I really am trying to Return to Catholicism BUT!

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Redsox said:
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.”
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are you seriously asking people in an internet forum to persuade you to believe in the fullness of the Gospel taught in the Catholic Church?

Do yourself a favor and ask God to send His Spirit to give you the Truth and to help you discern your “feelings”.

As to where the Devil can be in relation to the Blessed Sacrament, I presume you speak of the Real Presence of Jesus. That being said, how close was Peter to Jesus when this happened?

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Mt 16:22-23
 
conquer your pride.
of course these things keep happening over and over again—why? because people are sinners and NO ONE SWALLOWS THEIR PRIDE AND SAYS SOMETHING TO THESE RUDE PEOPLE! No need to start an argument–in fact use the ‘rules of argument’(as espoused by many marriage counsellors) and frame the statement to yourself so they do not get defensive. Next time someone is rude simply say “well that is rude behavior and it hurts my feelings!” Then walk away. It is up to them to square it with you and God. If no one tells these people they are being rude when they are being rude they think it is acceptable! But it takes humility on your part to admit that someone’s rudeness hurt your feelings.
And as far as Catholics being ruder than Protestants—its a fairytale! In my experience I find many Catholic parishes to be cold and unfriendly but not outright rude, however my experience with Protestants (34 yrs) is that they are in your face and in your business rude–when they are rude. But neither Catholics or Protestants can be stereotyped across the board as ruder than any other groups of people. People are rude! Sometimes. Sometimes I am rude. It makes me feel bad and I try to apologize.
Now as far as thickening that skin of yours a tad—religion should not be based on emotions alone. To be CHRISTIAN is to suffer persecution from outside AND INSIDE! I agree with the other poster who said if you are not having problems then the Devil already has you!
I find the episode ironic. She obviously NEEDED confession more than you. I would have laughed at it if it had happened to me—but I do have a weird sense of humor. I would have laughed and asked her to please forgive me and blocked her way in until she did. Otherwise I might have to go back in myself and confess to uncharitable thoughts and allowing someone to stumble me into grieving Holy Spirit and stealing my Joy.
 
Hey 1KE: I like your stories re: Baptist women. I once went to a dry Baptist wedding. . . and when it came time for the bride-daddy dance, they had to go out into the parking lot to find the bride. She was out drinking with her friends! 🙂

I’m not criticizing. I don’t know how it started, but I always have a stiff martini at a reception as a kind of toast to the couple.

At any rate, don’t judge any church by just one or two members. That would be a mistake, don’t you think? I mean, people can have bad days. And there are individual jerks just about everywhere. And people who just are not cognizant of how to act decently. So it goes.

Say, why do you call Catholics “Romans”? I haven’t run across that moniker before.
 
Annie_B said:
Coming from the LDS church, I was very used to a much more friendlier welcome than that.
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As a Catholic, I am also used to a much friendlier welcome than that. I really think that the Devil must have possessed that woman, for the purpose of getting you out of the Church.
 
What is unique about the Catholic church is that our church accepts “everybody”…even if they don’t smell good or put money in the collection box. I go to daily mass at a church where a seriously disturbed bi-polar lady comes to mass quite often. She might insult parishioners or she might stand up during the “Who shall we pray for” time and scream out about how mean people are. Then, the next time she comes to mass she can be sweet and prayerful. Most of us at mass are “regulars” so her strange behavior just rolls off our backs. If a visitor sees how kind we are during her outbursts, the visitor will realize that she is merely mentally ill.
The little ol’ lady that you described may very easily be semi-demented or possible just plain ornry…for whatever her reason might be. She is one of the many who has not yet reached perfection. Life would be easy if everyone was kind. However, our church is a place for sinners who need to be polished with the roughness of others.
 
jmcrae said:
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.”
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You know, that is very true and the older I get the more it becomes evident.

To Redsox I would offer a bit of my own experience on my journey back to Church after years of separation for some of the reasons you stated as causing you problems. I know the difference and the Truth regardless of what an old lady does, or a errant Priest or the media or whatever. I acknowledge their offenses as I acknowledge my own and press on with that knowledge to make my immediate life and surrounding as best I can each day.

We will stand alone as an individual before God and will be asked about what we know as true and regardless of who made us do whatever in this life some Truth is hard to deny. The parable of the talents is applicable here. How many coins were you given? Everyone is given at least one. Do you bury it waiting for His return, or have you attempted to double it? Best of luck on your journey.
 
