I need help with my faith

  • Thread starter Thread starter ElizabethD
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
E

ElizabethD

Guest
I am a 16 year old female who is interested in becoming Catholic. As a very young child, I attended a Pentecostal church, which was struck by lightning and burned down. My mother and I (my father doesn’t attend church) began searching for a new church, and eventually went to the Baptist church that my grandmother attends and my mother was raised in.

I was baptized into this church and really enjoyed it up until the time I joined the middle/high school Sunday School class. At this time were were also searching for a new pastor as our old one had retired, and there was a lot of gossiping and bad-mouthing other church members which I found incredibly disappointing coming from a group of Christians. The church also took a turn from traditional services and began incorporating ‘Christian Rock’, which I disliked. I was harassed about going on mission trips with my youth group, which I was not interested in. However, none of the other members of youth group could seem to accept this! I was embarrassed and began to despise church and was pushed away. I began to question my faith and didn’t attend church for many years.

Recently, I attended mass with my boyfriend and his family and greatly enjoyed it. I liked how traditional it was and I felt drawn to the Lord. I wasn’t raised with a strong set of beliefs and I felt very drawn to the Catholic church. However, my family would not take kindly to me converting to Catholicism, and as it says in the ten commandments, I must honor my parents, so if I decide to convert it’ll have to be when I’m an adult. My question is, how can I become closer to God in the Catholic faith without joining the church yet?
 
You can keep attending Mass with your boyfriend, right? that would be a good thing to do. Obviously, you just wouldn’t partake in communion. You can pray the rosary at your church or by yourself. Read the catechism of the Catholic Church, watch EWTN and Journey Home programs on the internet. Read the writings of the Early Church Fathers, and the lives of the Saints. That way when you do get confirmed you may already have a patron saint in mind.
 
It is not a violation of “Honoring your Father and Mother” to convert to Catholicism, God is your Father first. Dishonoring your Father and Mother would be detracting from their good name and speaking bad about them, among other things.
 
There are Catholics across the spectrum of belief and practice, probably like there was a spectrum of belief and practice at your former church.

No one should force you to become a Catholic, unless you are comfortable with that, intellectually and spiritually. There are lots of Christians of other churches who become Catholic. They do so out of very great conviction, having studied the Catholic faith very carefully.

If you have been baptized validly, then you are well on your way to becoming a Catholic. I can’t point you to it exactly, but I think there is a shorter version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I assume it covers a shorter version of the principles of Catholic belief.

Everybody is different, so, if you are into Bible reading, keep reading. It will be of enormous value as you approach membership in the Catholic Church. The Pope recently said that the Bible belongs to Catholics. so, stay close to the Lord, and you’re almost there (the rest is details).

We believe that the consecrated bread and wine become the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. This is the heart of our faith, and something you should focus on and long for this union with Christ, to guide your path to the Catholic Church. God bless.
 
ElizabethD said:
I am a 16 year old female who is interested in becoming Catholic. As a very young child, I attended a Pentecostal church, which was struck by lightning and burned down. My mother and I (my father doesn’t attend church) began searching for a new church, and eventually went to the Baptist church that my grandmother attends and my mother was raised in.

I was baptized into this church and really enjoyed it up until the time I joined the middle/high school Sunday School class. At this time were were also searching for a new pastor as our old one had retired, and there was a lot of gossiping and bad-mouthing other church members which I found incredibly disappointing coming from a group of Christians. The church also took a turn from traditional services and began incorporating ‘Christian Rock’, which I disliked. I was harassed about going on mission trips with my youth group, which I was not interested in. However, none of the other members of youth group could seem to accept this! I was embarrassed and began to despise church and was pushed away. I began to question my faith and didn’t attend church for many years.

Recently, I attended mass with my boyfriend and his family and greatly enjoyed it. I liked how traditional it was and I felt drawn to the Lord. I wasn’t raised with a strong set of beliefs and I felt very drawn to the Catholic church. However, my family would not take kindly to me converting to Catholicism, and as it says in the ten commandments, I must honor my parents, so if I decide to convert it’ll have to be when I’m an adult. My question is, how can I become closer to God in the Catholic faith without joining the church yet?
Click to expand...
You and your bf may look at this group, it is a catholic group…and consider joining the youth ministry, this way, you can be with guys and gals of you age…and deep in the catholic faith…

cfc–usa.com/v1.2/

CFC Youth for Christ (YFC) aims to provide a Christian support environment for young teenagers between 13 to 21 years of age.

