Do you find Catholics a bit "strange"?

[PJM]

As a Catholic who spent her adult years in protestant denominations and non-denominations, I really didnt have any contact with Catholics except my own non-practicing Catholic family members. I did work with an ex-Catholic who bashed Catholics and non-Catholic Christians equally. Now that I am back in full communion with the Catholic Church, I do find Catholics ‘a bit strange’, on one noticeably different aspect from my non-Catholic Christian friends. Whereas my friends are heavily into the Bible, studying God’s word, I find Catholics going out of their way to avoid it. I find that strange. Isnt God’s word, God’s word? If it is one of the three legs that sustains The Church aside from the Magisterium and Tradition, why avoid it? That aspect alone is what my non-Catholic Christian friends do not understand and what makes them label Catholics as not Christian. Because they have no idea why someone calling themselves a Christian is Biblically illiterate.

My dear friend in Christ,

I find your opinion to be “strange” on THIS ISSUE

I’ll give three points for my convictions

1. Sure the PRE-Vatican II Church did not encourage individual study of the Bible for some GREAT reasons:

A. Up to that point BOTH Catholic Faith & the Bible were taught at Sunday and Daily Masses; so there was no absolute need [not saying No benefit]

B. The RCC HAS A 3 year Cycle of bible readings so for anyone Blessed to be able to attend daily Mass; would have heard and had explained the entire BILE to them in a 3 yr period.

Even those attending just Sunday and Holy Days would receive “sufficient” [sorry its the only word I could think of to use here] Bible Instruction

C. POST-Vatican II, after a prolonged period of what can be described as widely -weak catechist; both on the faith and the bile; has made a DRAMATIC turn around where today it is rare to find parishes that do not offer Bible Study Classes, conducted by a priest, deacon, religious or an INFORMED Lay-Person.

So my friend, we are delighted and GRATEFUL that you came home to where Jesus wants you to be:thumbsup

God Bless you,

Patrick

 

[PJM]

I would say very strange. If you are a true practicing Catholic, the more practicing you are, the stranger you will be, so much so you are practically living in an alien world.

For example, you will want to receive the Sacraments, until you will be doing / going for it on a daily basis.

You would also try to go for Confession nearly on a weekly basis.

The reason why you will be doing this is because you love or long to be in full communion with Jesus with his divine Body and Blood.

You want to always be in a state of grace, free from the burden of sin, thus you’ll be going for Confession whenever you commit sins.

Then because you are very conscious that now you are carrying Jesus within you, you would try to avoid engaging in all activities that would not make Jesus as the Number One in your life. You are practically becoming so surreal, that you are living in this world but you are not of the world anymore.

I do not know what could be stranger than that.

Awesome understanding and POST, thanks

Patrick

 

[Eileen_T]

As a Catholic who spent her adult years in protestant denominations and non-denominations, I really didnt have any contact with Catholics except my own non-practicing Catholic family members. I did work with an ex-Catholic who bashed Catholics and non-Catholic Christians equally. Now that I am back in full communion with the Catholic Church, I do find Catholics ‘a bit strange’, on one noticeably different aspect from my non-Catholic Christian friends. Whereas my friends are heavily into the Bible, studying God’s word, I find Catholics going out of their way to avoid it. I find that strange. Isnt God’s word, God’s word? If it is one of the three legs that sustains The Church aside from the Magisterium and Tradition, why avoid it? That aspect alone is what my non-Catholic Christian friends do not understand and what makes them label Catholics as not Christian. Because they have no idea why someone calling themselves a Christian is Biblically illiterate.

I suspect the term “Bible Study” means a different thing to non-Catholic Christians, than id does to Catholic Christians. For one thing, when Catholics study Scripture, we don’t interpret it for ourselves, but study it in the living tradition of the Catholic Church.

We see this in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
CCC#111: Sacred Scripture must be read and interpreted in the light of the same Spirit by whom it was written.
CCC#113: Sacred Scripture must be studied within the living Tradition of the whole Church.

Not being able to quote chapter and verse is not the same as being Biblically illiterate. Catholics who are regular Mass-goers get most of Scripture over a 3 year period, especially if they attend daily, with a homily based on the readings.

 

[PJM]

True not eating meat is a sacrifice. But then eating only vegetables on Friday would also be a sacrifice, more so than limiting one self to fish. I think the question being asked was really why fish specifically are allowed on those Lenten Fridays.

