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Abira
Guest
it’s not really cult dependence so much as the thought of being lonely - and that I will ultimately have to choose to be this way when I didn’t even ask to make a decision like that.
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Abira
Guest
hi Gregory, thanks for your mail before… you’re about the third person to recommend this book to me… I’ve been reading through Mary: an evangelical catholic debate which is also good (it’s by two priests…one an ex-anglican who is now Catholic…and the other is an evangelical who used to be Catholic…so they understand both sides of the debate) but I may have to get this book cos everyone seems to tell me about it.Hi Abira,
In many respects I’m in the same position as you. I’m a Protestant, in many respects longing to join the Church, struggling with Marian doctrines. Have you read ‘Hail Holy Queen’ by Scott Hahn. I’m reading it right now and it is poweful. It’s certainly helping me to understand the Marian dogmas and is also very readable.
S
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Ani_Ibi
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You are not alone in this. Certainly not alone in being called to the celibate life. And it is not just SSA people who are called to be celibate.
However, as I said, it is best to speak to someone person to person. Look up on the internet and see if there is a Pastoral Care office in your local Catholic diocese.
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Ani_Ibi
Guest
[SIGN]Scott Hahn rocks![/SIGN]
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Abira
Guest
er…ok i gotta get that scott hahn book lol
What’s a pastoral care officer?
What’s a pastoral care officer?
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Philthy
Guest
It’s over! There’s no turning back…
S:
What did McCartney say? When you find yourself in times of trouble, Mother Mary will come to you speaking words of wisdom…let it be.
S:
Everything is pointing in the same direction, but that doesnt mean it will be easy for you. I will pray for you. God will provide you the strength during this trial (1Corinthians 10:13).I feel dishonest staying where I am and yet not ready in myself to move on. Today in church I felt frustrated. The Anglican church I attend had, until recently, a curate that did not believe in the Bible! I’m finding more and more at fault with where I’m at and I don’t want to stagnate…
sorry I keep rambling
Take care,
S
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Ani_Ibi
Guest
Oh gosh, we’re just trying to figure that one out on another thread. Basically it is a person who is to a person’s soul what a doctor is to a person’s body. Contemporary psychology is combined with theology. The person is usually a specialized priest.
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Abira
Guest
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Abira
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Hi Philthy
S
I’m just kinda glad that the direction feels clear to me… I can’t imagine being unsure of that too… the possibilities must seem endless! There is only one direction I can honestly move in irregardless of where I’ll be in a few years time.It’s over! There’s no turning back…
that’s the scary part!
Everything is pointing in the same direction, but that doesnt mean it will be easy for you. I will pray for you. God will provide you the strength during this trial (1Corinthians 10:13).
S
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UK_Convert
Guest
Abira,
I felt all the things you mentioned and more. I managed to finally understand and accept the Mary teachings after also reading “Hail Holy Queen”. In fact, my biggest stumbling block was purgatory. We begin RCIA in September and I too am in Yorkshire.
I felt all the things you mentioned and more. I managed to finally understand and accept the Mary teachings after also reading “Hail Holy Queen”. In fact, my biggest stumbling block was purgatory. We begin RCIA in September and I too am in Yorkshire.
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NPS
Guest
To be straightforward—It sounds like it’s time for RCIA to me. You seem pretty confident in your search and your own ability to discern the truth. Many people have a few nagging questions about this or that. Completely normal. I think you’ll find that what you likely feel about all the Mary stuff is true—That the official Church teaching and positions on Mary are sensible and logical, but a small minority of the lay faithful take it too far. There are one billion of us, after all. Many converts who have worried about the Mary stuff end up loving the honorable way the Church treats the mother of Christ. It really is beautiful once you understand the official teaching of the Church. (I, too, strongly recommend the Hahn book—or ANY Scott Hahn book for that matter
)
I think you are blessed because most RCIA programs begin in the fall (though some are year-round) which means one may be starting soon in you area. Perhaps the Holy Spirit is trying to tell you something by putting this nagging question in your head at this time. Just remember–RCIA is NOT a commitment, it’s an exploration. You can always defer your decision until later even if you are in the class.
