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Darlene
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 868 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian, trusting His love and forgiveness |
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Posted: Fri Jan 19th, 2007 11:27 am |
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Hello Everyone,
I am coming to realize the depth that the Catholic Faith has and the beauty in that depth. The verse in Ephesians came to me yesterday when talking with Father after Mass. I went home and looked it up and realized, "This is the Catholic faith."
"For this reason I bow my knees (Catholics kneel during Mass) before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named (Catholics believe that the family of God is both the family that is living on earth and those who are now in heaven with our Holy God), that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might through the Spirit in the inner man, (The Holy Eucharist strengthens every Catholic Believer, something Protestants don't have), and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, (becoming a catechumen is learning in depth about the Christian faith so that we can be rooted and grounded in love), may have power to comprehend with all the saints (Communion of the saints, Protestants avoid using the word "saint" and when they do, they usually say it is those of us who are still alive within the body of Christ), what is the breadth and length and height and depth, (The Catholic faith is so deep and its roots go all the way back to Judism and the Old Covenent with all of its images.), and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge (There is so much spirituality and mystery in the Catholic faith, not just knowledge alone.), that you may be filled with all the fulness of God." Ephesians 3:14-20.
When I became a member in my current church (non-denominational) I only had to go to one class for a couple of hours. That is how long it took for us to go over the Statement of Faith, Ordinances and the Doctrines the church stresses are most important. It is so much easier to become a member of most Protestant faiths than the Catholic faith. And the Catholic faith seems to really want people who are joining the Church to understand all of the Doctrines and practices of the faith so that they are fully informed when joining.
Can anyone else who has been Protestant and is now Catholic relate to what I am saying?
Darlene
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. II Corinthians 13:14
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5353 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Fri Jan 19th, 2007 11:59 am |
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Darlene wrote: I am coming to realize the depth that the Catholic Faith has and the beauty in that depth.
To quote one of my favorites -- Rex Harrison in "My Fair Lady:"
By George, I think she's got it! 
Welcome to the Catholic faith, Darlene.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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cbowden
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| Joined: | Sat Jan 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | Burke, Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 4 |
| First Name: | Craig | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Presbyterian, Non-denominational, Episcopalian, Non-denominational, now Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Feb 7th, 2007 04:04 pm |
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Hi Darlene-
I can relate to you completely. I had the very same sentiment when I went thru RCIA last year. We had a similar experience when we were investigating a non-denominational church- just prior to the Lord leading us to start seeking out things Catholic.
Three short classes for an hour or so, covering their basics, not a lot of depth.
I was impressed with the amount of content, information and depth to what we were presented with. Even though the class was months long, I still feel like it only scratched the surface.
We have continued to seek and grow in many of the areas we started in, in RCIA.
My wife and I continued a "Post-RCIA" class of our own with interested people from RCIA who wanted to go into more depth or cover area/issues wanting more information or clarification on. Alot of what we did was guided by using pre-produced talks on video by leading teachers, apologists, and priests as the foundation for our gatherings (at home). We have especially felt burdened to help (ourselves) and other Catholics to be able to better know and defend their faith, especially in talking with people of Protestant backgrounds (as we came from) who may have questions or objections that commonly come up.
Keep your zeal and love for God's written word growing, and try to find some like-minded people in the parish (hopefully) you can fellowship with. (in Bible studies, prayer groups, etc.)
Craig
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brian
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Chicago South Burbs, Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 810 |
| First Name: | brian | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | methodist, evangelical, anglican, catholic |
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Posted: Thu Feb 8th, 2007 12:01 am |
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| Hi Darlene. I appreciated that. Its been exciting to watch your level of appreciation for the Catholic faith grow. Last I remembered you were trying to get into an RCIA class and thought it might be too late. Now it appears you have found one. Do you have any hopes of becoming a member at Easter, or do you think it will take you another year due to family issues or areas you are still seeking more understanding in? Not that I am trying to pressure you to a decision, that could take any length of time, but you just seem to say so many nice things about the faith that I did not know how sure you were or are becoming that it is the right place for you.
