Convert Catechizing Cradle Catholics

[CatholicofAgora]

I happened to notice that our more well informed and practicing Catholics more often than not tend to be converts and reverts to the Faith rather than actual cradle Catholics. This was originally an objection held by a Protestant friend of mine who says that Catholics in his life never seemed to “know about salvation.” While going to confession one time after finishing my Rites of Initiation, I was discussing the Real Presence with a 60 year-old Latino Catholic behind me. She literally said that she’s been taking communion for over 40 years without actually knowing anything about the Real Presence!! It just seems like maybe because cradle Catholics do not discover or rediscover the Truth of the Catholic Church, maybe they just take it for granted as something they’re raised with. I’m going to be teaching Catechumens who are middle-schoolers next year. I’m a very good teacher, I’m enthusiastic, passionate, well informed, and I seek to resolve the issue of poory catechized Catechumens. Does anyone have anyomore advice in doing this? How do we make top-notch Catholics with everything we can do on our behalf?

Thanks, God Bless…

 

[Rich_C]

Get the Baltimore Catechism. I think Volume #2 was intended for that age group. If they know that book, they’ll know the Faith.

That, and get them all an inexpensive Rosary and teach them to pray it.

If you can, get a priest to come and teaching them about the Blessed Sacrament and offer Adoration and Benediction.

 

[DhuAlQarnayn]

What you say is true of all religions – most people pay little attention to the finer points of doctrine or theology, and just go along with what their family or their community does. If you care enough to convert, you’ve taken a greater interest than most, so you’re likely to be more knowledgeable about the specifics than many people who have been a part of the religion all their life.

As you teach, find ways to make to make the material relevant to your students’ lives. Show them concretely how it affects them, and they’ll be more engaged than if it just seems like some obscure theory out of a book.

 

[Brooklyn]

Get the Baltimore Catechism. I think Volume #2 was intended for that age group. If they know that book, they’ll know the Faith.

That, and get them all an inexpensive Rosary and teach them to pray it.

If you can, get a priest to come and teaching them about the Blessed Sacrament and offer Adoration and Benediction.

 

[edwest2]

I happened to notice that our more well informed and practicing Catholics more often than not tend to be converts and reverts to the Faith rather than actual cradle Catholics. This was originally an objection held by a Protestant friend of mine who says that Catholics in his life never seemed to “know about salvation.” While going to confession one time after finishing my Rites of Initiation, I was discussing the Real Presence with a 60 year-old Latino Catholic behind me. She literally said that she’s been taking communion for over 40 years without actually knowing anything about the Real Presence!! It just seems like maybe because cradle Catholics do not discover or rediscover the Truth of the Catholic Church, maybe they just take it for granted as something they’re raised with. I’m going to be teaching Catechumens who are middle-schoolers next year. I’m a very good teacher, I’m enthusiastic, passionate, well informed, and I seek to resolve the issue of poory catechized Catechumens. Does anyone have anyomore advice in doing this? How do we make top-notch Catholics with everything we can do on our behalf?

Thanks, God Bless…

I dislike the term Cradle Catholic. Plus, when we meet someone, and if the situation seems appropriate, politely ask the person in question if they went to a Catholic School or why they believe a certain thing. I think you will be a better teacher if you understand your students, especially if they disagree with you or ask to be shown where the Church teaches something (the Bible, the Catechism, Papal Encyclical), regardless of their age.

I think the real challenge is simply this: Catholics in their mid-50s and older have lived through 40 years of confusion. And most of us came from a time when religion - Christianity - was celebrated in America. The same goes for their children and grandchildren.

I keep hearing that so many Catholics are not properly catechized on Catholic Radio. Do people listening even know what the word catechized means? Honestly. And once they are catechized by someone with passion, with a love of God, how do they translate any of it into action once they leave the building?

I lived in a community of “top notch Catholics” in the early to mid-1960s. I was young, but I could tell the adults were making a real effort to live out their faith in everyday life. We were kids but we weren’t stupid. I heard the following from a few moms: “Don’t you dare talk like that around the kids.” We honored our mothers and fathers, and our neighbors were like friends of the family. We were there to help each other. It was all regarded as normal, average behavior.

How will you deal with the abnormal, dysfunctional behavior pouring out of every media outlet? A few years back, I heard a kid cussing out his mom in a Supermarket parking lot. In the 1960s, we wouldn’t think of doing something like that. Never.

