Ecumenical elements necessary to attract Protestants to Catholic Church?

[psr13]

There is nor arguing that his celebration of the OF is very solemn and very reverent. But you can find that in many places. Don’t be discouraged. Just look around and you will find parishes that are very reverent. You may not find the Benedictine arrangement on the altar, but that’s just one item. But you will find a reverent liturgy with the rubrics correctly followed in many places. It just takes some hunting. Also remember this, everyone goofs up once in a while, but we can’t get so upset that we throw down the towel. Small things are going to happen.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

You can’t find it everywhere. I live in a very liberal diocese surrounded by other very liberal ones. I have been to many different churches, and the only way to find reverent ones has been to go to the EF. I could probably get reverence by going to a Diving Liturgy also, but I haven’t gone to one of those.

 

[GodIsGracious]

I think people come at this issue from different perspectives and they all have legitimacy. As long as we preserve the unity of the faith, the forms of liturgy can be worked about systematically.

I have to confess that the forms of liturgy, EF, OF, and Eastern have never been a focal point for me. I guess I came to the Catholic faith down the same road that Edith Stein came. I was a student of mathematics and I had a passion for logic and truth, just like Edith was a Doctor of Philosophy. I spent years reading Bonaventure, Scotus, Rahner, Teresa, Catherine, Francis, the early Fathers, Gospel commentaries, Aquinas and several other doctors, before I decided to even take a close peak at the liturgy. I had been to mass many tmes, but has not carefully examined it. That was my last stop. I examined it in the light of the Talmud and the Greek Fathers. One day I just sat up and said, “YES. This makes sense.”

Then I sought out the Capuchin Franciscan Friars. I knew them from high school days and I was impressed by their simplicity and their fidelity to their founder. It was as if their lives revolved around every word that came from him. When I went back to them they explained that he was their teacher. From him they learned how to walk in the footsteps of Christ. I needed to turn all that theology and philosophy into a walkway, a daily journey, if you will. This sealed it for me. My love for the liturgy, in all it’s forms was sparked by logic and by the example of Francis of Assisi.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Respectfully, Br. JR, one of the things that has always been important to me about the Catholic church, other than I firmly believe in the Real Presence, is not just the Truth, it’s not just it’s theology, but it’s culture as a religion, as a faith. The beauty, the artwork, the fact that our liturgies appeal to ALL the senses: sites - the glory of church architectures, the reminders of our saints in statues and scenes of Christ’s passion in the stations of the cross; sounds - the bells, chimes, singing; smells - incense; taste - the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ (I hope that I’m not being irreverent with that statement); touch - when we greet each other and make the sign of peace and our sign of the cross.

It was a full body experience. I’m glad that it merely took logic for you. As a computer scientist who deals in algorithms and math every day I too am a logical person. For me, it was faith - faith in the Holy Eucharist that it was the Real Presence and seeing it’s miracle. But I miss the full body experience I used to have - in merely just the early days of Vatican II. I can only imagine what a TLM would be like.

If a TLM is anything like I remembered a NO Mass as a child it would be an amazing experience here on earth in the practice of our faith. From what I understand, it is actually better.

We’re not trying to go back to the way we were. I understand we can’t “go back home.” But we’d like to have access to at least visit.

 

[DorianGregorian]

Brother JR,

I don’t think any Orthodox Catholic would argue that the Holy See would intentionally promulgate a liturgy which is “un-Catholic” or “Protestant.”

I do not see the Liturgy of 1969 in it’s most reverent expression (a great video is here: youtube.com/watch?v=_8qAKHSGS1o&feature=related) as a threat to the Church. This is certainly the way it was envisioned by Pope Paul VI. Of course there are still differences, the “we” in the Offertory, the Processional hymn instead of the Asperges Me, but most of these are minor and probably would have been insignificant over time. On a side note this is only about the Liturgy of the Mass, I have other opinions about the new Sacramental Rites and the Divine Office, but I’ll focus on the Liturgy).

However the real tragedy is that the mass has been changed to suit local customs, tastes, and cultures. This makes it especially problematic in a country like the US which is not only highly Protestant in it’s history, but has had periods of strong anti-Catholicism. This how the vernacular, guitars, and other Protestant trends crept in.

The Mass is no longer thought of by common Catholics as the Sacrifice at Calvary celebrated for the whole Church, living and dead, present or not. It is at best a celebration for the people present, at worst it becomes a social gathering.