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Darlene
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 868 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian, trusting His love and forgiveness |
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Posted: Thu Feb 8th, 2007 01:53 pm |
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brian wrote: Hi Darlene. I appreciated that. Its been exciting to watch your level of appreciation for the Catholic faith grow. Last I remembered you were trying to get into an RCIA class and thought it might be too late. Now it appears you have found one. Do you have any hopes of becoming a member at Easter, or do you think it will take you another year due to family issues or areas you are still seeking more understanding in? Not that I am trying to pressure you to a decision, that could take any length of time, but you just seem to say so many nice things about the faith that I did not know how sure you were or are becoming that it is the right place for you.
Hello Brian,
If it were up to me, I would prefer becoming a member this Easter. However, I think that would work against my relationship with my husband. Believe me, he is definitely coming along, but as I have said before, being an Evangelical Fundamentalist is a hard cookie to crack. Perhaps you understand what I mean, havin been a Protestant yourself at one time. I anticipate becoming a member in Easter 2008. Pray that the Lord will open my husband's heart to the Catholic faith.
God Bless You,
Darlene
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. II Corinthians 13:14
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cbowden
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| Joined: | Sat Jan 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | Burke, Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 4 |
| First Name: | Craig | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Presbyterian, Non-denominational, Episcopalian, Non-denominational, now Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Feb 8th, 2007 04:26 pm |
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Darlene-
I was a hard cookie to crack also.
A few books I'd suggest that you and your husband read if you haven't.
These were very pivotal in my beginning to open my heart and seeing things in a new way, as well as watching The Journey Home on EWTN.
The books are: Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic. by David Currie. This was the first book I read. I next read- Four Witnesses. The Early Church in her own Words. by Rod Bennett. (a former Baptist). By What Authority? An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition- by Mark Shea. Catholicism and Fundamentalism- by Karl Keating.
What Catholics Really Believe- by Karl Keating, and other books.
I've also gone alot to the Catholic Answers web site- http://www.catholic.com
I've continued to read and read- including portions of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
I'd also recommend- Surprised by Truth.- by Patrick Madrid- a compilation of the testimonies of quite a few former protestants (including protestant pastors) who left their spiritual backgrounds because the Lord was calling them to himself and the fullness of truth in the Catholic Church.
Re: Mary (my last big obstacle) a friend from RCIA (one of the facilitators) referred me to a video called "All Generations Shall Call Me Blessed." by Tim Staples, (available from Saint Joseph Communications) as well as some other materials. This was extremely helpful to me to understand more fully the rationale behind Catholic thinking, history and doctrines related to The Blessed Virgin Mary.
I was not fully ready to enter the church until I felt I had come to some resolution on this, (only a few weeks before the Easter Vigil). I had struggled with this, but after watching the video several times, and further study, and after considering how I had gotten virtually all of my many questions answered in our "quest" for the Truth, I entered the church at the Easter Vigil 2006.
My wife is a revert- who spent the past 30 years or so of her life essentially as a protestant also.
My wife and I were both on a quest for Truth. It has been a blessing for me to enter and for her to re-enter the Church together. Our walking this road together has made a big difference to both of us.
Be encouraged!
Craig
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DrDave
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| Joined: | Mon Nov 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Mildura, Australia |
| Posts: | 228 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Cradle - Lapsed - Renewed Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Feb 8th, 2007 10:07 pm |
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My brother had an interesting experience in this regard. When he married a girl from the Uniting Church (an Australian Merger of Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregationalist Churches) they agreed as part of their preparation for marriage that each would investigate the other's church to gain an appreciation of their perspective without deliberatly trying to convert each other.
So they attended 6 months of RCIA and one interview with her minister who said "Well, we don't really 'teach' anything you just read the bible and believe whatever you want".
She became a Catholic that easter
Regards, Dave
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Andrew_Fisher_of_Men
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| Joined: | Thu Feb 8th, 2007 |
| Location: | Raised In Midwest USA, Vermont USA |
| Posts: | 8 |
| First Name: | Andrew | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic, Lapsed, visited many Protestant churches over a 8 ... |
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Posted: Fri Feb 9th, 2007 12:14 am |
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Darlene: I can really relate to your post. I am a lapsed Catholic who went to many Protestant Churches with my wife and her family and on my own. Now that I have returned, although I learned a great deal about being a "day-to-day" Christian from many beloved Protestants and learned how to be an "everyday Christian" from Protestants, not Catholics, I have returned to the Catholic church and find it so incredibly rich and fulfilling. This past Christmas, my mother and father in law could not get any of their children to go to their Protestant church with them so I did mostly as a Christmas gift to them. I told them how much their every day faith set an example for me and I often refer to them as the first two REAL Christians I ever met. (in terms of living out their faith daily, just not an hour on SUnday). The service in their Protestant Mega Church was more like going to a basketball game. The building was like a HUGE ARENA with a Concourse around the perimeter where people promenade. It seemed more social than spiritual or worshipful. My Catholic parish is not without problems and I am very uncomfortable in my parish, but, serving the Lord is not about comfort.
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"The spirit we have, not the work we do, is what makes us important to the people around us." Sr. Joan Chittister, Erie PA Benedictine
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Darlene
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 868 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian, trusting His love and forgiveness |
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Posted: Sat Feb 10th, 2007 10:45 pm |
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Andrew,
Why are you "uncomfortable" in your parish?
Darlene
____________________
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. II Corinthians 13:14
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setapart
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| Joined: | Sat Jan 13th, 2007 |
| Location: | Austin, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 198 |
| First Name: | Bill | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Born Catholic, Non-Denominational Charismatic, Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Feb 12th, 2007 10:05 pm |
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Darlene wrote: being an Evangelical Fundamentalist is a hard cookie to crack
Tell me about it - I did such a good job on my wife for over 20 years of at first my hard-core anti-catholic diatribes and eventual softening over the years to a lover of Catholic spirituality that she refuses to consider to returning to the Church.
In many ways it has been my fault because I have waivered in my commitment to stick with what is I know is real about the CC and have gone back and forth in my decisions over the last few years. What makes it especially difficult for me is going with her to the non-denom seeker church with her and the grandkids. What has transpired is that the seeker atmosphere is shallow compared to the richness of the Mass and the devotional life that I have had the blessing to encounter every morning.
This forum is blessed with incredibly able and faithful moderators and respondants which all have helped in my faith journey.
I was fundamentalist to the whole core of my being and renewing my mind has been a real challenge for me but at the same time very liberating - not in the liberal sense but in the searching out of the true depth of Catholic teaching.
Please pray that I will trust the Holy Spirit more and seek His ways in a more prayerful purpose along with the study and reading of much material.
By the way another great book to read is by Stephen Ray - Crossing the Tiber - that book and the one by David Currie - Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic really broke down barriers for me.
Blessings,
Bill
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But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. Mal 4:2
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Andrew_Fisher_of_Men
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| Joined: | Thu Feb 8th, 2007 |
| Location: | Raised In Midwest USA, Vermont USA |
| Posts: | 8 |
| First Name: | Andrew | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic, Lapsed, visited many Protestant churches over a 8 ... |
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Posted: Wed Feb 14th, 2007 11:48 am |
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Darlene: You asked me why I feel uncomfortable in my parish. Well, I am trying to get my arms around this as well and it may be OK to feel "uncomfortable". Jesus calls us out of our comfort zones in fact to accomplish His work here on earth.
Beyond that disclaimer, I live in a very very small town in Vermont and have just moved here 3 years ago. This is the smallest town I have ever lived in my whole life. I have always lived in big cities with a lot of anonymity merely due to being able to get lost in the masses of people in cities.
