/christian/ - Christian Discussion and Fellowship

>>686746

You can still go without begin baptized or converted, just don't go up for the Eucharist. No one will reject you or judge you or think twice about you being there. It is very common for new faces to show up and most everyone in the parish is excited to see another warm body in the pews anyways. The more you go, the more you'll get used to the motions and feel more comfortable there, so just go and try it out.

You'll be ok. Just make sure you don't take communion by mistake.

Interestingly, in the Orthodox mass there is a moment when the priest exclaims "The doors! The doors!". This is a remnant from the ancient times when the deacon was supposed to lock the doors because from this point on only the faithful were permitted to remain. The Greek correspondence of the word 'sacrament' is 'mysterion' – a mystery. The early Christians were suposed to keep the contents of the most sacred part of the mass as a secret. Even during the time of St. Chrysostom (4th century) this old tradition continued as evidenced by his homilies, where he is reluctant to speak about this part in details.

>>686759

>>686755

Thank you. Then I'll just have to say no once the priest propose me to take the Eucharist ?

>>686772

You can just remain kneeling and praying in the pew while people go up for communion. No-one will give a second thought about it because people often attend mass without taking communion. Most would just assume you didn't do the eucharistic fast

>>686772

You won't have to say anything. Nobody proposes you to take the Eucharist. There's a point in the Mass where the faithful are called up. All you have to do is stay seated. You'll find you're not the only one who doesn't take communion. There are any number of reasons why people don't. Being in a state of sin is the primary reason. There have been many times when I didn't take communion because I had not been to confession.

Try not to overthink it. God's house is your house.

>>686775

>>686778

Thank you. Went there an hour ago, it was great although a bit sad, as we were only a few to be younger than 25.

And is it common for outside people to come and try to disrupt the communion ? I assume not, but it wouldn't surprise me that much if it were the case.

>>686782

In my 46 years on this planet I have never seen anyone try to disrupt communion.

>>686784

Oh. Well, I think he was an homeless man, kinda drunk.

Wandered about during the mass, and after communion came, he went to the priest and demanded to recieve it. Don't know what the priest said but he refused. The bum then wandered around again inbetween the sits, threatened some people and left.

>>686759

The traditional Latin mass is similar in that the first part concluding with the Gospel is called the mass of the catechumens while the remainder of the mass is called the mass of the faithful. This harkens back to older times when the catechumens would leave before the offertory ("mass" is from a Latin word meaning dismissal).

>>686785

Oh yeah? Well, I suppose that sort of thing happens. I hope that man gets the help he needs.

>>686786

… I mean, that is also true for the Novus Ordo Mass. In fact, I went to a Mass that had a catechumenate ceremony at the beginning, and the priest added that they should normally leave after the Liturgy of the Word (which ends after the creed I think?) but they can stay because their godparents are Catholics and it would be awkward to separate them.

Orthodox churches in Japan strictly enforce the rule of kicking out catechumens and the non-Orthodox after the Liturgy of the Word, though.

>>686798

That makes a lot of sense in japan

>>686759

This makes me think errors already crept into the early church. It seems completely against Christ's idea here to have "secrets" within the church:

>No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.

Luke 11:33

>>686879

But what is this light? A rationalizing teaching? No, it isn't. See the parallel passage by Matthew which explains it:

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

Therefore, the light shines mainly from the saints. Let, o, Lord, this light shine from us too before men, so that they may see the good works that Your grace does through us, and glorify our Father which is in heaven.

As for the sacred things, we have this command by our Lord:

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast you your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. (Matthew 7:6)