The problem isn’t at the top of the Hierarchy (the Apostolic See) or the bottom (the People and Presbyters). It is the middle, the Episcopate, which has become so lax in its enforcement. What we need is another St. Carlo Borromeo, someone who holds his Priests and parishioners responsible. Look at Most Rev. Fabian Bruskewitz and his Diocese, they are thriving, whereas some dioceses such as those of Tod Brown are on a rapid decline in numbers and vocations.

I strongly believe St. Athanasius was right when he (supposedly) stated: “The floor of hell is covered with the skulls of bishops.”

Laus Deo

 

[JReducation]

I believe that the desire of every Catholic should be the desire of which Teresa of Avila speaks, the desire for God and his Church. God is truly present in his Church from the foundations to today. Embracing Catholicism is not just feeling Catholic, it is an act of the will and a gift of grace. It comes to us through the ages, It did not stop coming to us when the new order of the mass was released. The new order of the mass is part of that holy tradition, because it has its roots in the Church and it is approved by the Church.

The point is that to embrace the mystery of God, we must embrace the mystery of the Church as a whole. This includes that which was in the past and that which is in the present. The two extremes are to be avoided. To embrace the past forms of the liturgy and reject the OF is not true Catholicism. Because one is embracing only a historical era and not the totality of the Church. On the other hand, to embrace the EF and reject the OF is the same crime against the faith. Again, you are embracing a historical era and not the Church in its totality.

A saint embraces the Church, her entire history, her entire trajectory and opens himself to the mystery of grace in every situation. A saint opens himself to receive the mystery of Christ’s passion and resurrection at every mass, regardless of the form. He or she feels Catholic, not because of the form, but because of the presence of God. As Teresa said, even when we do not feel the spirit of faith, God is still there and it is the greatest act of faith to believe this and to walk in this mystery of dryness. The dryness can be present in either form of the mass. Those good Catholic feelings are only consolations that the Lord allows to those who are still children in the faith, says St. Teresa. Those who mature in the faith rely on God’s presence, while praising and thanking God for the consolations that come through feeling and experience. But a saint does not rely on either the mystical or the consolation of feeling. He or she relies on the mystery of the totality that is God and the Church, from the beginning to today.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[diggerdomer]

Thing is, this is the Catholic Church. Catholic is synonymous with universal. Prior to Vatican II’s Novus Ordo, you could go to any Latin Rite Mass anywhere in the world and be at home. Not so since the changes and the correlation to dwindling attendance speaks for itself.

I feel at home going to any Latin Rite Mass anywhere in the world. Actually, I feel at home going to ANY Catholic Mass anywhere in the world. Today.

 

[diggerdomer]

Your welcome. I also encourage you to do some research and discover the basis for pre-Vatican II liturgy without the incessant “it’s in the GIRM!”

There you go bringing up the GIRM again. Why is that? What does it have to do with this Thread?

 

[pnewton]

Respectfully, Br. JR, one of the things that has always been important to me about the Catholic church, other than I firmly believe in the Real Presence, is not just the Truth, it’s not just it’s theology, but it’s culture as a religion, as a faith. The beauty, the artwork, the fact that our liturgies appeal to ALL the senses: sites - the glory of church architectures, the reminders of our saints in statues and scenes of Christ’s passion in the stations of the cross; sounds - the bells, chimes, singing; smells - incense; taste - the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ (I hope that I’m not being irreverent with that statement); touch - when we greet each other and make the sign of peace and our sign of the cross.

But the question at hand is whether these are these things are the reasons that you converted to Catholicism. Evangelism is the topic at hand.

 

[GodIsGracious]

But the question at hand is whether these are these things are the reasons that you converted to Catholicism. Evangelism is the topic at hand.

Ok.

But I am responding to other posts.

And mine show how the Mass has changed (maybe not the outline of it) but in its presentation as well as even church architecture, in the name of “evangelism” and leaving others out who want our culture back.

(PS: I did not convert.)

 

[psr13]

But the question at hand is whether these are these things are the reasons that you converted to Catholicism. Evangelism is the topic at hand.

And Cat has been lauded for her post stating that the OF is what led her to convert. Yet, the only response to mine saying that I wouldn’t have converted without the EF has been derogatory. I’m saying that if the Church wants the most converts it really needs great access to both. However, that isn’t true in most area. I’m in a huge diocese, and it only has one EF. The diocese over has many more; however most of them are at extremely inconvenient times such as 7AM. Some people like the EF type liturgy and will be more likely to convert with that than the OF.

