Advice for a possible convert?

  • Thread starter Thread starter sckcd
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

sckcd

Guest
I am seriously considering joining the Catholic Church. It is very overwhelming to me, however, with the Catechism and all the things that go along with worshipping (such as the responses, the prayers that everyone seems to already know, the kneeling and bowing or whatever it’s called when taking a seat in the church, how/when to use Holy Water, etc.). Basically I am totally new at this and need guidance. Where do you learn all these things? In a Catechism class? Or do the classes only teach the theology and doctrine?

Also, are there any books and/or websites that would be good to read for someone in my position? I am a Christian and have been baptized and am familiar with the Bible, so I’m not completely in the dark, but when it comes to Catholicism I have lots to learn. Thank you.
 
sckcd said:
I am seriously considering joining the Catholic Church. It is very overwhelming to me, however, with the Catechism and all the things that go along with worshipping (such as the responses, the prayers that everyone seems to already know, the kneeling and bowing or whatever it’s called when taking a seat in the church, how/when to use Holy Water, etc.). Basically I am totally new at this and need guidance. Where do you learn all these things? In a Catechism class? Or do the classes only teach the theology and doctrine?

Also, are there any books and/or websites that would be good to read for someone in my position? I am a Christian and have been baptized and am familiar with the Bible, so I’m not completely in the dark, but when it comes to Catholicism I have lots to learn. Thank you.
Click to expand...
My recommendation would be to go to Mass at a Catholic parish near you. Get to meet people there. Find out what opportunities there are for people inquiring about the Catholic faith. Best wishes.
 
Ah, the ins and outs of being Catholic. I’m a convert too, but that was almost 40years ago.
So I’ve learned by watching and doing. Believe me you can’t learn it all in a short time. so be patient.

Talk to a priest about the RCIA program or if you are more interested in the Traditional Rites then find out what is involved, again, from a priest. Aside from being accepted into the church, which is very important, just relax and watch the folks around you. Get a missal and mark it up as to when to sit, stand, kneel. After a while it starts to just feel right. There will not be a quiz after Mass.

But best of all, find someone to be your guide (or better yet get a Spiritual advisor (priest))

God Bless
 
sckcd said:
I am seriously considering joining the Catholic Church. It is very overwhelming to me, however, with the Catechism and all the things that go along with worshipping (such as the responses, the prayers that everyone seems to already know, the kneeling and bowing or whatever it’s called when taking a seat in the church, how/when to use Holy Water, etc.). Basically I am totally new at this and need guidance. Where do you learn all these things? In a Catechism class? Or do the classes only teach the theology and doctrine?

Also, are there any books and/or websites that would be good to read for someone in my position? I am a Christian and have been baptized and am familiar with the Bible, so I’m not completely in the dark, but when it comes to Catholicism I have lots to learn. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Hi and Welcome!

I was raised Southern Baptist and I began RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) in 2006 and was confirmed at Easter Vigil in 2007. I was overwhelmed when I started going to Mass and while our RCIA class did have one class where we went into the Church and they explained everything that was going on, I learned for the most part about what was going on by going to Mass. The missals (little books that have the readings in them) usually have a section in the front where you can follow along and where it will show what the priest says and what the responses are. We might have covered it more thoroughly in one of the classes I missed though, because my job at the time conflicted with some of the classes. I learned a lot by watching people too and asking my husband (he’s a cradle Catholic) questions.

When I first converted (and even now) my husband and I enjoyed reading books by Scott Hahn. We read “The Lamb’s Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth” out loud and it really helped me to look at Mass in a totally new way!

Now I can’t imagine what my life would be like it I hadn’t converted! I’ll keep you in my prayers!
 
sckcd said:
I am seriously considering joining the Catholic Church. It is very overwhelming to me, however, with the Catechism and all the things that go along with worshipping (such as the responses, the prayers that everyone seems to already know, the kneeling and bowing or whatever it’s called when taking a seat in the church, how/when to use Holy Water, etc.). Basically I am totally new at this and need guidance. Where do you learn all these things? In a Catechism class? Or do the classes only teach the theology and doctrine?

