I really am trying to Return to Catholicism BUT!

[Redsox]

Im in a dilema .After months of attending Protestant service I returned and went to confession .I felt so graet I could’nt help but smile and feel myself praising the lord.Then as I stepped out of the confessional an older woman snarled at me and said I took to long in the confession and I made her late for her appointmaent with her hairdresser .It was then I became angry and the following day returned to the Protestant Church ,where I felt the Holy Spirit .It’s the attitude of these old “coots” that profess to be Catholics but have no sympathy for fellow sinners please tell me me what to do. When I leave Sunday Service I feel great when I leave Mass I dont .The people at Mass can’t wait to get out of there me I’m not pleased with such un christian acts .Sorry but you must convince me otherwise …Did not Jesus say " By their fruits you shall know them"…Peace
“So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

 

[Annie_B]

Hi -
I do not have a solution, but I did have a similar experience when I tried to “come home”. I tried to attend Mass for the first time in about 13 or so years. I was asked to move THREE TIMES by some lady that was trying to arrange how everyone sat. I left - no Mass. I told the priest what happened and he said that she was wrong. Oh well - it happens way too often and nobody does anything to change it.

Annie B

 

[water]

By their fruits you shall know them"…Peace
“So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Welcome to CAF, Redsox.
I am sorry you had the bad expriences. I am sorry to know the lady missed her appointment; however, I wished she had not shown her emotion to you that way.

My questions for you, Redsox - Is your faith right now based soly on the faith and behavior of others? what made you decide to go to Confession? Is there something in Catholicsm that attracts you?

What do you believe about going to Mass? What really happens there?

 

[Redsox]

Hi -
I do not have a solution, but I did have a similar experience when I tried to “come home”. I tried to attend Mass for the first time in about 13 or so years. I was asked to move THREE TIMES by some lady that was trying to arrange how everyone sat. I left - no Mass. I told the priest what happened and he said that she was wrong. Oh well - it happens way too often and nobody does anything to change it.

Annie B

true and that is not good enough for me …I feel so much more at home with Protestant brethren and it saddens me that other Romans are not as congenial I wish they were but not so.Listen we are all sinners but the Lord and hHoly Spirit work in us and others It looks as though the Holy Spirit is working harder at some churches than others but I pray that many older Catholics stop their nonsense. It really hurt me and has deterred me once again in my return to the Church.

 

[Redsox]

Welcome to CAF, Redsox.
I am sorry you had the bad expriences. I am sorry to know the lady missed her appointment; however, I wished she had not shown her emotion to you that way.

My questions for you, Redsox - Is your faith right now based soly on the faith and behavior of others? what made you decide to go to Confession? Is there something in Catholicsm that attracts you?

What do you believe about going to Mass? What really happens there?

Maybe a little bit of both My faith is okay its the Mystical body I may have issues with …I returned to confession because i feel better in promoting the sacrament of reconciliation but I am still guilty in judgement i guess …thnx for the reply

 

[jmcrae]

Do you think that maybe the Devil is trying to keep you out of the Catholic church, and is using other people’s behaviour to do this?

I suspect the Devil, because this behaviour seems so outside of normal - both the woman who complained that you made a long Confession, and the woman who made someone change seats three times. (How disorganized would you have to be, even if there were some reason to give people special seating?)

 

[1ke]

Oh wahhhh… how did you ever survive the third grade if one person being rude to you causes you to go crying out the door never to return?

I mean really… you can find sinners everywhere.

When I attended a Baptist church in college and as a young adult (before I became a Catholic) they were very “sweet” and “welcoming” and seemd so “full of the Spirit”… until… you got to know them. Then you discovered that many of the women were there to catch a man, and they would leave tracks up your back from climbing over you (and a knife too) if you happened to catch the eye of a man they wanted as their own. I also found out that they were sleeping around, out dancing/partying, and all sorts of other things that are considered sins by the Baptist church. Yet, front and center in the first pew on Sunday.

Moral of the story-- yep, we are all sinners and only by the Grace of God can we be saved.

What **matters **is that the Catholic Church holds the fullness of Truth, the Sacraments, and the Keys given by Christ to Peter. The rest is just an attitude adjustment on **your **part.

 

[water]

Maybe a little bit of both My faith is okay its the Mystical body I may have issues with …I returned to confession because i feel better in promoting the sacrament of reconciliation but I am still guilty in judgement i guess …thnx for the reply

I am happy that you are promoting the Sacrament. Indeed, it is a wonderful Sacrament that Jesus gives us. I’ve just learned about this great gift in the last two years, and with God’s graces, I am gradually growing in my faith.

