After receiving the Sacraments

[Peace_Pilgrim]

In the Spirituality thread, What Bugs You at Mass? a poster listed this:

“The 1,000 kids receiving the sacraments of initiation and never coming back afterwards.”

I am a new Catholic. After I received the Sacraments last Easter Vigil, 2005, I had a far GREATER desire to be in Christ’s Presence at the Mass and to serve Him by becoming a fully participating member of His Body. The Holy Spirit took up residence in me with the Sacrament of Confirmation and became my in-house and full-time guide, regularly leading me to the Sacraments’ strengthening and healing, for which I am grateful beyond words.

Recently, I heard of this phenomenon --this “malady,” for want of a better term – that this poster writes about when I heard this joke:

"Three priests were discussing the problem of bats in the attic at church and how difficult they were to get rid of. The first priest said that his congregation had tried “smoking them out”, but they still came back. Another had tried poisoning them, but enough survived to repopulate the attic. The third priest shared his solution: “I just baptized and confirmed them all, and they NEVER came back!”

When I heard the joke, I didn’t get it. Everyone around got it and nodded their heads in affirmation. A parishioner had to explain that this is a phenomenon that does happen.

I have since learned that not only does it happen, it happens often. Why would someone go through the time and effort to receive the Sacraments and then become a non- or less-practicing Catholic?

That it happens surprises me. I don’t get it at all… Can anyone explain to this new Catholic who loves being Catholic and all that goes with it how and why this happens?

Thanks in advance.

 

[JimG]

It goes to their motivation for becoming Catholic.

 

[tjmiller]

I have heard that many youth feel that, with Confirmation, they have somehow “graduated from” the Catholic Church.

Why go back to high school if you’ve graduated?

 

[Fred_1]

I presume you converted to Catholosism as an adult (or young adult), which explains why you don’t quite understand this phenomena. You had a true desire to receive the sacraments and become a member of the Church!
Unfortunately, many “cradle Catholics” (people born and raised in a Catholic family) go to Church every sunday and receive the sacraments, not because they truly desire to, but because they feel “forced” to do so by their parents. As soon as they leave home and get a place of their own, they stop going to mass altogether. This is a very common occurance, and I could list off at least 15 people I know like this off the top of my head without thinking.
It’s a sad thing, but it happens very often in the Church.
Just my two cents.:twocents:

 

[scared]

My child had 25 confirmation kids, took the 5 month of classes, attended the ceremony and became confirmed Catholic. We talked with the kids, some were forced to go through with it, grandparents, parents made them do it. Others saw it as a way to be finished and not have to redo everything as adults. Of that class 2 remain in the church of their own will, 5 others are forced to attend by their parents. One, my child particaptes as a lector, choir, Sunday school helper and has been an EM. However, the main problem is that these kids are now the same as adults in the church, but guess what they are not accepted as adults. Really just the opposite. Many people are openly upset that my child is an EM, lectors and is in the choir. Yet, when the priest asked for volunteers, no adults stepped forward, but my child did, without being told. If you want these kids now your equals to stay in the church and grow many people including the priests need to help these kids grow, by fostering them in what is expected of them, nurishing their spiritual growth, yes they are just kids, but when adults are confirmed they continue to receive help from sponsers, priests and other adults, kids don’t just because they are kids.

scared