Cradle Catholics v. RCIA Catholics

[Roza]

Ugh, I remember my anti-Catholic days… I was so convinced, “Catholics don’t know the Bible, it’s the same thing every week” I think I remember saying all I knew was a bit about Moses, Noah and Adam & Eve in the OT and Revelation was that book I wasn’t supposed to read… all the rest of the dumb misconceptions I had. I was definitely sleeping the first time around.

I was confirmed January 1984 btw. I thought we were devout Catholics. But horoscopes were OK, so were stories about ghosts, a family friend was wiccan, I mean… THAT was Catholic to me. That’s why when I was delivered from the NAM junk, dummy me, yeah I blamed Catholicism on my drifting for a time… I know now that was VERY wrong.

 

[Roza]

I should say, my Catholic Bible was given to me in January 1984, and for Confirmation, assuming Jan was when I was Confirmed but not entirely positive!!

 

[latin_rite]

I think RCIA’ers come off as more devouted, is because they are new to the faith and are full of vigour and what not. Maybe the teachings are more fresh in their minds. i don’t know.
Maybe cradle catholics no matter how devouted to the faith or how strong it is with them. should do a RCIA type course once in a while? Again i don’t know.

 

[newbetx]

I was listening to the radio a bit ago, and the discussion was focused around the idea that RCIA Catholics tend to be “more Catholic” than Cradle Catholics.

They were using the phrase “more Catholic” to describe going to Church more frequently, following the Church’s teachings, knowing the content and applicable verses in the Bible, attending confession more regularly, etc.

I’m a Cradle Catholic, and I tend to think I do a pretty good job. I was raised in a conservative Catholic family, so it was around me all of the time. My parents weren’t C+E Catholics like a lot of my friends who have fallen from the faith.

Any thoughts? It was interesting, because I had never given it any thought, and I don’t really know too many people who have gone through RCIA…

I don’t know if there are any real statistics but I recall once that our priest had said something similar. Percentage wise it might make sense that one choosing to become Catholic as an adult are more committed to the whole process than those who are Baptized Catholic as infants. There are many years of confusion and descent as a teen that might lead one not to pursue all the sacraments. With RCIA its done in less than a year. Certainly the non-RCIA process has much more training in it but I’m sure it’s the fact that the decision is made by oneself and not under presure of family has a lot to do with commitment to and understanding of the faith.

 

[Roza]

What stunned me, even back when I hadn’t returned to Catholicism yet… still had my gripes & misconceptions… I mentioned the verse about Judas and the field of blood. I said that to a parent and was asked what Bible I was reading. So, I grabbed my Catholic Bible hoping it was the same and it was, read the verses. I want to get int RCIA I think… I’ve been doing the courses online, looking at different RCIA sites.

First time in the Church that is a little farther from me but still walking distance… I was looking for the Holy Water fonts and asked because I thought maybe I’m looking right at them and missing it. A woman there said I had to walk in further, we were in the vestibule. So embarrassing! I’m so afraid of running into something or doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. Got to get it through my head, I’m not there to impress people so I have no need to worry about what other people think.

I keep praying that I’m fertile soil so everything is not going in one ear & out the other. What would it look like or how would it be received by others (should I care?) if I bring a notebook and take notes like I’ve been used to doing during service?

 

[jmcrae]

First time in the Church that is a little farther from me but still walking distance… I was looking for the Holy Water fonts and asked because I thought maybe I’m looking right at them and missing it. A woman there said I had to walk in further, we were in the vestibule. So embarrassing! I’m so afraid of running into something or doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. Got to get it through my head, I’m not there to impress people so I have no need to worry about what other people think.

This is the first step, for sure. Once you conquer the idea that people are “looking at” you, then you’re away - then you can do anything!

I keep praying that I’m fertile soil so everything is not going in one ear & out the other. What would it look like or how would it be received by others (should I care?) if I bring a notebook and take notes like I’ve been used to doing during service?

I have a friend who made his kids do that, because they weren’t paying attention at Mass - no one bothered them about it. The boy is now in Seminary, and he still takes notes at Mass.

 

[Polly_Carp]

I’m a convert - we often had to give up something to become Catholic and often took a lot of flak from our families and friends - and some actually are cut off from their families and friends when they convert. We may place a different value on it because we often pay a real price to convert and we intend to make it worth the sacrifice.

Add to that that we learn the faith as adults at an adult level. If we are in good solid conservative parishes, we might actually learn what the Church actually teaches and requires of us.

I taught a series of training classes for the US Army for extraordinary eucharistic ministers who were meant to fill in in parishes and hospitals without regular clerical support and on the battlefield. (Nearly 30 years later, my own son is one, having gone through the program I founded when he was still in preschool!) I had every people from every walk of life in the class - it wasn’t possible for an adult convert to have stopped his religious education after his First Holy Communion, but there was a lot of misinformation among the adult converts to be corrected, too. It was so much fun marveling with the cradle Catholics over how all the things they have learned in CCD and in readings they have heard over and over over the years all fit together. I loved reliving my own opening of the truth with them.

Last Sunday’s Gospel reading was about the Workers in the Vineyard. I would like to hear how the workers hired later (adult converts?) should have treated those who had worked all day (cradle Catholics?) for the same wage. There’s an angle I have never heard anyone address.

 

[jmcrae]

Last Sunday’s Gospel reading was about the Workers in the Vineyard. I would like to hear how the workers hired later (adult converts?) should have treated those who had worked all day (cradle Catholics?) for the same wage. There’s an angle I have never heard anyone address.

Yes, I know. I can see in my mind’s eye, one of the 5:00 pm pickers clearing the last of a vine that was mostly worked on by one that came at 6:00 am, and someone praising him for “clearing that whole vine all by yourself!” - does he take the praise, or does he give credit where credit is due?

Unfortunately, all too often, I see my fellow converts taking credit for “studying so hard” (as if they themselves had gone down into the catacombs to do first-hand research) when really, all any of us did was read the books that cradle Catholics wrote, and watch people who knew what they were doing.

This is why I always think it’s really important to highlight the contributions of cradle Catholics in my own conversion experience, and make it clear that I do what I do because they were there first, doing the ground work ahead of time, making it easy for me to just come along and take whatever I needed.

 

[LeahInancsi]

I’m an RCIA Catholic. When I was in RCIA and learning so much and discovering such wonderful new world, I felt that I was “more” Catholic than craddle Catholics who didn’t seem to be so excited. Catholicism is a bright, shiny penny when you’re in RCIA and to a craddle Catholic, the worn penny is a lucky penny.

As I’ve gotten further away from RCIA, I really envy craddle Catholics. Craddle Catholics are instinctively Catholic to the bone. I envy the childhood memories of a Catholic family and I still haven’t managed to make a habit of frequent and formal prayer. My grandmother was one of those craddle Catholics who was Catholic to the bone till the day she died eventhough she left the Church to marry my grandfather. She never forgot her love of God that she learned in the Church. It is in her example that I became Catholic. Her heart amd soul never left the Church, only physical presence.

 

[Roza]

I think I get overly paranoid because I was gone just about 20 yrs plus I don’t always trust my vision. It’s much better than it was but not what it used to be. I’ve done some dumb things before because of my vision… long story. Don’t want to stare at people trying to figure everything out. Hope they go back to the missalettes I remember from the 80’s and back.

 

[Andruschak]

I was listening to the radio a bit ago, and the discussion was focused around the idea that RCIA Catholics tend to be “more Catholic” than Cradle Catholics.

They were using the phrase “more Catholic” to describe going to Church more frequently, following the Church’s teachings, knowing the content and applicable verses in the Bible, attending confession more regularly, etc.

I’m a Cradle Catholic, and I tend to think I do a pretty good job. I was raised in a conservative Catholic family, so it was around me all of the time. My parents weren’t C+E Catholics like a lot of my friends who have fallen from the faith.

Any thoughts? It was interesting, because I had never given it any thought, and I don’t really know too many people who have gone through RCIA…

Sounds like a lot of bovine droppings to me. We have the same mindset in Alcoholics Anonymous, where some claim that low bottom drunks have a better chance of staying sober then high bottom drunks. “I’m better then you are because…”

I am happy to be RCIA (obviously), but I doubt if this makes me a more devout and/or a more observant Catholic. :dts:

It may be that there are a lot more cradle catholics then RCIA, and so it is more evident when one lapses.

As always, these opinions have been neither endorsed nor opposed by my cats. You want their opinion? Bring tuna

 

[Roza]

I never heard those terms until coming back… only called myself a former Catholic… now I’m the fish out of water Catholic trying to get back in sync.

 

[DD2007]

I was listening to the radio a bit ago, and the discussion was focused around the idea that RCIA Catholics tend to be “more Catholic” than Cradle Catholics.

They were using the phrase “more Catholic” to describe going to Church more frequently, following the Church’s teachings, knowing the content and applicable verses in the Bible, attending confession more regularly, etc.

I’m a Cradle Catholic, and I tend to think I do a pretty good job. I was raised in a conservative Catholic family, so it was around me all of the time. My parents weren’t C+E Catholics like a lot of my friends who have fallen from the faith.

Any thoughts? It was interesting, because I had never given it any thought, and I don’t really know too many people who have gone through RCIA…

I’m an RCIA Catholic and I haven’t been good at all. My wife (at the time) and I went to RCIA together and “graduated” joined the church…she got baptized…I already was…our son got baptized…we got our marriage blessed in the Church…we got confirmed…I joined the K of C…she joined the “lady Kof C” a thing the wives of our chapter did…our son was in CCD and loving it and getting to know people in the Church…things were great…

Then, after 10 years of marriage, she left me for her old high school sweetheart…she divorced me and moved my son in with her boyfriend in the neighboring state…I see him once every two weeks…that is the only time he goes to Church…

That was years ago…since then I remarried to a Lutheran woman at the Justice of the peace and we have had a son together…

I obviously am not allowed communion…We tired to get our new son baptized but the Church won’t do it unless we take a class…so I did it myself…

Anyway…I love the Church…but I’m the worst Catholic inthe world…so the cradle guys win…

 

[LeahInancsi]

I think I get overly paranoid because I was gone just about 20 yrs plus I don’t always trust my vision. It’s much better than it was but not what it used to be. I’ve done some dumb things before because of my vision… long story. Don’t want to stare at people trying to figure everything out. Hope they go back to the missalettes I remember from the 80’s and back.

I’ve noticed the absence of missalettes in parishes I’ve visited. My parish still provides missalettes and people USE them. It’s really nice for the school age children, new Catholics and visitors to follow along.

 

[mercygate]

I’m an RCIA Catholic and I haven’t been good at all. My wife (at the time) and I went to RCIA together and “graduated” joined the church…she got baptized…I already was…our son got baptized…we got our marriage blessed in the Church…we got confirmed…I joined the K of C…she joined the “lady Kof C” a thing the wives of our chapter did…our son was in CCD and loving it and getting to know people in the Church…things were great…

Then, after 10 years of marriage, she left me for her old high school sweetheart…she divorced me and moved my son in with her boyfriend in the neighboring state…I see him once every two weeks…that is the only time he goes to Church…

That was years ago…since then I remarried to a Lutheran woman at the Justice of the peace and we have had a son together…

I obviously am not allowed communion…We tired to get our new son baptized but the Church won’t do it unless we take a class…so I did it myself…

Anyway…I love the Church…but I’m the worst Catholic inthe world…so the cradle guys win…

No comment other than a big cyber-hug and a hearty “God love you!”

 

[Roza]

I’ve noticed the absence of missalettes in parishes I’ve visited. My parish still provides missalettes and people USE them.

Why did they stop using them? Didn’t they run by month? Now we have a book that has the readings and hymns but there’s no Mass walk through in it. I found some online and printed one out but I don’t know for sure where the gestures go… told you… feel out of place. I remember the cross on the forehead, lips & heart… then the other… just don’t remember exactly ‘where’ that is… I don’t want to keep picking someone to stare at to figure out where/when. People usually feel weird when they realize someone is staring at them.

Yeah, I’m the former ex gone anti who’s now back… and still … trying to remember… learn now… I want the Missalettes!

This is what I printed out; The Holy Mass. My priest checked it and said it looked right. I don’t know where the gestures go in there though/which & what. It did used to be in the Missalettes wasn’t it? Vaguely remember… wish I would’ve kept one. Then again, that’s not the right thing to say… you don’t keep missalettes from mass

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

I was listening to the radio a bit ago, and the discussion was focused around the idea that RCIA Catholics tend to be “more Catholic” than Cradle Catholics.

They were using the phrase “more Catholic” to describe going to Church more frequently, following the Church’s teachings, knowing the content and applicable verses in the Bible, attending confession more regularly, etc.

I’m a Cradle Catholic, and I tend to think I do a pretty good job. I was raised in a conservative Catholic family, so it was around me all of the time. My parents weren’t C+E Catholics like a lot of my friends who have fallen from the faith.

Any thoughts? It was interesting, because I had never given it any thought, and I don’t really know too many people who have gone through RCIA…

I went through RCIA. My whole life, I wanted to be Catholic, but I didn’t realize you could ‘become’ one.

Unfortunately my class leaders (when the priest was absent) spent more time raving about global warming (which is Bush’s fault, don’cha know!) than explaining the mysteries of the Eucharist, or the Rosary, or even how we were expected to behave during Mass, let alone the meaning of Mass.

This was a squishy-wushy-feely-weely RCIA, I gather. Still, I’m grateful for it.

I attended Mass for a year before finding a program that wanted me. I’m still struggling to learn—reading the Bible, reading other books, coming to this forum.

I’ve only skipped Mass due to travel or illness. But it wasn’t until last year that the priest actually explained how we were supposed to behave after Communion!

I think what we are missing is Orthodoxy. Who cares about singing Koom Bye Yah and group hugs? I want to know what Mass means and how to behave during it!

 

[Roza]

Who cares about singing Koom Bye Yah and group hugs?

That would deserve a ROFL… (BBS language for rolls on floor laughing [leaving the ending off]) I haven’t seen that at Mass… but even back in the 80’s and prior we also used the Missalette. I remember that! Why aren’t they around now? pouts

Makes mental note to myself… don’t ever disappear for 20 yrs again!!!

 

[mercygate]

That would deserve a ROFL… (BBS language for rolls on floor laughing [leaving the ending off]) I haven’t seen that at Mass… but even back in the 80’s and prior we also used the Missalette. I remember that! Why aren’t they around now? pouts

We have “Breaking Bread” Not great but the Mass is in there. Other parishes use “Celebrating the Eucharist” – much better. And the Mass is in there also.

My parish sells St. Joseph Sunday Missals for about $3.00 just before the beginning of Advent.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

That would deserve a ROFL… (BBS language for rolls on floor laughing [leaving the ending off]) I haven’t seen that at Mass… but even back in the 80’s and prior we also used the Missalette. I remember that! Why aren’t they around now? pouts

Makes mental note to myself… don’t ever disappear for 20 yrs again!!!

U no worry—ai speek fluent lolcat.