Cradle Catholics don't think!

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I would tend to agree with the OP, except that you can’t categorize a billion so easily.

Otherwise, I find that some converts, since they were guided deeply by the Holy Spirit, seem to have Holy Spirit hangover.

I find people listen to converts because they have an (unfair?) credibility to them for having ‘been there, bought the t-shirt’ that cradlers cannot claim.

Either way, God Bless converts who still burn with the Fire of the Spirit. They’ve helped rock my cradle and I rest much better 😉
 
St Pope John Paul II
Mother Teresa
Mother Angelica
Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Francis
My parish priest-Msg. Marczuk

This is just a few of the top of my head, I’m sure others can add to the list.
 
I understand the OP’s post. The majority of RC’s I come across are of the cultural variety. The one’s I know who are most fervent though are cradle Catholics. They live a dedicated life of spiritual growth and that path reignited their faith and brought them back to the church.

I think the impression that converts are more fervent is they have made an intentional decision and walked a chosen path towards the faith. From that I think springs an enthusiasm not seen in people who were born into their faith tradition (RC or otherwise). I would say percentage wise, a given group of converts who chose Roman Catholicism as a spiritual path, rather than say conversion due to marrying into the faith, would demonstrate more enthusiasm.

This is one only my opinion based on personal experience. YMMV.
 
JerryZ said:
The truth may be a little more subtle than that, our Holy father has many time repeated that we all have to undergo a daily conversion to Jesus, contrary to many protestants who think that conversion was an event that happened in 2001 at 11:00am on sunday when they recited the altar call of their particular denomination.—
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I agree, there are many Protestant, most with Calvin’s view of predestination, think that that defining moment in their life was all they needed to do. However…There are SO many more though, that although they celebrate that day that changed their life to a path with Jesus, they also recognize that we are all in a state of constant conversion…

Every day I wake I praise my Savior for taking my sins and the guilt of original sin on the cross with Him. I don’t take it for granted, and while I still sin, I confess it and experience conversion in His love and forgiveness.

I spend much time in scripture and surround myself in my life with Christian music, Christian teaching (even EWTN), and talking with Jesus.

There are many of us Protestants who are actively engaged in our faith walk with Him.

These misconceptions between Christians only serve to hurt one another and those from the outside looking in…
 
I do not agree with the OP. There are many zealous cradle Catholics who are priests, deacons, members of K of C, working in parish offices, teaching in Catholic schools and serving the Church in many other ministries. I am a convert and I wish I could have been a cradle Catholic.
 
The idea of cradle Catholic vs. converts is a false division.

God invites every Christian to become a convert every morning. Every Catholic is called to conversion of life or ongoing conversion on a daily basis.

I was baptized 29 days after birth. Every morning I wake up, fall to my knees and pray, “God, come to my assistance. Lord make haste to help me.” Then I ask God for the strength to do his will and promise to try my best cooperate with his grace and do better than I did yesterday.

We can’t change the past. All we can do is change our mind about what we did in the past and how we will act in the future. You can call it repentance, metanoia, conversio, change or anything else you want but every morning I am just as much a covert as the person who is baptized at the Easter Vigil. In fact, baptism is the main reason why I go to the Easter Vigil. It is where all baptized Catholics renew their baptismal promises and commit to a life of conversion.

-Tim-
 
I forgot my greatest Cradle catholic hero’s … My parents. My father was a “Prodestant” (or an Easter Sunday attendee. He didn’t have much zeal for church gathering. He married a woman from the Philleapeans when we traveled there; I was five. Fillapeno’s are very zealous about their faith, but do not like to over educate God. It was the persistence and vow this Fillapeno had to get me Baptized. She pestered my dad and me fervently until I was Baptised and had first Eucharist at age of 10. Now, because of wounds u told, I rebelled … And probably started my prodigal daughter tour at 11 years old. But still, if it was not for my step mothers vow and promise as a catholic to Baptise without question … My step mothers fiat saved me many years later. For this I am eternally grateful.

She is re- married to a man who has become at least 8 different religions (catholic, Hindu, buddast, Jewish, and who knows what else). He loves the theology of religion and often tries to engage her into religious discussions. But her blind faith remains steadfast, she smiles at him, invites him to mass, and will probably convert him too — without a word.
 