We said please and thank you.
We addressed adults as "Hello, Mister so and so, Hello, Missus so and so.
There were strict rules for dating.
In my Catholic school, the girls’ skirts had to cover their knees.

Modesty, decency, politeness, shunning scandal. That must transfer from the classroom to the current abnormal reality.

Hope this helps, and may God bless you,

Ed

 

[Brooklyn]

I dislike the term Cradle Catholic.

I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s, and I never heard the term “cradle Catholic” till I came back to the church in 2007. I wasn’t really sure what it meant at first. I think this is a rather modern term for Catholics, and I’m not crazy about it either.

I think the real challenge is simply this: Catholics in their mid-50s and older have lived through 40 years of confusion. And most of us came from a time when religion - Christianity - was celebrated in America. The same goes for their children and grandchildren.

 

[fred_conty]

I happened to notice that our more well informed and practicing Catholics more often than not tend to be converts and reverts to the Faith rather than actual cradle Catholics. This was originally an objection held by a Protestant friend of mine who says that Catholics in his life never seemed to “know about salvation.” While going to confession one time after finishing my Rites of Initiation, I was discussing the Real Presence with a 60 year-old Latino Catholic behind me. She literally said that she’s been taking communion for over 40 years without actually knowing anything about the Real Presence!! It just seems like maybe because cradle Catholics do not discover or rediscover the Truth of the Catholic Church, maybe they just take it for granted as something they’re raised with. I’m going to be teaching Catechumens who are middle-schoolers next year. I’m a very good teacher, I’m enthusiastic, passionate, well informed, and I seek to resolve the issue of poory catechized Catechumens. Does anyone have anyomore advice in doing this? How do we make top-notch Catholics with everything we can do on our behalf?

Thanks, God Bless…

You said, “I’m enthusiastic”, and I say, good for you. That is a lot of what it takes.
It rubs off.

Whenever I hear priest worked up in a sermon, I’ve looked around the church, and the people are all perked up.

That is one of the winning points of Billy Grahm and the reason he is effective. I’ve never heard him speak in a dull way. He ozzed excitement, conviction, and vigor.

It takes more than knowledge to impart knowledge. Motivation, motivation, motivation.

And it must be interesting, with some stories, or creative ideas.

I’m sure you will be successful.

 

[ZoeyBdo]

I had never heard the term “cradle” Catholic until joining this website, but I guess if you use it to describe someone who was born Catholic, that’s not a bad term.

Why would someone not know the finer points of their faith? It’s easy… not all of us went to Catholic schools because our parents couldn’t afford it. Not all of us went to church EVERY Sunday, because some of our parents felt that they were forced to go to church, and they didn’t want to force us.

We believe in God. We believe in Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. We know the stories, as we were raised with them, and feel them in our hearts… but that doesn’t mean we can tell you exactly where in the Bible they are located.

I’ve always believed that once Catholic, always Catholic.
If you stop going to church, and do things that you KNOW are wrong, but do them anyway, you are a ‘bad Catholic’
If you only go on C&E, you’re a ‘C&E Catholic’, but still a Catholic.

I read all the time the dismay for those who call themselves Catholic, but don’t live a Catholic lifestyle… pick a thread, you’re going to read about it.

Why? Well, like me, all of the values were instilled in me as a child, as a teen… ‘Be Good’, ‘Abstain’, ‘Don’t Drink’, ‘Don’t mess with boys’,‘Respect your elders’,‘Be polite’ ‘Be modest’… the list goes on…

But the “Why” of those things was never attributed to “BECAUSE WE ARE CATHOLIC” with explanation afterwards.

Perhaps this is my own situation, but I gather there are many who could relate.

So why, you ask? Well… that’s my why.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Converts make the most amazing Catholics. That is for sure. There’s something about that conscious decision and desire to pursue the faith that is missing/lacking in cradle Catholics.

 

[Filioque]

If you can find a copy of Bishop Charles F. Buddy’s book, “For Them Also” Bishop Buddy was the first bishop of San Diego when it was established. Many Catholics in the Diocese had fallen away from the Faith, and were poorly instructed. Bp. Buddy established a door to door campaign and instruction for those who had lapsed in their practice, and nearly doubled the number of active Catholics in the Diocese.

