I have attended Catholic mass and find myself quite comfortable, except for the differences in rituals and the elevation of Mary rather than Jesus.
If fact, in the Methodist ritual, the "Holy Catholic Church' is given a lot of praise.
It was my opinion that the Methodist's do have a Wesleyan branch that I frankly am not at all familiar with.
But really, I see only these aforementioned differences between what I experience in todays UMC and todays Catholic Mass. At least the ones I have attended.
Many of the Methodist churches have abandoned even that. My grandfather-in-law was a Methodist minister, and a very holy and good man too . . . but his church didn't even use the liturgy in the back of the Methodist hymnal. It was a pretty standard Protestant service, with the sermon rather than the Eucharist being the center of the worship service.
Where in the Mass is Mary elevated over Jesus? I ask this as a Catholic who doesn't and has never seen that. Am I missing something?
When did you see "the elevation of Mary" during Holy Mass?
Jesus merits worship. Mary merits veneration.
Mary said, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed" (Luke 1:47-48)
I understand that this thread is old, but I've been directed here and asked to post a link to the United Methodist Communion Liturgy. For any who might be interested in seeing what the primary Eucharistic Liturgy in the UMC looks like, here it is:
http://www.revneal.org/communionlit1.html