Francisca “Where is the good news?”–I love that. Also, on EWTN (forget whether it was Father Mary Francis, or maybe Mitch Pacwa, or a guest)–the urging was to “follow the peace”–that inner peace which passes understanding. Not talking about suffering, which is part of the Christian walk–but you know what I mean–that deep peace–if that starts to go, it may be a red flag.
My months since becoming a Catholic in Oct. 2003 have been such a roller-coaster. I wasn’t prepared for the terrible divisions within the Church itself. I have a very good catechesis, stemming from a mainline Presbyterian background in the 1950s and 60s, back before they fell into such serious errors as today. They were creedal and sacramental–although now I understand why I was always so confused about salvation–Lutherans and Presbyterians are so very different in their theology–but we didn’t realize that–fallout from the Reformation. I just thought it was my own faith problem.
So I think I can handle ecumenical studies–but I’d caution anyone new to Scripture studies–don’t do it! Father’s so right–so many of these evangelical churches have such a blind spot to Catholicism and will really try to convert you away from the Faith. They’re good at it, too. Avoid them like the plague. I study Beth Moore on my own–miss the fellowship, but it’s not worth taking anti-Catholic hits (many of them without malice–but that is how they believe).
Being loyal to the Pope, and Vatican II definitely is the way to go. And I’ve been all over the map since my conversion–except for liberal/dissenter–finding that the Church is full of this really made me sick. I’ve been confused, and depressed, and lost the peace. For awhile the only thing that kept me Catholic was the Eucharist. This is a huge deal. Never, never give up the Eucharist–not for warm fellowship, not for anything.
I still am avoiding Catholic Bible studies because the only encounter I had with the Bible in RCIA–horror of horrors, I faced the same modernist **** that I encountered and fled from in my Presbyterian church–you know “Jesus didn’t really say this,” “you can’t take the stories in Acts too literally”, the feeding the 5000 was a lesson in sharing–that was the “miracle”. Thank *God for Scott Hahn–in his Scripture Matters, he talks about the historical background to this thinking–German Marxism, basically. Sad to say, the notes in my NAB Bible really lean to this alot. It depresses me so much–this is why people are leaving for evangelical churches–at least they don’t intellectualize away true faith and say that really smart people use their brains and form their own consciences. As though having faith means becoming mindless.
It is hard to figure out Scripture. Even with the Holy Spirit as a guide.
I found all this out by really hard experience. Can’t say I’m done with my struggles. But I’ll never give up my Eucharistic Lord–please God help me.
In fact I always tell them that the best comfort I have in knowing that I chose the true Church was from reading scripture. Once again, thanks for your time Father.