The program is oriented towards meeting the needs of our young people to belong, to be motivated, to be useful, to be good examples, to be Christian witnesses. It has put a premium on four characteristics: it is Fun; it builds Friendships; it enhances the Faith; it allows the young Free, but responsible expression.

YFC’s future is directed towards giving the youth a worthwhile cause to support as we seek to address, in our small way, the plight of the poor and the less privileged and the social and environmental issues that trample on the youth’s human dignity: abortion, drugs, fraternity violence, sexual immorality, corruption and even the rape of our natural resources.

Entry point to the CFC Youth for Christ program is through a Youthcamp. Pastoral formation is being given to the youth after the camp through household meetings, assemblies, teachings and trainings, international conferences, youth forums and other interesting and dynamic activities dedicated to the wholistic development of the youth.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: cfcyouthforchrist.net
 
ElizabethD said:
I am a 16 year old female who is interested in becoming Catholic. As a very young child, I attended a Pentecostal church, which was struck by lightning and burned down. My mother and I (my father doesn’t attend church) began searching for a new church, and eventually went to the Baptist church that my grandmother attends and my mother was raised in.

I was baptized into this church and really enjoyed it up until the time I joined the middle/high school Sunday School class. At this time were were also searching for a new pastor as our old one had retired, and there was a lot of gossiping and bad-mouthing other church members which I found incredibly disappointing coming from a group of Christians. The church also took a turn from traditional services and began incorporating ‘Christian Rock’, which I disliked. I was harassed about going on mission trips with my youth group, which I was not interested in. However, none of the other members of youth group could seem to accept this! I was embarrassed and began to despise church and was pushed away. I began to question my faith and didn’t attend church for many years.

Recently, I attended mass with my boyfriend and his family and greatly enjoyed it. I liked how traditional it was and I felt drawn to the Lord. I wasn’t raised with a strong set of beliefs and I felt very drawn to the Catholic church. However, my family would not take kindly to me converting to Catholicism, and as it says in the ten commandments, I must honor my parents, so if I decide to convert it’ll have to be when I’m an adult. My question is, how can I become closer to God in the Catholic faith without joining the church yet?
Click to expand...
I’m happy that you have found comfort in church. You will also find that Jesus is found in all Christian churches.
He loves us all with an everlasting love.
As far as the east is from the west, so far as he removed our transgressions. Please see.
Ps.103:11-13
We are also told not to judge one another. See Mt.7:1-5
There are many folks that speak unkindly of other Denominations and they really know very little of what they teach.
The bottom line is, Jesus is there. God looks on the heart of everyone. 🙂 In every church.

God bless you,
bluelake
 
Matthew 10:34-39

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
 
ElizabethD said:
I am a 16 year old female who is interested in becoming Catholic. As a very young child, I attended a Pentecostal church, which was struck by lightning and burned down. My mother and I (my father doesn’t attend church) began searching for a new church, and eventually went to the Baptist church that my grandmother attends and my mother was raised in.

I was baptized into this church and really enjoyed it up until the time I joined the middle/high school Sunday School class. At this time were were also searching for a new pastor as our old one had retired, and there was a lot of gossiping and bad-mouthing other church members which I found incredibly disappointing coming from a group of Christians. The church also took a turn from traditional services and began incorporating ‘Christian Rock’, which I disliked. I was harassed about going on mission trips with my youth group, which I was not interested in. However, none of the other members of youth group could seem to accept this! I was embarrassed and began to despise church and was pushed away. I began to question my faith and didn’t attend church for many years.