7_Sorrows said:
I do not agree with the OP. There are many zealous cradle Catholics who are priests, deacons, members of K of C, working in parish offices, teaching in Catholic schools and serving the Church in many other ministries. I am a convert and I wish I could have been a cradle Catholic.
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Really, it just comes down to our personal circles and experiences.

I know a lot of theologically lazy cradlers. I know lots of theologically lazy anti-Catholics and atheists. I know some converts who glow with the Spirit, just as I find some non-Catholics inspiring, clearly driven by the Spirit (yet, not 100% responsive to His call.)

It’s what humans are and it’s why God gave us His one holy church; to lead us all to Him through His sacraments.
 
Ah!..but there’s one place cradlers do have a bit of an advantage. And that’s with Mama Mary. Oh, don’t get me wrong. Many converts gain complete acceptance of her, Scott Hahn and many others come to mind. But a great many continue to struggle with her and hesitate to go “all in” with her. And I have to believe it’s their previous beliefs that they continue to cling to that prevents this. Just browse the countless threads about Mary on these boards and you’ll see what I mean. I continue to puzzle how this most incomparable mother can be the flash-point of so many controversies. And it’s a pity. Among creatures, she’s in a league all of her own! Pope Francis recently said this; *“When a Christian says to me, not that he does not love the Virgin, but rather that it does not come to mind to look to the Virgin or to pray to the Virgin, I feel sad," adding that “a Christian without the Virgin is an orphan.” *

Peace, Mark
 
Mark121359 said:
Ah!..but there’s one place cradlers do have a bit of an advantage. And that’s with Mama Mary. Oh, don’t get me wrong. Many converts gain complete acceptance of her, Scott Hahn and many others come to mind. But a great many continue to struggle with her and hesitate to go “all in” with her. And I have to believe it’s their previous beliefs that they continue to cling to that prevents this. Just browse the countless threads about Mary on these boards and you’ll see what I mean. I continue to puzzle how this most incomparable mother can be the flash-point of so many controversies. And it’s a pity. Among creatures, she’s in a league all of her own! Pope Francis recently said this; “When a Christian says to me, not that he does not love the Virgin, but rather that it does not come to mind to look to the Virgin or to pray to the Virgin, I feel sad," adding that “a Christian without the Virgin is an orphan.”

Peace, Mark
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Yes I struggled for awhile, but in the last year my relationship with Mary has really blossomed. I love praying the Rosary and have my favorite Marian prayers. She is so special to me. She was when I converted too, but I was going through some spiritual warfare for a few years and being discouraged in my faith. I made it through.
 
i think (since i am a convert) the zealousness of our conversion is from finding out all the things and truths we have missed out on. There is so much more in the Catholic faith than in most protestant faiths that is is exciting. like when you first figured out how to solve the rubiks cube, Catholicism, for those that truly converted because they wanted it (not because of marriage or something where they are doing it for someone else pretty much) its like wow, amazing, i have missed much, i have to tell everyone.

And i can definitely say that -as the protestants like to use- my “personal relationship with Jesus” is stronger and more passionate and i can see through the graces being received through the sacraments that prayers are being answered for me (not saying i am winning at the lottery -yet) but i can see great things happening now that were missing for so many years.
 
NoelFitz said:
I have been looking at the contributions of Catholic thinkers and intellectuals to Catholicism and note very many seem to be converts. Also in Catholic discussion groups on the www very many of the most enthusiastic contributors seem to be converts. Observation goes so far as to give the impression that Cradle Catholics are lazy, uncommitted and careless.
Are these ***perceptions ***shared by others? Why?
I would love to hear from contributors here, converts or not. Thanks!
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In my book, the bolded phrase just saved your argument. Well done on that.

I don’t see malice in what you are saying at this point, but as sallybulter already said, people who find something new and exciting may be into it more.

If you see this or feel that way yourself, I would say the remedy is to match the enthusiasm.
 
dee_burk said:
i think (since i am a convert) the zealousness of our conversion is from finding out all the things and truths we have missed out on. There is so much more in the Catholic faith than in most protestant faiths that is is exciting. like when you first figured out how to solve the rubiks cube, Catholicism, for those that truly converted because they wanted it (not because of marriage or something where they are doing it for someone else pretty much) its like wow, amazing, i have missed much, i have to tell everyone.

