
Not hardly!
David I think we may have a new “Com Box Hero” here…