Midnight mass for the right reasons

[saxy_jag]

Daave has already asked how many of us are going to church this Christmas.

What I'd like to know is, how many of those who do, do so because they're regular, churchgoing Christians and wouldn't dream of not going, and how many go because it's 'the thing to do', and never see the inside of a church from one year's end to the next?

[JoolsTwo]

I am a regular church goer and would not dream of missing Midnight Mass. After all it is what Christmas is all about - not the drinking, eating and all the presents. Not that I don't enjoy those too.

[Scarlett]

I would feel a fraud going to midnight mass, since I am not religious. Besides, I like to be in bed at midnight- I don't want to miss Santa!

[saxy_jag]

I think you're both absolutely right in what you do. I just get a little (well, a lot, actually) annoyed with people who say they absolutely have to go to church at Christmas 'cause well you can't not, can you - all the lovely music, you know, and the kids love it. It's what Christmas is all about innit, and don't the church look lovely, all Christmassy ... These are the same people talked about in another thread, who spend thousands on their kids but begrudge giving a pound to the Sallies. They sit in church at Christmas alongside the very people they've probably been making fun of all year.

For the record, I'm like Scarlett - I'm not religious at all, and although I like some church music and indeed, church architecture, I would feel a fraud taking part in something I don't believe in.

[JoolsTwo]

I agree with you saxy_jag - I have sometimes been to midnight mass in the Bromton Oritory in London. It is packed with people just walking about, even taking pictures of each other at church. These people probably never see the inside of a church any other time of year and just spoil it for the regulars who are there to pray.

I hope you enjoy your Christmas.

[orlieborlie]

I go because I sing in a choir (not much of a singer by the way!!). I only go to mass when we sing so I guess I go because I'm committed to a group of people rather than the church. I do say the odd prayer when I'm there though.

[greenrook]

I'm a practising Anglican and naturally I go to the Christmas service at our village church. It's always much better attended than usual and I'm glad to see the unfamiliar faces for WHATEVER reason they're there. The simple fact of their presence speaks volumes. By the way, some of our most tireless workers, people manning coffee mornings, jumble sales, Lent lunches etc., the ones you can generally rely on, do everything you could expect of a good Christian except actually turn up for Sunday service. I don't know why this is and I don't ask, it's enough they do it, a bit like the once-a-year Midnight Service people

[saxy_jag]

Well of course, you don't need to actually go to church to be a good Christian, so all those workers, if they want to go to the Christmas mass, I guess are 'entitled' to be there. And I guess there are other Christians who aren't members of a church whom you'd expect to be there too, and I suppose it wouldn't be a true Christian congregation that turned anyone away.

But it's a spiritual thing, and it just strikes me that there are those who go purely for the spectacle - a bit like those who have a big church wedding and have their kids baptised, but who couldn't even tell you what the four gospels are.

It's a bit like that poem about the church mouse at harvest festival.

[Ric.ror]

I go to mass every week but i may not go at Christmas as it is full of people who dont go the rest of the year