Hey..what AM I???

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brian_C
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
B

Brian_C

Guest
I’m sure this has been discussed somewhere but…I was just reading thru another thread on the sign of the cross where everyone was explaining to someone about to begin RCIA what you could and couldn’t do as a non-catholic in church.

Well, I was just thinking (since I am in RCIA), if someone asks me what faith I am, what should I tell them??? Since I haven’t received communion and all.

I’ve really been thinking about it b/c I am in a Baptist heavy area and I would feel akward going thru the whole explaination and trying to claim something I am not yet.
 
When I was in RCIA, I said (if asked) that I was a Catholic.
For 6 months prior to attending RCIA, I’d read everything I could get my hands on regarding The Church, so I KNEW I was a Catholic by belief and in every way except being able to receive The Eucharist.
My heart was Catholic.
Though I was raised a lutheran, I would never have said I was a lutheran had someone asked during my RCIA. Because I no longer was.
Hope that helped.
 
I agree with catsrus! You my friend are Catholic!

Congratulations!

Peace,

George
 
I mean, that sounds logical to me, but in light of the fact that I have not been received in full communion yet… I have been reading almost nonstop so I know a great deal about Catholicism but part of me just feels like I’d be dishonest to say I was Catholic. Another part of me is afraid of finding myself in an embarassing situation by proclaiming Catholicism before I am properly received.
 
Congratulations and good luck on your journey!! If you really want to play it safe, just say, “I am in the process of becoming Catholic.”
Maybe they will just look at you funny.
But maybe that will prompt them to ask you how to do that…
Then you can let them know what RCIA is.
Maybe they will say, “Gee, sounds awfully hard.” or “Why go to that kind of trouble when you can just join any other church this very day?”
But who said being a Christian was supposed to be easy!
And shouldn’t you really know what a church believes before you decide you believe it, too?

I’m so sorry; I’m rambling…
 
Brian, I’m also in RCIA. I tell people either I’m Catholic, or I’m becoming Catholic, or converting to Catholicism; based on how well I know the person. 🙂
 
Yeah, I do explain it that way to a few people. I have one person at work who also came to Catholicism through RCIA but no one thinks anything of it b/c he married a Catholic. How do I explain I basically decided I didn’t think being Baptist was sufficient?:eek: I’d end up with my own feast day if you know what I mean.😃
 
40.png
Brian_C:
Yeah, I do explain it that way to a few people. I have one person at work who also came to Catholicism through RCIA but no one thinks anything of it b/c he married a Catholic. How do I explain I basically decided I didn’t think being Baptist was sufficient?:eek: I’d end up with my own feast day if you know what I mean.😃
Click to expand...
Well, I told them because my church taught me being Catholic was a sin and I wanted to find out why they thought that; through my study of the Catholic Church I found the fullness of the truth there, so I could not resist in uniting myself to the truth.

Of course, it was years before my dad knew what I did… 😛
 
It took my husband and I over two years before we were confirmed. During that time we usually just said “We are in the process of converting to Catholicism.” Yes, we got many wierd faces. Some were bold and curious enough to ask why and we would simply reply, “Because that is were we feel God wants us.” Usually, people let it be. They may not understand and think that you are wrong but that is not for you to change their minds or hearts. It is your relationship to God and the truth that He has given you through His infinite wisdom.

You are not Catholic until you are confirmed, even if you love the Church and believe in all its teachings. If that were the case many folks in the “High” Churches (i.e Lutheran. E. Orthodox, and even Episc.) would be “Catholic”. Yes, this is a simplistic way of explaining it but it is really very simple.

Only go into detail with those you know will TRY to understand. No need defend yourself right now. You have a lifetime for that.🙂
BTW, my husband was brought up Fundamentalist Baptist and we didn’t tell his mom for over a year (after we were confirmed). She now thinks we are misguided and going to Hell. Thank goodness we believe in purgatory now:D

Good luck, be strong, listen to your heart, and most of all WELCOME!!
 
I still tell people that I am a Christian and if they ask I say I go to “St. So & So Catholic Church.” I like to get the Christian thing out there because at least where I live, alot of people think Catholic = Not a Christian.

When I was 1/2 way through RCIA our Priest said, “You will all be happy to know that if you die at this point, you can have a Catholic Funeral.” We were all like, wow… great news… except we’d be dead which is not so great?!
 
Yeah, well…my mother, who was baptized Catholic but never catechized or confirmed thinks it’s wonderful. My father doesn’t care, really, I don’t think. My grandfather is a cradle Catholic so he’d be fine but I haven’t told him b/c my grandmother, a lifelong Baptist, would be quite shocked. I don’t think she’d think I was going to hell or anything, just surprised. My brothers, one Methodist and one non-practicing Baptist, would be surprised.

