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Zaccheus
Guest
We have the best of what they have, and we have something incredibly better. Praise be to the Lord Jesus Christ, and blessed be His Holy Name.
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Tis_Bearself
Patron
Youth groups do stuff like this. Also some adult faith-sharing groups. It’s not the type of thing that’s usually offered to a congregation outside of a group.
One problem with the “step” approach done outside of a group is that the priests get 1,872 questions, comments and complaints about what should be a basically understood activity.
“Father, does the 7 day fast from social media mean I can’t go on Facebook to see my daughter’s pictures of my new grandchild? Am I allowed to use Skype to talk to my son who’s serving overseas?”
“Father, what does it mean to ‘make a weekly sacrifice of time to the Lord’? I already pray every day.”
“Father, is it a sin if I don’t do all this stuff?”
“Father, why are there so many rules we have to follow? Why can’t we just live our lives?”
Plus a whole lot of apathy…“Oh, here’s the new thing the Church has decided we all need to do this week…yawn”
One problem with the “step” approach done outside of a group is that the priests get 1,872 questions, comments and complaints about what should be a basically understood activity.
“Father, does the 7 day fast from social media mean I can’t go on Facebook to see my daughter’s pictures of my new grandchild? Am I allowed to use Skype to talk to my son who’s serving overseas?”
“Father, what does it mean to ‘make a weekly sacrifice of time to the Lord’? I already pray every day.”
“Father, is it a sin if I don’t do all this stuff?”
“Father, why are there so many rules we have to follow? Why can’t we just live our lives?”
Plus a whole lot of apathy…“Oh, here’s the new thing the Church has decided we all need to do this week…yawn”
Tis_Bearself
Patron
There is some kind of weird idea that if we’re on social media, we’re automatically being shallow and not spending time in prayer.Encouraging the faithful to rely more on prayer than on empty social media interactions means turning the Church into a Starbucks?
I can tell you right now that a large amount of my social media time currently involves faith-related stuff and/or prayer groups, and the remainder is basically me trying to have some fun interactions with people without which I would have far fewer people to talk to or reach out to for support.
Social media if misused can be a time suck, but it can also be used for good purposes and in moderation, and most people understand that without a priest needing to tell them. I personally don’t need the Church to be my net nanny any more than I needed them to be my TV nanny or my movie nanny.
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AlbertDerGrosse
Guest
Yeah, I myself like that these spiritual extracurriculars aren’t a one size fits all in Catholicism. Within your own parish the young adults might be engaged in one thing, while the seniors another, the moms another, the Catholic professional guild yet another, etc. And none of these are obligatory or expected. You customize your devotionals based on your own individual need.
In any case, we do have some things requested by our Archbishop which again are not obligatory but are nice to do out of solidarity with him and together as members of the same particular church. Last year we consecrated the archdiocese to the Immaculate Heart and with it he’s requested that everyone in the archdiocese commit to three things: (1) Daily individual rosary and weekly family rosary, (2) Friday abstinence, and (3) one hour of Adoration a week.
In any case, we do have some things requested by our Archbishop which again are not obligatory but are nice to do out of solidarity with him and together as members of the same particular church. Last year we consecrated the archdiocese to the Immaculate Heart and with it he’s requested that everyone in the archdiocese commit to three things: (1) Daily individual rosary and weekly family rosary, (2) Friday abstinence, and (3) one hour of Adoration a week.
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redbaron162
Guest
Here is a Catholic program that was some of the elements you mention.
It seems pretty intense, I haven’t undertaken it yet but would like to someday.
It seems pretty intense, I haven’t undertaken it yet but would like to someday.
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AlbertDerGrosse
Guest
I think it’s also worth mentioning that these bits of counsel usually end up becoming benchmarks of Mormon orthodoxy, over which you’ll be judged by your fellow Mormons if you should fail to live up to them (or even lack the desire to).
You might envy this, but as an ex-Mormon I’m glad to be away from it and I’d be very concerned if the Pope started micromanaging the average Catholic’s daily life like this.
You might envy this, but as an ex-Mormon I’m glad to be away from it and I’d be very concerned if the Pope started micromanaging the average Catholic’s daily life like this.
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PetraG
Guest
There are certain religious sects where the peer pressure and the threat of shunning approach the level of cult manipulation. That is very bad.
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Lemuel
Guest
I was a Mormon for 57 years. There are a few good things to be said about being a Mormon, but for you Catholics, trust me, you aren’t missing anything at all.
