Catholic Church Service

No Sunday school. We dress proper. No jeans. We pass the plate around. The priest is a priest. We kneel, stand and sit a lot. We sing. We shake hands and wish people happiness and stuff that are in front, in back and on the side of us.

That's what I remember from the last time I went (last year).

Gin

The priest officiates at the mass, and Alter boys or girls assist. Lay ministers can help pass out communion and the communion wine.

Kids sit with parents, although many parishes have children's and family services which are more relaxed and involve them.
As a rule, Catholic masses are non-participatory by the attendees - you respond in the appropriate places, kneel sit and stand as a group, but it is more like watching a play taking place on a stage.

Dress varies by parish and the time of mass. Saturday evening services that take the place of Sunday (after 4 pm) can draw a very casual (jeans) crowd. Sunday early morning (8 am maybe) more formal and so would be a 10 am, Noon, well that can go either way. Many parishes have relaxed dress code in an effort to draw more parishoners.

It opens with a procession up the asle by the priest, servers (alter boys or girls) and any lay ministers. There is singing. The mass opens with a formalized greeting and has set format. There are 2 readings before the Gospel reading, then the priest gives a sermon. Then the consecration of the host, then communion, (note: many people cut out at the point since you have to get out of the pew, walk up to the priest or lay person, recieve communion then go back down the outside aisle. So easy to continue to the parking lot!) then the mass winds down and ends. The Priest and co. process out (down the aisle).

There used to be High masses and regular masses, both in latin and the high masses seemed to last an eternity. Lots of incense. And you used to have to fast (no food) before mass because you had to recieve communion on an empty stomach. Big attendance at early masses, much fainting at later ones - but that changed in the 1960's with Vatican II

pm me if you'd like more info.

*Extremely long post ahead*
I should be like a Catholic expert or something. I've been in Catholic school for 11 years and go to church every Sunday (I no longer share most of my parents' beliefs but until I'm 18 it is mandatory that I accompany them to church)

So there are two parts to the mass: Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Liturgy of the Word starts off with the opening song (you can find church songs and lyrics online. My church uses the Gather Hymnal if it helps...). The priest, deacon, and 2 or 3 altar servers process in (if you want to know what each person wears on the altar I can tell you. It varies due to the time of the Liturgical Year). Two altar servers carry candles and one carries a cross. The lay ministers also process in. At our church it's about 8 Eucharistic ministers and 1 reader (who holds up the ornate book from which they read).
The altar is decorated according to the time in the Liturgical Year. Right now it's Ordinary Time so the "tablecloth" is green.

The priest begins the mass with the sign of the cross and the Introductory Rites, which is a blessing ("The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you." All respond: "And also with you")
Sometimes a priest will introduce the mass with a kind of "speech." The opening "speech" varies and is specific to each mass. In it the priest tells the congregation what to expect in the readings.

Also in the Introductury Rites is the Penitential Rite. This is where the congregation asks for God's forgiveness for any scenes before experiencing the mass. This is the Lord Have Mercy, Christ Have Mercy part. We sing it in Latin at my church. It's called the Kyrie.
(Note: At certain times of the Liturgical year there is also a Rite of Blessing and Sprinkling Holy Water)

Then is the Gloria (which is generally sung now but some masses still just speak the words). You can find the words easily enough online it starts with "Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on Earth."
Then the priest says an opening prayer, which varies from mass to mass.

(everyone sits)Then it goes:
First reading is generally from the Old Testament.
Responsorial Psalm (all of them can be found online. They are the psalms of David)
Second reading is generally an epistle (which is a letter from the gospel directed to a certain group of people, for example: A Letter from St. Paul to the Phillippines).
The lector always introduces the reading the same way: A reading from the Book of...
The lector also always ends the reading the same way: The Word of the Lord.

(everyone stands)Then there is the Gospel Acclamation (just singing Alleluia) and the Gospel.
To introduce the Gospel the priest or deacon says: The Lord be with you. (And also with you) A reading from the Holy Gospel according to___ (here the congregation makes the sign of the cross on their forehead, lips, and heart to signify that they live the Gospel in their thoughts, in their words, and in their hearts)

Afterwards everyone sits for the Homily, which can sometimes be very long. A good priest will engage the congregation sometimes asking questions, many tell personal stories.