I have been thinking a great way to tell my grandfather would be to go w/ him to mass and take communion (after Easter of course)! I just worry he wouldn’t understand and would try to take the body out of my mouth!

Anyway, yeah, it’s a weird position to be in but it just increases the excitement and makes that wonderful day seem all the more special when it finally gets here.
 
Being Catholic is wonderful! When I was confirmed it was on my due date with my second child. I was huge and the Easter Vigil was longer then life it self at times but what a wonderful gift. My priest kept promising that if I had the baby before EV he would come to my home and give my First Communion. Now that would have been a fun memory. But my son didn’t show for another 7 days.
 
If you check the catechism on baptism of desire it specifically refers to catecumens who are considered part of the Church and thus are Catholic. It is totally reasonable that the same truth would apply to candidates such as yourself.
  1. Catechumens "are already joined to the Church, they are already of the household of Christ, and are quite frequently already living a life of faith, hope, and charity."48 "With love and solicitude mother Church already embraces (hugggg!*) them as her own."49
*my addition
 
Hmmm, now how does that gell with what everyone says about someone who joins not being truely part of the church until they take part in their first communion?
40.png
pnewton:
If you check the catechism on baptism of desire it specifically refers to catecumens who are considered part of the Church and thus are Catholic. It is totally reasonable that the same truth would apply to candidates such as yourself.
  1. Catechumens "are already joined to the Church, they are already of the household of Christ, and are quite frequently already living a life of faith, hope, and charity."48 "With love and solicitude mother Church already embraces (hugggg!*) them as her own."49
*my addition
Click to expand...
 
BrianC:

Take this midpoint as an advantage…I think S. Hahn said that during conversion he had the greatest time in his apostolate because he was able to explain the Catholic faith to so many people in a “discovery” type approach…once you’ve crossed the Tiber, you’re one of us…and you’ll know it when you’ve become one, it’s a little harder. So if you are so inclined, this is a great time to share your faith. “Becoming Catholic” is a great way to introduce yourself if it comes to opening up a discussion…who knows, you might help someone into the Splendor of Truth while you’re in RCIA.

God bless.

in XT.
 
40.png
Brian_C:
Hmmm, now how does that gell with what everyone says about someone who joins not being truely part of the church until they take part in their first communion?
Click to expand...
That is one ot the great things about being Catholic today. We have a sure norm of teaching in our catechism. It is even more dependable than forum posters! :bigyikes:
 
LOL, yeah, that’s the great thing about the Faith, when in doubt, Rome spells it out! LOL, that’s kinda catchy!

Well, it’s weird…I think if I worked in the town I live in, I’d have an easier time. But since I work out of a small rural town in my job w/ the Forest Service, I’m dealing with some pretty closed-minded people. I can think of one person, in particular who will make things fun. He’s a die-hard fundamental Baptist who keeps the Bible standing on the corner of his desk (which, you’d think the feds would frown upon, LOL) and has a “Real Men Love Jesus” bumper sticker on his giant truck. I admire his zeal but am afraid it will all turn to condescention when he learns I’ve become one of those Mary worshippers. In his case, I really want to make sure I am able to defend my beliefs as he is very sure of himself.
 
I had one of the same guys here. He was one of my sergeants and a staunch KJV only Baptist. He couldn’t believe I had abandoned my roots for the CC. My approach was to always treat him with patience and charity. He only had a few question and I usually knew how to answer thanks to places like CA and their books.

My favorite approach was from an article a few years back on using questions to dialouge with the more strident advisaries. I can not remember the name, but it might be in the This Rock archives by now.
 
Hey, my grandfather is probably rolling in his grave at the thought of me as a Catholic. He slammed the door in so many people’s faces (telling them they were going to Hell) when he was alive. Yeah, he thought we were “Mary worshipers”, too. He wouldn’t even watch Notre Dame football if they were playing us (and we are in a BIG football area - football is life, the rest is just details - know what I mean?)! I guess that’s why I was always apprehensive about telling my dad. Boy, I wish he or my stepmom would ask me about it now, instead of continuing to try to give me their Baptist devotionals and parenting mags… Maybe someday, God will give me the opportunity to evangelige to them! 😃
 
LOL, I don’t think mine will be that bad. Perhaps the sticking point for my brothers will be that Catholic in Louisiana has been traditionally correspondent w/ “Democrat.” LOL, thankfully Catholics seem to accept even us Republicans now!😃
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top