 

[JReducation]

And Cat has been lauded for her post stating that the OF is what led her to convert. Yet, the only response to mine saying that I wouldn’t have converted without the EF has been derogatory. I’m saying that if the Church wants the most converts it really needs great access to both. However, that isn’t true in most area. I’m in a huge diocese, and it only has one EF. The diocese over has many more; however most of them are at extremely inconvenient times such as 7AM. Some people like the EF type liturgy and will be more likely to convert with that than the OF.

I believe that in many dioceses there is also a practical problem too. There are actually several practical problems. I’ll just lay them out in bullets. I don’t have the solution. I just have the observation and the benefit of age.

1. Most priests and deacons do not know Latin.
2. Many parishes are still run by religious orders. Religious need the permission of their major superior to go study the TLM.
3. The study of Latin is only mandatory for secular men studying for the priesthood, not for religious who are studying for the priesthood. Their curriculum is determined by their charism.
4. There are very few centers of study that teach the TLM.

I’ll just add something that is peculiar to our diocese. The cost of taking the courses to celebrate the TLM is very expensive and the cost of remodeling the sanctuary for an on-going EF liturgy is very expensive. Now . . . I do know one priest who celebrates it on a modern alar, he just faces the back wall. But that’s not the ideal physical setting.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[pnewton]

It just seems like this whole discussion is about what form is best. I have read many conversion stories and none have had to do with the liturgical form. I just refuse to believe that has any bearing on ecumenism. It is counter-intuitive and outside the experience I have from reading conversion stories.

 

[JReducation]

It just seems like this whole discussion is about what form is best. I have read many conversion stories and none have had to do with the liturgical form. I just refuse to believe that has any bearing on ecumenism. It is counter-intuitive and outside the experience I have from reading conversion stories.

I’m never sure how people define ecumenism on these forums. I know that my own conversion had nothing to do with ecumenism, unless I were to consider the fact that I was a Jewish student at a Franciscan school and later at Catholic University, where I converted to Catholicism. But I did not convert because the Catholics allowed me to attend their schools or because of the form of the mass. As I said above, my conversion was from the intellect to the heart. But then again, how else would you expect God to speak to an undergraduate math major?

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Cat]

I think we need to keep in mind that all of us have different gifts and missions in the Church of Jesus Christ, and because of this, we all have a different viewpoint of what’s most important.

There are those who consider that the highest work of any Christian is to simply worship God and receive Jesus in the Eucharist. These people will understandably want the most High Worship possible. An auditorium-like atmosphere with a teenager playing a guitar does not seem appropriate to them. They want the imposing church building with the statues and marble and sconces and gold lamps and as much beauty as possible.

Others consider our primary task to be evangelizing the lost, as Jesus told us in the Great Commission before He ascended into heaven. I would put myself in this group, probably because I was raised in the “evangelical” churches. So to me, the auditorium-like atmosphere and the teenager playing the guitar are helpful to evangelize because they make strangers to Catholicism feel at ease and more receptive to hearing the Gospel.

Others consider teaching and learning to be of primary importance. To these people, it doesn’t matter whether the church looks like an auditorium and the teenager is playing the guitar. They want to see classes and studies and other opportunities for learning offered outside of the Mass. And they want to see good preaching, thought-provoking homilies, and hymns with some meat in them.

Others would say helping the poor and visiting the orphans and widows in their distress in most important. They might find the huge ornate churches almost offensive because that money could be feeding a hungry child. And they probably don’t mind the teenager playing the guitar as long as he does a good job on hymns like “The Cry of the Poor!”

etc.

We’re like a group of children, aren’t we?–all jostling to raise our hands and please the Teacher! No wonder Jesus established the Church, to help corral us all and keep us all in the proper place and keep everything in BALANCE. There’s plenty of room for all of us and all of our various gifts. The Holy Spirit can fit us all together and help us to love each other.

And Jesus makes it very clear in the Bible that it is our LOVE for each other that will help non-believers to become believers. It is when we pick at each other and undermine each other that non-believers, Protestants, and others will be turned off and walk away from the Catholic Church.

 

[Monica4316]

when I was Protestant and looking into Catholicism, I wanted the Church to be as similar to my old church as possible… but then over time, I grew to love Catholicism, and now I actually really want it to NOT lose its distinct Catholic identity and heritage. We have so many beautiful traditions. I don’t think VII ‘destroyed’ them at all. I think people just forgot, for a time.