Didn’t Jesus tell Peter & John:

COME! Follow ME and I will make you fishers OF MEN?

And with Peter and John they caught a SUPER-Abundant catch [to the point of almost breaking their nets]

It is the connection to Jesus and “fisher-men” that is intended to bring to OUR minds, that EACH of us has been given [although in various forms and to various degrees] to ALSO be fishers of men;s Souls. Amen

 

[ericc]

I"m 52 Catholic all my life, and have never heard of such a thing until I came on this website.

First time too!

 

[ericc]

Do you find Catholics a “bit strange?”

WHY do Catholics Do THAT?

or WHY Do Catholics Believe THAT?

or WHY do Catholics Act like that?

With charity plesse

Strangeness is a quality of non-familiarity. If you have been eating stinky food all your life, may be blue cheese, stinky tofu, durian, anything, you find it strange that others seem unable to appreciate them. If one has been worshiping God on our knees our whole life , we find it strange others don’t offer God that amount of respect he deserves. If you live in a community of like-minded folks, there is no strangeness to talk about. It is all “us vs them”. If you have been taught the Eucharist is the body and blood of our Lord, you may find it strange that the others think it is just a meal gathering drinking grape juice and macdonald buns or crackers and leftover bits to be dumped into the thrash can. But if you are familiar with their doctrine, one will be enlightened. And vice versa I suppose.

 

[PJM]

As a Catholic I also did not really understand the prohibition but accepted it, allowing God to have Lordship over my fertility and trusting in His Providence in supporting our needs. It all worked out, and when I was past childbearing years I discovered a book that explained the issue perfectly.

Married couples can only achieve pregnancy during a few days of each menstrual cycle, therefore, by avoiding the potentially fertile days,births can be spaced out in a natural way. This “periodic abstinence” may not be easy, however, it can be used as a way of continuing the ‘courtship’ between couples, helping to keep the relationship “fresh”, giving them something to look forward to.

An act of intercourse which remains open to the transmission of life is like a wedding feast to which all family members are invited. When contraception is used, a potential family member is being denied entry to the feast.

Contraception has had a disastrous effect on respect for human life.

THANK you, very well explained!

Continued Blessings,

Partick

 

[Mark1970]

Don’t know really whether I find Catholics strange, but what I would say is: When you consider some of the things the world views as normal, wouldn’t you prefer to be a bit strange???

 

[worldcitizen]

As a Baha’i I find Catholics very good, moral and decent people who are very fair and welcoming. My home and heart is always welcome to them.

 

[Used2beSherryG]

I would say very strange. If you are a true practicing Catholic, the more practicing you are, the stranger you will be, so much so you are practically living in an alien world.

For example, you will want to receive the Sacraments, until you will be doing / going for it on a daily basis.

You would also try to go for Confession nearly on a weekly basis.

The reason why you will be doing this is because you love or long to be in full communion with Jesus with his divine Body and Blood.

You want to always be in a state of grace, free from the burden of sin, thus you’ll be going for Confession whenever you commit sins.

Then because you are very conscious that now you are carrying Jesus within you, you would try to avoid engaging in all activities that would not make Jesus as the Number One in your life. You are practically becoming so surreal, that you are living in this world but you are not of the world anymore.

I do not know what could be stranger than that.

I am getting stranger and stranger. In fact, I am wearing a name tag, because I barely recognize myself anymore.

 

[PJM]

Strangeness is a quality of non-familiarity. If you have been eating stinky food all your life, may be blue cheese, stinky tofu, durian, anything, you find it strange that others seem unable to appreciate them. If one has been worshiping God on our knees our whole life , we find it strange others don’t offer God that amount of respect he deserves. If you live in a community of like-minded folks, there is no strangeness to talk about. It is all “us vs them”. If you have been taught the Eucharist is the body and blood of our Lord, you may find it strange that the others think it is just a meal gathering drinking grape juice and macdonald buns or crackers and leftover bits to be dumped into the thrash can. But if you are familiar with their doctrine, one will be enlightened. And vice versa I suppose.

Interesting and VALID point my friend, thanks

Blessings,

PJM

 

[PJM]

Don’t know really whether I find Catholics strange, but what I would say is: When you consider some of the things the world views as normal, wouldn’t you prefer to be a bit strange???

GOOD POINT:thumbsup: