First Mass - Were We Wrong or am I insecure?

[ErikaA]

The CCC is good, you might also want to check out United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. One of the main reasons I converted was because of the history. I read Church History in Plain Language, the author is Protestant, but seems to a good job of sorting through history and keeping it fair…

This is a great book. I loved it as well.

Switching churches is hard, I know. For six months or so, I went to Mass on Saturday nights and then spent most of Sunday at my Protestant church, and didn’t really talk to anyone about it. It was weird. I loved my Protestant church and didn’t change because of anything they were doing.

I did eventually talk to my pastor and some of my good friends about it. They were all very supportive and pretty much just told me to go where God is leading. I think how your pastor reacts will just depend. I don’t know what kind of Lutheran you are, but I came from a more liberal denomination (United Methodist), so I think that made people reactions easier. They don’t necessarily understand, but they aren’t against it like many people in the more conservative, evangelical type denominations.

My Pastor is a great guy, but he didn’t take it too well when I told him I was considering becoming Catholic. But, I’ve always been a bit different parishioner - some might say challenging, so I’m thinking he may consider this a psychotic episode of sorts.

Anyway, he admitted he didn’t know much about Catholicism other than he thought they had a works-based salvation. I didn’t have the heart to tell him so does he (but then we would’ve just argued about it). The point is I don’t think he’ll take my defection well. I think he will take it personally because he kind of mentored me when I first “saw the light” a few years ago. I do not think one should walk away from one Church without trying in every way to do it amicably and with love.

I doubt my husband would convert so that’s probably my biggest “issue” right now. Why am I even heading down this road??

 

[Linuse]

I have another suggestion that would even make you stand out a little more–but could be very helpful.
Find a Catholic who is willing to work with you even during the Mass. One that is willing to show you where to find things in the missalettes if the parish has them; one who is willing to answer questions even during Mass to help you understand better what is happening; one who is willing to spend time with you both before and after Mass as a mentor to someone new, and one who is willing to introduce you to others in the parish and help you become well acquainted. (Catholics–this is also a challenge to you to be the person who welcomes the new-comer well.)

 

[KarenElissa]

My Pastor is a great guy, but he didn’t take it too well when I told him I was considering becoming Catholic. But, I’ve always been a bit different parishioner - some might say challenging, so I’m thinking he may consider this a psychotic episode of sorts.

Anyway, he admitted he didn’t know much about Catholicism other than he thought they had a works-based salvation. I didn’t have the heart to tell him so does he (but then we would’ve just argued about it). The point is I don’t think he’ll take my defection well. I think he will take it personally because he kind of mentored me when I first “saw the light” a few years ago. I do not think one should walk away from one Church without trying in every way to do it amicably and with love.

That makes things more complicated I’m sure. I think the best thing you can tell him is that this isn’t abandoning many of the things he has taught you, it is fulfilling them, making them broader and richer and deeper. He may not get that, but… The other thing to remember is that while you should try to do it all in love, it may not work out. It is your job to do the best you can, but you have no control over other people. At some point, you may have to step back, you have done your best, and all you can do now is pray, as Jesus did, for us to all be one.

Why am I even heading down this road??

Because your crazy? :whacky: Na, even though it feels that way sometimes, or at least it did for me. You are doing this because God is leading you on an exciting adventure! Being Catholic is the coolest thing ever! It is wonderfully exciting, even if the journey can be a bit bumpy and scary at times!

 

[Jeanette_L]

I doubt my husband would convert so that’s probably my biggest “issue” right now. Why am I even heading down this road??

Because your crazy? :whacky: Na, even though it feels that way sometimes, or at least it did for me. You are doing this because God is leading you on an exciting adventure! Being Catholic is the coolest thing ever! It is wonderfully exciting, even if the journey can be a bit bumpy and scary at times!

:yup:

It is an amazing journey in which you would not have had the courage to even go this far if it were not for the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer will be your biggest help right now, and may I suggest the Rosary? Get a good book explaining it and maybe even a CD to recite along with (I have one from Fr. Groeschel that is enormously helpful). This will bring you such peace while you are navigating these foreign waters. :hug3:

 

[ElizabethPH]

Thanks for the advice and understanding. I feel much better about everything now.

The reason we went today is that I have been doing some reading. It started with Merton and Chesterton (they are the reason I became interested in Catholicism). Now I’m into Aquinas so I’ve basically been approaching the Church theologically I guess. And while the Church Fathers and Aquinas blow my mind with their brilliance, I also know there is more for me to learn and understand. Should I read the CC Catechism next?

I didn’t mention this at the start, but I also feel like I’m betraying my Lutheran Church by attending a Catholic Mass. How should I make “amends” to my old Pastor? I feel as though I’m abandoning him and I don’t want to switch denominations in that way. Thanks again.

Yes the Catechism of the Catholic Church is very important. Check out the RCIA classes as well. I’ve always been Catholic so can’t relate as to what it’s like to convert; but EWTN has a program called Journey Home; interviews with converts that is very good. I always enjoy watching that.