 

[Rich_C]

Converts make the most amazing Catholics. That is for sure. There’s something about that conscious decision and desire to pursue the faith that is missing/lacking in cradle Catholics.

They do, to be sure. But I will add that if you’ve ever met a devout “cradle Catholic” who lived and breathed the Faith and the culture it created from daipers up, before the revolution of the 1970s, you’ll find something very special. I think it’s ever more inspiring than the zeal of a convert but it’s rarer now.

 

[maryjk]

I’m going to be teaching Catechumens who are middle-schoolers next year. I’m a very good teacher, I’m enthusiastic, passionate, well informed, and I seek to resolve the issue of poory catechized Catechumens. Does anyone have anyomore advice in doing this? How do we make top-notch Catholics with everything we can do on our behalf?

Thanks, God Bless…

Crazy as this sounds the most important part is going to be that you are a good teacher.

My son just attended a high school level Sunday school class. Although he has received Confirmation, the class is required for those seeking Confirmation. The class was open to anyone in high school.

They used a great book, the teacher is really on fire for the faith and we thought it would be a great class. But the teacher couldn’t be bothered to show up on time. I don’t know that she EVER was on time for class. They generally started the one hour class 15 to 20 minutes late. The class was never doing the chapter that was listed, so if you missed a class you had no idea what you missed. Tests took weeks to grade. It was a nightmare.

Now, I understand that the teacher was a volunteer. I know she wasn’t paid to be there. BUT if you make the commitment to teach, show up, teach and fulfill your commitment. If you can’t do that, allow someone else to step up.

 

[CatholicofAgora]

Yeah. Comming from a Baptist church it is engraved in me to be an evangelist. I notice that conversion, the inner transformation one feels at becomming Christian, is what Protestant pastors literally drive for by the end of every sermon, whereas Catholic pastoral services are more about maintaining a state of grace after conversion, but for Protestants its all about conversion, transformation, salvation. I think that this is how Christian Initiation should be for our little up-and-commers. All of their weekly practices will be completely meaningless if they don’t know what its for or why they should be doing it. I strongly hope that I will be compelling and not over-bearing to them.

 

[CatholicofAgora]

How will you deal with the abnormal, dysfunctional behavior pouring out of every media outlet? A few years back, I heard a kid cussing out his mom in a Supermarket parking lot. In the 1960s, we wouldn’t think of doing something like that. Never.
Ed

What an awful tragedy that our culture has come to this, it makes me disgusted to call myself an American. Even children’s cartoons like Regular Show and Mad T.V. are introducing suggestive language and content to our children, never mind the shows like South Park and Family Guy that they are typically expected to watch! Drug use, sex, profanity and immoral behavior are simply seen as “the norm” in today’s society. Nobody at my girlfriend’s work has a moral obligation to NOT use cocain or marijuana, and NOBODY has the moral obligation to not seek out sexual exploitations period…

Its like we’re sitting in our own cest pool of moral filth.

 

[Thomas_Francis]

Get the Baltimore Catechism. I think Volume #2 was intended for that age group. If they know that book, they’ll know the Faith.

That, and get them all an inexpensive Rosary and teach them to pray it.

If you can, get a priest to come and teaching them about the Blessed Sacrament and offer Adoration and Benediction.

This is all great advice and should be followed (please, please teach them about Adoration), however, if you are in the US and are going to be teaching in a PSR/CCD/Catholic school setting you will need to use a book from the USCCB’s approved list. Sadly, for reasons beyond me, the Baltimore Catechism is not on that list. That said, you can use the Baltimore Catechism as a supplement.

As an aside, all the religious teachers I know rave about the substance of the Baltimore and complain that most other books are all fluff.

 

[CatholicofAgora]

Get the Baltimore Catechism. I think Volume #2 was intended for that age group. If they know that book, they’ll know the Faith.

That, and get them all an inexpensive Rosary and teach them to pray it.

If you can, get a priest to come and teaching them about the Blessed Sacrament and offer Adoration and Benediction.