I always like to joke that living in a small town is good because if I go out and about and forget what I'm supposed to be doing, someone else will be able to tell me. Since I have lived here only 3 years, I will never be considered part of the community as most people have lived here over 30 -40 years and some were even baptized in this parish. The parish I was baptized in - in the inner city of Detroit Michigan, was closed over 20 years ago. So many here, this is their home parish, I am an outsider and cannot possibly have any contributions to make to our parish because I have only been here 3 years. (All the things I have done before I came here dont amount to a hill of beans, you see).
This is the first time I have ever belonged to a parish where a great many people know me and lets just say that I find certain social situations at Mass distracting from what I should be there for.
In fact, it has gotten so bad, that I have skipped Mass the last few weeks. I have my first Spiritual Director, a Franciscan Monk, and I just met with him this past weekend and we discussed this challenge for me at this time. If you want more specifics, I would be willing to share back channel through e-mail in a non public way.
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"The spirit we have, not the work we do, is what makes us important to the people around us." Sr. Joan Chittister, Erie PA Benedictine
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
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Posted: Wed Feb 14th, 2007 12:06 pm |
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Andrew_Fisher_of_Men wrote: Since I have lived here only 3 years, I will never be considered part of the community as most people have lived here over 30 -40 years and some were even baptized in this parish.
I've lived in my small-town parish for almost 35 years, but it is the parish in which my wife was baptized. I am still occasionally reminded that I am an outsider. For one thing, everyone here is related to everyone else, and I'm not related to anyone. This is a universal experience in small towns.
If you want more specifics, I would be willing to share back channel through e-mail in a non public way.
Let me take a moment to mention the forum's Private Message system. PM's are completely private and not even the moderators can read them. Many people are not aware of this feature, so I'm using this opportunity to bring them up.
The easiest way to send a PM is to click on a person's name and choose "Send Private Message" from the menu that appears. To read Private Messages, you will see a message at the top of each page of the forum that will say "No new messages," "1 new message," "2 new messages" etc. Click on that link and it will take you to your Inbox where you can read and respond to messages.
When moderators need to communicate privately with a user, the communication will normally take place via PM, and users can also communicate privately with each other. On moderation issues, David and I always share messages so we're both aware of what's going on, but otherwise all PM's are absolutely private.
Some users are not comfortable sharing their email addresses or allowing other users to email them, so the PM system offers a great alternative for private communications.
I'll repost this information in the New User section, but I thought I would mention it here since it is appropriate to your message.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Truthseeker
Member
| Joined: | Wed Oct 4th, 2006 |
| Location: | Costa Mesa, California USA |
| Posts: | 395 |
| First Name: | Laura | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | lapsed and returned CATHOLIC!!!!!! |
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Posted: Fri Feb 23rd, 2007 12:48 pm |
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Andrew,
Do you worry that you're in mortal sin, because you've missed Mass?
Laura
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Lord, please make my will your Will!
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Andrew_Fisher_of_Men
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| Joined: | Thu Feb 8th, 2007 |
| Location: | Raised In Midwest USA, Vermont USA |
| Posts: | 8 |
| First Name: | Andrew | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic, Lapsed, visited many Protestant churches over a 8 ... |
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Posted: Fri Feb 23rd, 2007 12:57 pm |
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Laura: Of course I'm concerned........and its not getting better yet, its something I have to work through.
I did meet with my spiritual director, a Franciscan priest, and we talked about this. He was concerned as well and we discussed the reasons, many of which I posted here..........of course, I will go to confession and confess this as well.
:? does that answer your question Laura?
____________________
"The spirit we have, not the work we do, is what makes us important to the people around us." Sr. Joan Chittister, Erie PA Benedictine
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Truthseeker
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| Joined: | Wed Oct 4th, 2006 |
| Location: | Costa Mesa, California USA |
| Posts: | 395 |
| First Name: | Laura | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | lapsed and returned CATHOLIC!!!!!! |
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Posted: Fri Feb 23rd, 2007 02:30 pm |
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I was just wondering, because I have missed so much Mass due to my own circumstances, and I am in constant concern as to the state of my soul. At the moment, I am (yet again) not receiving the Lord in Eucharist becasue I have missed Mass. I wasn't judging you in any way. You just seem to be in a similar quandry as I am, even if the reasons are different. Thank you for answering. I hate that you are struggling, yet thankful I am not alone.