Also, are there any books and/or websites that would be good to read for someone in my position? I am a Christian and have been baptized and am familiar with the Bible, so I’m not completely in the dark, but when it comes to Catholicism I have lots to learn. Thank you.
Click to expand...
I am a recent convert. I was baptized during the 2009 Easter Vigil.

I would echo Corsair’s advice: talk to a priest and, if possible, the person in charge of the RCIA program or his or her assistant.

Wikipedia (yes, I know…) has a fairly accurate article about the process.

Here are some good links:
eCatholic2000
RC.net
RCIA Blog
God bless you on this journey. 🙂 It was a long, hard road for me, but worth every second.
 
RedSoxWife said:
Hi and Welcome!

I was raised Southern Baptist and I began RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) in 2006 and was confirmed at Easter Vigil in 2007. I was overwhelmed when I started going to Mass and while our RCIA class did have one class where we went into the Church and they explained everything that was going on, I learned for the most part about what was going on by going to Mass. The missals (little books that have the readings in them) usually have a section in the front where you can follow along and where it will show what the priest says and what the responses are. We might have covered it more thoroughly in one of the classes I missed though, because my job at the time conflicted with some of the classes. I learned a lot by watching people too and asking my husband (he’s a cradle Catholic) questions.

When I first converted (and even now) my husband and I enjoyed reading books by Scott Hahn. We read “The Lamb’s Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth” out loud and it really helped me to look at Mass in a totally new way!

Now I can’t imagine what my life would be like it I hadn’t converted! I’ll keep you in my prayers!
Click to expand...
LOL, thanks for explaining what a missal was! I was going to ask :o I had no idea, I thought maybe it was the program ??? See, it really is all new for me. I have been going to Mass and am slowly absorbing it, but as a Southern Baptist, it’s all pretty foreign. My husband is “cradle Catholic” too, but doesn’t go that often, but he will be soon since our son is going and me, too.

When do you start kneeling, using the Holy Water, doing the Sign of the Cross, etc? After you are officially Catholic or can anyone?
I am thinking of getting the Catholicism for Dummies book. Thanks everyone! 🙂
 
Cradle Catholics pick this stuff up from, well, life.

We converts have to read. A lot. LoL.

This book seems to get good reviews, in a general overview of Catholicism (the responses, the sacramentals ((Holy Water, medals, etc)) the ‘etiquette’ of Catholicism)

amazon.com/gp/product/0879735902

Now, in theory, there should be a class for people like you - who know doctrines like The Trinity, know about Scripture, who have been baptized, and who can speak the Christian ‘jargon’. It’s called “The Way” at my parish. Call your local parish to find out if they have something like this.

Usually, however, everyone gets bundled into RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (because of lack of volunteers to run alternative programs, in my experience). This program starts with Inquiry, where you get a very general overview of Catholicism and decide if you want to continue. After Inquiry comes the deeper study of Catholicism, and then you’re Confirmed and receive Holy Communion at Easter Vigil (the Mass on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday).

Nobody knows everything though. Here’s a quick look, for you:

When you enter the church there will be small bowl (called a font) just inside the door. Usually attached to the wall. You stick our fingers in it (you can do this even as a nonCatholic) and bless yourself, recalling your baptism, washing away venial sins, and recognizing that you are entering Sacred Space now. To bless yourself ("make the sign of the cross) you touch your forehead, then chest/lower stomach, left shoulder, then right shoulder, saying “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”.

I could give you an entire post on the Sign of the Cross. I love it. It can get into theology, spirituality…lol, there’s a lot that goes on there.

