Can a catechumen burn hell notes to their ancestor?

[Rutherford2]

@Mary888 Thou shalt honor thy mother and father. If I go against what they want, won’t I break the commandment?

@(name removed by moderator) Wow, I feel so privileged already.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

I’m sorry you’re facing this.
It’s hard to go against family you love.
You can also see it as choosing God who you love.
Could you pray for your ancestors, and explain to your family that Catholics look at the honor we give our fore-bears differently.
Is there anybody who is more open to this new religious path you’re on, that you can explain this to and they can help you explain to your family?

 

[UpUpAndAway]

I, too, am sorry you’re confronted with this.

Honoring your parents does not mean obeying them in every circumstance, particularly if you are an adult. This even applies to minors if a parent tells a child to behave immorally.

 

[Rutherford2]

What if… I burn the hell notes but in my mind I’ll remind myself , “Its just pieces of paper. Its just pieces of paper. I am only burning ordinary paper with pictures.”

 

[Francis]

Very soon my family will make an annual trip to a chinese cemetary to do spring cleaning and offering of hell notes at our ancestor’s tomb. Since I am not a full catholic, could I participate to burn hell notes?

Your already are a Catholic by heart and believe Jesus is your Lord and Master ,you dont need to participate ,your a adult right ,you can either satay in you room or stay out of the Gate in a restaurant something like it .

Deut 18:9-13 9 When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you must not learn to imitate the abhorrent practices of those nations. 10 No one shall be found among you who makes a son or daughter pass through fire, or who practices divination, or is a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who casts spells, or who consults ghosts or spirits, or who seeks oracles from the dead. 12 For whoever does these things is abhorrent to the Lord; it is because of such abhorrent practices that the Lord your God is driving them out before you. 13 You must remain completely loyal to the Lord your God.

offering of hell notes at our ancestor’s tomb.

what is it ?,is it some kind of spirit calling or praying for them?

 

[Francis]

What if… I burn the hell notes but in my mind I’ll remind myself , “Its just pieces of paper. Its just pieces of paper. I am only burning ordinary paper with pictures.”

Remember you not fighting with flesh and blood but against the evil spirits Ep 6:10-12
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.

 

[Rutherford2]

It’s the same as All Souls Day. But in our Chinese version, we burn hell money so that our ancestors can receive it and use it in hell. We also burn houses, maids, clothes, shoes, mercedes, iphone, passports, etc.

 

[pulchraesamicamea]

Hi @Rutherford2,

I’m Korean, and the Confucian culture is rooted in my country. There was a debate in the Church concerning this matter, and the Church has approved some cultural practices to be “civil” (such as respecting the ancestors) so please take a look on what the Church has approved and what the Holy Church disapproved.

Chinese Rites controversy - Wikipedia

Pax Christi,
Michelle

 

[mcq72]

Very soon my family will make an annual trip to a chinese cemetary to do spring cleaning and offering of hell notes at our ancestor’s tomb. Since I am not a full catholic, could I participate to burn hell notes?

Perhaps you could share just what the practice is. For sure it has religious roots, but how much of it is “cultural”. I mean we do a lot of stuff around Christmas time (trees etc.) that have pagan origin but have been “culturalized” into a Christian setting.

So what is it exactly that one does in spring cleaning and hell notes?

What or whom is even prompting you to ask if it’s ok ?

I am wondering if their could be a “Mars Hill” experience here for you, a teaching others moment, using this well intentioned but falling short of newly revealed truth that is in Christ practice.

Have you read of it in Acts I think, when Paul was in Athens I believe ? Paul later says “I become all things to all men, so that some might be saved”. Paul became Athenian at Mars Hill. So for sure be " chinese" but only to reveal your new truth in Christ to other “chinese”.

The more you focus on impacting others the freer in Christ you will be. As for yourself, thank God that either way, you have an anchor now in a more universal truth, and it (He) in you.

May you be wary of legalism but ever astute in desiring to please the Lord, that voice that whispers to you now, that may have even prompted this post of yours.

 

[AngelusDomini]

You would probably be better off speaking to a Chinese priest or one who has a thorough knowledge of Chinese tradition. Some traditional practices may be allowed as they are more cultural than spiritual.

 

[lilypadrees]

Thou shalt honor thy mother and father. If I go against what they want, won’t I break the commandment?

