Catholic Mass vs Protestant?

Question

I'm in a religion course in school, in which we are examining the differences in service between Catholic mass and a Protestant service. I understand the difference between the two in terms of belief, but I am curious about the actual worship service.

More specifically, if someone wouldn't mind elaborating on the difference between being in weekday Catholic mass vs Sunday Catholic mass I would very much appreciate it.

Answer 1

As a Catholic married to a Baptist (Protestant denomination) and who attended a non-denominational Christian school for 9 years and who has gone to countless Protestant churches... I think I got this one.





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The difference can be summed up in two terms...

Liturgical

Worship



The Catholic mass is a Liturgical form of worship - that is to say, it is a ceremony surrounding the 'liturgy' aka the Bible. The one who leads this worship is a Priest.



Compare this to most Protestant services which are purely about Worship. Singing, dancing, sometimes even a bit of theatre. (seriously, some churches commission parishoners to conduct re-enactments)

If you ask for the 'worship leader' at most Protestant churches, they will direct you to the music director or band leader and NOT the Pastor.

Many of the stages in front of most Protestant churches are often times dominated by a band and not an altar or the Pastor, or religious artwork.





This comparison, albeit simple, underscores all the other differences.

For Catholics, the church is a HOLY place... a literal dwelling place of God. Where they come for an encounter with their risen Lord.

To most Protestants, Church is a gathering place, where they come for fellowship and to be inspired by God's word.

One comes for a spiritual encounter, the other for lecture and social interaction.



In a Catholic Mass, the use of the bible is woven throughout the church service. It is recited, sung, and just before the Gospel is read, all Catholics stand and SING a song of praise to God, just at the sight of the bible and anticipation of the Gospel message.



In most Protestant services, there is a time to sing and praise God, then there is a time to learn, as the Preacher lectures about this week's bible verses. People study and take notes. Then they sometimes return to singing and praising God for being so great and mighty and wonderful. Pastors even sometimes give lecture series on a single topic or book of the bible for many weeks or months.





Catholics talk about their duty to attend Church and to receive Christ through the Eucharist and the grace that they get by 'participating' in the Mass. Catholics talk about the church being THEIR church and how they can go to any Catholic church anywhere in the world and it is "their" church.



Protestants typically talk about how they 'feel' (emotion) God's presence at their church and how God's word (the bible) is taught at their church. And where they are lifted up (emotionally and socially) by the other Christians there.

And how one should go to a Church where they FEEL right and feel comfortable.



Catholics talk about 'needing' the Eucharist, the indwelling of Christ that they receive at Mass. How it sustains them spiritually, like food sustains us physically.



Protestants typically talk about 'communion' as merely a symbol. Something we do simply because Christ commanded it. For them, communion is typically once a month and is only meant to make a person 'feel' closer to God by reenacting the last supper.



Catholics believe that the Eucharist is truly Christ's body and blood. So a person who doesn't believe the same and treat the Eucharist with the holy and sacred respect it deserves should not receive it.



Protestants are OK with anyone taking part in communion, even if they don't believe at all. Because to them the significance is in one's belief and connection to God. The cracker and grape juice (not unleavened bread and wine) are just a symbolic snack.



Catholics tend to only attend Catholic churches. However, it is not uncommon for Protestants to attend 2 or more churches throughout their lives. Feeling that a certain church no longer 'fits' them and then they go off and find a new one.



Protestant church services also tend to separate children and adults, some even provide free nursery care so parents can focus on "the message" at Church while their infant to toddler is being taken care of, separately.

I've even heard Protestants say that IF they didn't have a free nursery then NO ONE with little ones would attend church.

Catholics on the other hand have a different philosophy... you keep your kid by your side and they experience the same Mass as their parents. You never send children off to 'sunday school' - their Sunday School is in CHURCH, at the celebration of the eucharist.

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Weekday Mass is basically the same as Sunday Mass. The Mass is the Mass.

There may be some superficial differences, such as no choir (cause the choir all has day jobs, typically)

Probably the biggest difference between Sunday and Weekday is who attends.

About the only people who have time in the early/mid-morning to attend Mass are those who are retired.

Working adults and school age children can't typically attend (unless those adults or children go to a Catholic school)

So most week day Masses are attended by the "gray hairs" - the 60 and older crowd. - Mostly.



Sunday services have a broader range of ages with families bringing their children.

Answer 2

The Catholic Sunday Masses are considered a Solemnity. In the Catholic Church we have different types of feast days, some of which are solemnities. Aside from Sundays, there are 8 other Solemnities (such as Christmas and All Saints Day) that the CC celebrates, and many feast days.



On a Solemnity, and certain feastdays, all of the prayers are done, usually with singing. In addition, TWO readings are done - one from the OT, and one from the NT, as well as the Psalm and the Gospel. One of the biggest differences is that the Gloria is sung and the Nicene Creed is said on a Sunday and Solemnity, and some other feast days. These prayers are not done on an ordinary weekday Mass. Usually, there is no singing, or very little, and there is only one reading, psalm and the Gospel.





As for your question about Protestant v.s. Catholic Mass, Lutherans and Episcopalians have a service that is similar because they base it off of the Catholic service, but as a Catholic, we believe that they have fallen out of the Apostolic succession, and therefore, do not have a valid Mass (AKA... the bread and wine are not changed into the Body and Blood of Christ) so consecration and transubstantiation do not take place at their service, even if they say similar prayers.

Answer 3

Which Protestant Service are you examining?



The Gloria isn't said during the week and I think they don't recite the Nicean Creed either. (Check on that one.) I believe there is only one reading, usually from the New Testament, instead of a reading for the Old and New Testament on Sundays. There's not as much music on a weekday, either, though the Responsorial Psalm is intoned or it shouldn't be used.

Answer 4

Weekday masses tend to be shorter. It really depends on the individual church. But most people are heading off to work during the week- so the mass is to accommodate them. On Sunday there are several hymns. During the week there may be one, if any, since there may be no music during the week.



Hope this helps

Answer 5

At the Catholic Mass the entire Church Militant, Suffering and Triumphant through the miracle of anamnesis are present at the foot of the cross offering the one sacrifice for all with Christ to the Father. This Sacrifice fulfills the prophecy of Malachi. At the Mass we further follow Christ's Commandment to eat His Body and drink His Blood along with His Soul and Divinity so that we can abide in Him and He in us. We adore Him and give thanks to Him. As a result the Mass is completely Christocentric.



At Protestant services they simply listen to the opinions of their pastors as to what the Bible alone teaches about Christ removed from His Church and the unity that Christ's desires. God bless!



In Christ

Fr. Joseph

Answer 6

the same mass, the weekly mass may have a short homily , no collections .

the sunday mass is mandatory for all catholic .