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1ke
Guest
Yeah, too bad there is no Letter To Young People from Pope Francis or something like a World Youth Day and encouragement to take the World Youth Day Challenge. Too bad Pope Benedict never gave an Address To Young People or John Paul II. Too bad no one like Cardinal Dolan ever wrote something like A 10 Step Guide To Holiness. Too bad no bishops or priests ever wrote any books or gave any homilies.
Oh wait…
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Sarcelle
Guest
Burkas are very forgiving especially if one has put on some weight.
However a burka, especially a black one can be hot in the summer.
However a burka, especially a black one can be hot in the summer.
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Sarcelle
Guest
True.
Especially if you die single and cannot be exalted and can only be exalted in the next life by being the fifth wife of so and so.
How anyone can think this attractive is beyond me.
Especially if you die single and cannot be exalted and can only be exalted in the next life by being the fifth wife of so and so.
How anyone can think this attractive is beyond me.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
You can do Nineveh 90, a program developed for all ages and genders (not just men) but based on Exodus 90, for free. Roman Catholic Man blog usually runs a group program of it in the early part of the year around Lent. I did it this year.
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redbaron162
Guest
Care to share some of your experiences? We have a pretty low Mormon population so its more of a oddity for us.
What does a typical services look like? just curious
What does a typical services look like? just curious
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gracepoole
Guest
WTH?gracepoole:
Yeah, too bad there is no Letter To Young People from Pope Francis or something like a World Youth Day and encouragement to take the World Youth Day Challenge. Too bad Pope Benedict never gave an Address To Young People or John Paul II. Too bad no one like Cardinal Dolan ever wrote something like A 10 Step Guide To Holiness. Too bad no bishops or priests ever wrote any books or gave any homilies.
Oh wait…
For the first time in years, I’m sorry I started a thread. I can’t believe the number of cranky Catholics who feel the need to post just to say how much better Catholicism is, explain why no Catholic should need or want guidance in daily life like the example in the OP, or just…share crankiness. “I could never envy Mormons – we have the True Presence!” Of course we do. Thanks for sharing. “It’s sort of pathetic and unrealistic that you want priests to speak directly on issues of daily life, like social media.” Huh? “We already have the saints and the catechism and… What the heck could possibly be lacking?” Great. I’m thrilled for you that nothing is lacking in your faith life. I feel pretty confident that many Catholics feel differently.
Eek. Sorry. I haven’t fully “ranted” in quite a bit. Must be the heat.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
The ones on this board tend to be really “into” Catholicism and not really “into” taking suggestions from other religions that don’t even recognize Jesus Christ.
Also, 1ke has a valid point; just as I said above this is often done in youth groups or other faith-sharing groups. If you’re not a youth and you want to do “step” programs to improve as a Catholic, they are all over the Internet and in books.
I’m really not sure why you needed to turn to Mormonism when you can find initiatives like this right in the Catholic Church and some of us have even done them.
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Lemuel
Guest
Well, like I said, I WAS a Mormon for 57 years. I’m a Catholic as of this past Easter. I still have a lot to learn and a long way to go. I know a lot about the Mormon church, having served in a multitude of positions. The funny thing is that I’ve only been away from the Mormon church for less than five years and a lot of things have changed since then. The priesthood organization has been restructured, their Home Teaching program has been restructured, some of their doctrines have changed, they have a new president, etc. One thing about Mormonism is that if you don’t like something, just hang on and it may change to your liking. The Mormon God is pretty fickle. But if you have specific questions that I can answer, I would be more than happy to do so.
You asked what their meetings are like. Mormons love to meet. When I was in the bishopric, I would attend a minimum of six meetings on Sunday, and often seven or eight. The minimum would be an early morning bishopric meeting, followed by a priesthood executive committee, ward council, or welfare meeting, then the three block meetings, then either a meeting with the bishop’s youth committee or the ward missionaries or a scouting or cub scout meeting, possibly a fireside and so forth. I would usually be at the church by 6 AM and done by 8 or 9 that evening. It was tiring and to be honest, awful. Not all members had that kind of schedule, but many had multiple meetings each Sunday, a minimum of four.
As to what a meeting is like, well there is the basic three-hour block that I mentioned. It is three separate meetings and they are different according to your age and gender. I won’t go into all.
