52 - How Mass Works Pt. 1

52 - How Mass Works Pt. 1

Author: Dr Caitlin West July 4, 2023 Duration: 26:35

What is Mass? Who can go to Mass? Why all the sitting and standing and kneeling? What's the difference between the Latin Mass and the novus ordo mass?

In this episode, we cover some common questions about the Mass.

⁠⁠Donate via PayPal⁠⁠:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6WSCLFHLCDXH2

Support us on ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠!

Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.

⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠:https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/

References and further reading/listening/viewing:

Timestamps:

2:25: What is Mass?

4:48: Who can go to Mass?

5:41: Missals/Order of Mass

6:52: Standing, sitting, kneeling.

11:01: Bells and incense

13:54: Eastern and Western rites

16:10: Latin Mass vs novus ordo

19:04: How late is too late?

22:25: Fasting before communion

References and further reading/listening/viewing:

Order of Mass

Missal App (USA)

Missal App (Australia)

Aleteia. “Why are bells sometimes used during Mass?” 

Aleteia. “An easy guide to standing, sitting, and kneeling during Mass”. 

Aleteia. “What’s the difference between ‘the Latin Mass’ and ‘Mass in Latin’?”

Ascension. “The Other 23 Catholic Churches and Why They Exist”.

General Instruction of the Roman Missal. 

Bishop Robert Barron. “What Is Your Opinion on the Traditional Latin Mass? — Bishop Barron on Vatican II”. 

Catholic Answers, “Here’s Why You Should Go to Mass”. 

Catholic Answers. “What is the "Extraordinary Form" of the Mass?”. 

Catholic Answers. “What Can You Tell Me about the Byzantine Rite of the Catholic Church?” 

Catholic Answers. “How Late Is Too Late for Mass?” 

The Catholic Encyclopedia. “Bells” 

The Catholic Encyclopedia. “Incense” 

Canon Law Made Easy. “How Has Canon Law Changed on Fasting before Communion?”




For anyone curious about the foundations, traditions, and everyday implications of the Catholic faith, Crash Course Catholicism offers a thoughtful and accessible entry point. Hosted by theologian Dr Caitlin West, this podcast breaks down complex theological concepts, historical context, and Church teachings into clear, manageable conversations. Each fortnightly episode focuses on a specific topic-from the sacraments and scripture to moral philosophy and liturgical practice-providing listeners with a structured yet engaging overview. Dr West’s approach is both scholarly and welcoming, making centuries of tradition feel relevant and comprehensible. Whether you're a lifelong parishioner seeking a refresher, someone exploring spirituality, or simply a person with questions about the world's largest Christian denomination, this series is designed to inform without overwhelming. Tune in for a calm, considered journey through the pillars of Catholic thought, all delivered in short, easy-to-digest segments perfect for a daily commute or quiet moment of reflection. You can find more from Dr Caitlin West and the podcast at her website.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 100

Crash Course Catholicism
Podcast Episodes
94 - Common Atheist Objections Pt. 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:14
www.caitlinwest.com"The fact that people's religion tends to align with the culture and country that they grew up in shows that religion is just a cultural construct""There are so many hypocritical people who have used r…
93 - Common Atheist Objections Pt. 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:24
"Atheists don't need to substantiate their position; the burden of proof lies with the theist because they're the one making a positive claim to belief.""God is just something people turn to for comfort." "Atheists just…
92 - Kalam, Fine Tuning, Beauty, and Consciousness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:00
In this episode, we continue our deep dive into the question: How do we know God exists? Today we will give an overview of various popular arguments for the existence of God, including the Kalam Cosmological Argument, th…
How Papal Conclaves Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:36
In this short, bonus episode, we discuss what a papal conclave looks like. How does voting work? How many votes are needed for someone to be elected pope? Why is the process so secretive?The information in this episode c…
91 - Aquinas' Five Ways Pt. 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:09
In this episode, we continue our deep dive into the question: How do we know God exists? Today we will wrap up our discussion of St. Thomas Aquinas's Five Ways by analysing the Fourth Way (the argument from gradation/deg…
90 - Aquinas' Five Ways Pt. 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:42
Welcome to our deep-dive into the question: How do we know God exists?In this series, we return to the topic of God's existence, which we covered aaall the way back in Episode 2 (!!), and we break it open to explore it m…
89 - Love! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:47
Welcome baaaaaaaack it's Season 3! In this season, we're plumbing the depths of Catholicism and the Catechism, doing deep-dives into topics that we have only touched on previously, like the existence of God, the bible, t…
88 - Hope! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:54
Happy 2025! Let's talk about Hope! Pope Francis has declared 2025 a jubilee year - a year of reconciliation, healing, and mercy. The theme for this jubilee year is "Pilgrims of Hope." So what does it mean to have Hope? H…
87 - Mary: Conceived without sin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:36
What does the "Immaculate Conception" mean? Where do we see evidence of Mary's sinlessness in the Bible? What did the early church fathers have to say about Mary? Why is Mary so important? In this episode, we look at the…
86 - How Annulment Works [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:33
What is a declaration of nullity, and how is it different from divorce? Can the Catholic church ever dissolve a marriage? What factors would render a marriage null? What does the process of annulment involve? In this epi…