A Summary of my Catholic Experience

[_Hoops]

The Catholic Mass is entirely cemented with and sorrounded by the Holy Eucharist (The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ).
Just my take.

Peace,
Ceeboo

This can be lost in the shuffle when it comes to non-catholics who only focus on beauty.

Now I'm wondering if you know anything about being a Christian. (I know, you could say the same of me based on my behavior)

[_Chap]

The Catholic Mass is entirely cemented with and sorrounded by the Holy Eucharist (The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ).
Just my take.

Peace,
Ceeboo

This can be lost in the shuffle when it comes to non-catholics who only focus on beauty.

Now I'm wondering if you know anything about being a Christian. (I know, you could say the same of me based on my behavior)

The idea that there is some kind of disjunction, even contradiction, between the consciousness of the holy and the experience of beauty strikes me as coming from a kind of religious thinking that is hard to comprehend.

It is also non-scriptural:

Psalm 29

1 Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty; give unto the LORD glory and strength.
2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

For those who believe in a deity who made humans so that they might know and love him (I don't any more, by the way), why would it seem odd that the experience of closeness to that deity should awake a sense of beauty, as well as awe and love?

Here as in many posts by whyme, it seems that he chooses his standpoint according to the opportunity it gives him to be sanctimonious and 'rebuke' as many people as possible. I think he more or less makes it up as he goes along.

[_quark]

Jersey Girl,

A pro. Some people consider the endowment to be superior to mass so that's why I said pros and cons. Oh and yes! It did have a family feel to it.

Hoops,

I feel kind of bad for blurting that off without looking into definitions. I know it's sacred like the endowment is to Mormons.

Still, there is something to be said about how sacredness is used by the two religions. I grew up believing the more sacred something is, the more you hide it. Mass is more open than the endowment so it made me think Catholics don't see it that way.

[_MrStakhanovite]

Catholic Mass is one of those brilliant creations of religion that allows it’s participants to go beyond a mere vicarious experience of a divine event from a text to something more tangible.

[_Hoops]

I feel kind of bad for blurting that off without looking into definitions. I know it's sacred like the endowment is to Mormons.

Still, there is something to be said about how sacredness is used by the two religions. I grew up believing the more sacred something is, the more you hide it. Mass is more open than the endowment so it made me think Catholics don't see it that way.

No need to feel bad. I suspected as much which is why I did not (I hope) criticize you. Enjoying a Catholic service does require our participation, which, contrary to what some have posted about it, is a good thing. Which, in turn, requires that we know in what we are participating. I doubt Catholics would think less of me for not knowing, rather they would see it as an opportunity to explain why they do what they do.

But the Eucharist is an entirely different matter. It is not a ritual that sits alongside the others, one of many, done by rote. It is entirely unique to Catholicism and thus requires a generous, gracious person to treat the act with the dignity Catholics give it. in my opinion anyway.

[_Hoops]

Catholic Mass is one of those brilliant creations of religion that allows it’s participants to go beyond a mere vicarious experience of a divine event from a text to something more tangible.

Well stated.



For a punk.

[Guest]

For those who believe in a deity who made humans so that they might know and love him (I don't any more, by the way), why would it seem odd that the experience of closeness to that deity should awake a sense of beauty, as well as awe and love?

Here as in many posts by whyme, it seems that he chooses his standpoint according to the opportunity it gives him to be sanctimonious and 'rebuke' as many people as possible. I think he more or less makes it up as he goes along.

Actually, I have been to many church services: presbyterian service when I was a young adult. Bryant Kirkland was the pastor and he was great and said many wonderful and beautiful things. There was much beauty in his service. And they had a wonderful young adult program that I was also active in. The Fifth Ave Presbyterian church was a wonderful place to be. But I still went to the LDS church too.


The Rev. Dr. Bryant Mays Kirkland, minister emeritus of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, died on Easter Sunday at a hospital in Charlottesville, Va. He was 85 and lived on a farm in Churchville, Va.

The cause was heart failure, the church said.

Dr. Kirkland led New York City's largest Presbyterian congregation for over 25 years, from 1962 to 1987. He later served as president of the American Bible Society and interim minister at the National Presbyterian Church in Washington and congregations in Moorestown, N.J., and Malvern, Pa.

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/04/nyreg ... -york.html

In Utah, I also attend the Unitarian Church there. This was before it became unitarian-universal. Much beauty there too. And i have been to Russian Orthodox masses. Much beauty there too. And the LDS service can also be beautiful in its simplicity and many find it beautiful because of its simplicity.

But it is not about the beauty. It compliments much but going to mass is not about the beauty. It is about the eucharist.

[_Ceeboo]

Also, the adoration can be nice during the week.

For my new friend, quark (and/or any others who may simply be curious)

The adoration is when the Holy Eucharist (The consecrated Body And Blood Of Christ/Real Prescence) is brought out (usually on the altar or adoration chapel) for the purpose of people who might wish to pray, visit, sit with, or simply offer Thanks to the Lord.

There are many Catholic Churches that have this adoration (Holy Eucharist)available 24/7, while other churches have set schedules when it is available.

Peace,
Ceeboo

[_Ceeboo]

Hey Hoops! :)

But the Eucharist is an entirely different matter. It is not a ritual that sits alongside the others, one of many, done by rote.

Indeed. It is at the very center.

It is entirely unique to Catholicism

Not entirely unique, my friend.
Our beloved Lutheran Brothers/Sisters also treat the Holy Eucharist the same. (With a few minor "debates" concerning authority to consecrate and such)

and thus requires a generous, gracious person to treat the act with the dignity Catholics give it. in my opinion anyway.

Extremely well said. in my opinion

Now go and sin no more! :)

Peace,
Ceeboo

[_why me]

Now I'm wondering if you know anything about being a Christian. (I know, you could say the same of me based on my behavior)

Well, for many non catholics the catholic service is about the beauty. But most catholics who go every sunday because it is an obligation that if missed, should be confessed to a priest. it is not about the beauty. It is about the worship. In fact, most cradle catholics see no beauty at all. They were born and raised in the RCC. Do you think that it is easy saying the same routine every sunday? Now of course, they are changing aspects of the mass in the USA.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/1 ... 31908.html

And this is not going over too well. But it is not about the beauty but about the communion and other aspects of catholic life: the saints, adoration, retreats, and pilgrimages and catholic activities.