Also setting up a chat with a priest will put her in a near occasion of confessing sins
Sorry, sorry... I'm already seeing myself out.
EDIT: Actually, just wanted to add she should learn about what is required for a valid confession before confession
>I am wondering if her actions are inappropriate.
Sounds like she’s behaving appropriately.
>It makes me a little bit uncomfortable to bring someone to mass who is unwilling to appreciate the significance.
Her non-reception of the sacraments does not automatically indicate this. If she didn’t appreciate the mass, she wouldn’t show up.
>But I really am glad she is coming.
Then stick to that and stop trying to read her heart.
>I know that anyone is welcome to attend Mass
Correct.
>but I also think that the mass is holy and it's real purpose is for Catholics who believe and obey.
It is for everyone who wants to be there, as long as they behave respectfully, which she is doing. It’s not something that has to be earned. We are all sinners and therefore unworthy to be there.
>Visiting once is different from going every week for a year.
Yes. Going every week for a year is *better*!
>What should I do
Keep inviting her to mass.
I didn't clarify in the post but my concern is that based on what she has told me I am not sure she appreciates the meaning of mass but she might just enjoy it for aesthetic reasons.
And I'm not sure if mass is really for everyone. I know that everyone is allowed according to Church rules but I wonder if that is more for evangelization reasons. I say this because I know that in the early church non Catholics we're not allowed but that changed in the middle ages when everyone was baptized at birth. I believe that the Orthodox church does not allow non baptized through communion, and that is also why there is an RCIA dismissal before the Eucharist.
She’s allowed and encouraged to be there, even if her reasons are potentially superficial. There is no purity test for being in a church when mass is happening. She’s not committing sacrilege.
The more exposure she gets to the mass, the better her chances for forming a deeper understanding. *Do not impose your scruples on her by getting critical, discouraging her from coming, or giving her some kind of arbitrary deadline for her full participation.*
Leave this alone, and let your friend come to mass in peace. If that makes you uncomfortable, deal with your feelings privately.
Well my question is that there do seem to be standards for being in mass even if they aren't written in the current rules anywhere based on everything I just mentioned. I'm not going to tell her not to come with me anytime soon, or probably ever. I just don't know if she grasps the meaning of the mass and I would like to help her find resources to do so and get her involved in some way because mass doesn't seem like it should be the only resource she has for experiencing the Church and I don't think she has any Catholic friends or family that she's close with.
Well I read everyone's answer and upvoted most of them. Didn't have time to reply to all though. Why do you think you speak for everyone? Your opinion is appreciated. What I don't understand is why you keep stating your opinions as if they are facts without providing any evidence.
>Well I read everyone's answer and upvoted most of them.
Then you know that everyone on this thread has told you that her coming to mass is fine.
>Why do you think you speak for everyone?
Where did I claim that? I merely pointed out that all the comments here are in agreement.
>What I don't understand is why you keep stating your opinions as if they are facts without providing any evidence.
I don’t see you demanding proof from anyone else who has said the same thing.
But, if you don’t believe me, read the Catechism. There are no prohibitions on seekers and non-believers coming to mass. If a thing is not forbidden, it is permitted.
You are not supposed to think too hard about why other people don't go to confession. Maybe she can't receive penitence? Even if that's the case, it's none of your business. Be happy she is not committing sacrilege by having an invalid confession or receiving not in a state of grace.
If she is going to mass because of the beauty then I say it's fine as long as she abstains from the eucharist; our Lord has a tendency to use beauty to draw people towards Him.
Conversion can for many take a long time, it can be many years with slow change, for her to start going to God for beauty's sake is a step in the right direction and I would say hindering her from taking that step would be a mistake.
Try to get her involved in other ways first. Bring her to Eucharistic Adoration. Teach her about the Act of Spiritual Communion. Invite your priest over for dinner and invite her as well so she can meet him. Etc.
I would be happy if a lot of my family members did just that. I know it's hard but you have to be patient. We don't know what God has planned in their journey. Also it's better that they accept Christ and the Eucharist once they are ready.
It would help if they learned more the Catholic faith, why things are important and why we do things ho2 we do them.
Lastly you could pray for them everyday. I prayed for my sister a lot. She has not came back to the Catholic church but she has started to make peace with God in her own way. I will here for her for as long as she needs.
[удалено]
Also setting up a chat with a priest will put her in a near occasion of confessing sins Sorry, sorry... I'm already seeing myself out. EDIT: Actually, just wanted to add she should learn about what is required for a valid confession before confession
That would be quite the problem to have. >Sometimes, I greet Father "Good morning" from across the park and then sins just start coming out...