In Christ-
Laura
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Lord, please make my will your Will!
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Annie
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| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 731 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Feb 23rd, 2007 02:47 pm |
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I know the fishbowl feeling of being in a small town. Even where I am now there is that feeling. I will always be an outsider. it is terribly lonely but in a way that is good though because I won't be drawn into things that are not good for me.
On the issue of missing Mass, I have a very non-Catholic way of looking at that sometimes. I wonder if it really is a mortal sin to miss Mass due to certain circumstances besides health reasons, especially if going to Mass at times seems itself a near occasion of sin due to unhealthy social or church politics aspects.
I missed Mass once this year because I had to go down and try to track a deer I had wounded. Father was furious and about dragged me into the confessional by the ear but I felt I was right to go back before the rain erased the blood trail and I lost the deer. He's a city boy, you see.
I still didn't find the deer and felt awful but ended up being reassured by a friend who is a wildlife officer here. In that case he was my confessor/spiritual director.
a country gal,
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Annie
Ora et labora
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CajunRick
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Posted: Mon Feb 26th, 2007 08:10 pm |
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Annie wrote: I missed Mass once this year because I had to go down and try to track a deer I had wounded. Father was furious and about dragged me into the confessional by the ear but I felt I was right to go back before the rain erased the blood trail and I lost the deer. He's a city boy, you see.
Didn't Jesus ask if anyone would leave their home on the Sabbath to search for a sheep that was lost? The deer was wounded and suffering, so what you were doing was humane. If Jesus had been there, I think he would have been looking with you.
Of course, if Jesus had been with you, you would have found the deer and he could have healed it and let it go.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Dona Moyer
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| Joined: | Thu Mar 1st, 2007 |
| Location: | Lafayette, Indiana USA |
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| First Name: | Dona | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | lifelong Protestant, became Roman Catholic 2006 |
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Posted: Thu Mar 1st, 2007 12:45 pm |
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There have been several deaths and illnesses in my family this year. Because of this I have missed mass a few Sundays. I have actually attended mass more at the parish a few miles from my mother's home and in the Catholic hospital in my city than I have in the parish I belong to. It has been a very difficult year for me, personally, but I have gained so much in strength since becoming a member of the church last Easter that I have been able to come through each tragedy stronger in my faith rather than weaker. The Catholic recognition of death as just a step in life has comforted me beyond belief. I know all Christian churches believe that. It's not just a Catholic belief, but the Catholic way of looking at death as a happy event is unique in that one actually feels the happiness more than the sorrow. (Is that the correct way to explain it, Rick?) I have missed everyone here, Rick, David, and Juan's guidance especially, and I am glad to see, Laura that you are still active on this forum. I have been very lucky with my parish I think. I live in a large town, but our parish is fairly small and I like it that way.
I, by the way, have become a great-grandma since I last posted on the forum. My great-granddaughter, Rilee, was born almost 3 weeks ago. My granddaughter, Ashlee and Rilee are doing fine. My daughter Robin is exploring Catholicism now too. Being a grandma has really opened her eyes spiritually. She has asked for instruction in praying the rosary because I told her that it is a very powerful prayer since everytime you pray it, you realize that somewhere in the world someone else is praying the same prayer. I gladly bought her a rosary and a Catholic prayer book. She has also started praying to her guardian angel every day. These new grandmothers! I told her she is so anxious for the baby because becoming a grandmother makes you realize that for the first time, there is a child that you love more than life itself that you have absolutely no 'control' over. It humbles us in a way that having our own children never could. All she can do now is pray for her daughter to have the wisdom to care for the child she loves so much. Hence her first 'real' exploration of prayer.
