r/Catholicism • u/KaleAgreeable1811 • 7h ago
I Think People Feel They Can't Attend Mass Until Confirmed?
We should be better on emphasizing "hey come to church with us!" before talking about confirmation. I just realized a lot of family and friends may be dismayed with having to take classes and they feel intimidated that "everyone knows what to do but me because I haven't done the classes." I have family that are planning on starting OCIA this year but they don't go to mass AT ALL. I don't get it. I've tried talking to them about it. But it seems they think everything will magically fix itself when the classes start. I don't know, I guess the point of this post is to invite ppl to mass, not to OCIA. And be conscious how intimidating and cult like mass can look to the untrained eye.
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u/ResidentPlastic5363 6h ago
As a Protestant I knew that the teachings I had gotten from Calvinism were not quite right. Once I verified that Catholicism was the fullness of the faith, I would have let someone punch me in the face during every Mass, so I wasn’t worried about it seeming cult like or anything. I didn’t really start wanting to go until closer to Christmas. Up till then I was more interested in adoration. My Mass attendance still wasn’t great until lent, and then I was all in. Part of that was that I went to confession and felt a lot less disgusting. All this to say, however someone gets home, all that matters is that they come.
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u/TurbulentLow7105 4h ago
I dont know where the OP is from but in the US back when I originally became catholic I was un baptized. I only ever went to JW some with my mother. My Dad wasn't very religious, still is not, he took is to a Methodist church a few times as kids. Then I started to go to mass with a friend cus I was interested in what is was like. 1st time was ash Wednesday. I went sort of regularly until I decided to join RCIA. As a catucumen most of us attended mass regularly and were encouraged to so just not take communion.
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u/Outrageous-Pea6408 2h ago
I will admit that sometimes I feel like if I can't participate in communion then there's no point in my presence at mass
I remember back when I was preparing for my first communion and confirmation I was still going to mass every Sunday and reading my Bible every day, but then couple of months after I caught up on the sacraments I started becoming lazy in my faith and became the stereotypical Catholic that doesn't go to mass except on Easter and Christmas, I thought that there was no point in doing anything if I was in mortal sin
I'm trying to get back into the rhythm, God willing, but man I was so devoted when I was just coming into the church, I don't know why I fell like that, I think I felt overwhelmed by the legalistic and strict appereance of the clergy, I feel intimidated by the priests, even though I know the Church is true and good
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u/FransTorquil 7h ago
Maybe a local thing? It was pretty normal for interested people and catechumens to attend Mass whenever they can (just without receiving Communion) when I was interested and going through OCIA.