And i can definitely say that -as the protestants like to use- my “personal relationship with Jesus” is stronger and more passionate and i can see through the graces being received through the sacraments that prayers are being answered for me (not saying i am winning at the lottery -yet) but i can see great things happening now that were missing for so many years.
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Me thinks you’re onto something here dee burk! And your enthusiasm is contageous! 🙂 👍

Peace, Mark
 
dee_burk said:
i think (since i am a convert) the zealousness of our conversion is from finding out all the things and truths we have missed out on. There is so much more in the Catholic faith than in most protestant faiths that is is exciting. like when you first figured out how to solve the rubiks cube, Catholicism, for those that truly converted because they wanted it (not because of marriage or something where they are doing it for someone else pretty much) its like wow, amazing, i have missed much, i have to tell everyone.

And i can definitely say that -as the protestants like to use- my “personal relationship with Jesus” is stronger and more passionate and i can see through the graces being received through the sacraments that prayers are being answered for me (not saying i am winning at the lottery -yet) but i can see great things happening now that were missing for so many years.
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Yes! I agree with everything you said. Thanks. 👍
 
NoelFitz said:
I have been looking at the contributions of Catholic thinkers and intellectuals to Catholicism and note very many seem to be converts. Also in Catholic discussion groups on the www very many of the most enthusiastic contributors seem to be converts. Observation goes so far as to give the impression that Cradle Catholics are lazy, uncommitted and careless.
Are these perceptions shared by others? Why?
I would love to hear from contributors here, converts or not. Thanks!
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We just take for granted what we have, and forget not all were lucky enough to have the teaching we have had from birth.
 
Since my “cradle” days were in the pre-Vatican II years, I get in a lot of trouble on these forums expressing my opinions about the state of the Church and Catholicism today. I’m not lazy nor unthinking nor am I stupid, simply more cautious about what I say and where I say it.

Secondly, as a “revert” I tend to be more “protestant-like”, to use the OP’s inference, in my religious enthusiasm.
 
NoelFitz said:
I have been looking at the contributions of Catholic thinkers and intellectuals to Catholicism and note very many seem to be converts. Also in Catholic discussion groups on the www very many of the most enthusiastic contributors seem to be converts. Observation goes so far as to give the impression that Cradle Catholics are lazy, uncommitted and careless.
Are these perceptions shared by others? Why?
I would love to hear from contributors here, converts or not. Thanks!
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Labeling an entire group as doing anything is usually unfair. I don’t know what you mean by “cradle” Catholics. There are many Catholics who avoid the internet and do good works to please God and they do them privately so that God the Father may be glorified. We are told to not boast of ourselves but when asked if we do this or that good work and the truth is we do, then it is appropriate to say yes.

Each individual person and his or her comments need to be looked at on a case by case basis. If I owned a business, I would not accuse everyone of being lazy if only one or two are. Generalizations are usually wrong.

Ed
 
I’m a cradle Catholic, but also a revert. I came back to Church a few years ago and sat through RCIA with my husband and can honestly say I learned things about the Catholic Church that I either never learned growing up or never retained. As a kid, I was bored; as an adult, I was eager to learn and found out that there was so much more to the faith than I realized having taken it for granted in my younger days. I have passion for my faith and a thirst for knowledge that I never had before. I’ve thought about it a lot, and in my own personal situation, I think 2 things affected my faith growing up: 1) There was something lacking in the religious education (CCD program) and not enough teaching in Church directed toward the youth or explained in a way children could relate to, including a lack of Bible & Catechism study that kids and teens can connect to, not to mention a lack of apologetic teaching; and 2) There seemed to be a disconnect between the teachings and rules of the Church and KNOWING Jesus and His love. For me, it was all about fear and breaking the rules and I had very little understanding of the love and compassion of Jesus Christ, regardless of knowing what He suffered and died for (sounds impossibly crazy, but it’s true). The cradle Catholics I know that were close to me growing up seem to lack the zeal that I have now found, and I suspect it could be because the things that affected me affected them, too. But maybe there’s more to it. This is just my story - I can’t speak for all cradle Catholics, but there are some of us out there who have the passion and commitment of converts! In a way, though, I went through my own conversion experience. 🙂
 
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