Another thing, though—To be frank, sometimes the RCIA classes run by some parishes are not that well done. If you end up going and it’s not to your liking, don’t hesitate to look for a better one.
I’ve also known people who studied more on their own but stuck with their disappointing class—to go through the official Rites.
Don’t get me wrong–there are many great RCIA programs—I just don’t want you to be disappointed if yours is just “okay”.
It may not be the right time for you, but I know people who were in your position who ended up saying “What the heck was I waiting for?!?” after finally joining the Church.
Above all, don’t be pressured either way by friends, family, or Catholics on message boards. This is between you and God.
)I think you are blessed because most RCIA programs begin in the fall (though some are year-round) which means one may be starting soon in you area. Perhaps the Holy Spirit is trying to tell you something by putting this nagging question in your head at this time. Just remember–RCIA is NOT a commitment, it’s an exploration. You can always defer your decision until later even if you are in the class.
Another thing, though—To be frank, sometimes the RCIA classes run by some parishes are not that well done. If you end up going and it’s not to your liking, don’t hesitate to look for a better one.
I’ve also known people who studied more on their own but stuck with their disappointing class—to go through the official Rites.
Don’t get me wrong–there are many great RCIA programs—I just don’t want you to be disappointed if yours is just “okay”.
It may not be the right time for you, but I know people who were in your position who ended up saying “What the heck was I waiting for?!?” after finally joining the Church.
Above all, don’t be pressured either way by friends, family, or Catholics on message boards. This is between you and God.
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Abira
Guest
Yorkshire is the place to be it seems!
that’s strange because purgatory makes complete sense to me and I never struggled with it once…it’s strange what parts people find harder.
Take care, S
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Abira
Guest
hi NPS,To be straightforward—It sounds like it’s time for RCIA to me. You seem pretty confident in your search and your own ability to discern the truth. Many people have a few nagging questions about this or that. Completely normal. I think you’ll find that what you likely feel about all the Mary stuff is true—That the official Church teaching and positions on Mary are sensible and logical, but a small minority of the lay faithful take it too far. There are one billion of us, after all. Many converts who have worried about the Mary stuff end up loving the honorable way the Church treats the mother of Christ. It really is beautiful once you understand the official teaching of the Church. (I, too, strongly recommend the Hahn book—or ANY Scott Hahn book for that matter
I think you are blessed because most RCIA programs begin in the fall (though some are year-round) which means one may be starting soon in you area. Perhaps the Holy Spirit is trying to tell you something by putting this nagging question in your head at this time. Just remember–RCIA is NOT a commitment, it’s an exploration. You can always defer your decision until later even if you are in the class.
Another thing, though—To be frank, sometimes the RCIA classes run by some parishes are not that well done. If you end up going and it’s not to your liking, don’t hesitate to look for a better one.
I’ve also known people who studied more on their own but stuck with their disappointing class—to go through the official Rites.
Don’t get me wrong–there are many great RCIA programs—I just don’t want you to be disappointed if yours is just “okay”.
It may not be the right time for you, but I know people who were in your position who ended up saying “What the heck was I waiting for?!?” after finally joining the Church.
Above all, don’t be pressured either way by friends, family, or Catholics on message boards. This is between you and God.
luckily I very rarely feel pressured by any external forces… and I’ve been behind Church of England scenes long enough to have seen some great groups and some mediocre ones too lol…
I think it’ll be nice to meet other people in the same boat but I prefer to do most of my study alone regardless…
I secretly think this board is the scott hahn appreciation society now
Take care, S
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Ani_Ibi
Guest
No, I swear not. Hardly anybody has heard of him. Have you read him yet? Oh, man – fasten your seat belt.I secretly think this board is the scott hahn appreciation society now
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