I am so confused

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blong2014

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So I have not started the process of becoming Catholic yet…but i have been praying the rosary and have been to mass. well on sunday i went to mass then to my parents church…while i like the mass i also liked the other church service…so then i thought well maybe catholic isnt for me…but now i still feel like it is so I dont know what to do…i think maybe thinking that i do not want to be catholic is a way for me to please my parents but they dont care what i am as long as i believe in god…
 
have you done the RCIA classes? I would start there, and pray about it. I converted from Presbyterian to Catholic in 2006.
 
You are always welcome at the Catholic mass even if your not sure which road you want to travel. I wasn’t sure either when I decided to become a Christian, but when I attended the Catholic mass I felt very comfortable there. There was nobody there that was trying to convert me! I didn’t always know what was going on, so I sat in the back and observed for awhile. I later bought a Sunday Missal which helped me to understand what was going on, and it made it easier to learn all the responses.
 
Talk with the priest at your local church to set up an appointment with him. Since Easter has come and gone so have the RCIA classes for that year. The next one until then varies but at my parish a new RCIA class around fall. You **do not ** need to wait that long! Again, talk with the local priest and ask him questions that you have about Catholicism, etc.

It was a smart idea also to look for help here. I know you’ll be in good company 🙂
 
CalCatholic said:
You are always welcome at the Catholic mass even if your not sure which road you want to travel. I wasn’t sure either when I decided to become a Christian, but when I attended the Catholic mass I felt very comfortable there. There was nobody there that was trying to convert me! I didn’t always know what was going on, so I sat in the back and observed for awhile. I later bought a Sunday Missal which helped me to understand what was going on, and it made it easier to learn all the responses.
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thats one of the reasons i like it…i am also learning the responses
StGeorgesSquire said:
Talk with the priest at your local church to set up an appointment with him. Since Easter has come and gone so have the RCIA classes for that year. The next one until then varies but at my parish a new RCIA class around fall. You **do not ** need to wait that long! Again, talk with the local priest and ask him questions that you have about Catholicism, etc.

It was a smart idea also to look for help here. I know you’ll be in good company 🙂
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this site has helped me so much, and thats a good idea thanks
 
Hi blong

Please keep in mind in your search that Love, and Faith…they really don’t have much to do with “feelings”.

Feelings can make you do some pretty HORRIBLE things in this existence…people have taken the lives of others beacuse of feelings.

Our society is soo tied up in feelings.

It’s the mind…the will …that’s what counts and that’s what proves who we really are.

When you are decided where to go to come closer to God…you’re talking about a love relationship and love and faith are alllllll about the act of the will and not feelings.

Don’t take entering the catholic church (or ANY church for that matter) lightly…you need to pray and research. You need to be searching for who has the truth. Feelings come, go, change and don’t help us grow. Attaching yourself to the truth is what will take you places…like heaven.

Christ once said " I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life".

You need to have a true sense of what you’re doing and what you’re getting into if you go through fully entering the catholic church! You’re going to be united by covenant in the church…and that’s something VERY serious you will be responsible for to God! It’s a true marriage.

I have a few practices for you while you’re thinking about what to do:
1…go to your room each day alone, close the door and talk audibly to God as you were speaking to a friend…be open with Him! Tell Him what you’re thinking, your fears, questions, wonderings, the good and the bad of your day etc etc
2…daily reading of the gospels…just a couple chapters a day…reading slowly and stopping and talking with God in between parts as you read
3…find a eucharistic adoration chapel. If you become a catholic…the eucharist (the consecrated bread and wine at mass that FULLY and TRULY becomes the body, blood soul and divinity of Christ whole and entire…this will be the source and summit of the faith in your life!..get to know Christ in this sacrament. These eucharistic adoration chapels expose the eucharist in view to the public and offer a quiet place for you to go and pray and spend time with Jesus.