 

[Cat]

Respectfully, Br. JR, one of the things that has always been important to me about the Catholic church, other than I firmly believe in the Real Presence, is not just the Truth, it’s not just it’s theology, but it’s culture as a religion, as a faith. The beauty, the artwork, the fact that our liturgies appeal to ALL the senses: sites - the glory of church architectures, the reminders of our saints in statues and scenes of Christ’s passion in the stations of the cross; sounds - the bells, chimes, singing; smells - incense; taste - the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ (I hope that I’m not being irreverent with that statement); touch - when we greet each other and make the sign of peace and our sign of the cross.

It was a full body experience. I’m glad that it merely took logic for you. As a computer scientist who deals in algorithms and math every day I too am a logical person. For me, it was faith - faith in the Holy Eucharist that it was the Real Presence and seeing it’s miracle. But I miss the full body experience I used to have - in merely just the early days of Vatican II. I can only imagine what a TLM would be like.

If a TLM is anything like I remembered a NO Mass as a child it would be an amazing experience here on earth in the practice of our faith. From what I understand, it is actually better.

We’re not trying to go back to the way we were. I understand we can’t “go back home.” But we’d like to have access to at least visit.

Bless your heart, GodisGracious, as an ex-Protestant I can certainly understand where you’re at. Many Protestants (not my sect, the Conference Baptists) were all about the “experience” of worship, and they created the most glorious atmosphere in their churches.

There’s nothing wrong with this.

But I ask you to consider the very real possibility of losing it all. Will you still be joyfully Catholic and committed to Jesus?

What happens if, God forbid, war comes to our nation, and our churches are destroyed or made illegal, and we are forced to celebrate our Masses in hiding. This was reality for the Catholics during WWII, especially those who were imprisoned. No smells and bells for them, unless you count the smells of human misery and the bells that tolled at 4 in the morning to wake them up for slave labor.

When the Treasures of the Vatican toured the United States a few years ago, there were many treasures. But IMO, the most powerful exhibit was the tin can lid and the wine glass that was used to celebrate Mass at Auschwitz concentration camp.

Catholics shouldn’t need treasures here on earth to experience, in the Mass, the treasures that are stored for us in heaven.

I agree that war is unlikely, although closure of older parishes seems to be happening in more and more cities. However, one very real and likely possibility is that you will be incapacitated in some way, and unable to experience the glorious Mass that you love. As people age, they are often unable to travel or move easily, and so the Eucharist is brought to them.

I realize that good memories can help an isolated senior citizen to remain cheerful, and so perhaps it’s for the best to store up as many good sensory experiences in the Church as possible.

But the question again is, “If you are deprived of all of these beautiful whole body experiences, will be still be a cheerful and faithful Catholic?”

Hopefully your answer to these questions is, “Yes, of course.”

When I read some of the posts on these forums, I get the feeling that for many Catholics, Christianity is more about “experiences” than about Jesus. I think we need to be careful not to become so enamored of earthly beauties that we begin to worship them instead of Jesus.

Please keep in mind that I was raised in a Protestant sect that discouraged us from seeking “experiences,” and encouraged us to base our faith on the FACTS, not our feelings. Other Protestants are more centered in “experiences” and constantly seek the next “spiritual high.”

 

[JReducation]

Bless your heart, GodisGracious, as an ex-Protestant I can certainly understand where you’re at. Many Protestants (not my sect, the Conference Baptists) were all about the “experience” of worship, and they created the most glorious atmosphere in their churches.

There’s nothing wrong with this.

But I ask you to consider the very real possibility of losing it all. Will you still be joyfully Catholic and committed to Jesus?

What happens if, God forbid, war comes to our nation, and our churches are destroyed or made illegal, and we are forced to celebrate our Masses in hiding. This was reality for the Catholics during WWII, especially those who were imprisoned. No smells and bells for them, unless you count the smells of human misery and the bells that tolled at 4 in the morning to wake them up for slave labor.

When the Treasures of the Vatican toured the United States a few years ago, there were many treasures. But IMO, the most powerful exhibit was the tin can lid and the wine glass that was used to celebrate Mass at Auschwitz concentration camp.

Catholics shouldn’t need treasures here on earth to experience, in the Mass, the treasures that are stored for us in heaven.

I agree that war is unlikely, although closure of older parishes seems to be happening in more and more cities. However, one very real and likely possibility is that you will be incapacitated in some way, and unable to experience the glorious Mass that you love. As people age, they are often unable to travel or move easily, and so the Eucharist is brought to them.

I realize that good memories can help an isolated senior citizen to remain cheerful, and so perhaps it’s for the best to store up as many good sensory experiences in the Church as possible.

