Husband Unsure Of Converting

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DiscerningTheTruth

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My husband and I have recently begun actively trying to discern whether the Catholic Church is where God is calling us. We both have come to a place of agreement with the major theological issues (such as transubstantiation, Immaculate Conception/perpetual virginity, etc.) We have attended Mass for the last few weeks at a few different parishes. My husband, while agreeing with the theology of the Church, has stated that he doesn’t think we can convert because he feels that there is a lack of teaching during Mass that he thinks would be contrary to growing spiritually. Any recommendations on resources to point out to him or just suggestions?
 
WELCOME HOME!!!

Does your parish offer a subscription to “Formed.org”? If not, it is about the same as other VOD/Streaming services and worth every penny.

The difference between the Mass and the Sunday/Wednesday services we knew in our prior denominations is that the Mass is all about Worship. Sometimes you will find gifted homilists, some priests/deacons are not great at the homily.

The sort of deep dive study that many found in Sunday/Wednesday services before I was Catholic, a 30 - 90 minute intensive Bible Study, will take place outside of Mass.

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DiscerningTheTruth said:
he doesn’t think we can convert because he feels that there is a lack of teaching during Mass that he thinks would be contrary to growing spiritually.
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Perhaps talking with your local Catholic pastor would help. Because that’s not the primary purpose of the mass.

Teaching still happens, just in other contexts.
 
Is the issue for him about the quality of the homilies? Or is it that the homily is short, and isn’t the focus of the Mass?
 
Your husband needs to understand that Mass is not a teaching session. It is worship.

If your husband wants additional catechesis, he would need to seek out some kind of a study group, spirituality group, etc. Such groups do exist. Mass is not the place.
He could also read books on his own or watch Formed videos, etc .

I agree that he should speak with a priest in order to better understand this issue.
 
The mass is not primarily about teaching the faith. It is all about growing spiritually, the immense Grace’s received are the primary means.
 
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It certainly is a change in focus - instead of the sermon or teaching being the focus, the worship and Eucharist is the focus. I have found that Bible studies and my own person learning, via books, radio, tv, is what “feeds” me, or at least adds to my learning and understanding. I experienced a whole new understanding of Mass after reading Scott Hahns’ The Supper of the Lamb: The Mass as Heaven on Earth.
 
I think it is a bit of both. We have tried three parishes in our area and haven’t found one where the homily is high quality.
 
At one time I was lucky enough to have a pastor who gave outstanding homilies. He was a very well educated Jesuit, and pastorally minded. That’s not easy to find. In fact, I didn’t seek out a parish with such a pastor, but that’s just where God put me.
 
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The Catechism of The Catholic Church would be a good start.
It sums up, in book form, the beliefs of the Catholic faithful.
 
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