Then everyone stands for the Creed (either the Nicene or the Apostles. The text can be found online but any practicing Catholic will have it memorized)
After the creed is the General Intercessions. This is where the lector comes up and reads the intentions. The general form is:
lector: For the sick that they may find comfort, let us pray to the Lord.
all: Lord, hear our prayer.

That is the end of the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the Presentation of the Gifts. A family brings up the host, wine and water, collection money, and the book with the prayers the priest says. There's usually a song here.
Then the priest blesses the bread and wine, transubstantiation takes place and they become the body and blood of Jesus. The words said here can be found online if you need to know them (google search Liturgy of the Eucharist or Order of the Mass).
After the Eucharistic Prayer everyone sings the Holy, Holy, Holy and then kneels.
Then we sing the Memorial Acclamation. Then the priest says the doxology and everyone sings the Great Amen.
(the words to these prayers and songs can be found online easily)
Everyone stands after the Great Amen and says the Lord's Prayer. Then the priest grants the congregation peace and everyone turns to their neighbors to wish them peace and shake hands (spreading sickness btw).

Then everyone sings the Lamb of God while the priest breaks the bread. After that everyone kneels. The eucharistic ministers go up onto the altar to recieve the Eucharist and Wine. They are given a cup or a bowl and go to their position at certain spots around the church.
The Eucharistic song starts up and everyone processes up to receive the Eucharist (it is optional to drink the wine). When you go up you hold your hands a certain way and the EM holds up the Eucharist saying, "The Body of Christ." You respond with "Amen," step to the side and do the sign of the cross, and then go back to your seat and kneel.

After everyone receives the Eucharist the priest puts the left over blessed host into the tabernacle and sits (once the priest sits everyone else can sit also). There is either a Period of Silence here or a Song of Praise.
There is a prayer after communion that varies from mass to mass.

Then finally is the Concluding Rite, which consists of a blessing (generally priest says "Please bow your head and pray for God's blessing)

Lastly is the dismissal ("The mass has ended. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.") and the processional song. No one can leave the church until the priest has processed out.

WOW that was a long long long explanation. Probably overly detailed but if it helps it helps, if it was just a bunch of babbling that's ok because I got to get all nostalgic about my elementary school days when we were tested on the mass and had to have all the prayers and blessings memorized. Just imagine sitting through it every week. My church also has speakers every week after the Eucharist.
Sunday School kids normally go either before or after mass. Ours is in the parish school but other church may just have a classroom in the basement of the church.

Interesting that your parents can enforce religion onto you. Thankfully I found the excuse, 'I have lots of study to do, I need to use this time to study, so I can't go to church." The guilt my grades verses church meant I got out of church for the last few years of high school.

If you have to go, I recommend trying to tune out during the sermon and 'write' your nano story in your head. It's amazing how much you can plan your story during this time, and then get home and it just spilled out so quickly onto the page.

Pervert's Paradise- 2007

http://catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/Mass.htm

^ That has all the official words and such. =)

Any questions, feel free to message me. I was raised Catholic, was an altar girl, went to Catholic school from K-12, and went through a phase where I was not only very religious, but studied Theology to a pretty extensive level.

The Magician With Mob Connections

A magician is taken into protective police custody after receiving a death threat from a notorious serial killer, while he is in the midst of planning an elaborate bank robbery with an organized crime ring.

I see that some people have already gone into some pretty extensive detail of the Mass, so I won't repeat, but I'd recommend actually going to a service to see what it's like or, if you can't/don't want to do that you might be able to find one on TV. My brother has come across channels that were showing the Mass.

Also, any specific questions you can feel free to ask and I'll answer as best I can. I've been in Catholic school's all my life and regularly attend Mass so I'd probably be able to answer your questions. ^^

When people contribute money for the collection for the parish or the poor. (Usually) baskets get passed around just before Communion so people can give money. There isn't a collection during a funeral though.

