Have you ever been to a catholic mass even though you aren’t Catholic?

[smahala1991]

I went to one this morning just to be curious. I was raised up Southern Baptist/ Non denominational, but I kinda had a little culture shock going to mass. I never realized there was a lot of Standing, kneeling, and sitting. I was surprised there was no long sermon, then they were waving this lantern thing around and had this wand with water sprinkling people. It was just different to me. I just mostly observed. I noticed the service was a lot more somber and serious than most Protestant services.

[BCRanger10]

I have been Catholic since I was baptized.

If there was smoke coming out of the "lantern" you're talking about, then that was what is called either a censer or a thurible. It's used for incense, the use of which in worship goes back to the book of Exodus; approximately 3,300-3,500 years.

The "wand" was what we call an aspergillum. It's used to sprinkle holy water on the congregation. We use holy water for, among other things, recalling our baptism, which Our Lord Jesus Christ said is how we are to be reborn; a man must be "born again by water and the spirit" (John 3.3).

And yes, a Catholic Mass will be much more somber than other church services. There are many reasons for this. The main reason is because the Mass is, according to the Church, the marriage of the Last Supper and Calvary. For another, quite simply, a more somber ceremony will help those attending enter more deeply into these divine mysteries, and to ingrain a greater sense of awe and reverence before God. A being of infinite authority, power, beauty, and majesty rightly and justly requires reverent liturgical worship, rather than sporadic and emotionally-charged gatherings.

I could say more about the paragraph above, but I don't want to overload you, as I fear I may already have in some ways.

Was it a traditional Latin Mass (was the priest facing the altar, was everything in Latin, etc.) or was everything in English?

[smahala1991]

All was in English

[BCRanger10]

Got it. Was the church itself nice? Or did it look like a common auditorium?

[smahala1991]

It was nice, lots of candles and statuary

[Alexandrubaschet08]

No and i will never do so.
I'm Orthodox, going to a Chatolic or Muslim ceremony is a big "no no no".
Also in Orthodoxi we spent around 4-6 hours even only on your knees, almost motionless/no moving or changing position.
Women cover their hair, with a scarf or just wear a hat or even a cap, women must have their head/hair covered.
In my country there are no benches to sit on, only a few rigid side chairs for the very elderly and needy, the rest of the crowd, women and children and men stand/kneel from the beginning of the service to the end.
Confession is done at the feet of the priest kneeling in front of him, we are covered with his cloak and we confess, in Catholics and I have not heard that there are special rooms where you pay and then confess.
Donations with us Orthodox are at our discretion, and when I was with the Greeks they were more direct by sending a basket from hand to hand. (I did not have cash and I felt embarrassed). In Romanians you have a mercy box in a visible place in the church (a small box where you donate whether you want to or not). The church is supported by the state in Romania, so young people and I are against donations, especially because of the corruption that has reportedly increased in recent years.
I like that we don't have a too great leader like the pope and that all priests are equal before the faithful and among themselves (corruption says otherwise).

[NoDecision]

Catholics are a bit different than a Protestant. The Catholics also have a very checkered past by the things they did in the name of Jesus, such as the Crusades, taking Indian children from their parents to teach them their religion in their schools, and killing those children who didn't buckle down. I could go on.

[IslaTheWitch]

I was raised as Catholic... I know how the Catholic mass looks like... but I haven't seen any other so I can't compare :D

[DryGermanGuy]

Yeah, a few times as companion/guest of a catholic family. They do have the nicest churches!

[smahala1991]

It was really beautiful

[Red_Arrow]

I attended the marriage of a friend in a Catholic Church. Had no problem following the service as it was extremely similar to the Episcopal Church service. Friends even thought that I must be Catholic since I was in sync with it all.

[jahaims]

When I was younger I went to many different places of faith to observe the different cults.

[spartan55]

If you want to expand on that experience attend a Catholic wedding...😂 😂 Settle in though, they are... lengthy to put it nicely.

[strateguy632]

Yes for curiosity. SINGING was nice but boring.

[BonzoInBitburg]

My wife is Catholic and we go to mass semi regularly

[Anonymous]

No, I've never been on any kind of mass. I usually avoid religious events.

[Agape93]

Yeap, before and after my time in the pedo church.

[Agape93]

Granted afterwards was mostly just to desecrate the tabernacle

[Account]

Nope.

[Pterodon]

Nope

[msc545]

Yes..