But the question again is, “If you are deprived of all of these beautiful whole body experiences, will be still be a cheerful and faithful Catholic?”

Hopefully your answer to these questions is, “Yes, of course.”

When I read some of the posts on these forums, I get the feeling that for many Catholics, Christianity is more about “experiences” than about Jesus. I think we need to be careful not to become so enamored of earthly beauties that we begin to worship them instead of Jesus.

Please keep in mind that I was raised in a Protestant sect that discouraged us from seeking “experiences,” and encouraged us to base our faith on the FACTS, not our feelings. Other Protestants are more centered in “experiences” and constantly seek the next “spiritual high.”

Cat makes some excellent points here. Speaking about experience I’ll add my own experience as a Franciscan. None of the reformed Franciscan houses have proper chapels. We do not have the money for them. Our chapels are a simple room with a wooden altar, a tabernacle on oa pedestal or built into the wall and chairs or benches. There is a San Damanio cross and a statue of St. Francis. That’s it. There are no kneelers, no paintings, no lamps, no other statues. There is no marble floor. In our house the chapel is what was once a bedroom before we moved in. It’s about 12 x 10 and it has only benches made by the local people.

We do not have an organ. Several brothers are muscicians and we have guitars, wind instruments and our hands and voices. But our mass is the center of our life together. The Liturgy of the Hours proceeds fromt he mass, with the same solemnity and love that we have had for 800 years. The experience is in the soul, not the senses.

I am reminded of the Missionaries of Charity who have similar arrangements, the Carthusians, Trappists and enclosed Carmelite nuns. This has been part of the Catholic culture for over 1,000 years.

As Cat says, let us put our faith and our love in what we know to be truth. Let us enjoy the external beauty when it’s available and try do without it when we can’t have it for whatever reason.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Tartini]

Cat makes some excellent points here. Speaking about experience I’ll add my own experience as a Franciscan. None of the reformed Franciscan houses have proper chapels. We do not have the money for them. Our chapels are a simple room with a wooden altar, a tabernacle on oa pedestal or built into the wall and chairs or benches. There is a San Damanio cross and a statue of St. Francis. That’s it. There are no kneelers, no paintings, no lamps, no other statues. There is no marble floor. In our house the chapel is what was once a bedroom before we moved in. It’s about 12 x 10 and it has only benches made by the local people.

We do not have an organ. Several brothers are muscicians and we have guitars, wind instruments and our hands and voices. But our mass is the center of our life together. The Liturgy of the Hours proceeds fromt he mass, with the same solemnity and love that we have had for 800 years. The experience is in the soul, not the senses.

I am reminded of the Missionaries of Charity who have similar arrangements, the Carthusians, Trappists and enclosed Carmelite nuns. This has been part of the Catholic culture for over 1,000 years.

As Cat says, let us put our faith and our love in what we know to be truth. Let us enjoy the external beauty when it’s available and try do without it when we can’t have it for whatever reason.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

When I first posted the question, I suspected that the discussion may tend to vere off on tangents, but they were not too off the subject, as one can learn from looking at the outside as well as the inside. This last post is probabally the most observant as to how simplicity is most effective in faith. The sprit of St. Francis is the “purist” form of the Church, and seems to be the style of Our Lord, who was of simple tastes humble attitude. The opulant style is just as valid, as it is an expression of the majesty of God, and we want to always give Him our best, no matter how simple or complex we can offer the style of worship. Both have their place and as Catholics we should count ourselves blessed to be able to at least be able to do this, without outside hinderance (although some of our brothers and sisters are not in such positions, and certainly need our prayers).

I think this thread has had some very great comments and has been very interesting in seeing some very valid points in in certain arguments as to the liturgy. The last posters quote (which I highlighted) seems to wrap the whole situation up and I found it a bit of a refreshing statement. It also helped to lift a bit of a weight off of my mind as to the questions I have been personally wrestling with in the past. It is a profound statement by one poster, that another saw as very useful as well, and that I think we all could take to heart in this strange and confused modern world we live in.

God Bless All of You.

Jerald Franklin Archer (tartini)

 

[Cat]

When I first posted the question, I suspected that the discussion may tend to vere off on tangents, but they were not too off the subject, as one can learn from looking at the outside as well as the inside. This last post is probabally the most observant as to how simplicity is most effective in faith. The sprit of St. Francis is the “purist” form of the Church, and seems to be the style of Our Lord, who was of simple tastes humble attitude. The opulant style is just as valid, as it is an expression of the majesty of God, and we want to always give Him our best, no matter how simple or complex we can offer the style of worship. Both have their place and as Catholics we should count ourselves blessed to be able to at least be able to do this, without outside hinderance (although some of our brothers and sisters are not in such positions, and certainly need our prayers).

