I bounced around through NO Catholic, Protestant and the Orthodox Churches for a while before almost entirely giving up on established Christianity. Some were better than others, but I had not really come across one that struck me as being significant in any way. The modern Protestants are pretty much just a Jesus fan club, usually ripe with theological inaccuracies. The Orthodox, as I have said before, are still very mad about the schism. The Greek Orthodox Church seemed to me to be more of a novelty. It was interesting, but their mass did not seem legitimate in my heart. Furthermore.. They had a woman speak during the mass.
I finally managed to go to a Latin Mass and it was like stepping back in time. 80% of the women were wearing head coverings and dresses. The Mass took place in a musty 150 year old church in the middle of farm country, decorated much more humbly than the Orthodox, but actually appearing as a church unlike the Protestants'. The place was packed with babies. Some of these people had 5 or more kids. I couldn't understand a word the Priest was saying. Not a single one of these people was fat. Some were overweight but not fat.
The mass itself actually resonated with my heart and I took the Eucharist for the first time in my free thinking life.. instead of just pocketing it like I've done at the other churches. It sort of made me ill for some reason so idk if I'll take it again but I tried.
7/10 experience, would recommend.
As far as the Eucharist is concerned, you're only supposed to take it if you're Catholic (which you might be, if my memory is serving me correctly). It's a big no-no to take it if you're not Catholic (because to take it you are implicitly agreeing that it is in fact the Body of Christ, and if you don't actually believe that then it's making you a liar) or in an appropriate state of grace (no mortal sins, etc.). As pointystick said, this is probably why you felt ill if you flew in the face of any of that. And if you just pocket it, you'll get stopped and given a talking-to if anybody sees you do it (the ministers are supposed to be watching). We're quite protective of it and satanists occasionally send plants in to steal it so they can hold black masses and desecrate the host.
I am Catholic by Catholic standards. I did the 1st communion, was baptized, and consider myself Catholic.. but so did Luther lol.
>I am Catholic by Catholic standards
That's kinda what I figured, and I didn't want to nitpick, but it is in fact a mortal sin to miss weekend mass without a pretty good reason to. In addition to anything else. Not my position to judge you necessarily, but that's the truth.
>it is in fact a mortal sin to miss weekend mass without a pretty good reason to
If I sit before the judgement and Jesus' greatest charge against me is that I didn't attend mass enough then my soul will be content.