Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings

For many people who have not received the proper religious upbringing, going to church can be difficult. Anyone can attend Catholic Mass, but there are a few things that need to be clarified that may not be clear to ordinary observers.

Steps

1. 1 Understand that Catholicism differs from other beliefs in terms of practice and attitudes. Catholic services typically include the following:
   • Reading three paragraphs from the Bible, one of which refers to the Old Testament
   • Receiving Holy Communion
   • Singing no more than four hymns if it is a solemn mass
   • Sometimes parts of the hymns are sung in Latin.
   • Sermon
2. 2 Come a few minutes early. You will feel more confident if you can come (but preferably come) to church five minutes early. Go to the main entrance and if you see people picking up songbooks or flyers, do the same.
3. 3 You may see people kneeling (kneeling on the right knee) or bowing (if their knees are injured) towards the altar (table in front). If you are not a Catholic, feel free not to. Catholics believe that God is literally present at the Eucharist in the prayer room, which is usually located behind the altar. Kneeling is simply a sign of deep respect for God and the holy communion.
4. 4 You can sit in any row you like. It is best to sit closer to the altar so that you can see what is happening, or you can also sit closer to the aisle. If you are taking notes (for example, for study), it is best to sit closer to the aisle.
5. 5 Look for a number board somewhere in the front of the room. These numbers correspond to the numbers on your songbook. Join the singing; chances are that the church needs your voice.
6. 6 In the front rows, you may see several books. Usually there are two kinds of books: songbooks and prayer books. With songwriters, everything is clear anyway: turn to the right page and sing. As for the prayer books, the order of the Mass begins with the word "Mass" (the order of reading and the reading itself are the same for each Mass). It all depends on the day on which you attended Mass (readings, prayers, and so on will correspond to this day).Catholics call the service "Mass"; this word comes from the Latin missa, which means to be sent. Catholics go to church to be sent into this world.
7. 7 As soon as Mass begins, sit down and enjoy. This process does not bring any stress. You can kneel, stand, sit, or bow if the congregation of the church does so, but do everything without any effort. It is recommended, however, to stand when the congregation is standing and sit when they are sitting or kneeling.
8. 8 At some point, the priest will say: "Let's be reconciled to one another in the name of the Lord." Usually a sign of reconciliation is a light shaking of hands, accompanied by the phrase "Peace be with you."
9. 9 Prepare for the sacrament. The sacrament can be stressful if you haven't planned it. Only Catholics who regularly attend services can receive communion. Just stand in a row, but so that you can pass other people. If the aisle is too narrow, just stand (which is why it is better to sit closer to the edge of the aisle) to let people in for communion.
10. 10 Appreciate the beauty of the church After Mass, you can freely walk around the church for a few minutes and see the beautiful images in the church. These images and icons are not idols at all. Catholics concentrate on prayer to God, looking at the image of God, which helps them ask the Lord for help in prayer.
11. 11 You can take the booklet to read it later; you can also say hello to the priest after the mass. Most of the priests are very friendly and happily shake hands and talk to the parishioners.

Tips

• If you accidentally stand in a row to receive the sacrament, don't panic. Simply cross your arms in an X shape over your chest with your hands in a fist touching your shoulders. All the priest does is bless you and you don't need to say anything.
• Feel free to greet the priest after Mass if he is not in the church. Befits always call the priest "Father" even if you do not know his first or last name. Just thank him and tell him you came to Mass. If he starts a conversation, don't feel stressed, just know that his job is to make everyone feel welcome to the church.
• If you want to become a Catholic, talk to a parish priest who can give you the contacts of the right people and help you find your own way in this religion.
• Visit different churches and observe how they differ in architecture, demeanor and religious practice. Also note the similarities for yourself. You can learn a lot if the church has a rich cultural heritage.
• Some of you may be lucky enough to go to Mass in Latin or the one where Gregorian chants take place. At the back of the church, you may find a prayer book containing translations from Latin to help you understand what is at stake.
• In Catholicism, you can discover all the truths that Jesus Christ wanted to reveal to people and find peace.
• In many parish churches in English-speaking countries, non-parishioners (not practicing Catholicism) can go to the sacrament and receive a blessing. If you want to receive a blessing, stand in a row and go to the priest, and then cross your arms over your chest. The priest will see crossed arms, and even if he is in a hurry, he will sanctify you with the sign of the cross. Perhaps he will do it over your forehead. This practice is controversial, as it is not part of the official order of the Mass. Again, if you feel uncomfortable, or if you are not sure what you are doing right, just stay in the aisle.
  
  

Warnings

• Don't go to Holy Communion if you don't practice Catholicism on a regular basis.