Anyway, you come in, bless yourself with Holy Water, then walk up to a pew. At this point, find a red or white candle hanging next to a golden, or special looking, box or cabinet. Sometimes it has cloth around it too. That ‘box’ is the tabernacle, where the ‘extra’ Communion is kept. (You know our teaching on Communion, yes?) We show reverence to Our Lord by ‘genuflecting’ to the tabernacle (well, really to He who is inside the tabernacle). Genuflecting means to bow your head and ‘take a knee’. Your right knee in this case. Touch your knee to the floor and bow your head = genuflecting. I make the Sign of the Cross when I do this too.

Ok. Now you’re in the pew. Look around for a ‘missal’. This is a book that has the order of the Mass, with our responses in bold. Hopefully one is in the pew. If not, you could try looking near the front door of the Church, but I would just say go ahead and don’t say the responses this time. Just let the Mass wash over you. If you do find one, look in the front. It will say “Order of the Mass”. Ours has the hymns after it.

After Mass is over, wait till the priest passes your pew, then leave, genuflecting again before you go.
 
sckcd said:
LOL, thanks for explaining what a missal was! I was going to ask :o I had no idea, I thought maybe it was the program ??? See, it really is all new for me. I have been going to Mass and am slowly absorbing it, but as a Southern Baptist, it’s all pretty foreign. My husband is “cradle Catholic” too, but doesn’t go that often, but he will be soon since our son is going and me, too.

When do you start kneeling, using the Holy Water, doing the Sign of the Cross, etc? After you are officially Catholic or can anyone?
I am thinking of getting the Catholicism for Dummies book. Thanks everyone! 🙂
Click to expand...
Whenever it feels right for you to do so. In the meantime, watch this online
The Catholic Mass - Revealedl
 
sckcd said:
I am thinking of getting the Catholicism for Dummies book. Thanks everyone! 🙂
Click to expand...
Do get that book, it is a good one. I got it when I was thinking about converting. 😃 It is all so overwhelming at first, but you will catch on quickly, don’t worry! 😃 But there will always be plenty to learn, even a couple of years later there are still things I’m adjusting to. But that is also the really cool thing about the Catholic faith, there will always be more to learn and more special devotions and practices to discover, it just keeps getting better and better! 😃
 
I returned to church after a 18-20 year absence and found “Catholicism for Dummies” very helpful. As an above poster suggested, “That Catholic Show” on youtube has some good episodes that would be helpful. Scott Hahn’s books are great - also check out his website - don;t know the address off hand but if you Google Scott Hahn, will be easy to find. Father Larry Richards has a number of CDs that can be ordered from his website www.thereasonforourhope.org. at a nominal cost. I love listening to Father Larry (his homilies can also be downloaded) and have learned so much from him. You can also find some portions of videos from his talks on youtube. I have several of his CDs - Confession, Prayer, How to Read the Bible, The Truth, Knowing God’s Will, Living in the Holy Spirit, What More Could He Do For You, The Mass. Just some suggestions.
 
sckcd said:
I am seriously considering joining the Catholic Church. It is very overwhelming to me, however, with the Catechism and all the things that go along with worshipping (such as the responses, the prayers that everyone seems to already know, the kneeling and bowing or whatever it’s called when taking a seat in the church, how/when to use Holy Water, etc.). Basically I am totally new at this and need guidance. Where do you learn all these things? In a Catechism class? Or do the classes only teach the theology and doctrine?

Also, are there any books and/or websites that would be good to read for someone in my position? I am a Christian and have been baptized and am familiar with the Bible, so I’m not completely in the dark, but when it comes to Catholicism I have lots to learn. Thank you.
Click to expand...
First off, God bless you my friend. You are on the way home.

I can imagine that Catholic ritual would be intimidating; cradle catholics are just raised in it so it seems like we “just know it” but everyone has to start somewhere! The important thing is that you’re starting. And (please don’t take this the wrong way) the ritual gestures are probably one of the least important parts of the faith - you won’t go to Hell for forgetting to genuflect.

When you go to mass, there should be missals in the pews. You can use these: they tell you what to say etc. You can also, if you google, find something called “the mumbler’s guide to mass” (or somesuch), which has some good info, though not as in-depth as the missal will be. The Novus Ordo mass isn’t particularly complex and shouldn’t take too long to get the hang of (and please don’t get bogged down in TLM vs. NO, it’s just not important for you right now I’d think).