Recently, I attended mass with my boyfriend and his family and greatly enjoyed it. I liked how traditional it was and I felt drawn to the Lord. I wasn’t raised with a strong set of beliefs and I felt very drawn to the Catholic church. However, my family would not take kindly to me converting to Catholicism, and as it says in the ten commandments, I must honor my parents, so if I decide to convert it’ll have to be when I’m an adult. My question is, how can I become closer to God in the Catholic faith without joining the church yet?
Click to expand...
Hi Elizabeth, the point you bring up about honoring your parents per a Commandment from God Himself is very important and may well be a way of working things out. Just be prudent in presenting what I’m about to offer on that matter to them.

If you can do so without causing friction, remind them that the first Protestants were raised Catholic. See where I’m going with this ?

Even if you decide not to bring this up to them, perhaps it will ease your conscience.

God Bless
 
InspiritCarol said:
Matthew 10:34-39

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Click to expand...
Excellent
 
ElizabethD said:
I a
Recently, I attended mass with my boyfriend and his family and greatly enjoyed it. I liked how traditional it was and I felt drawn to the Lord. I wasn’t raised with a strong set of beliefs and I felt very drawn to the Catholic church. However, my family would not take kindly to me converting to Catholicism, and as it says in the ten commandments, I must honor my parents, so if I decide to convert it’ll have to be when I’m an adult. My question is, how can I become closer to God in the Catholic faith without joining the church yet?
Click to expand...
Welcome home, no matter how long it takes to get through the door.
One thing to remember some of the reasons you left your former churches have nothing to to with their actual beliefs and teachings, but either something out of their control such as the fire, or the actions of human beings who belonged to the church. The primary thing to remember is that Jesus Christ founded the Church and she exists on earth as His Mystical Body, in union with the saints in heaven. Note that. The saints are in heaven, not on earth. Do not join the Catholic Church expecting to find saints because Jesus himself said he is founding a hospital for sinners. Our faith is in Jesus Christ, and in the Church because she is His, teaches his commands and follows them. That does not mean every member of the Church obeys all the time, so don’t expect it, but rejoice when you see it.

Do what you can until you are old enough, because you are right, as a minor you would have to get your parent’s permission to be confirmed and receive first communion. You can continue coming to Mass if your parents are okay with it, perhaps you and your friend might see if they have a youth group. They are probably happy to have you attending any church at this point. You can even ask your parents if you can take any classes offered for teens at this parish. If they say know you can always do what they would encourage you to do, read your bible. There are some with content especially to help teens understand the bible and how Church teaching is built on scripture. They will say Catholic Youth Bible or Catholic Student Bible on the cover. The words of scripture are the same of course but there are additional Q&A and study helps included especially for you. But read any bible you have, beginning with the Gospels. Your goal right now is to know Jesus better.

And you can pray for Jesus to open your heart to his will for you in your life, especially at Mass, because we Catholics believe he is truly, really present for us at that time, more than simply spiritually present. You can come to sites like this to learn about the Catholic faith. catholic.net has an on-line catechism (beliefs and teachings) course called Catholicism 101 under the Catechesis link. You can search topics and find out in simple Q&A format what the Church teaches on those topics. You can also search specific topics here on CA, in the forums, and on the home page.

You can also become comfortable with the idea that the saints in heaven are united with us in Christ’s Church. You can pray with your patron saint, the saint of your given name, to help you grow closer to Christ, and go online to catholic.org or americancatholic.com under “saints” to find out more about her as a person and how she loved Christ.
 
Crumpy said:
If you have been baptized validly, then you are well on your way to becoming a Catholic. I can’t point you to it exactly, but I think there is a shorter version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I assume it covers a shorter version of the principles of Catholic belief.
Click to expand...
Love_Divine said:
There’s different versions. The one released by JPII is like reading a university textbook.

If the OP is looking for the basics, the Baltimore Catechism is a good start.
boston-catholic-journal.com/baltimore_catechism.pdf
Click to expand...
Another option, probably perfect for you, ElizabethD, is the Youth Catechism (aka “YouCat”) that was just released by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in preparation for World Youth Day. I don’t know if there’s an online version yet, but you can get it from Amazon or any Catholic bookstore. Here’s the link to Amazon if you want to take a quick look at the description: amazon.com/Youcat-Cardinal-Christoph-Schonborn-editor/dp/1586175165/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305548900&sr=8-1
bluelake said:
I’m happy that you have found comfort in church. You will also find that Jesus is found in all Christian churches.
He loves us all with an everlasting love.
As far as the east is from the west, so far as he removed our transgressions. Please see.
Ps.103:11-13
We are also told not to judge one another. See Mt.7:1-5
There are many folks that speak unkindly of other Denominations and they really know very little of what they teach.
The bottom line is, Jesus is there. God looks on the heart of everyone. 🙂 In every church.

