Entering into the Catholic Faith

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Braden236

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I just married my Catholic wife and want to get more involved and learn about the Catholic religion, I was not raised in a religious household and want to get started from square one. I was Baptized Catholic at birth and my church doesn’t start the next RCIA class untill August 08’

Any information to prepare me for RCIA and introduction to the Catholic religion would be appreciated, also which Bible do you recommend.
 
Just hang around here.

I joined in '05, I’m coming into the Church this Easter.

I’m excited for you!
 
Catholicism for Dummies -most chain bookstores have it or can order it
work through that while waiting for your parish to start a class (how lame)
start going to Mass, CFD will help you, but if you want to know more about the Mass a very easy to follow book is How To Book of the Mass from Our Sunday visitor. www.osv.com

really these are easier than wading right into the catechism.

from liguori.com, Handbook for Today’s Catholic is a small $5 booklet with the basics in very brief form of what we believe, how we pray, how we obey God, and how we serve.

that and any bible you like
New American Bible
Revised Standard Version-Catholic Edition
Jerusalem Bible
these are all Catholic, modern translations

NAB is the one you will probably use in your RCIA or Confirmation class.

make sure your pastor understands you are already baptized, but not catechized (that is, you have not been formally educated in the Catholic faith).

Welcome Home, and 3 cheers for your wife, give her a Valentine from me
 
Braden236 said:
I just married my Catholic wife and want to get more involved and learn about the Catholic religion, I was not raised in a religious household and want to get started from square one. I was Baptized Catholic at birth and my church doesn’t start the next RCIA class untill August 08’
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Welcome to the journey! 🙂
Any information to prepare me for RCIA and introduction to the Catholic religion would be appreciated, also which Bible do you recommend.
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The best way to start learning about the Catholic faith is to start attending Mass regularly and becoming part of your local parish community. Talk to people, get to know them, and hear their stories. 🙂

You don’t receive Holy Communion yet, but apart from that and the other Sacraments (Confession, Anointing of the Sick, etc.), everything else is open to you - you can even start praying the Rosary now, if you want to.

I’d also recommend going to a daily Mass if that’s feasible for you, since it is a simpler outline than the Sunday Mass, and the congregation is not in such a rush to get home, typically. Also, the homilies tend to be better at daily Mass, because the congregation is assumed to be better educated. 👍
 
I am so happy for you, and for your wife! 👍

I have nothing to add, because the others are always so thorough… just wanted to say, “Welcome Home!”
 
My favorite reference guide is “This is our faith” by Pennecock I like the old red 1988 version it is very plan. You can usually buy it at a half price book store for $4-$12
 
Brendan, being Catholic is not an intellectual exercise of understanding the basics of the “whys and hows”. It is about an inititial conversion of heart and a commitment to daily commitment of your life to Christ. At the same time, the intellectual learning and knowledge is important such that ignorance or misperception doesn’t become a commitment to conversion.

For several years, I was involved in the RCIA program at my parish. When I came across someone like you I gave them the following advice and asked them to consider it in this order:
  1. Begin to do your best to live a basic Catholic life which means come to to Mass weekly and on Holy Days, find a charity to both give your time and talent, introduce prayer and Scripture into you daily life, look at your wife at least once a day in love and thank God for the gift she is to you. While the first and last is self-explanatory, I usually suggest that you get the Daily Readings from Scripture placed in a convenient place to remind you to take the five minutes to at least read the Daily Gospel reading and reflect on it in prayer. With regard to the charity, it doesn’t have to be a Catholic charity or cause but it can help as it will give you occassion to be with Catholics besides your wife. It doesn’t have to be a large financial or time commitment. Just find one so that you begin not only desiring to make a conversion but doing something about it.
  2. Talk to your wife’s Pastor alone and tell him of your interest and ask for his suggestions. If he says my advice is silly and has different advice, follow him. It will help you incorporate obedience into your life.
  3. Make a list of all things that give you pause about the Catholic faith. Then ask God to give you wisdom and insight about these questions. Add and delete from the list as things come up or go away. You don’t have to attack them with research yet. RCIA will cover most of them. If one of these nags at you, it means that God wants you to deal w/ it now. You can ask the Pastor, your wife, another practical Catholic you know or do your own research. If you do your own research, make sure you are accessing approved Catholic sources. It is not that non-Catholic sources are necessarily anti-Catholic and untruthful but that they may have an incomplete understanding of the issue from a Catholic perspective which will make the source give an incomplete or inaccurate explanation.
  4. If you like to read books, introduce reading a spiritual book into your rotation. You don’t have to read a book on apologetics or “the hows and whys” unless your prayer is leading you there. Instead ask your wife, Priest or another Catholic friend to recommend something on Catholic Spirituality. Often these books are written by a Saint who shares how they have become more holy. You get four bangs for the buck in that you usually get to read very good literature with amazing imagery, get to see what awaits you if you fully embrace the faith, you get to see that your struggles usually pale in comparison to what they dealt with, and most importantly they help you enter into a prayerful life.
If you like to watch TV, watch EWTN. Go to their web site and find programs that pique your fancy. Programs that you initially like might become boring so move on. One program called Journey Home is a program that is about converts. You might find it very interesting.
  1. Don’t hesitate to ask your wife to join you in either your Scripture reading or prayers on occassion. You might do it when you want her to be aware of a hurt you are experiencing, an especially hard day at work, sickness in your family, or just because. If she declines, respect that. Some journey’s require us to set out alone.
Don’t beat yourself during these next 6 months if you sometime fail (expecially in the Daily prayer/Scripture reading). Good Catholics also often fail at this. Good habits take years to build.

Don’t over-react if you have periods of serious doubts. Satan is gearing up a serious battle against you. He does not want you to make this conversion. Just see them for what they are: a battle for your soul. Ask God to protect you and give you strength in the battle. The Holy Spirit is always fighting for you but like you sometimes have to call your parents to get their help, you have to call on God.

Brendan, I know this looks intimidating. But it really is easier than it looks. Just take off small bites at a time as you feel able (except attendance at Mass). You have six months before RCIA starts. But if you do this or whatever your Priest says, you will be on your journey. Being Catholic doesn’t start when you join RCIA or are confirmed. It begins when you say “I think I want to be Catholic.” And it doesn’t end until the day you die. It is a life-long journey.
 
Great advice, from Orionthe hunter. I would only add the following.

Don’t be discouraged or sidetracked by those Catholics who do not seem to be following the ideal Catholic life. The Church is a billion member family, and you are going to run into your share of malcontents, the ignorant, the mentally unstable, those who make no effort to live the faith, and the just plain apostate and worldly. You’ll also run into those who are struggling to live their Faith (as we all are) but are still a long way off.

Some of these may shake you, or disgust you, or try your patience. However keep in mind; any organization (even a Spirit led one like the Catholic Church) is made up of flawed human individuals. Have charity, patience and fortitude and keep in mind Jesus Christ and the example of the Saints and others who exemplify the beauty of the Faith. We should judge the Church not by it’s worst examples, but by it’s best, and shoot for that ideal ourselves.
 
Great answers – I too am waiting for August – I went to an RCIA class last night just to be with other Catholics. I appreciate the responses, gave me a lot to think about. Small bites might be best, I agree 🙂
 
Braden236 said:
I just married my Catholic wife and want to get more involved and learn about the Catholic religion, I was not raised in a religious household and want to get started from square one. I was Baptized Catholic at birth and my church doesn’t start the next RCIA class untill August 08’

Any information to prepare me for RCIA and introduction to the Catholic religion would be appreciated, also which Bible do you recommend.
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Attend Mass. As you attend, pay attention, and questions and things that pique your interest will naturally arise. Then, study Catholic resources to get an understanding and answer to your questions and what has come up as a natural interest. There is a lot of good information online, but you can also ask people for book recommendations.

Get to know God. So pray. Read the Bible. One thing that was recommended in our RCIA class is lectio divina.