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Maria
http://cosmicink.livejournal.com/
A Promise Unfulfilled '06

"…therein is in writing the constant joy of sudden discovery, of happy accident." H.L. Mencken

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Maria
http://cosmicink.livejournal.com/
A Promise Unfulfilled '06

"…therein is in writing the constant joy of sudden discovery, of happy accident." H.L. Mencken

This isn't true in all parishes. At my home parish in Montana people come wearing jeans a lot, for example. At my grandmother's parish in Pennsylvania the ushers use long baskets on poles for the offertory collection instead of the people passing a plate. And a number of parishes I've visited do dismiss children for a Sunday School-like thing just after the opening collect (the prayer after the Gloria, or right after the Kyrie if it's Lent) and then the children return during the offertory.

Some parishes don't sing (or don't for all Masses), but rather chant the parts of the Mass.

Some parishes use incense - they reverence the book of the gospels with it right before the gospel is read, the altar right before the Eucharistic prayer (and then the priest and then the congregation) and the consecrated elements after the consecration.

Some use bells - little hand bells are rung before the main part of the Eucharistic prayer and right after the consecration of the bread and then of the wine.

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Uncle Cosmo, why do they call this a word processor?
It's simple, Skyler. You've seen what food processors do to food, right?

If you don't have enough details, feel free to send me a nanomail (or respond to this post) with more details of your own.

What time of year is it? The Mass is not the same every Sunday. If you give me a date (or at least a month) and a year I can tell you the exact prayers of the Mass, what color vestments the priest (and deacon, if one is present) would be wearing and give you a hint about the "tone" of the celebration (joyful, solemn, quiet, and so on).

As one example: during most of the year, "Alleluia" is sung before the Gospel. During Lent, Alleluia is not sung at all. During the Easter season, it's part of the greeting and dismissal as well, and sometimes even some of the other prayers fo the Mass. But Easter moves around (it is not the same day every year) so I can't tell you what the Mass at St. Ipsydipsy's would be like "in March", though I could tell you about "March 2007" or "March 1987".

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Uncle Cosmo, why do they call this a word processor?
It's simple, Skyler. You've seen what food processors do to food, right?

If you at EWTN on your cable/satellite service (Dish Network I know carries it). Check it out, they usually have a televised Mass on at various times of the day. All Catholic masses are identical in form, they all follow the same procedure and on any given sudden are reading the exact passages. The only change might be the location of the church and the Sermon which is unique to the priest officiating.

Also, some colleges have (or at least used to) what are called "Newman Centers" which are basically deformalized masses for college age kids. They still follow the same format (same scripture readings etc) still have a priest officiating, but they might be held in a house or some other non-church setting and are usually very casual in nature.

Hmm, I've been to several masses where the younger kids leave for Sunday School/separate mass during the service. They leave just before the first reading, and come back right after Communion (it's usually just the pre-first communion kids).

Something I've noticed, that might just be in my area though, is that there's a huge percentage of the churchgoers who are older. The earlier services will be almost entirely retirees. There's also a lot of young parents during mid-morning to noon services, so every so often there'll be a baby who starts to wail. Many parents let their kids bring coloring books or dolls to play with, as long as they're quiet.

Yeah, Advent is coming up now, so things change a bit for that. The vestments the clergy wears will be purple till Christmas, instead of Green for ordinary time. The churches also get decorated for the Christmas season.

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Maria
http://cosmicink.livejournal.com/
A Promise Unfulfilled '06

"…therein is in writing the constant joy of sudden discovery, of happy accident." H.L. Mencken

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Maria
http://cosmicink.livejournal.com/
A Promise Unfulfilled '06

"…therein is in writing the constant joy of sudden discovery, of happy accident." H.L. Mencken

I've been to a bunch of Catholic churches over the years...soo...lemme think of the stuff people might forget:

