Midnight Mass

24 Dec 2010

Good morning one and all! I woke today with a thought. I would really like to to midnight mass just for a nice sing along. Now am I alone in this thought or is this something that is still a common practice in your household? I know its snowing and cold but you could get all your neighbours together for a sing song if you cannot get to the church on time lol

24 Dec 2010

We'll be going to midnight mass Corrie. At 7 o'clock! confused

Yeah, I know, go figure. dunno

S'pose it'll be midnight somewhere in the world. It's all relative. ;)
I used to quite enjoy yer proper midnight mass, watching the drunks sneak in once the pubs had kicked out propping themselves up on the back wall and desperately trying not to be noticed, knowing we'd be allowed to open just one present when we got home. I don't believe in the big man in the sky at all, but have to say the full-on Catholic mass at Leeds cathedral is really quite moving.
Merry Christmas to you and yours by the way. kiss

N x x x ;)

24 Dec 2010

Quote by neilinleeds
We'll be going to midnight mass Corrie. At 7 o'clock! Yeah, I know, go figure. S'pose it'll be midnight somewhere in the world. It's all relative. ;)
I used to quite enjoy yer proper midnight mass, watching the drunks sneak in once the pubs had kicked out propping themselves up on the back wall and desperately trying not to be noticed, knowing we'd be allowed to open just one present when we got home. I don't believe in the big man in the sky at all, but have to say the full-on Catholic mass at Leeds cathedral is really quite moving.
Merry Christmas to you and yours by the way.
N x x x ;)

Same here to be honest neil.
It wasn't until the Pope's visit earlier in the year that I came to realise one big difference between the Catholic church arrangements and those of the other Christian faiths. When a service is in progress say, in a CofE or Methodist/Non Conformist church, the doors are closed to exclude others attending whereas in the Catholic faith, the Church is always open and people can come and go as they please during a service such as Mass - hence your memory of the drunks seeking sanctuary (and perhaps some divine forgiveness) before heading home to face the music (images of Florrie Cap armed with rolling pin and hairnet come to mind).

24 Dec 2010

lots of churches in town now do midnight mass at 8pm. my parish church is still , mam and I considered it but given how bad the snow is here we are passing on it. I have fond memories of going as a child and the fab feeling of community

24 Dec 2010

The ones around here seem to be midnight. I would like to go earlier so will keep looking. Same here Earthchild, the community spirit makes it worthwhile
Neil seasons greeting to you both xxxxxxx

24 Dec 2010

Quote by GnV
It wasn't until the Pope's visit earlier in the year that I came to realise one big difference between the Catholic church arrangements and those of the other Christian faiths. When a service is in progress say, in a CofE or Methodist/Non Conformist church, the doors are closed to exclude others attending whereas in the Catholic faith, the Church is always open and people can come and go as they please during a service such as Mass - hence your memory of the drunks seeking sanctuary (and perhaps some divine forgiveness) before heading home to face the music (images of Florrie Cap armed with rolling pin and hairnet come to mind).

That's because they are do bloomin' long. And, until recently, in Latin. biggrin

I went to a Catholic weedding once - 3 hours it was - 3 bloomin' hours - in Latin. Sis and I played noughts and crosses through most of it.

24 Dec 2010

Quote by foxylady2209

It wasn't until the Pope's visit earlier in the year that I came to realise one big difference between the Catholic church arrangements and those of the other Christian faiths. When a service is in progress say, in a CofE or Methodist/Non Conformist church, the doors are closed to exclude others attending whereas in the Catholic faith, the Church is always open and people can come and go as they please during a service such as Mass - hence your memory of the drunks seeking sanctuary (and perhaps some divine forgiveness) before heading home to face the music (images of Florrie Cap armed with rolling pin and hairnet come to mind).

That's because they are do bloomin' long. And, until recently, in Latin. biggrin

I went to a Catholic wedding once - 3 hours it was - 3 bloomin' hours - in Latin. Sis and I played noughts and crosses through most of it.
Foxy I understand where your coming from after having been to a traditional Greek orthodox wedding service what made things worse was that after going through it in Latin they then went on to do it again translated in to English OMG! I though they were going to celebrate their first anniversary in the same service. In saying this the reception afterwards made it well worth the numb bum.

24 Dec 2010

I have never been to midnight mass. Every year I say I'm going to go but by the time I've peeled all the sprouts, I cant be arsed!! lol

24 Dec 2010

Quote by flower411
Having sung in the choir for a few years the thought of midnight mass doesn`t move me at all ......but I must admit I`ve never heard of the closed door policy mentioned earlier !!
Is that new ?

No flower... has been that way for centuries. You will usually find the Church doors being closed at the commencement of the service in all but Catholic churches.

25 Dec 2010

Quote by GnV
Having sung in the choir for a few years the thought of midnight mass doesn`t move me at all ......but I must admit I`ve never heard of the closed door policy mentioned earlier !!
Is that new ?

No flower... has been that way for centuries. You will usually find the Church doors being closed at the commencement of the service in all but Catholic churches.
I've known a number of protestant churches and none of them would ever stop people coming in (or out) any time during a service. If the doors are shut it's usually to keep out the draught, as many churches, especially old churches, are notoriously difficult to keep warm!

26 Dec 2010

Quote by MikeNorth
Having sung in the choir for a few years the thought of midnight mass doesn`t move me at all ......but I must admit I`ve never heard of the closed door policy mentioned earlier !!
Is that new ?

No flower... has been that way for centuries. You will usually find the Church doors being closed at the commencement of the service in all but Catholic churches.
I've known a number of protestant churches and none of them would ever stop people coming in (or out) any time during a service. If the doors are shut it's usually to keep out the draught, as many churches, especially old churches, are notoriously difficult to keep warm!
I think you're right about that Mike. However, the whole congregation looks round as someone comes in late and the door slams behind them which is a bit discouraging lol

My point was not that people are excluded, more that the Catholic church has a much more "open door" type arrangement as a community with people wandering around the cloisters and aisles observing proceedings whilst a service is in progress which is not what you would find in the protestant churches.

27 Dec 2010

Midnight mass at 8pm is not midnight mass. I always thought one of the attractions of going was that it was late at night and didnt interfere with arrangements. In years gone by my Mum said the men or woman went to midnight mass so they didnt have to do mass on Christmas day.