I am proud that my example to her of being able to find comfort in giving all my problems to God in prayer during this difficult year has made her see that there is real comfort in prayer.
Dona
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CajunRick
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Posted: Thu Mar 1st, 2007 03:33 pm |
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Dona Moyer wrote: I know all Christian churches believe that. It's not just a Catholic belief, but the Catholic way of looking at death as a happy event is unique in that one actually feels the happiness more than the sorrow. (Is that the correct way to explain it, Rick?)
Yes, it is. We feel joy for the deceased and sadness for ourselves because we will miss them.
Jesus on the road to Calvary told the women, "Weep not for me but for yourselves and for your children." There are many interpretations of that passage, but in my opinion, he was telling them "My earthly journey is finshed, and I am now going to perfect happiness with my Father. You must stay here amidst the suffering of this life, and you will no longer have my comfort. Do not be sad for me, but rather be sad for what you still must face."
I was not close to my parents for a lot of reasons mostly involving my own health problems (I don't remember my childhood at all), so I really had no tears at my parents' funerals. I felt joyful because I knew they had suffered with their illnesses, and their suffering was over. My father-in-law, on the other hand, was my best friend and next door neighbor for 34 years. When he died suddenly, I could barely stop crying. I still felt joy for him, but my sadness was for having a piece of my heart ripped out that I know can never be replaced. Now, 16 months later, the tears have stopped and the hole in my heart has healed, but I know that hole is still there. Thank God for the Communion of Saints because I can still talk to him. As long as he is in my heart, he is not truly gone from my life, and I know I will see him again.
I have missed everyone here, Rick, David, and Juan's guidance especially, and I am glad to see, Laura that you are still active on this forum. I have been very lucky with my parish I think. I live in a large town, but our parish is fairly small and I like it that way.
We are happy to have you back with us. Please don't go away again.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Andrew_Fisher_of_Men
Member
| Joined: | Thu Feb 8th, 2007 |
| Location: | Raised In Midwest USA, Vermont USA |
| Posts: | 8 |
| First Name: | Andrew | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic, Lapsed, visited many Protestant churches over a 8 ... |
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Posted: Mon Mar 5th, 2007 11:14 pm |
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Annie wrote:
especially if going to Mass at times seems itself a near occasion of sin due to unhealthy social or church politics aspects.
EXACTLY ANNIE! There is a lot of tension in the parish right now. Every one is stretched to the breaking point. We are trying to raise a million and a half dollars to perform extensive structural defects in the granite supports and belltower of the church building itself. We are doing fish frys, and suppers, and pancake breakfasts, and renting out our parish center which we never did before, and anything else within reason, morality and legality we can think of to raise money.
It just seems that all too often the edifice, the building, takes precedence over the people......sort of a sore spot with me admittedly as my grandparents immigrated to the United States and the "House" - the physical structure, obtaining it, paying for it, maintaining, taking pride in it, seemed too often to supercede or trump needs of those living in the house. As immigrants, it was the primary goal and it was drilled into us growing up that "it" was the most important thing....
There is a scripture that says (paraphrasing) that prioritizing/worshiping the things of our physical world and our possessions is foolhardy as they are subject to "rust and moth".....they are temporary and will deteriorate by natural physical processes.......our life is eternal and that is what needs our attention.
Your profile says you are from Columbus Ohio, I went to college there and am familiar with the city and suburbs. You must live outside of the city proper to have wounded a deer.
My father went to confession once up in Cleveland with only a single sin that he felt guilty about:
- he missed one Mass because he had a tee time at a golf course that fell into his lap unexpectedly (from some acquaintances that couldnt use it) and he went out and played and enjoyed the fellowship of his friends and relatives on the golf course on a gorgeous summer day. The priest literally booted my Dad out of the confessional implying that my father "worshiped" and was "in the presence of Jesus" by communing and fellowshiping with his cousins and brothers (brethren) [all Catholics] and Jesus forgave my father, the priest absolved Dad immediately, the shortest confession on record and told my Dad not to fret about it or give it another worry!