The more we go to confession, the more we know about our own self. When we come to know about ourselves better, we learn to be a better as well and to pray for those who do not see the benefit of the Sacrament – in your case, I would pray for the lady to be patient.

If you have other issues that hard to understand, I’d recommend you to talk to a priest, a spiritual director or even ask in the “apologetic” forum here.

 

[mercygate]

Do you think that maybe the Devil is trying to keep you out of the Catholic church, and is using other people’s behaviour to do this?

I suspect the Devil, because this behaviour seems so outside of normal - both the woman who complained that you made a long Confession, and the woman who made someone change seats three times. (How disorganized would you have to be, even if there were some reason to give people special seating?)

You beat me to it. The devil HATES it when people restore their connection with his Enemy’s Body. And he HATES confession with a blinding, raging passion.

P.S. I hope that lady confessed sniping at the OP about the hairdresser thing. Isn’t it amazing how accurately people expose themselves when they ‘confess’ other people’s “sins?”

 

[Redsox]

Do you think that maybe the Devil is trying to keep you out of the Catholic church, and is using other people’s behaviour to do this?

I suspect the Devil, because this behaviour seems so outside of normal - both the woman who complained that you made a long Confession, and the woman who made someone change seats three times. (How disorganized would you have to be, even if there were some reason to give people special seating?)

Could not have been the Devil.What would he be doing in a Church…So close to the Blessed sacrament? but I will consider it

 

[water]

Could not have been the Devil.What would he be doing in a Church…So close to the Blessed sacrament? but I will consider it

It happens – considering the disciples were closed to Jesus in person, yet they failed many times. A real example happened at my church - a man shot himself inside a Confessional room while the priest was not there.

 

[jmcrae]

Could not have been the Devil.What would he be doing in a Church…So close to the Blessed sacrament? but I will consider it

Actually, that’s his favourite seat. He gets his best work done in Church. The closer you get to God, the more the Devil will attack you. In fact, I have a friend who says, “if the Devil is not attacking you, be very worried about the condition of your soul.”

 

[Annie_B]

Oh wahhhh… how did you ever survive the third grade if one person being rude to you causes you to go crying out the door never to return?

I mean really… you can find sinners everywhere. .

So, are you saying “get over it”? If the rudeness of others is ours to get over, then the responsibility to behave kindly is taken away from the individual who was rude in the first place. It is the responsibility of Christians everywhere - of every denomination - to love others as Christ loved us! “Do unto others…” is not just a suggestion!

Annie

 

[Redsox]

Oh wahhhh… how did you ever survive the third grade if one person being rude to you causes you to go crying out the door never to return?

I mean really… you can find sinners everywhere.

When I attended a Baptist church in college and as a young adult (before I became a Catholic) they were very “sweet” and “welcoming” and seemd so “full of the Spirit”… until… you got to know them. Then you discovered that many of the women were there to catch a man, and they would leave tracks up your back from climbing over you (and a knife too) if you happened to catch the eye of a man they wanted as their own. I also found out that they were sleeping around, out dancing/partying, and all sorts of other things that are considered sins by the Baptist church. Yet, front and center in the first pew on Sunday.

Moral of the story-- yep, we are all sinners and only by the Grace of God can we be saved.

What **matters **is that the Catholic Church holds the fullness of Truth, the Sacraments, and the Keys given by Christ to Peter. The rest is just an attitude adjustment on **your **part.

Sounds Protestant to me …Is it Grace Alone or is it the RC Church saves you since the church can distribute grace or am i mislead about that

 

[Annie_B]

You beat me to it. The devil HATES it when people restore their connection with his Enemy’s Body. And he HATES confession with a blinding, raging passion.

P.S. I hope that lady confessed sniping at the OP about the hairdresser thing. Isn’t it amazing how accurately people expose themselves when they ‘confess’ other people’s “sins?”

Yes, isn’t it… I think we all (yes all) have been guilty of that. Reminds me of the sliver vs. log in the eye from the NT…

Annie

 

[Redsox]

Actually, that’s his favourite seat. He gets his best work done in Church. The closer you get to God, the more the Devil will attack you. In fact, I have a friend who says, “if the Devil is not attacking you, be very worried about the condition of your soul.”

Thank you

 

[Redsox]

I am happy that you are promoting the Sacrament. Indeed, it is a wonderful Sacrament that Jesus gives us. I’ve just learned about this great gift in the last two years, and with God’s graces, I am gradually growing in my faith.

The more we go to confession, the more we know about our own self. When we come to know about ourselves better, we learn to be a better as well and to pray for those who do not see the benefit of the Sacrament – in your case, I would pray for the lady to be patient.

If you have other issues that hard to understand, I’d recommend you to talk to a priest, a spiritual director or even ask in the “apologetic” forum here.