Online sites that I have found very useful for learning the Catholic faith:

New American Bible
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Catholic Encyclopedia at New Advent
Early Church Fathers

Sacred Space (daily readings)
 
Fidelis said:
Great advice, from Orionthe hunter. I would only add the following.

Don’t be discouraged or sidetracked by those Catholics who do not seem to be following the ideal Catholic life. The Church is a billion member family, and you are going to run into your share of malcontents, the ignorant, the mentally unstable, those who make no effort to live the faith, and the just plain apostate and worldly. You’ll also run into those who are struggling to live their Faith (as we all are) but are still a long way off.

Some of these may shake you, or disgust you, or try your patience. However keep in mind; any organization (even a Spirit led one like the Catholic Church) is made up of flawed human individuals. Have charity, patience and fortitude and keep in mind Jesus Christ and the example of the Saints and others who exemplify the beauty of the Faith. We should judge the Church not by it’s worst examples, but by it’s best, and shoot for that ideal ourselves.
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Excellent advice!! This has been my experience the past 10 years in the Church–I keep my eyes on Jesus, on the truth of the Catholic faith, regardless of how well or how poorly it is lived in those around me
 
Everyone has offered such great advice.

Another suggestion is to look into all the great Catholic podcasts available to everyone who basically has a computer.

I use iTunes to to download a ton of great shows. And I have learned a great deal from these podcasts. For starters I recommened checking out www.sqpn.com. There is a ton of great podcasts to discover. Some of my favorites from SQPN are The Daily Breakfast, Catholic Moments, Catholic In A Small Town, Saint Cast and The Rosary Army. There is basically something for everyone.

I also found Mysteries Of The Mass to be very interesting and helpful.

You can also get Catholic Answers Live on podcast.

There is a podcast geared for people interested in learning about the faith that is similar to an RCIA class called Catholic Classes/Catechumenate Series www.catholicclasses.org. They offer the catechumenate series as well as Liturgy of the Hours series. So if you are looking to enrich your daily prayer life you might find their series helpful.

You can also find a podcast of the rosary.

Podcasts are great. Especially if you don’t have the time to sit and read a book everyday. And you can’t beat that podcasts are free.
 
Braden236 said:
I just married my Catholic wife and want to get more involved and learn about the Catholic religion, I was not raised in a religious household and want to get started from square one. I was Baptized Catholic at birth and my church doesn’t start the next RCIA class untill August 08’

.
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Welcome home. There are a lot of good suggestions above. I would only add to go talk to the priest and let him know your desire to return to the Church; he’ll help you with the next steps.
 
If you would like an easy to read book written for unenlightened Catholics or non-Catholics alike, try reading “Why Do Catholics Do That?” It is an easy read and very informative. It was the first book I read on the subject and I have passed out tons of them to friends and others curious about, well, why Catholics do that!

There is also a book called “Why Do Jews Do That?” by the same publisher.
 
Congrats on your new marriage, Braden! :clapping:

I agree with all the others have mentioned here - attending Mass is probably the best thing you can do, and I’m sure you can find people in your local parish willing to answer your questions. At my parish there are “inquiry” classes year-round. Between Easter and the beginning of RCIA in the fall these classes are just sort of informal get togethers between Masses.

Another thing I’d recommend is to pray before the Blessed Sacrament if you can. Many parishes have perpetual adoration now.

I’ve found Catholic radio in general and Catholic Answers Live and EWTN’s Open Line in particular to be absolutely priceless - both are call-in shows with many experts willing to answer whatever questions you have. And of course the forums here are great as well.

If you like to read, here are a couple more suggestions for you: “Rome Sweet Home” by Scott and Kimberly Hahn tells the story of their conversion (and reasons for it) and Patrick Madrid’s “Surprised By Truth” series, which features many people’s conversion stories and experiences.

And another website I don’t think anybody’s mentioned yet is the Catholic Information Service (of the Knights of Columbus). They have many resources including a ton of booklets which you can order for a minimal fee or read online for free.

I wish you all the best! 😃
 
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