What are they thinking? (The Easter and Christmas only Church-goers, that is!)

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | April 0, 2012 | Susan Timoney

[Salvation]

What are they thinking?

By: Susan Timoney

On Easter Sunday I had the privilege of serving as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at the 9:00 am Mass.  By the time Mass began it was standing room only in the church. This was not a surprise. I bet it was the same at your parish. When it came time to distribute Communion, another person and I were asked to go to a station at the rear of the church. A line formed among those standing. At a certain point, I wondered why the line did not seem to get shorter and I realized that people were coming through the doors of the church and getting in line for Communion. After Mass, I learned that indeed people were standing three deep on the sidewalk during Mass. Because it was such a beautiful day, the doors were wide open and the music could surely be heard, but how much of the readings and homily and Eucharistic prayer did people hear?

I’ve been wondering what made them stay and what makes our brother and sister Catholics who don’t come to Mass often and maybe only at Christmas and Easter come on these feasts. On the one hand, if recent studies are correct and a majority of Catholics consider themselves as “active” if they go to Mass once a month on average, then making sure you plan to go on Christmas and Easter is a no-brainer. But for those who come infrequently, why stand on the sidewalk? Reverend Andrew Greeley, SJ, a sociologist talks about the “sacramental imagination” that is nurtured in the Catholic mind and that like Baptism seems to leave and indelible mark and so even for the Catholic who is not practicing the faith, his world view is a Catholic worldview.  Another priest pondered that maybe if a person calls themselves Christian, then at the very least they see a need to come to church on Easter to “represent” so to speak!

Always welcomed

Don’t get me wrong, I love that the congregation overflowed onto the sidewalk on Capitol Hill. What a witness to the truth that the Easter story has real meaning and continues to capture people’s imagination. When I ask “what are they thinking,” I really want to know, because if we who are serious about the New Evangelization can better understand what the pull is to come to church once or twice a year than we can use that as a starting point for helping them look more deeply at their own experience. We can better able in our preaching and teaching and conversation make a more convincing argument for how active participation in life of the church will make a real difference in every part of one’s life. Fr. Bill Byrne, the pastor, in his homily said that the story of the Resurrection does not just have meaning for a moment but rather calls for a commitment. If you believe the story, you need to make a commitment—to discipleship, to Mass, to service. How did people hear that? Are they still thinking about it today?

He knows as all of us know that it won’t be standing room only next week. When we better understand the impulse to come to church once, twice, a few times a year, we can better help our brother and sisters move from impulse to commitment. Any insights you can share with me?

[NoDRodee]

I used to do that until I became a Christian.
I would only go on Easter and Christmas.

My Church only had the same people that show up every Sunday. Normal 90% of members, couple of families may be sick or Traveling.

My guess as to why?
At that time I thought I was a Christian but I wasn't. I was member of a church that allowed me to be member but never said anything or seem to care if I was there or not.
I guess you could say I thought I was a Christian because I was brought up in a Family that said they were Christians, so I assumed I was. Went to Sunday School and stuff as a kid. I would pretty much do anything I wanted and thought I was OK because I was a Christian.

I sense have learned I was wrong, To be a Christian you have to be like Christ, Let Christ rule your life, etc….

As for the Church
We don't celebrate Easter as many do once a year.
Every Sunday we remember and focus on Jesus sacrifice and resurrection when taking the Lord's Supper. As Jesus said “Do THIS in remembrance of Me” when handing out the bread and fruit of the vine.
Paul restated this to the Church in 1 Cor 11. Other passages showed they did this on the 1st day of the week.
I feel every Sunday is pretty much the same as Many celebrate Easter.
Can't find where God / Jesus / His Apostles every taught anything about celebrating Easter or like once a year so we don't do it. Not Judging others as people putting one day over another really doesn't matter unless it impacts what God does say. Example if you say we only remember Jesus death once a year and don't do it when he asked then it may become a problem. I don't think many do that, like the ones you see at Church all the time.

[NoDRodee]

I used to do that until I became a Christian.
I would only go on Easter and Christmas.

My Church only had the same people that show up every Sunday. Normal 90% of members, couple of families may be sick or Traveling.

My guess as to why?
At that time I thought I was a Christian but I wasn't. I was member of a church that allowed me to be member but never said anything or seem to care if I was there or not.
I guess you could say I thought I was a Christian because I was brought up in a Family that said they were Christians, so I assumed I was. Went to Sunday School and stuff as a kid. I would pretty much do anything I wanted and thought I was OK because I was a Christian.

I sense have learned I was wrong, To be a Christian you have to be like Christ, Let Christ rule your life, etc….