I do find Mass other places near by and confession too, sooooo, when a parish is "sick" what do we do?
A church is a hospital for sick souls. I need to stay on course and I cannot allow some others to pull me down, I have made that mistake all too often in my past.
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"The spirit we have, not the work we do, is what makes us important to the people around us." Sr. Joan Chittister, Erie PA Benedictine
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Steven Barrett
Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 14th, 2006 |
| Location: | Hadley, Massachusetts USA |
| Posts: | 980 |
| First Name: | Steven | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, Episcopal communicant, Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Mar 9th, 2007 10:34 am |
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Darlene,
You brought up a good point about the relative ease of transferring memberships within Protestant churches. Perhaps it's because they are fairly similar, with an exception here and there. The only Protestant denomination that I'm familiar with that takes membership requirements seriously is the Episcopal Church. However, they don't have any restrictions on accepting their Eucharist save for being baptized. Well, who's going to ask for a baptismal certificate at the altar rail?
One of Protestantism's major weaknesses besides it's overall governing structures and clerical authority, is the way it also treats marriage. When Holy Matrimony was desacralized during and since following the Reformation, the family structure began to crumble. This is especially so in the US, the motherland of individualism run amok. When matrimony has lost its sacramental hold between man/woman and God, well, easy attitudes towards divorce inevitably led to "no-fault" divorces, of which I can speak from experience as a former probation/parole officer in Florida, produced nothing but a never-ending catalogue of social woes that Florida and states like it, may never recover from, at least in our lifetimes.
One of the saddest ironies when it comes to Catholicism's place in American society is the trashing the Church takes from the media and liberal academic elites -- even within the Church, no less -- when it comess to the treatment of women. The Church has been attacked as anti-women because of its stands on abortion, ordination, etc., but no other church in America has been so strident on behalf of women in a matter that has done so much damage to so many women. The matter I'm speaking of is easy/no fault divorce and its ever widening spread of so many evils that have wrecked the lives of so many single divorced women, especially moms with young kids.
It's not easy to be a Catholic in a materialistic society these days. Nor did our Founder want it to be that way for our age or the age He lived in. To get into Heaven, we're going to have to put a higher value on the things we believe in and the price we should pay if we don't follow the Lord's commands. (And, compared to the myriad of materialistic expectations society puts on us today, Jesus' way, however, narrow, is a much more manageable way to get through life. Unlike society, God never puts more on our backs than we can carry. And, he does a great job of helping us when the load gets heavy. He also gave us the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which allows us to receive forgiveness through his priests if we don't do as we should. Yes, we have perhaps more rules, etc., but we have Confession and the wonderful moment just before we leave the Confessional and Father says, "You're sins are forgiven, sin no more."
We put a value on our membership, and while once we're in, it's hard as heck to be thrown out. Contrast the Church's desire to give everyone a fair shake and hearing, which could last for years before a final adjudication, to the arbritrary way many Protestant pastors and elders/deacons can boot a person for trifling reasons; i.e. voting for John Kerry. (I'd have the person examined, but not tossed out the door.)
I remember once an editor telling me he wished the paper we worked for had a charge of even a quarter, if for nothing else to make sure the people who picked it up would put a value on it and read the stories. (It was a weekly freebie.)
The same holds true for the Catholic Church, and Jesus put it much better than i ever could when He spoke of the pearl and treasure in our hearts. Churches should have higher standards for memberships than a local country club, service organization, etc.
Sorry I got rather long here. It's cold, and I mean, COLD in this brrrr--room
I'm typing in and my fingers were doing so much walking if for no other reason than to warm themselves up. But Darlene, you brought up a great point and I leaped to add my two bits into the conversation.
Thank God Spring's around the corner!
S.
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For anybody interested in reading commentary from a Catholic's socially conservative/fiscally liberal viewpoint, go to my new blog at http://www.politicsramble.com/ .
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Annie
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