[Al Hitan]

Just the other night my brother-in-law was telling me about how they knew when to stand or sit during Christmas mass based on the ringing of the bell, etc...

Unfortunately, it sounds like your brother-in-law should actually go to Mass sometime. The only time there is ringing of the bell during Mass is when everyone is supposed to be kneeling.

There is always just enough wrong in these little " I know a Catholic..." anecdotes to know when they're bogus.

[TSgt]

He goes all the time.

To my point, what is biblical about standing or sitting for a bell?

[grame]

I do believe that Catholics can be as David was ‘a man after God’s own heart’.

But in my everyday world there are many who use the word Catholic like they use gloves in winter. Protection against the harshness of the elements. As in ‘where do you go to church’, the response would be “I’m Catholic”, like end of story, end of questioning. Somehow they are protected for life because of it, and additionally they don’t have to have a relationship with God and His Son, Jesus, because the priest and “Mother Mary” take care of that on their behalf. I always feel like people use the Catholic church as a wall that protects them from the wrath of God. But there are protestants who do the same with TV evangelists.

Those who have been adopted into the family of God should know the Father intimately, speaking with Him daily on their own accord.

At the rapture, I believe the church we attended will be like the husk on a planted seed, it falls away so the life inside can be revealed.

[Cronos]

Tsgt: Just the other night my brother-in-law was telling me about how they knew when to stand or sit during Christmas mass based on the ringing of the bell, etc...

Al : Unfortunately, it sounds like your brother-in-law should actually go to Mass sometime. The only time there is ringing of the bell during Mass is when everyone is supposed to be kneeling.

There is always just enough wrong in these little " I know a Catholic..." anecdotes to know when they're bogus.

very good point, I missed that -- the ringing of the bell isn't to tell one to stand or sit, but only rung at the time of Eucharist and sometimes if there is no altarboy, then when Christ comes down amongst us, we KNOW we must kneel in front of Our Lord and Our God, Jesus Christ.