Catholic lack of practice of their faith

[Gratias_Grace]

(This is just an outsiders observation, and not meant to offend.)

I have met and known many Catholics in my life (my fathers side is Catholic). I can think of two where I could see that they knew and practiced their faith. Two people (out of hundreds), where there faith made a difference in their life! My brother in law is a life long Catholic, who I have explained what the Eucharist and Transubstantiation are to him (he knew not even the basics). I have been to Catholic services back when I was really searching and was shocked (not a modestly dressed girl attending, people in and out, no one paying attention, etc…). In the parking lot an old woman pulled me off to the side and asked how much money she was expected to give for the new building as she was very broke (this was the sermon topic). I told her I was just a visitor and had no idea, and she began to talk my ear off as she later confessed how lonely she was. I suggested she join her churches bible study, she replied that they had none or that she wasn’t welcomed. I suppose I could go on with my experiences, but you get the point.

Why is there an apparent spiritual death in Catholic circles? My wife and I really have Christ as the center of our home, and I fear if I were ever to be fully convinced of Catholic doctrine that I would have to abandon my faith and closeness to Christ.

-Tim

Catholics vary as much as other christians. There are strong belief, little belief, no belief, lukewarms and cafeteriacatholics. Every person are unike (some are talkative, some are shy etc) and even strong believers (close to Christ) will show their belief in different ways when not inside Church.

May be the lively one will laugh, sing and compliment you while she serves you coffee and cakes. (This is if she believe in God an act of charity or love (agape). She use the gift God has given her to make you relax and feel well. She practices her faith).

A more shy person will perhaps not be able to show you “outward” that she cares for you (at the inside), but this person may be a very sensitive person that “snaps up” that something is bothering you. Her christian/catholic love for you (agape) will perhaps never be noticed by you. But this one can be the one that prays for you at least 15 minutes every day. She practice her faith and the special gifts God has given her.

I think that it’s not always possible to decide from the outside who is practicing their faith well. We are all sinners and the Church is a hopital for sinners. Sinless people don’t need God!!!

You tell us that your wife and you “really have Christ as the center of our home”. So has I and many, many catholic believers.

I am a convert and have had to think and read much. I had to be in a very close relation to God to be able to make such a desition.

With that said I agree that there is some kind of spiritual death in some Catholic circles, as it is in many protestant circles. That’s very sad, but God will continue to call people to the the Catholic Church, for convertion (both non-catholics and “born unto Church Catholics”). In some way he will use us.

We who believe and have close relations to Christ must try to be good examples to others. The secular world is our competitor. Many get tempted to give away small portions of faith, piece after piece.

Let us try to show them how joyful it is to beliieve in God!
:yup: :bounce:

 

[GoodForm]

I didn’t have time to read all the posts, so please forgive me if this is redundant. This has been an area of growth for me over the last couple of years. I used to go to church and notice all the same things: shorts, belly buttons, gum chewing while in line for Holy Communion:crying: , leaving after Holy Communion, an overall appearance of disinterest, etc. I’m not accusing you of this timz, but for me I think I was beginning to act like the Pharisee/Tax Collector parable: Thank God I’m not like that dude over there wearing shorts and chewing gum.

Over time I began to realize that this is Jesus’ Church, and the doors are wide open. No, not wide open to every wind of thought or junk like that, but doors wide open to every kind of person the Holy Spirit blows in. You have people that are at all different stages of their faith journey. Some are there to put a check on their to-do list. Some are a little further along, maybe starting to fall in love with the Lord, but finding it hard to let go of certain mortal sins. Others even further along, no longer committing mortal sin, but struggling to die to the world. We are all in there. Those of us that are a little further along need to pray for the ones that aren’t and be good examples to them. You never know how affected someone might be by seeing someone else with their head bowed, eyes closed and seriously praying.

Also, just be glad that kid chewing gum is even there in church. For every 1 like that you see in church, there’s probably thousands who aren’t.

God bless you!!

 

[PhilNeri]

Okay timz,

World Youth Day is an event every few years for Catholic youth from around the world. It is actually several days long. Thousands, perhaps millions, of Catholic young people from all over the world gather at a specific place, even the Pope comes! They have talks and pray and worship and do lots of Catholic-y things like Stations of the Cross and the Rosary and, of course, the Mass celebrated by the Pope. This year WYD is being held in Cologne, Germany, and Pope Benedict XVI is coming. It is a great example of the enthusiastic youth from the entire world proud to be Catholic.

 

[DianJo]

This may be a little off topic, maybe not but I thought if someone could explain Catholic worship as opposed to Protestant worship it might give you a better idea of how Catholics view their faith. So, here goes…

My husband is Protestant (Baptist) and I have attended many a service with him. At those churches I’ve noticed how people socialize, talk and visit. Inside the church, some people mill about, others are seated but everyone is visiting and children were running about. I did not notice one person perparing themselves for the worship service. It seemed more like a social event, like everyone was waiting for the “program” to begin. There are no images of Christ, no reminders, there is no tabernacle or altar. It just seems to be a hall for reading scripture. I don’t mean this in a derogatory manner; its just what happens at a protestant church (or at least the Baptist church).

Now, when you go to a Catholic Church there is no visiting, talking, laughing and such. It’s very quiet. People are on their knees praying, saying the Rosary or sitting back in their seats and reviewing the readings for Mass. Oh, some people are talking but it’s usually only with the people they came with and their tone is usually very low so as not to distrub anyone praying. There are images of Christ, a cross, tabernacle for the Blessed Sacrament, there may be statues of patron saints or Mary, there are plaques of the Way of the Cross, stained glass windows telling bible stories, etc. After Mass, people leave the church, some are talking together outside, others just go on about their business.

The thing is, Catholics do not see going to Mass as a social venue. They go only and specifically for Mass - the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Mass is a very sacred and holy thing and people are preparing themselves for particpation in that Holy Sacrifice. When we enter the church we know that Christ, God Himself is present in front of us in the Tabernacle and to be loud and talking and such is disrespectful in His house of worship. People go early specifically to pray and activity like this is distracting. It is a very holy place and holy time for Catholics.

The socializing takes place either outside of the church or perhaps in the parish life center (that’s what we call ours), you might call it a fellowship hall. Our parish usually has donuts and coffee after each Mass on Sunday. There might also be classes going on, RCIA or CCD or some other event where we get to socailize. Catholics consider their beliefs to be of a sacred nature (in the strictist sense of the word). Afterall, they were handed down to us from Jesus and the Apostles and therefore were taught to us as being very sacred. That’s why, perhaps Catholics don’t shout about their beliefs and talk about them maybe in regular conversation.

When you talk about non-catholic and Catholic worship, you’re talking about two completely different ends of the spectrum. They are two completely different things.

I thought if you perhaps understood the difference between the 2, it might put your question into a little better perspective. Unfortunately, I think the easiest answer is that it depends on the people in the parish, pastor included, as to what the parish needs are and that can vary from parish to parish.

Anyway, my 2cents! (more like $2!) Sorry.

 

[Gratias_Grace]

DianJo:

.

When you talk about non-catholic and Catholic worship, you’re talking about two completely different ends of the spectrum. They are two completely different things.

Good post, DianJo! :tiphat:

:bowdown2: