How does one fit into this community?

[TexanKnight]

Tk, didn’t you say if you didn’t like the CCC you’d find a church you did like? I think some took that to mean that if something the Church says displeased you, you’ll leave. I think that’s not what you meant.

no…I said if people can’t follow the CCC, find a church they CAN follow. Wither BE CATHOLIC, or Don’t. Do NOT be a “Cafeteria Catholic”.

Then, we ALL fit in…all following the CCC and the Holy Father

 

[floresco]

You’re so right. I’m trying not to cry because I just got told (again) that I wasn’t taught right. I’m just here seeking God and its hard when you’re not a top catechist and keep having questions people think are dumb. Sorry. I thought think TK isn’t being a relativist either, maybe he just misspoke.

I do not understand why it bothers you to be told that you weren’t taught right. I wasn’t taught right about a lot of things when I first joined the Church and I needed people to tell me so and to explain things properly. I’m glad they told me. Earlier in the thread Brother JR talked about having a community focus on teaching and learning. Fitting in to a community like that means people will correct one’s mistaken ideas.

When someone tells you that you were not taught right it does not mean that you are bad or dumb or do not fit in. It means they are trying to help you.

 

[littlenothing]

Sure, sometimes it may be. But I think it can be a dig. I may be too sensitive, true, but adding exclamation points and such feels like yelling or tsk tsk. And to miss a fine point of something or to question something doesn’t mean I had poor teachers…I didn’t. Just means I didn’t get it or want more info.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Brother,

I think that we must bring our faithful to the Magisterium selves. You fit in just fine and are a friend. Don’t know what else to say, other than, “pray for your persecuters; do good to those who hate you.”

 

[floresco]

Sure, sometimes it may be. But I think it can be a dig. I may be too sensitive, true, but adding exclamation points and such feels like yelling or tsk tsk. And to miss a fine point of something or to question something doesn’t mean I had poor teachers…I didn’t. Just means I didn’t get it or want more info.

I think of the ideal for an online Catholic community is one in which members practice the Spiritual Works of Mercy. For those who don’t know, these are:
Admonish the sinner
Instruct the ignorant
Counsel the doubtful
Comfort the sorrowful
Bear wrongs patiently
Forgive all injuries
Pray for the living and the dead

Correcting people who misunderstand Church teaching is a good thing (though obviously it can be done in a tactless way and that is not good) and belongs in a Catholic community. Being able to accept correction is part of what is needed to fit in.

 

[Marie5890]

Going back to Bro JR’s OP,

One thing I have come to understand from him over the years is just how broad and expansive Tradition is and is not limited to the Latin Rite alone, or even the past few centuries. Unfortunately many of us, myself included, do not, or have not, understood this.

Therefore, our vision is quite limited as to what being “Catholic” means. What the Universal Church is fully.

I have been enjoying learning about the Eastern Churches and all that they bring to the Universality of His Church.

The Church truly is very beautiful in all of Her Mystery and all of Her Traditions.!!

 

[AnneTeresa]

Brother,

If you don’t fit in then someone like me surely doesn’t. I returned to mass 4 years ago after leaving in the 80s. In my absence I found two different catholic churches had arisen. It was extremely confusing. Priests also seemed to be in one camp or the other. The diocese had a split too, with some priests and laypeople in line with the bishop and others not. It played out in our local media. I found catholic answers and slowly learned the faith, but not without much struggle because I couldn’t yet tell who the extremists on either side were.

I still don’t understand why we have to be so split. I like adoration and praying the rosary. I have no desire to attend Latin mass. I have to fight to concentrate at mass when people behind me are talking. Only about five people go to confession at my parish. But then I’ll see a family who sits near the front each week, each of them in deep prayer at the consecration and I know we are one. . I want to see people grow closer to Christ. Sometimes I wonder if most people at my parish understand the Eucharist. But I still love it there because I know Jesus is there. I have attended mass at one of the more old fashioned parishes and disliked it. It felt oppressive. I joined a choir and love it, but it concerns me that some have an apparent lack of spirituality… but then who am I to judge that based on externals? People clap after mass because they are grateful, not because they are disrespectful. I sometimes worry that people don’t know and understand the faith they grew up with and I hope to help with that somehow. So I guess I see the good and the bad.

I don’t fit in anywhere fully. But I am part of the body and in that sense I completely fit. I have been feeling lately the need to pray for unity In the Catholic church. I hate that it is so split with people thinking their way is the only right way. What matters is the Eucharist and the sacraments and the saints and Mary. I.e., the richness of the Catholic faith that we are so blessed to know. I wonder if the silent majority feel the same way.

 

[GraceSofia]

Sometimes, I feel like a fish out of water on this forum and several others too. /]
I realize that some people hate me. You should see my emails and the hate mail I get, because I just can’t bring myself to join in the complaining about the Church, be it local or global.
/]
I feel that I have to share this here, because I’m getting some PMs and emails from people who think that I’m indifferent, because I don’t complain. But I don’t complain because to complain on these forums is not going to solve anything. Unless Pope Francis or my bishop read these, its just not productive. Whereas, I find teaching very productive. When someone comes in with a mistaken idea or a question. That’s a good use of the time on the forum.
/]
Am I strange? Am I really as bad a person as a few people say I am? I’m curious. Please be gentle. I’m an old man. :yup:

Well, you are strange in that you are one of the few religious participating.

I think one of the things that happens, no-- I know one of the things that happens-- is that when people read one of your posts that they like or find helpful, inspiring or informative, most of the time we just mentally nod our heads and think, yeah, that’s good, but we don’t actually post in response. I wish the forum had a “like” button as on Face Book, because I bet you’d get many, many likes on your posts, but I know that I often don’t comment when all I have to say is that I liked a post or agree or to thank the person. I feel like it’s not really contributing to the conversation, but you know what? I think we would all do well to encourage each other more by doing just that.

Brother Jay, also, if the hate mail is really bad, you should report it to the moderators. Just forward it to one of them.

Another thing that is going on with the forums, I believe, is that many users are reading blogs and FB pages of bloggers which thrive on negativity. Unfortunately, extreme views and negativity churn up a lot of web traffic, which results in more income. Then readers bring that negativity and confusion here.

I very much appreciate your presence here.