Been thinking of Catholicism for years

[Religious_Girl]

It’s been a number of years now that I keep coming back to thinking about becoming Catholic. I was wondering whether I could ask a few questions? I am planning to get in touch with a local church to ask further questions as well.

With the RCIA - would I be able to start the course even if I remain unsure about becoming catholic? Or is it something that one should be sure of first?

What changes would becoming Catholic actually make to me and my life? Not spiritually/ religion wise, but day to day living. Would I need to change a lot of how I currently live - behaviour, dress sense etc?

I know that the Sacraments are not permitted for non- Catholics, but could I start to learn to pray the Rosary now?

Thanks for any help or advice

I know its been years thinking like this, but the fact that I keep coming back to it must mean that god is trying to tell me something!

I also know that a lot of the answers, I will come to realise as and when I start my journey, but I am just trying to get a heads up!

 

[kmuestwin]

It’s been a number of years now that I keep coming back to thinking about becoming Catholic. I was wondering whether I could ask a few questions? I am planning to get in touch with a local church to ask further questions as well.

With the RCIA - would I be able to start the course even if I remain unsure about becoming catholic? Or is it something that one should be sure of first?

What changes would becoming Catholic actually make to me and my life? Not spiritually/ religion wise, but day to day living. Would I need to change a lot of how I currently live - behaviour, dress sense etc?

I know that the Sacraments are not permitted for non- Catholics, but could I start to learn to pray the Rosary now?

Thanks for any help or advice

I know its been years thinking like this, but the fact that I keep coming back to it must mean that god is trying to tell me something!

I also know that a lot of the answers, I will come to realise as and when I start my journey, but I am just trying to get a heads up!

1. You can go to RCIA just to learn more about the faith. No one is going to pressure you into conversion but realize that most of the people there are only going to want discussion from the Catholic perspective.
2. I don’t know what you do from day to day but once you are accepted into the Church you will need to go to Mass every Sunday. This is an obligation.
3. The rosary isn’t a Sacrament. There are only seven Sacraments:
   Baptism
   Holy Communion
   Reconciliation
   Confirmation
   Holy Orders
   Marriage
   Last Rights

The rosary is a sacramental. Sacramentals are items or practices that lead us closer to the faith. The rosary is available to anyone and I think you should start saying it if your heart is open to the Catholic faith.

 

[Joe_5859]

If you are at all interested in Catholicism, I would recommend going to RCIA. You are completely free to go through the whole process and not become Catholic. It’s hard to be 100% sure you want to become Catholic without learning more about it. And RCIA is a great way to learn more about it.

I don’t know what aspects of your life you’ll need to change once you become Catholic because I don’t know you and how you live your life right now. There may be some things you need to change. Conversion usually does entail change (or else, what’s the point of conversion, right?). It can be more extreme for some than for others. But change doesn’t often happen all at once. This is where RCIA would be good. You will find out more and more about what the Catholic Church teaches and what is required for living a virtuous life.

Of course, you don’t have to be perfect before you come Catholic. The Church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum of saints. But there are certain things that do need to be fixed beforehand. For example, if a person has been divorced and remarried (or is married to someone who has been previously divorced), they’re going to need to go through the process of getting all that in order before they can come into the Church. Again, you don’t have to have all that figured out before you start attending RCIA. RCIA is precisely the opportunity to start working those things out.

So, the bottom line is, go to RCIA. Welcome!

 

[mcrow]

It’s been a number of years now that I keep coming back to thinking about becoming Catholic. I was wondering whether I could ask a few questions? I am planning to get in touch with a local church to ask further questions as well.

With the RCIA - would I be able to start the course even if I remain unsure about becoming catholic? Or is it something that one should be sure of first?

RCIA is just for that. You start out just learning more about it and can stop any time. There is a point however, where you have to make up your mind and either continue or not.

What changes would becoming Catholic actually make to me and my life? Not spiritually/ religion wise, but day to day living. Would I need to change a lot of how I currently live - behaviour, dress sense etc?

This is totally dependant on how you are now. Modest dress in encouraged, but you don’t have to dress like you’re Amish. Basic modesty for females would be clothes that are not overly tight or reveal too much skin. Other than that you should be OK. Again, behaviour just depends on your current status. If you are generally a good person and do not intend to sleep with anyone until marriage then it may not be that huge of a change. You’ll need to make time for Mass every week, prayer time…ect so you may have to reprioritize things a bit.

I know that the Sacraments are not permitted for non- Catholics, but could I start to learn to pray the Rosary now?

The Rosary isn’t sacrament, nor is it required to be Catholic. However, it is a great prayer and I most certainly recommend you pray it.

 

[Religious_Girl]

Thanks guys.

I didn’t mean it to sound like I was saying the rosary was a sacrament. I meant that as two separate points. In that I know I can’t have confession, or holy communion as a non catholic.

And, also would it be ok to pray the rosary.

Thanks.

 

[mcrow]

Thanks guys.

I didn’t mean it to sound like I was saying the rosary was a sacrament. I meant that as two separate points. In that I know I can’t have confession, or holy communion as a non catholic.

And, also would it be ok to pray the rosary.

Thanks.

OK, it just sounded like that’s what you thought which isn’t that far out there if you are new.

The Rosary is perfectly fine for you to pray. In fact it would be a good thing to do. You don’t have to be a confirmed Catholic to pray the rosary.

 

[Julia_Mae]

And, also would it be ok to pray the rosary.

Thanks.

Absolutely. Go here if you like, and start now. It’s a good way to learn and people will be praying with you.

You can also say a Chaplet of Divine Mercy on a Rosary, you can join a group here, I think, or just Google to find out. Also, many retreat houses offer retreats to nonCatholics if you are looking for a more spiritual discernment. You can try Saint Enders island in New England, or Google Catholic Retreat houses and contact one near you. Just going there in the daytime and praying without anything formal is good.

If you call your nearest Parish today, you can probably still get in on this year’s RCIA. It either just started or is about to. I’m a convert. Don’t worry about the change. Holy Spirit takes care of that. You can pace yourself pretty much.

 

[perro_sarnoso]

It’s been a number of years now that I keep coming back to thinking about becoming Catholic. I was wondering whether I could ask a few questions? I am planning to get in touch with a local church to ask further questions as well.

With the RCIA - would I be able to start the course even if I remain unsure about becoming catholic? Or is it something that one should be sure of first?

What changes would becoming Catholic actually make to me and my life? Not spiritually/ religion wise, but day to day living. Would I need to change a lot of how I currently live - behaviour, dress sense etc?

I know that the Sacraments are not permitted for non- Catholics, but could I start to learn to pray the Rosary now?

Thanks for any help or advice

I know its been years thinking like this, but the fact that I keep coming back to it must mean that god is trying to tell me something!

I also know that a lot of the answers, I will come to realise as and when I start my journey, but I am just trying to get a heads up!

My apologies for not addressing any of your questions,

A thought came to me about a vision that St. John Bosco had about the end times. In this vision the catholic church was represented by a large seagoing vessel with the Pope at its helm and a line of bishops and cardinal and other clerics standing behind him.
The ship was being attacked by some other minor vessels but, the catholic flagship sailed towards the columns topped by the Blessed Sacrament and the Immaculate Conception.

Stop thinking about it and get on the ship.

Love ya.