These three practices will bring you closer to God! You’re searching for a relationship with him…and relationships take time…these practices will help you!

Continue to go to mass, and other things the parishes around you offer (retreats, bible study, prayer groups, stuff like helping at soup kitchens and other social works of mercy.

Lastly…I’ve got two good sites for you:
1 and AWSOME catholic bible study…it’s really a free online bible class that can go as deep as you want it: www.salvationhistory.com
  1. The catechism of the catholic church is the basic teachings of the faith of the church written down in a clear and precise way to help guide us and keep us informed READ IT! or…go to the areas you have questions or interest in:
usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-catholic-church/epub/index.cfm

God bless you in your search!

“Our hearts were made for you oh God…and they are restless until they rest in you”
 
I forgot to mention: again…get involved all you want and can! It’s great and we welcome you with open arms…just make sure you do not recieve the eucharist just yet! Go up in line at communion time where the priest is and cross your arms over yourself like you’re giving yourself a big hug and bow your head and the priest will instead bless you.

You can not take communion until you’re in FULL communion with Christs body the church.
 
Please do not be confused. You have taken the right step by making inquiry at the right place.
  1. Kindly visit: catholic.com/documents/how-to-become-a-catholic
    You will be enlightened and told the steps to take.
  2. In addition to all the advice that you have been given above, in the silence of your heart, talk to God of your desire. Ask Him to lead you, guide you and give you the wisdom and strengthen you need to make the right decision.Tell Him you have faith in Him and that you completely depend on Him.
  3. Be bold, go to any Catholic Church of your choice and discuss with the Parish Priest.
  4. Go to EWTN library and read books on Holy Mass.
  5. Buy a Simple prayer book and the Sunday Missal and study them to be appropriately educated.
  6. Continue attending Holy Mass as often as you can. Have an intention for the Mass
  7. Do not be afraid. If you listened to EWTN programme ‘Journey Home’, thousands of persons had done the journey you are about to undertake. Be strong.
 
If you have not already and would like to read some good books about Catholicism, you might be able to find one or more of these books at your local public library:
  • Catholicism For Dummies by Fr. John Trigilio. and Fr. Kenneth Brighenti
  • Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith by Fr. Robert Barron
  • Why Do Catholics Do That? by Kevin Orlin Johnson
  • Life in Christ: A Catholic Catechism for Adults by Killgallon & Weber
  • Catholic Christianity: A Complete Catechism of Catholic Church Beliefs Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church by Peter Kreeft
  • Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church or Catechism of the Catholic Church
 
Along with all the great advice i suggest reading a book on the mass. By learning why we do what we do in every mass will help you in this journey. For me, it took a few times of going before it really hit me…this is where i belong 🙂 i went to two other churches on a regular basis and did enjoy the service but it still felt like something was missing. It was like i felt good on Sunday during service but come monday it was back to normal. Mass sticks with me all week long! Learning what is happening at every mass is really helpful 🙂
 
blong2014 said:
So I have not started the process of becoming Catholic yet…but i have been praying the rosary and have been to mass. well on sunday i went to mass then to my parents church…while i like the mass i also liked the other church service…so then i thought well maybe catholic isnt for me…but now i still feel like it is so I dont know what to do…i think maybe thinking that i do not want to be catholic is a way for me to please my parents but they dont care what i am as long as i believe in god…
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Remember one important difference between the Catholic Mass and the services at your parents church. At Mass, Jesus is present, spiritually and physically in the Bread and Wine, aka the Holy Eucharist. Not so at your parents service.

When you become Catholic, you will receive Jesus’ body and blood.

It’s really the key point which separates Catholics from other denominations, which do not have apostolic succession.

Jim
 
The Catholic church is not just a gathering place for people to pray together.

It is the house of the Lord where worshipping God in the best possible way is performed by offering to the Father his Son Jesus. We worship God thru his only beloved Son which is the best possible way to please the Father immensely.

A thought to ponder over.
 
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