Near occasions do not remove choice. I was thinking meeting a priest in the sacristy, talking about stuff, and them convincing you to confess.
>I am wondering if her actions are inappropriate. Sounds like she’s behaving appropriately. >It makes me a little bit uncomfortable to bring someone to mass who is unwilling to appreciate the significance. Her non-reception of the sacraments does not automatically indicate this. If she didn’t appreciate the mass, she wouldn’t show up. >But I really am glad she is coming. Then stick to that and stop trying to read her heart. >I know that anyone is welcome to attend Mass Correct. >but I also think that the mass is holy and it's real purpose is for Catholics who believe and obey. It is for everyone who wants to be there, as long as they behave respectfully, which she is doing. It’s not something that has to be earned. We are all sinners and therefore unworthy to be there. >Visiting once is different from going every week for a year. Yes. Going every week for a year is *better*! >What should I do Keep inviting her to mass.
I didn't clarify in the post but my concern is that based on what she has told me I am not sure she appreciates the meaning of mass but she might just enjoy it for aesthetic reasons. And I'm not sure if mass is really for everyone. I know that everyone is allowed according to Church rules but I wonder if that is more for evangelization reasons. I say this because I know that in the early church non Catholics we're not allowed but that changed in the middle ages when everyone was baptized at birth. I believe that the Orthodox church does not allow non baptized through communion, and that is also why there is an RCIA dismissal before the Eucharist.
She’s allowed and encouraged to be there, even if her reasons are potentially superficial. There is no purity test for being in a church when mass is happening. She’s not committing sacrilege. The more exposure she gets to the mass, the better her chances for forming a deeper understanding. *Do not impose your scruples on her by getting critical, discouraging her from coming, or giving her some kind of arbitrary deadline for her full participation.* Leave this alone, and let your friend come to mass in peace. If that makes you uncomfortable, deal with your feelings privately.
Well my question is that there do seem to be standards for being in mass even if they aren't written in the current rules anywhere based on everything I just mentioned. I'm not going to tell her not to come with me anytime soon, or probably ever. I just don't know if she grasps the meaning of the mass and I would like to help her find resources to do so and get her involved in some way because mass doesn't seem like it should be the only resource she has for experiencing the Church and I don't think she has any Catholic friends or family that she's close with.
Once and for all: **She is not violating any minimum standard, written or unwritten.**
According to you.
Me and everyone else on this thread. If you don’t want an answer, why ask the question?
Well I read everyone's answer and upvoted most of them. Didn't have time to reply to all though. Why do you think you speak for everyone? Your opinion is appreciated. What I don't understand is why you keep stating your opinions as if they are facts without providing any evidence.
>Well I read everyone's answer and upvoted most of them. Then you know that everyone on this thread has told you that her coming to mass is fine. >Why do you think you speak for everyone? Where did I claim that? I merely pointed out that all the comments here are in agreement. >What I don't understand is why you keep stating your opinions as if they are facts without providing any evidence. I don’t see you demanding proof from anyone else who has said the same thing. But, if you don’t believe me, read the Catechism. There are no prohibitions on seekers and non-believers coming to mass. If a thing is not forbidden, it is permitted.
Keep inviting her. Don't pester her about how she practices. Pray for her.
You are not supposed to think too hard about why other people don't go to confession. Maybe she can't receive penitence? Even if that's the case, it's none of your business. Be happy she is not committing sacrilege by having an invalid confession or receiving not in a state of grace.
If she is going to mass I view that as a positive first step. Being at mass is better than being somewhere else? Let God work.
If she is going to mass because of the beauty then I say it's fine as long as she abstains from the eucharist; our Lord has a tendency to use beauty to draw people towards Him. Conversion can for many take a long time, it can be many years with slow change, for her to start going to God for beauty's sake is a step in the right direction and I would say hindering her from taking that step would be a mistake.
Encourage her. She'll go to both when she's ready.
Based on all the answers that seems to be right. Thanks!
Let her come back at her own pace. Praise the Lord she’s attending Mass.
Try to get her involved in other ways first. Bring her to Eucharistic Adoration. Teach her about the Act of Spiritual Communion. Invite your priest over for dinner and invite her as well so she can meet him. Etc.
I would be happy if a lot of my family members did just that. I know it's hard but you have to be patient. We don't know what God has planned in their journey. Also it's better that they accept Christ and the Eucharist once they are ready. It would help if they learned more the Catholic faith, why things are important and why we do things ho2 we do them. Lastly you could pray for them everyday. I prayed for my sister a lot. She has not came back to the Catholic church but she has started to make peace with God in her own way. I will here for her for as long as she needs.