God bless you,
bluelake
Click to expand...
Everything bluelake said is true… but the one difference between the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches as compared to the rest of Christendom is this:
Crumpy said:
We believe that the consecrated bread and wine become the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. This is the heart of our faith, and something you should focus on and long for this union with Christ, to guide your path to the Catholic Church. God bless.
Click to expand...
Lutherans (being perhaps the closest to us in Eucharistic understanding) believe that Christ “hides” in the bread and wine during their liturgy and then vanishes afterward. We believe, as has always been believed from the days of the Apostles until now, that the bread and wine cease to be bread and wine at the moment of Consecration (when the bells ring at Mass) and instead truly, substantially become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and if any is not consumed, He remains with us so that we may adore Him. All other churches believe that He does not remain with us in the Eucharist (aka Communion, aka the Lord’s Supper), some believe He is not there at all, but He promised “I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.” There are many ways that He fulfills this prophecy, just as bluelake insinuated, but the source and summit of the Catholic Faith, and therefore of all Christian faith, resides in this most potent source of that fulfillment: the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Embrace Him in it. Adore Him in it. Long for union with Him in it. Do this, and you will be forever drawn into closer and closer relationship with the very Heart of God.

May all the Saints and angels watch over you and pray for you as you seek out God and His Truth.
 
Hi Elizabeth,

Firstly, it’s good that you have respect for your parents…it shows that you have respect for authority, and for the ten commandments, which is an important factor in Catholicism. As a former Protestant myself, I too had concerns about how to be close to God (or Jesus, rather) while attending Mass before I converted. I began to feel worried because I felt that I was moving farther away from Him the more I attended Mass, but I trusted in Him anyway, and after my conversion, I began to feel close to Him again, only it was different, since my relationship to Him was connected to the Holy Eucharist, and prayer. It’s been four years since my conversion, and I’m closer to Him than ever.

It helped me, before my conversion, to pray the Rosary. You can ask someone you know who is Catholic, such as your boyfriend’s family, about how to pray it. Keep praying, too, for guidance.

Incidently, I, too, had attended a non-Catholic church which played Christian rock music, and I wanted to find something more peaceful and reverent, so decided to go to my neighborhood Catholic church. I had also felt that something was missing, now I know that it was Jesus Himself in the Holy Eucharist.

God bless!
 
Hello Elizabeth-

You are not alone in your walk. Many people your age face the same questions.

As a 16 year old, you still must try to keep the peace in your house. If joining the Catholic Church at this time will be upsetting to your parents, wait. Not too long from now you will be on your own.

The Church will always be here for you. It appears they do not have a problem with you attending. Let your journey into the Church grow. Talk to your parents (mom) about your ideas/plans. I would think you father would not care since he does not currently attend a church. Him seeing how much the Church means to you may be cause for him to begin attending.

We are all praying for you.
 
Elizabeth, I converted at the age of 9. I was, and am to this day, the only Catholic in my immediate family. There was great opposition from my uncles to my choice (I gre up in a virulently anti-Catholic church, and my maternal grandfather was a Minister in that church).

To honor your parents does NOT require that you have to blindly follow them. You are more than old enough to make a decision about your faith. You just do not attack them for their choice, nor do you put them down for it. But, you do indeed have the right, and the obligation, to find you own way to God.

Just quietly begin to learn about the Catholic faith. Sign up for an RCIA class at your local parish. You make no commitment to become a Catholic by doing that, you are just learning about the church.

You have plenty of time to decide if this is the right choice for you. If it is, you will not need your parents consent to join. And keep in mind that the absolute best example you can give to them, and to others, is to be happy in your faith and to live as best you can within it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top