Good Luck

 

[Jeanette_L]

Yes the Catechism of the Catholic Church is very important. Check out the RCIA classes as well. I’ve always been Catholic so can’t relate as to what it’s like to convert; but EWTN has a program called Journey Home; interviews with converts that is very good. I always enjoy watching that.

Good Luck

That’s one of my absolutely favorite shows. It was enormously helpful to me, such an encouragement when I was converting.

EWTN, Monday evenings, 8PM EST. You can also view it via internet.

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

I left out this very important instruction. Just understand that until you are fully Catholic, it is very important to refrain from the Eucharist until then. There are differences in beliefs about the nature of the Church and the Eucharist and until you are in full “communion” with the Church, there cannot be this “communion” of the Eucharist…does that make sense to you?

Uhhh…wasn’t that what I said? That you cannot go to “Communion” until you are received into the Church?

:heart:Blyss

 

[Jeanette_L]

Uhhh…wasn’t that what I said? That you cannot go to “Communion” until you are received into the Church?

:heart:Blyss

I’m sorry, I wasn’t intending to offend you or step on your post.

Many Protestants, myself included when I was first considering Cathlocism, do not understand the “reasons” behind that instruction, and to be honest, many Catholics don’t even know the “reasons” - for refraining from the Eucharist. I was just trying to provide that, as it was very helpful for me to know the reason when I was where she is now.

 

[CindiA]

You are doing this because God is leading you on an exciting adventure! Being Catholic is the coolest thing ever! It is wonderfully exciting, even if the journey can be a bit bumpy and scary at times!

I’ve had some flack from my Baptist Pastor brother, but all-in-all the rest of my family has just taken it in stride. I’ve been making rosaries (for a new home business) and took some over to my Mom’s the other day to show her. She had lots of genuine questions and never once faulted me. Actually, that was amazing in itself. I was able to show her a few of the medals and walk her thru part of the prayers and meditations. She asked about the Hail Mary and I told her that the whole rosary was Scriptural and quoted scriptures as we went along. I think she got it. She didn’t understand the part of me calling the BVM “MOM” though and she still doesn’t buy into praying to ‘dead’ people. Oh well, little by little. God will open her heart like He did mine - all in due time. Oh yeah, I should add that she’s pretty hard of hearing and refuses to wear her hearing aids. So, I had to talk loud enough and my brother (not the pastor one) got a good dose too! He could leave the room, but he couldn’t get away from the hearing. Hmmm, doesn’t it say that faith comes by hearing?

 

[CindiA]

:

Prayer will be your biggest help right now, and may I suggest the Rosary? Get a good book explaining it and maybe even a CD to recite along with (I have one from Fr. Groeschel that is enormously helpful). This will bring you such peace while you are navigating these foreign waters. :hug3:

If you get EWTN, I love the Holy Land Rosary every morning at 7:30 with Fr Mitch Pacwa. It’s wonderful cuz you can view the Holy Land and get a feel for the Scriptures you’re meditating on as you pray. I also listen to EWTN on line. www.ewtn.com

 

[Jenny_Z]

We love you and hope you join us more often!!
:extrahappy: :grouphug:

 

[Jenny_Z]

I doubt my husband would convert so that’s probably my biggest “issue” right now. Why am I even heading down this road??

A quick story for you, to give you hope… my husband and I fought furiously over the Catholic Church when i first started going. He didn’t see the point, and was very wary of it.

I prayed all I could, anytime the thought crossed my mind… asked Mary and St. Monica to pray for him too. (St. Monica prayed for many, many, many years before her husband and son were eventually converted, her son being St. Augustine)

Eventually, he started going to RCIA because he was curious about what I was so excited about… and he joined the Church last Easter. He’s now a faithful Catholic, Knight of Columbus, the whole 9 yards

 

[CindiA]

We love you and hope you join us more often!!
:extrahappy: :grouphug:

 

[puzzleannie]

My . My question is - should we have studied up a bit more before attending Mass? I wanted a first-hand idea of what I’m contemplating before further study. And we tried to be as respectful as possible, kneeling before the altar, etc. But I still think we stood out. (my husband said some guy was staring at him the whole time) .

I doubt very much if you stood out, unless it is a small parish and everybody knows everybody else. in my experience, most Catholics simply are not paying attention to anyone else during Mass (let along to the homily or prayers, but that is another discussion). I think maybe the guy you saw was just zoning out, or trying to remember if he knows you.

Half the people I see at church don’t know when to sit. bow, genuflect, stand or kneel, in part because we seem to introduce random changes every few years, and because different pastors advocate different practices, again without a rhyme or reason I can detect. I still think the best way to learn about the Mass is simply to attend and observe. There is no need to “mimic” anyone, and if sitting or standing is more comfortable for you at this time, do so. If you feel better doing what the majority are doing, do that.

If it is time to kneel I will probably be a couple of minutes behind everybody else, and so will the others with arthritis or large girth, and some of us may not be able to kneel at all, and I don’t think anyone is giving us the eye.