Cradle Catholics v. RCIA Catholics

[Jennifer_J]

That’s what our misselette says! So I started second-guessing myself and looked it up, and I still think you bow then.

O PS: Dis wut DH finded during serch:

Mass, 101

dioceseofspokane.org/liturgy/pdf/Genuflecting.pdf

usccb.org/liturgy/current/GIRM.pdf
GRIM #137
<<137. The Creed is sung or recited by the priest together with the people (cf. above, no. 68)
with everyone standing. At the words et incarnatus est (by the power of the Holy Spirit . . .
became man) all make a profound bow; but on the Solemnities of the Annunciation and of the
Nativity of the Lord, all genuflect.>>

It’s as easy as that

 

[sandraladeda]

This is an interesting thread.

In my experience, there is more than 1 kind of RCIA Catholic. I have known RCIA Catholics who approached the process as moving towards a “destination”, that is, becoming Catholic, and after that,they journeyed no further. They may go to church every Sunday, but they feel they have “arrived” at the destination, and need to do nothing more.

Other RCIA Catholics have embraced their Catholic faith in such a way as to be able to teach us “Cradle Catholics” a thing or two. One of my dearest friends married a Cathoic and converted. She is the spiritual leader of her home, more so than her husband. I had a 20 year head start on her, so to speak, but I learn a lot from her.

Many very admirable RCIA Catholics I have known are converts from very committed Protestant roots, and bring with them a very strong grasp on the bible. I find these Catholics to be such a credit to the church, and I learn alot from them.

A big difference between being a cradle Catholic and a RCIA Catholic is that the CCs did not choose it, it was chosen for them. Those who journey through RCIA have chosen Catholicism, and therefore are motivated to grow in that faith.

I agree with earlier posters who note that many of their “Cradle Catholic” friends have fallen away. I might have become just like them, if not for coming to a parish where there is a great deal of opportunity for formation. My best Catholic formation has come to me in my adult life, and especially in the past 5 or 6 years.

I also know many very strongly committed CCs who have always been and always will be very sturdy in their faith. They received that formation all throughout their lives, married sturdy Catholics, and are raising well-formed Catholic children.

iow, there is no one kind of CC, nor one kind of RCIA Catholic, imo. Impossible to generalize.

 

[Roza]

I went to Catholic grade school (that is what we called it back in the 30’s) and we had Mass every morning before school (try that now); we had a Catechism class every morning and we had to memorize the questions and answers.

I just put in the part I wanted to emphasize. First, I pray I didn’t say anything offensive in my posts. I have to remember I’ve been stressed out and may not be acting like I should be so I pray I’ve not caused any offense.

I had been going to an AoG church for a few years before coming back and yeah, we had classes before service. There were adult classes and whatever the classes for the kids were called. I do miss those, didn’t always make all of them but when I did I felt I was growing. Is it wrong to request such things to be brought back? Even classes before or after Mass I think would be great. I still think the cradle Catholics who never left are the smartest IMO. Because I did a lot of dumb things in my 20 yrs away and still hoping & praying to feel a part of it all again. There’s been a few times I’m caught up in what I’m praying to God and I do one of my quick peeking and realize either everyone is doing something else (standing, sitting. I’m still kneeling or something). I don’t need to get all worried!

I can’t look any goofier than I do with my tinted glasses on. I don’t need to be so self-conscious, I know better. I never should have stopped going to Mass… but 20 yrs ago I had no interest in it sad to say. You didn’t let anything get in the way of your commitment to the Lord and that’s something we all can look to for an example of how to be.

God bless

 

[SMHW]

Bu

I resent the generalization presented on this thread (and some others) that somehow we Catholics who grew up in the faith are less Catholic because we have become complacent; don’t go to Confession; etc.

You all have stories about people you know who have left the Church. Where are the posts from the devout Catholics who were properly taught as children and still practice their faith?

And the person who said he didn’t learn about Confession until recently; I cannot believe you did not learn about Confession when you were growing up. Where were you at your First Holy Communion?

It’s been my personal observation that those who attended Catholic schools and had religion classes learned about as much in those classes as they did in math, history, literature, or any other class. Some learned and retained quite a bit. Others memorized the information long enough to pass a test and then forgot it. And others were poor students and never learned in the first place. But such Catholics also prayed before all classes, attended daily Masses and various devotions, constructed time lines of biblical events, and did book reports on the lives of saints. (The latter two were usually displayed on the wall for everyone to see.)

How many of you can tell me the name of Alexander the Great’s father without looking it up? How many of you can recite the quadratic formula from memory? Who can recite Hamlet’s famous soliloquy? Some of you probably can. But I’ll bet few people can do all three without looking some things up. (I know I’m only good for the first two.) But many people can find Greece on a map, can balance a checkbook, and can sort out well written drama from bad. They can do so because it has been part of their continual living practice. But if no one understands the importance of such practices/skills then they may eventually be forgotten.

There is value in knowing what to do and there is value in knowing why we do what we do. Cradle Catholics may have the edge in the former and RCIA Catholics in the later (with many exceptions for both).

 

[mullenpm]

Roza, I was in no way offended by anything you posted.

But to clarify, the Catechism classes I attended were part of my school day. I went to Catholic school. Catechism was the first class in our day.

We studied Catechism using the Baltimore Catechism and I recently bought a reprint of the 1933 edition of that little book and I was amazed to find that I still remembered all the questions and answers. It brought back all the memories of trying so desperately to memorize correctly so that when Sister called on me (and a quilty look would always get you called on) I would have the answer.

 

[elts1956]

I was going to stay out of this discussion because it is definitely way past my bed time; but, can’t do it.

I went to Catholic grade school (that is what we called it back in the 30’s) and we had Mass every morning before school (try that now); we had a Catechism class every morning and we had to memorize the questions and answers.

My mother was a convert but I don’t believe she was any more devout a Catholic than my Father.

I resent the generalization presented on this thread (and some others) that somehow we Catholics who grew up in the faith are less Catholic because we have become complacent; don’t go to Confession; etc.

You all have stories about people you know who have left the Church. Where are the posts from the devout Catholics who were properly taught as children and still practice their faith?

And the person who said he didn’t learn about Confession until recently; I cannot believe you did not learn about Confession when you were growing up. Where were you at your First Holy Communion?

That is all I have to say. Goodnight (or Good Morning; it is now Sunday and I will be going to Mass in a few hours).

Hi. I “could” be wrong. Naaaah, I don’t believe that. Anyway from what I have read on this post, the only ones pointing fingers at Cradle Catholics, of which I am one, are the Cradle Catholics. I don’t really think it matters how long one is Catholic. What I think matters is the quality of Catechesis we receive, how much and with what intensity we follow those teachings, and our love for Christ and His Church.

 

[Love_the_Lorax]

The big difference between cradle Catholics and converts is that we converts, as adults, have to stand up in front of a thousand people and say that we believe and profess all that the Catholic Church proposes as essential for salvation . . . So we tend to be very (very) careful and very knowledgeable about things the Homeboys either take for granted or never had to think about because they are just part of the matrix in which they have always lived.

I envy people who have drunk the water from birth. You are blessed.

I totally agree - I too envy those who have drunk the water from birth. I was confirmed only last year, and in some ways I feel like I am making up for lost time… all those missed years! I envy my children growing up knowing these things.

Also, that thing of standing up in front of a large congregation and professing your belief - I’d say most people don’t do that unless they are quite sure and ready to live their lives that way. I know only something as important as joining the church was enough to get me in front of our 1,000 person congregation.