As for the Church
We don't celebrate Easter as many do once a year.
Every Sunday we remember and focus on Jesus sacrifice and resurrection when taking the Lord's Supper. As Jesus said “Do THIS in remembrance of Me” when handing out the bread and fruit of the vine.
Paul restated this to the Church in 1 Cor 11. Other passages showed they did this on the 1st day of the week.
I feel every Sunday is pretty much the same as Many celebrate Easter.
Can't find where God / Jesus / His Apostles every taught anything about celebrating Easter or like once a year so we don't do it. Not Judging others as people putting one day over another really doesn't matter unless it impacts what God does say. Example if you say we only remember Jesus death once a year and don't do it when he asked then it may become a problem. I don't think many do that, like the ones you see at Church all the time.

[NoDRodee]

Sorry for muti-post, don’t know what happened.

[Iscool]

I see that you are a Catholic basher. I know many Evangelicals who are quick to denounce my Church and get downright insulting about it. I love my Church and if you don’t, then you obviously don’t know enough, if anything, about it. You worship your way, and I’ll worship mine. God Bless you.>/i>

Your bishop Sheen was wrong...I know plenty about your church and that's why I would never join your religion...

You won't see me hanging out on the doorstep of your church encouraging people to leave...I agree with you...You can worship anyone any way you chose...

But you are not here worshiping...You are here on a public forum preaching...

Every time you guys claim yours is the one true religion, you are bashing every other religion out there...So climb off the high horse and come down here to reality...

You guys justify your religion by your unbiblical man made traditions which also tell you that your traditions can't be found in the scriptures but are of equal authority with the Holy words of God in His scriptures...All the while, ironically, those same scriptures that are void of your traditions, and you claim as your own, condemn your religion and its traditions...

And when the scripture gets posted that condemns your religion y'all scream, 'Catholic bashers'...Sorry, but it's God who is the original 'Catholic basher'...We're just showing you guys what God says since you don't seem to want to find out for yourselves...

[murron]

Stop being so sensitive. First of all, I’m not preaching. Someone asked a question and I answered their question. Another person asked me to expand my answer, and I did so. I wasn’t addressing my answer to you, so if you don’t like it stay out of it. Nobody is asking you to join my religion. If you don’t like what you’re reading, then don’t read this thread. As a Catholic I find much wrong with other religions, Christian and non-Christian denominations, but I would never try to insult someone by mocking or saying ugly things about their form of worship. I haven’t even joined in the discussions about Mormonism on the many threads that have taken place on Freerepublic.

I’m sorry you feel so bitter because the only one that’s miserable is you. I’m happy with my Church and I hold no bitterness to anyone else because they do not believe as I do. I will pray that you find happiness in your own heart and that you will stop concerning yourself about how others live their lives.

[johngrace]

Thanks!

[KittenClaws]

You kind of didn't answer my question, but that's O.K. I'm asking, for those that died under the old law that the Catholic Church set about eating meat on Fridays, are the redeemed or condemned?

If they died before the Church changed its mind, what chance of redemption did they have?

Do you see my question? Who makes the rules, the Catholic Church or GOD?

And where is the scriptural basis for the rules that the Catholic Church sets?

I am not trying to be difficult, I am trying to understand.

You see, God reveals His Word to me. I need no Pope or Bishop to interpret what God gave to all. And God, well, he does not change the rules in the middle of the game. He is the same, past, present and future - he says as much in scripture.

And I too, have a chance at redemption. I have sins that are truly “grievous unto me” I have told no priest, just my Saviour, Jesus Christ. And I have received penance. The penance of conscience, of the drive to make ammends.

I know that God does not change His mind about sin (as man or institutions will do). If eating meat on Friday is a bibically stated sin on Monday, it will also be a bibically stated sin on Thursday.

[murron]

I wish I could give you a better answer, but I answered as best as I knew how. Any answer I give you to your current question would be my personal opinion and not based in any theological knowledge. My opinion is that those who ate meat on Fridays knowlingly before the Church changed its rule committed a sin. I hate to use the word “condemned”. It is a Church rule, but the Church is our authority (those baptized Catholic) and we were taught that any rules the Church makes must be obeyed under pain of sin. God gave us the Ten Commandments, which of course must be obeyed to have any hope of salvation. Contraceptives is another Church rule which I don’t believe any other religion condemns, but those who disobey this rule are committing a serious sin. I know where you’re coming from with your questions. I think you already have your answers in your own mind and want to test a Catholic to see how they will respond in a sense to corner them. As Catholics we must obey the 10 Commandments and the additional rules of the Church just as disobeying our parents’ rules, one of the Commandments, is committing a sin.