I am Catholic. I attend Mass.

If this is a trick question and we're supposed to say we assist at Mass, I do that too.

Yes ... and yes.

I'm Catholic and I attend Mass. I am also crazy because I chose to pursue the path of Director of Music & Liturgy. "You duped me, Lord!"

Mystery abounds-
What prompted asking this question on a Catholic forum?
What prompted sinking this discussion?

What prompted sinking this discussion was a belief (on my part) that this is a question that a) is not necessary, b) has come up before, and c) is not exactly nice. Nothing in the etiquette guidelines suggests that people from the Eastern Churches, those in communion with us and those that are not, are unwelcome to post here.

If there is more (or other) to this thread, perhaps that could be spelled out from the beginning.

I did put the word participate in at first, but pulled it out as that is a different bone of contention. While working at a parish I was criticized for not receiving Communion at the choir Mass, as I received at the next Mass where I was observing musicians, not working...the organist, who receives at all of up to 5 vigil and Sunday Masses each week, told the pastor I felt that I was too busy working to receive Communion and he, too disagreed.

The funniest thing was that a Tween walked up to me after Mass one night and said, "Mr. Jones, I know that you are not a Catholic, but I want to know what kind of Christian you are since you received Communion at Mass just now."

"But I am Catholic, baptised after birth in 19.."

"Oh, Ok."

Walked up to her mother who said, "What did ___________ say this time?"

This was the pastor's fault (isn't everything?) who, 6 weeks after I was hired, said, "How's the new choir director working out?" followed by, "is he Catholic?"

Pastor: "I don't know, I didn't ask, I just needed a choir director." So that's how the word went out the I was not Catholic.

Same pastor hired a grade school counselor who ended up being an atheist.


Thanks to all who responded publicly, my apologies if my inept use of the link which did not appear offended anyone.

It would be interesting to hear from those who are committed to Catholic music but for one reason or other, do not..."participate" through attending Mass.

As I'm prone to do, I'll answer the question by the citation of another, perhaps more relevant question:

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?"

Lord, I want to be in that number....

i also no longer recieve communion.

yes
as a dom i have made it a practice to provide music for all sundays including feasts and solemnities not on Sundays (there are about 38) which winds up being an average of 5 masses per week as we also have thursday eucharistic adoration which begins with Mass which I play an opening hymn and instrumental communion meditation, o salutaris, and closing instrumental procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the adoration chapel.

i think a more pressing question would be how often do you go to confession.

DR

The "institution" may or may not be supportive to the faith depending upon locale, faithfulness to the magesterium, or ignorance to its dogma and belief. More dangerous are the heretics, schismatics, and apostates who employ positions within the institution, so we cannot base our beliefs and devotion on how the institution treats us. We also must question our own thinking regularly to see if we ourselves have not fallen into any of those categories as they are widespread in our time.

7 15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. adtendite a falsis prophetis qui veniunt ad vos in vestimentis ovium intrinsecus autem sunt lupi rapaces

10 16 Behold I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and simple as doves. ecce ego mitto vos sicut oves in medio luporum estote ergo prudentes sicut serpentes et simplices sicut columbae

20 28 Take heed to yourselves and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood. adtendite vobis et universo gregi in quo vos Spiritus Sanctus posuit episcopos regere ecclesiam Dei quam adquisivit sanguine suo
20 29 I know that after my departure ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. ego scio quoniam intrabunt post discessionem meam lupi graves in vos non parcentes gregi
20 30 And of your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

I started this thread as a simple survey, which I totally failed to link to...I have no intention of people posting about their own personal situations, but wanted to give people a chance to answer the survey, which merely asks if you are RC, how often you attend Mass and if you have comments.

There are those on the list who are RC but no longer attend Mass. Those that attend Mass that are not RC. And those that are RC and worship but not at Mass.

There are those who remain RC but are working in music outside the RC church.

I wanted to be able to offer some figures to help those who fall outside the RC goes to Mass mold, to help them realize that they are part of this and they are not alone.

Of course, my failure to put the link in has resulted on one person expressing himself and members supporting him. So now I wonder who was giuding my errant typing fingers.

Diversity in this group is wide, and...if you can ignore the unfortunate reference to CCM, all are welcome.

To Don, I can only repeat the words I uttered to him at Colloquium, "You simply have to find a more elegant way to turn pages!"

How does one close the combox here?

@Noel--Chonak closes employment threads, so he would be a good one to ask to handle it.

@Chaz--How can a thread be a souffle? I call egregiously mixed metaphors!!

When I am at a mass, I am working, not worshipping. Occasionally, I can attend a mass where I don't have to play or direct anything, but that is rare. As a Byzantine, I worship at Divine Liturgy, when I can attend. Easterners don't have the communion-itis that is prevalent in the west. Consequently, I receive when I choose, not because I feel any compulsion to receive. That view probably comes from us not having daily liturgies, but celebrating Saturdays, Sundays, and holy days, only. As I think I have said before on this forum, I thought much more highly of the Church before I started working for it. That doesn't mean I dislike my job. But a certain amount of burnout sets in after all the years.