As for the prayers, try to memorize one every day or two. If you google “baltimore catechism” you can find it online: besides its being a good catechism in and of itself (I love the new catechism but the baltimore one would probably better for a newbie, it’s much more straight-forward and matter-of-fact), it has a list of prayers in the beginning. The basics - hail mary, act of contrition, act of hope, act of faith, glory be, etc.

fisheaters.com/ is a GREAT resource for all these things - lots of prayers, lots of cultural stuff (“when do I fast?” etc.), just excellent information in general.

Good luck man 😃
 
Most important I feel is to have patience and pray to our Lord for guidance!
Then go to a local parish office and ask to get into the RCIA program, There you will have your questions answered and you will learn…

I’m a convert my friend and I started reading and going to RCIA, just be careful of what you read since some of it you think is Catholic but it is not. And believe me once you are fed you will never look back and you will know that the Catholic church was founded by God and it will always be his true church.

Remember: “Seek and ye shall find”
May God bless you always
 
Thanks everybody! Since I started this thread, I have made quite a bit of progress. I’ve been in RCIA for about a month now, and have attended Mass for since the end of August. I am slowly getting the hang of things. I know many of the resonses now and have figured out what the missal is all about. I’m getting there!

I still am not genuflecting, using holy water, etc, but I do the sign of the cross when we pray, which is a big step for a newcomer I think. I am still not sure when to begin the other things. Is there a point you get to where you decide, “It’s time to start using the holy water (or genuflecting)” ? Lol, seriously, *is *there? I just don’t want to look like an idiot, and I feel a little embarrassed about doing it (and I don’t mean to offend by saying that, it’s just that I am afraid to do it wrong and all my life I’ve never had to do things like that at church so it’s very different). I am really enjoying Mass and RCIA both. My son is in Catholic school and he’s been a great teacher for me! 🙂 I often ask him things about Mass and he can usually help me out. I haven’t been able to get any books yet, but I plan to.
 
sckcd said:
I still am not genuflecting, using holy water, etc, but I do the sign of the cross when we pray, which is a big step for a newcomer I think. I am still not sure when to begin the other things. Is there a point you get to where you decide, “It’s time to start using the holy water (or genuflecting)” ? Lol, seriously, *is *there? I just don’t want to look like an idiot, and I feel a little embarrassed about doing it (and I don’t mean to offend by saying that, it’s just that I am afraid to do it wrong and all my life I’ve never had to do things like that at church so it’s very different).
Click to expand...
I was the same way, especially with genuflecting. Although looking back, since most people genuflect, I probably stuck out more for not genuflecting. 😃

I think as for when you start doing things, it really is whenever you feel comfortable, basing your decision on belief and not on self consciousness. 😉 The holy water wasn’t really an issue for me, but I started genuflecting when I went from “I seem to be headed in the direction of the Church” to “I’m going to be Catholic!” It is what worked for me.

It seems that when you get to the point where you are convinced that Christ is really present in the Eucharist, the proper response is to genuflect. As for holy water, it is a reminder of our baptism, so whenever you are ready, go for it. The more you do things like this, the more comfortable you will be with it and the less self conscious you will be. 😃
 
I am a cradle catholic, but honestly you should just try and use the holy water and genuflect. Genuflecting especially, look at it as respecting God rather than an awkward gesture. Just jump in and take the chance!
holy water:
When you enter a church, you might find a holy water font (or “stoup”) attached to the wall at one or both sides of each door, or you might find a free-standing font. Simply dip the tips of the fingers of your right hand into the water and cross yourself while mentally contemplating the words, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Don’t rush through this; make it meaningful, remembering the meaning of your Baptism and mentally expressing your gratitude to God. Many Catholics repeat this process upon leaving the church, too. (Note: you might see one Catholic dip his fingers into the Holy Water and touch fingers with another Catholic to share it if that second Catholic can’t reach the font comfortably).
Click to expand...
more...from fisheaters:
Genuflection on Right Knee