I think this thread has had some very great comments and has been very interesting in seeing some very valid points in in certain arguments as to the liturgy. The last posters quote (which I highlighted) seems to wrap the whole situation up and I found it a bit of a refreshing statement. It also helped to lift a bit of a weight off of my mind as to the questions I have been personally wrestling with in the past. It is a profound statement by one poster, that another saw as very useful as well, and that I think we all could take to heart in this strange and confused modern world we live in.

God Bless All of You.

Jerald Franklin Archer (tartini)

It’s interesting that out of all the saints in the Catholic Church, other than Mary and Joseph, the saint that most evangelical Protestants are likely to recognize is St. Francis.

Many evangelical Protestants have posters with quotes by St. Francis. And the prayer of St. Francis is prayed in evangelical prayer meetings.

I think that his simplicity and devotion to Jesus Christ, as well as his work with the poor and with animals is appealing to many Protestants. It goes back to a post by pnewton, I believe, who said that the most important thinig we can do as Catholics to attract Protestants is to demonstrate practical LOVE.

One reason why many Protestants are investigating the Catholic Church these days is because of the strong pro-life activities of the Catholic Church and of Catholics. Many Protestants, even evangelical Protestants, attend churches where abortion is not mentioned, because the pastors don’t want to offend anyone and lose members (givers). Quite a few years back, the stats showed that 1 out of 6 abortions were performed on women professing evangelical Protestantism as their religion.

But the Catholic Church stands firm against abortion, and many Catholic priests speak out boldly, even if they lose families in their parish. In addition, many Catholics are involved in the trench work of the pro-life movement, providing counselors at Pregnancy Life Care Centers, side-walk counselors at abortion clinics, and faithfully maintaining prayer vigils outside of clinics, not just at Lent, but all year long.

THIS impresses Protestants, and they are drawn to the people who continue to fight the fight and yet, remain loving and non-criminal. I hate to say it, but perhaps it will be on the mound of corpses of murdered unborn humans that the Protestant sects will be reunited with Holy Mother Church. Pray that God will find another method to re-unite Christians.

 

[JReducation]

It’s interesting that out of all the saints in the Catholic Church, other than Mary and Joseph, the saint that most evangelical Protestants are likely to recognize is St. Francis.

Many evangelical Protestants have posters with quotes by St. Francis. And the prayer of St. Francis is prayed in evangelical prayer meetings.

I think that his simplicity and devotion to Jesus Christ, as well as his work with the poor and with animals is appealing to many Protestants. It goes back to a post by pnewton, I believe, who said that the most important thinig we can do as Catholics to attract Protestants is to demonstrate practical LOVE.

One reason why many Protestants are investigating the Catholic Church these days is because of the strong pro-life activities of the Catholic Church and of Catholics. Many Protestants, even evangelical Protestants, attend churches where abortion is not mentioned, because the pastors don’t want to offend anyone and lose members (givers). Quite a few years back, the stats showed that 1 out of 6 abortions were performed on women professing evangelical Protestantism as their religion.

But the Catholic Church stands firm against abortion, and many Catholic priests speak out boldly, even if they lose families in their parish. In addition, many Catholics are involved in the trench work of the pro-life movement, providing counselors at Pregnancy Life Care Centers, side-walk counselors at abortion clinics, and faithfully maintaining prayer vigils outside of clinics, not just at Lent, but all year long.

THIS impresses Protestants, and they are drawn to the people who continue to fight the fight and yet, remain loving and non-criminal. I hate to say it, but perhaps it will be on the mound of corpses of murdered unborn humans that the Protestant sects will be reunited with Holy Mother Church. Pray that God will find another method to re-unite Christians.

I get many questions from Protestants in response to this way of life.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=364455

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=364163

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=363454

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Flame_of_Christ]

To try and answer the OP, I would say this:

To be truly attractive to others, we need to be the light of Christ. So what is the light of Christ? Isn’t it anything true, anything pure and holy? So if praise and worship is true and pure and holy (which it is) then it will attract.

as a note, St. Paul did say that he has become all things to save as many as he can. That should be enough right there for the true heart: Not doing what I want, but doing what will lead others to Jesus.