Thank you

 

[jmcrae]

So, are you saying “get over it”? If the rudeness of others is ours to get over, then the responsibility to behave kindly is taken away from the individual who was rude in the first place. It is the responsibility of Christians everywhere - of every denomination - to love others as Christ loved us! “Do unto others…” is not just a suggestion!

Annie

We can’t control other people’s behaviour. The only thing we can control is our own reaction to it.

One possible reaction would be to pray for this poor person who has to arrange special seating at Mass - I feel sure that she didn’t like to make you move three times - I know I sure wouldn’t.

And please pray for me, because we are having a Confirmation ceremony at my parish this coming Sunday, and I am going to be in charge of arranging the seating. I really hope that I won’t have to ask anybody to move, especially not three times. (And in fact, if they don’t move after the first ask, or if they just keep moving into other parts of the reserved section, I will just tell the Candidates to situate themselves around the person, and say “excuse me” very politely as they go in and out of the pew how ever many times they have to do that.)

 

[Annie_B]

We can’t control other people’s behaviour. The only thing we can control is our own reaction to it.

One possible reaction would be to pray for this poor person who has to arrange special seating at Mass - I feel sure that she didn’t like to make you move three times - I know I sure wouldn’t.

And please pray for me, because we are having a Confirmation ceremony at my parish this coming Sunday, and I am going to be in charge of arranging the seating. I really hope that I won’t have to ask anybody to move, especially not three times. (And in fact, if they don’t move after the first ask, or if they just keep moving into other parts of the reserved section, I will just tell the Candidates to situate themselves around the person, and say “excuse me” very politely as they go in and out of the pew how ever many times they have to do that.)

I did pray for her . However, it was a difficult day to begin with - Sept. 11 2 years ago. And the priest said that it was not her business to ask ANYONE to move in the first place, so I can only guess that she did enjoy at least trying to be in control of something, even if it was not her place to do so. The emotions that were already running high were hard to cope with in the first place. Coming from the LDS church, I was very used to a much more friendlier welcome than that. I will be pray ing for you, as requested:thumbsup:
Annie

 

[Nom_the_Wise]

true and that is not good enough for me …I feel so much more at home with Protestant brethren and it saddens me that other Romans are not as congenial I wish they were but not so.Listen we are all sinners but the Lord and hHoly Spirit work in us and others It looks as though the Holy Spirit is working harder at some churches than others but I pray that many older Catholics stop their nonsense. It really hurt me and has deterred me once again in my return to the Church.

I want to focus on what you said here:

It looks as though the Holy Spirit is working harder at some churches.

You bet. Maybe your problem is your parish. I assume you’re from Boston (redsox). You might want to look into the Charismatic Renewel in your area. Fully Catholic and yet probably more suited to your sensibility. Certain parishes get “reputations” as it were for being Charismatic. Find them.

Really, though, there has not been one house of God that I’ve been to that someone hasn’t rubbed me the wrong way. And some communities seem asleep, whereas others dance in the aisle. If you’re ever in Chicago, go to St. Sabina Parish. It’s a predominantly African American community on the south-side, but if you go there you definintely won’t have to guess if the Holy Spirit is there. They’re off the hook in that parish.

To give you a contrary example to your own experience, I once went to a prayer meeting in Milwaukee, a mixed deal with Catholics and Protestants, but all Charismatics. We stood in a circle at one point, people praying in tongues and praising out loud around us while my more-contemplative friend and I stood heads bowed, hands clasped in front of us, eyes closed and silent. Then, someone said “I feel that the Holy Spirit is telling me that some of us are not feeling the power of God enough” or some such thing. Eyes turned on me and my silent friend. Someone else piped in, with their eyes turned to the ceiling “Yes, I feel it too. There are some among us not praising with their whole heart.” Now these are paraphrases more than quotes, but you get the idea. The Holy Spirit can be like a blast furnace or candlelight. Don’t judge a community based soley on superficial appearences. Of course that old woman was out of line and a scandal to the very sacrament she was about to receive; one wonders whether she remembered to confess berating you. But so much of that is individual rather than communal.

Technically, we all have a **vocation **to serve at our home parish. If your church is not witnessing the love of Christ to the community, then it is *your *duty (technically) to go down there and give of yourself and work to make a change. But too many of us “vote with our feet” and if the church in the community where we live isn’t serving our needs, rather than complain at the rectory or call the bishop, we run off to the next parish.

Despite our “duty” I would not recommend this to all, least of all to you right now. You sound like you are at a sensitive spot, and need to be receiving from your community rather than leading a ministry. Seriously. Seek out the Catholic Charismatic community in your town. Did I help?