I’m sure that my parish will provide them a YouCat and Catholic Youth Bible (NAB) as they did for me during my initiation. Both were very helpful tools I’m sure will serve them well. Honestely, the Blessed Sacrament is my favorite subject. I went to a camp retreat one time that requested we testify about what it means to us and when I gave mine it made me get flooded with tears and hugs!! However I’m not in charge of the program, I’ll be teaching under someone. I’m sure I’ll have plenty of help when needed. I’m horrible at explaining the Rosary but I know how powerful it is. If they were devout to their Rosary then they would be forever focused on the gospel of our Lord!!

 

[ConstantineTG]

They do, to be sure. But I will add that if you’ve ever met a devout “cradle Catholic” who lived and breathed the Faith and the culture it created from daipers up, before the revolution of the 1970s, you’ll find something very special. I think it’s ever more inspiring than the zeal of a convert but it’s rarer now.

You might be surprised though that such person did have a conversion experience, even though they didn’t convert into Catholicism. For example, and not trying to brag here, my zeal in our Church is more visible than the others who are cradle Ukrainian Catholics I come across with. Would you consider me a convert coming from the Roman Catholic Church? No. But I will say the experience is a conversion experience. In many aspects it does feel like I found a new faith and grew into it. Some cradle Catholics grow up not knowing their own faith at all. And sometimes that point that they rediscover their faith is a conversion experience.

 

[rickAnthony]

I really enjoyed reading your post! I “reverted” 50-odd years ago because God made it clear to me that the Catholic Church was the one-and-only and then left me free to make the wrong choice. Sp, I became a practicing Catholic. But, for the ensuing 24 years the inertia of my well-exercised anti-Catholicism arguments kept me trying to understand – so, maybe, I could somehow re-excuse myself from the Catholic Church. That is a poor kind of enthusiasm for the Faith, isn’t it? AND the effort I spent resolving all those objections, and the ‘hanging in there’, and the learning that resulted, has left me able to explain the truth in simple ways and make examples that people relate to easily. I very strongly identify with your statement, “I’m enthusiastic, passionate, well informed, and I seek to resolve the issue of poory catechized Catechumens.”
By the way, I have met 7 others who style themselves as ‘A Reluctant Revert’. All were DREs.

 

[zab]

I happened to notice that our more well informed and practicing Catholics more often than not tend to be converts and reverts to the Faith rather than actual cradle Catholics. This was originally an objection held by a Protestant friend of mine who says that Catholics in his life never seemed to “know about salvation.” While going to confession one time after finishing my Rites of Initiation, I was discussing the Real Presence with a 60 year-old Latino Catholic behind me. She literally said that she’s been taking communion for over 40 years without actually knowing anything about the Real Presence!! It just seems like maybe because cradle Catholics do not discover or rediscover the Truth of the Catholic Church, maybe they just take it for granted as something they’re raised with. I’m going to be teaching Catechumens who are middle-schoolers next year. I’m a very good teacher, I’m enthusiastic, passionate, well informed, and I seek to resolve the issue of poory catechized Catechumens. Does anyone have anyomore advice in doing this? How do we make top-notch Catholics with everything we can do on our behalf?

Thanks, God Bless…

You just do your part in teaching the Catholic to these children the best way that you know how, pray for them. Then let the Holy Spirit work in them. You don’t have to be a convert, or a revert to experience a strengthening or deepening of your faith. It happens to cradle Catholics, too.

 

[edwest2]

Yeah. Comming from a Baptist church it is engraved in me to be an evangelist. I notice that conversion, the inner transformation one feels at becomming Christian, is what Protestant pastors literally drive for by the end of every sermon, whereas Catholic pastoral services are more about maintaining a state of grace after conversion, but for Protestants its all about conversion, transformation, salvation. I think that this is how Christian Initiation should be for our little up-and-commers. All of their weekly practices will be completely meaningless if they don’t know what its for or why they should be doing it. I strongly hope that I will be compelling and not over-bearing to them.

Evangelization is being stressed more now to Catholics, young and old, including evangelizing on the internet. As a local pastor, Father Riccardo, put it: "If you’re a Catholic and you’re not out evangelizing others, why not?’

The last 40 years has seen Catholic values mocked - unlike 40 years ago. We didn’t all go to the same Church, and not all the people in my neighborhood were Catholic, but there was a shared living out of our Catholic values. Today, that’s been drowned out by a media that mocks Church teaching, that mocks Christianity/belief in God in general, and celebrates lifestyles that are immoral, scandalous and obscene.

Peace,
Ed