Desiring to understand Catholic culture

[chosunhoon]

I’m curious to know: Are there any websites that explain why do we Catholics do what we do?

As a convert, I realize there are a lot that I don’t understand about our Catholic culture. While I know what we do, I don’t exactly understand why. For example, why do we have processions?

Why does the priest kiss the altar? or genuflect?

Why do we sign the cross from left to right as opposed to the east doing it from right to left?

While I do know the answers to these questions, I’m curious to know if there are any specific websites that explain all the symbolism rooted in the Mass and in our Roman Catholic culture in general.

I’m eager to know more, because honestly I seem to know more about Eastern Orthodox symbolism more than Roman Catholic symbolism. Then again I do have a preference for Eastern Catholicism, but I’d like to know virtually every detail about our culture.

-Jason

 

[djrakowski]

chosunhoon:

I’m curious to know: Are there any websites that explain why do we Catholics do what we do?

As a convert, I realize there are a lot that I don’t understand about our Catholic culture. While I know what we do, I don’t exactly understand why. For example, why do we have processions?

Why does the priest kiss the altar? or genuflect?

Why do we sign the cross from left to right as opposed to the east doing it from right to left?

While I do know the answers to these questions, I’m curious to know if there are any specific websites that explain all the symbolism rooted in the Mass and in our Roman Catholic culture in general.

I’m eager to know more, because honestly I seem to know more about Eastern Orthodox symbolism more than Roman Catholic symbolism. Then again I do have a preference for Eastern Catholicism, but I’d like to know virtually every detail about our culture.

-Jason

Hi Jason,

The book Why Do Catholics Genuflect looks like an awfully good resource. The author is a host on a local Catholic radio station, and is also a convert from evangelical Christianity. In fact, I used to listen to his program when he was a host on the evangelical station in the mid-90’s.

My wife and I are considering conversion, and have been reading everything we can get our hands on!

Dan

 

[Franze]

chosunhoon:

I’m curious to know: Are there any websites that explain why do we Catholics do what we do?

As a convert, I realize there are a lot that I don’t understand about our Catholic culture. While I know what we do, I don’t exactly understand why. For example, why do we have processions?

Why does the priest kiss the altar? or genuflect?

Why do we sign the cross from left to right as opposed to the east doing it from right to left?

While I do know the answers to these questions, I’m curious to know if there are any specific websites that explain all the symbolism rooted in the Mass and in our Roman Catholic culture in general.

I’m eager to know more, because honestly I seem to know more about Eastern Orthodox symbolism more than Roman Catholic symbolism. Then again I do have a preference for Eastern Catholicism, but I’d like to know virtually every detail about our culture.

-Jason

I live in a country with catholic culture Spain, and I could answer several questions, respect processions, in my town we have processions to saints and the Virgin Mary in several advocations, we have two patron´s processions as Saint Rock and Saint George Marthyr,they help us in droughts, for our intentions, because there are in heaven with Jesus, in addition we have a processions for the Corpus Christi, namely, the blood and flesh of Jesus, respect genuflexions we do, because we are presenting our respects to Jesus that was there and in the altar we kiss because there there are the miracle of the eucharisty where Jesus converts to blood and flesh.
I don´t know any about eastern orthodox tradition, for this reason, in this I can´t help you

 

[JCPhoenix]

I was a non-practicing Catholic for several years. My first book on my way back into the Church (other than the “Left Behind” series which drove me back due to anti-Catholocism) was “Why do Catholis Do That?” by Charles Grahmann, D.D, Bishop of Dallas, and Kevin Orlin Johsson, PH.D.

It has a notation on the cover saying that it was originally entitled “Expressions of the Catholic Faith.”

I actually lent it to a co-worker once…his wife was converting to Catholicism and he wanted to learn a little more about the beliefs. It answered some questions on practices I’d always taken for granted, such as:

Why do we genuflect?

Why do we make the sign of the cross?

Ballantine books is the publisher, but I’m sure you can find it on Amazon. And if all else fails, let me know…I’ll send you my copy! LOL

I bought mine at B.Dalton, so you may want to try there or order it. If you are looking and can’t find it, the ISBN is: 0-345-39726-6

I really do recommend this book. It doesn’t have everything, but like I said, it answered a lot of my own questions in simple terms and inclusive of history. It may help you as well.

God Bless!

 

[chosunhoon]

Thanks to everyone for responding, but unfortunately I’m in S. Korea, so it’s very difficult to find Catholic books in English, which is why I’m hoping to find material specifically on the internet.

-Jason

 

[JCPhoenix]

You should be able to order the books via internet even if you are in another country.

Just use the ISBN number. If someone has a title you want just have them provide that number and any library can order it.

or try Ignatiouspress.com

or Amazon.com

etc.

Or just keep posting here…you may learn even more than you’re looking for!

 

[Fidelis]

St. Charles Borromeo parish has a website that is a good resource for answering these types of questions:

scborromeo.org/index2.htm

When you get to their homepage look over on the left hand margin for “Glad You Asked,” “Point Papers,” and “The Truth.” This should at least get you started.