Ephesians 6:1-3 (NRSVCE)

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.
2 “Honor your father and mother”—this is the first commandment with a promise:
3 “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

This means that you don’t have to do what they say if they want you to do something that is against God’s teachings. Pagan practices like burning the joss paper hell notes go against God’s teachings.

 

[halogirl]

Do you actually believe that what you are doing is real? If you do, you may need to spend a little longer learning about the Church. You really shouldn’t be taking part tho if you are serious about converting, maybe you can go with them to show you are still part of the family but not burn the money.

 

[TheLittleLady]

If you were engaged to be married, would it be okay to go on dates with ladies other than your fiancee?

 

[lilypadrees]

Sorry, but your ancestors are dead. If they’re in Hell, they aren’t going to be using any of the things you mention.

Again, don’t participate in this. Pray for the souls of your ancestors. But don’t participate in the practices. Satan is trying to tempt you by using the “You’re not Catholic yet. You haven’t been baptized yet. So it’s okay” excuse. It’s not okay.

 

[Mary888]

Thou shalt honor thy mother and father. If I go against what they want, won’t I break the commandment?

In the beginning of Christianity many people now Saints broke away from their family’s tradition. You won’t be abandoning your parents I hope and forget to take care of them with love when they become old. The NT says faith comes before blood relation. However the commandments are as you know them. Does God contradict Himself? No. If He said to honor your parents and to put faith before them it means there is a way to do both. If your parents made a son who is returning to God and lives according to His will then you already honor them by doing the most important thing a human can do - come back to God. The life that they helped bring in this world - you - is not wasted if you do what God gave us this time on Earth to help us do - come back to Him. God will send you the grace to take care of your parents in ways they and God expect you to take care of them - visit them, help them, show them your love and affection, pray for them, don’t argue with them too much about religion but rather show them quietly that your now true faith is helping you become a better man.

 

[adgloriam]

Which “tribe,” as you refer to it, would you rather be a part of - your eartly family’s with its temporary traditions like hell notes or God’s Family with Jesus as your Brother, Savior and King and knowing you have eternal life with Him?

@Rutherford2 never ceases to amaze me I love your posts man !!! Give us more !!!

 

[adgloriam]

Rutherford2:

offering of hell notes at our ancestor’s tomb.

what is it ?,is it some kind of spirit calling or praying for them?

I actually have the same question. But being “expelled from the tribe” tops it all !

 

[BoomBoomMancini]

@Rutherford2 never ceases to amaze me

In fairness to Rutherford, I get the sense he’s very young and English is not his first language, so reading his posts in a charitable light is probably the way to go.

 

[runningdude]

There is no prohibition against Catholics or catechumens observing occasional non-Christian religious services for good cause, such important family gatherings. There is no moral concern whatsoever with mere upkeep of a family cemetery plot; such care for a place of final rest, as well as prayers for the family members resting there, is even encourage by the church.

I am not familiar with burning “hell notes”, in particular. Skimming the thread, it appears to involve sending “money” to your relatives in the afterlife by burning it. The ritual itself does not appear to be seriously incompatible with the faith, although some of the underlying theology will be flawed. You might avoid overt participation in the ritual, while offering silent prayers for your family member’s intentions from the sidelines. Showing concern for those who have passed, however, is an integral part of the Catholic faith that I hope you would retain upon your full conversion.

I don’t see it problematic that you attend with your family and participate in the service elements, while offering general concurrence with their prayers. As Catholics we have the fullest understanding of the God, but prayers from all people of good will are heard by him as well.

 

[Francis]

@Rutherford2

Ok, but being a catechumen ,these practices are immaterial,and of no use to you ,as in Luke 9:62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”Matthew 8:21 Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

If you become Catholic ,you can offer Mass for the dead ,those in purgatory,you can help them by your prayers ,sacrifices ,good works and do other penances for them ,in a more excellent way ,if one in the family comes to Jesus ,the whole family (Even your whole tribe God willing)can be saves as in Acts 16:31 They answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And God will restore you fortunes as in Isaiah 58:11 The Lord will guide you continually,and satisfy your needs in parched places,and make your bones strong;and you shall be like a watered garden,like a spring of water,whose waters never fail.12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;you shall be called the repairer of the breach,the restorer of streets to live in.

Hebrews 11:15 If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return.