Okay, I'm sure you've heard by now about "transubstantiation" with the bread and teh wine turning into the blood and the body of Christ, yes? One of those core things about Catholics. Well, anyway, it's a little diffrent at every church. I'm not too fond of wine, but it seems that there isn't really any specific type that they use, so long as it's a redish/purpleish color. I think it's wahtever the taste of the priest, but sometimes he'll ask the people what they like. The bread also is diffrent from place to place. Some churches like "real" bread, the kind that's made in ovens and has yeast holes and all that. I think that's usually actually broken. usually (although I've mostly had experiances in the south-eastern part of the US here) churches use this flat, circular cut-out bread about the size of a half dollar. It usually has a cross stamped into it, and it tastes like a pretzel.
The way people get to communion changes with every church, too. Some churches have ushers (yep, like at the movies) who stand next to the pew (rows where peopel sit) so that the people know they can get in line to go to communion. Usually, it starts with the first row, and the people go around the pew and circle back so that everyone ends up in the same place they begin with. Because some people don't take communion wine, it's a generally understood common curtesy that if you get back to your pew before all the people in your pew that sit before you (um....like, say the people are A, B, C, D, and E. D doesn't take the wine, and gets to the pew before C) you are to stand next to the pew and let the people go in front of you. Little kids, who haven't yet recieved their first communion, generally go up with their parents and cross their arms over their chest to signal to the priest or eccumenical minister (another person who gives the wine and the host) that they won't recieve. They get a little blessing insted. If it's a small chuch, kids won't usually do this, becuase everyone KNOWS how old they are and their status as first communicant/non-communicant.
Oh! I almost forgot!!! Okay, when the wine and bread are blessed and become the blood and body, there's this key phrase "Do this in memory of me." I'm sure you've read that, since someone linked you the mass (BTW, kudos to that person). In GOOD *ahem, bias, ahem* churches, an alterboy/altergirl will ring a bell. Sometimes this is just a little bell that's like a christmas bell or cowbell (as opposed to a jingle bell). Sometimes, they actually ring this massive bell behind the alter, like what you think of in cathedrals and Hunchback of Notre Dome and the such. But more often it's just a small bell. In recent times, some churches have decided that this is unneccecery (since the origins of the bell go back to when the mass was in Latin and no one really knew what was going on) and so have gotten rid of the bells. Please don't do this, unless your characters go to a super-modern Catholic Church. I LOVE the bells. IDK, when i was a little kid i used to imagine that they were part of the whole process, and all. anyway. Had to get on my soap box about that.

Speaking of childhoo, usually, every first sunday of the month, or maybe every other or every sunday (depending on the church), they'll have a children's mass. For my *favorite* church, back in St. Petersburg, Florida, this meant that children made up the choir and usually sang easier songs. The homily (or sermon) would be directed towards them, and the priest would call all the little kids up to him and they would sit in front of the alter and he would talk to them. It was seriously the coolest thing, ever. All of us (choir included) would rush up to him, and the best spots were the ones closest to him. If you were within touching distance of him, it was coolest, because then he'd be more likely to ask you questions/hear your opinion. However, this isn't the norm of churches, but if you want to throw it in to make church scenes last longer/endear your reader to the Mass, then it's not like, unheard of (obviously). The church I go to now calls all the kids together after the gospel reading, and they do this little procession (behind the sunday school teacher) out of the church. Then for the rest of mass, they do some bible study.

As to what you wear, most churches I've gone to don't much have a dress code. You see some girls in tight clothes that they look like they should be clubbing in, sometimes you see khakis, sometimes you see jeans. Some, more formal Catholics wear dresses or skirts. I usually wear a skirt or a nice pair of pants, or, if I'm super tired or I have to drive a long way home afterwards, I'll wear nice jeans (no rips, no holes). And always a nice top. This is for the regular mass, mind you. Dress code goes WAY up for Christmas/Easter.

Okay, well, this was pretty long, but I tried to think of the stuff that all Catholics know but maybe forgot to tell you. I specialize in South-Eastern US Catholic Chuches, but I've been to some in Michigan, California, Virginia, ect. If you need any more help, I'd be glad to tell you. Feel free to PM me!! Plus, kudos to you for trying to get the "real" stuff....lol, I tend to gloss over the details in my story if I don't know them. :)

2004: Lady Jane Grey: Escape from the Tower of London (50K)
2005: Untitled twist on Greek Mythology (3K)
2006: LOVE, or How Apathy Nearly Flipped The World (4K)
2007: 1st Person Plural, Subjective (writing like mad!)
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This year I have about

There's some great info here, and another great thread already going on ... check in over there:
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/1061297

NaNoWriMo & ScriptFrenzy Staff