How:
Looking at what you are genuflecting toward, kneel on your right knee for a moment in the manner of a man proposing to a woman, bringing the right knee all the way to the floor, close to the heel of the left foot, keeping the back and neck erect. Hold for a moment, then stand.
When:
Genuflect toward the Tabernacle where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved, and each time you pass in front of it (except when you’re in procession, such as standing in line for Communion, or returning to your seat afterward). While this should, on one level, be a matter of habit, it shouldn’t be done thoughtlessly. Remind yourself when genuflecting toward the Tabernacle that you are kneeling before God. Praying mentally, “My Lord and My God” is a good habit to get into while genuflecting on the right knee. If the Tabernacle is not on the Altar, genuflect toward the Altar and the Altar Crucifix.
Before a relic of the True Cross when it is exposed for public adoration.
On Good Friday to Holy Saturday, after the ceremony of the Adoration of the Cross, genuflect when passing in front of the exposed Crucifix on the Altar.
.
Click to expand...
Hope that helps! Just looked at fisheaters.com per somebody else’s suggestion, and wow! Even Catholics could learn a lot from this website 🙂
 
sckcd said:
Thanks everybody! Since I started this thread, I have made quite a bit of progress. I’ve been in RCIA for about a month now, and have attended Mass for since the end of August. I am slowly getting the hang of things. I know many of the resonses now and have figured out what the missal is all about. I’m getting there!

I still am not genuflecting, using holy water, etc, but I do the sign of the cross when we pray, which is a big step for a newcomer I think. I am still not sure when to begin the other things. Is there a point you get to where you decide, “It’s time to start using the holy water (or genuflecting)” ? Lol, seriously, *is *there? I just don’t want to look like an idiot, and I feel a little embarrassed about doing it (and I don’t mean to offend by saying that, it’s just that I am afraid to do it wrong and all my life I’ve never had to do things like that at church so it’s very different). I am really enjoying Mass and RCIA both. My son is in Catholic school and he’s been a great teacher for me! 🙂 I often ask him things about Mass and he can usually help me out. I haven’t been able to get any books yet, but I plan to.
Click to expand...
Don’t fuss or worry too much while you are learning Sckcd. No Catholic looks out for anyone making a mistake! You may have noticed that once Catholics enter, all attention is on the ‘front’ and not on new arrivals or each other! You wouldn’t even notice a relative sitting beside or behind you in most cases, until Mass is over.

When we enter, by the door, we ‘cross ourselves’ using the Holy Water because the sign of the cross is a prayer within itself. We (sometimes) genuflect before taking our seats towards the tabernacle (altar direction) …**because Christ is present ** in the Eucharist housed there.

When Scriptures are read, we stand for TheGospel…and cross our foreheads(thoughts) mouth (speech) and heart (being) …trying to ‘clear’ all three receptors before receiving God’s word.

The rest you will pick up.

God Bless

:cool:
 
Thanks for the tutorials! It’s not like someone just teaches you this stuff (or if so, they haven’t yet), and it feels weird when it’s not second nature like it is to everyone else there. I will start with the holy water/sign of the cross and genuflecting next time. I know I probably do stick out more for not doing it then I would be for doing it not perfectly so I’m going to give it a go. Any other tips on conduct during Mass or anything else a newcomer should know would be appreciated!🙂
 
KarenElissa said:
It seems that when you get to the point where you are convinced that Christ is really present in the Eucharist, the proper response is to genuflect.
Click to expand...
Ok, but is it really proper if the Bishops in the U.S. have made the norm otherwise? Should you do what you want, or what the Bishops teach?
 
diggerdomer said:
Ok, but is it really proper if the Bishops in the U.S. have made the norm otherwise? Should you do what you want, or what the Bishops teach?
Click to expand...
I think you misunderstand me. I’m talking about when we enter and leave the church.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top