For me, the three-hour block went like this:
Hour 1: Sacrament meeting. Similar to the Catholic mass. We all congregate together with our families and the bishop or member of the bishopric will make announcements and handle business. There are hymns and prayers. Then there is the sacrament (like the Catholic communion), but done a lot differently. After the sacrament are talks, usually from members of the congregation who were asked prior to the meeting to prepare a talk on a particular subject. This is where it gets a lot different from the Catholics. Talks are about anything, from food storage to Scouting, to tithing, to Sabbath Day observance, to the missionary program, to genealogy, to keeping journals, to Young Women’s camp, to Joseph Smith, to following the living prophets, to whatever . . . and ONCE in a while, they actually talk about Jesus Christ. You would often leave sacrament meeting wondering if you were even a Christian.
con’t
You asked what their meetings are like. Mormons love to meet. When I was in the bishopric, I would attend a minimum of six meetings on Sunday, and often seven or eight. The minimum would be an early morning bishopric meeting, followed by a priesthood executive committee, ward council, or welfare meeting, then the three block meetings, then either a meeting with the bishop’s youth committee or the ward missionaries or a scouting or cub scout meeting, possibly a fireside and so forth. I would usually be at the church by 6 AM and done by 8 or 9 that evening. It was tiring and to be honest, awful. Not all members had that kind of schedule, but many had multiple meetings each Sunday, a minimum of four.
As to what a meeting is like, well there is the basic three-hour block that I mentioned. It is three separate meetings and they are different according to your age and gender. I won’t go into all.
For me, the three-hour block went like this:
Hour 1: Sacrament meeting. Similar to the Catholic mass. We all congregate together with our families and the bishop or member of the bishopric will make announcements and handle business. There are hymns and prayers. Then there is the sacrament (like the Catholic communion), but done a lot differently. After the sacrament are talks, usually from members of the congregation who were asked prior to the meeting to prepare a talk on a particular subject. This is where it gets a lot different from the Catholics. Talks are about anything, from food storage to Scouting, to tithing, to Sabbath Day observance, to the missionary program, to genealogy, to keeping journals, to Young Women’s camp, to Joseph Smith, to following the living prophets, to whatever . . . and ONCE in a while, they actually talk about Jesus Christ. You would often leave sacrament meeting wondering if you were even a Christian.
con’t
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Lemuel
Guest
Hour 2: Gospel Doctrine. This is where they study the gospel in an adult setting. That’s for those who aren’t obligated to be elsewhere, as with the children or youth. It’s a relatively small part of the congregation. The study is a yearly course, each year rotating through one of the four Mormon standard works, which is the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon and then Church history, which combines the Doctrine and Covenants with the Pearl of Great Price—all Mormon scripture. A good Gospel Doctrine teacher will teach a lot about the Mormon Jesus, which to their credit is an honest effort to actually accomplish what most Christians go to church for. That was generally my favorite meeting.
Hour 3: Priesthood Meeting. This was my least favorite meeting. Older men sitting around chewing the fat and discussing whatever comes up. They are supposed to follow a manual, but what it usually amounts to is the “teacher” ends up sitting his fat butt on a table and reading from the same manual that everyone else has, or is supposed to have. It’s dreadfully boring. The manual is a compilation of teachings from previous prophets, carefully vetted and sanitized so that it doesn’t introduce any history that they don’t want you talking about in class. Priesthood meeting is a good nap time for a lot of the men.
Any questions?
Hour 3: Priesthood Meeting. This was my least favorite meeting. Older men sitting around chewing the fat and discussing whatever comes up. They are supposed to follow a manual, but what it usually amounts to is the “teacher” ends up sitting his fat butt on a table and reading from the same manual that everyone else has, or is supposed to have. It’s dreadfully boring. The manual is a compilation of teachings from previous prophets, carefully vetted and sanitized so that it doesn’t introduce any history that they don’t want you talking about in class. Priesthood meeting is a good nap time for a lot of the men.
Any questions?
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jtavington
Guest
We’re the Church that borrowed shamelessly from pagan philosophy. If you see something non-sinful the Mormons are doing that you think will help, do it.
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redbaron162
Guest
No particularly but I appreciated the glimpse into another world for a bit.
by the way Welcome to the Church. I came when I was 17 during 2007. Its a wonderful adventure.
by the way Welcome to the Church. I came when I was 17 during 2007. Its a wonderful adventure.
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1ke
Guest
If you are going to say that you don’t “ever” remember Church leadership giving these sorts of directives I think you need to be prepared for a big serving of “sorry you missed it” because it is literally all over the media, in books, from the pulpit, in youth groups, and especially now more than ever on social media.
The Pope started WYD, there have been messages to youth, and outreach to youth, and books for youth, and ministries for youth, and You Tube channels for youth, and on and on. From the national/international level to the individual parish level. It’s literally everywhere.
I don’t see how you can say you are envious that the LDS leadership is giving specific suggestions to its members and the Catholic Church leadership is not. Honestly, I find it hard to believe you can’t find any examples of that.
It’s not crankiness on my part, it seems incredulity on your part.
Maybe you’ve never ever seen anything, and if that’s the case I’m sorry for that.
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