I’m an adult convert from a Protestant background and I sympathize with your feelings. I, too, had a distinct lack of welcome from Catholics after I entered the RCC. Some were even suspicious as to why I would want to join them. In contrast, the Protestant churches I previously attended made huge efforts to be friendly to visitors. It hurt not to feel wanted by parisioners when I was so excited to come closer to Christ in the Eucharist, especially since my prior experiences with Protestant churches had been one of warm welcome. Yet, God gave me the grace to realize that I didn’t become a Catholic to join a social club but because the fullness of the Truth was present in the RCC. If I were to join a church purely on the terms of the niceness of the followers, I’d be a Mormon today. That kinds of puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? So I’d encourage you to focus on the words of the Mass, particularly the consecration, and the freeing experience of reconciliation rather than dwelling on the relative unfriendliness of some parisioners. We can easily be led astray if we give undue emphasis on temporal feelings of welcomeness or belonging instead of looking for the eternal truth that is found in Christ and his Church.
 
Redsox said:
…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 …
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WOW, it sounds like she was not just ready to make contrite confession. I cannot imagine why she bothered to show up. It would be nice if she was just joking 🤷

Perhaps she had forgotten the value of “offering it up”. Then again, with millions truly suffering around the world, such a problem as hers pales by comparison.

It’s part of a syndrome all churches have to deal with to one degree or another. There are too many Christians just “going through the motions” and in need of a genuine conversion of heart.

Michael
 
I must say I agree with you. I am a very conservative Catholic and most Catholics don’t like me because I am conservative. But instead of making me run away, it makes my resolve to fight the good fight even stronger. I realize that God gave me a special “talent” he gave me a father and mother who have taught themselves and me and my siblings all about the faith. I realize that since God gave this knowledge to me, and the strength to stand up for my faith, I must use this. I just graduated from high school last June and I spent all 4 years of high school witnessing my faith. I tried my best to show non-Catholics, and cafeteria Catholics what the word Catholic really means. I am a Roman Catholic. I am not afraid to tell people that I am a Roman Catholic. I am not afraid to defend my faith no matter what the cost to myself. God gave me this courage and knowledge because he wanted me to use it, and by golly I am going to do my best.

I am sorry that those two women were not nice, but don’t let the devil keep you from the Truth. Someone said that the Devil can’t come into Church because it is too close to God, Well, the Devil talked with Christ in the desert, he had to be pretty close there, so he can be in a church too.
The Catholic Church is the place that he wants to be most of the time because the Catholic Church is the one true Church and if he can get people out of the CC then he can destroy their souls more easily. So he is trying his hardest in the Catholic Churches, and maybe that is why Catholics are less friendly, because we have to fight harder. I don’t know, but I know that the unfriendlyness of some people, though it may make me very sad and lonely, it will never drive me from Our Lord. I am his and I hope that I will be like St. John, I will not leave his side, even when he is crucified. I pray that I will continue with this fight, that I will not hide, that I will not give in to the tempter.
I also pray that you will find the strength and courage to join the fight for Our Lord, let us be his guardians against the powers of evil in the world. Come Home and join the uphill fight to heaven and your reward will be beyond your wildest imagination.

May Our Lady Guide you on your path home.
 
Just remember that many left Jesus because of the many things He said. but those who stay are now saints and are in Heaven enjoyng the presence of of Our Lord. also can you imagine if the Apostles had quit their mission because they were mistreated? remember of what Our Lord and the apostles endured for us. it was no small suffers.

Just one more thing would quit your job just because someone there is not nice to you?

"The catholic faith even when waterdown can boil the world into rags." Chesterton
 
Redsox said:
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 .
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That is just so funny :rotfl:

Give it a few days and I hope you’ll see the funny side too. Please don’t let it put you off going back; just see it as God giving you a great anecdote that can break the ice when talking about returning to the Catholic Church.

God bless you Redsox
 
Redsox said:
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.”
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The sum and substance of the Catholic Church is The Most Holy Eucharist, not the lady with the mussed up hair. And I personally think a long confession (one that you are even reprimanded for) is outstanding! The longer the confession, the more that’s dumped?!?

And I really agree with the poster who mentioned that the devil really really hates confession. He/she is spot on. Go straight to the altar and receive the Body of Our Lord and be joyful in it. (And the more Masses per week, the better!)

Here’s a wonderful quote from St. Pius the X:
Holy Communion is the shortest and the safest way to Heaven. There are others: Innocence, for instance, but that is for little children. Penance, but we are afraid of it. Generous endurance of the trials of life, but when they come we weep and ask to be spared. The surest, easiest, shortest way is by the Eucharist.
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Jeanette
 
Redsox,

Don’t let the seeming lack of friendliness or the snarls of an upset person having a bad day deter you from coming back to a fuller and deeper relationship with the Lord in the Eucharist. No price is too steep to pay for that. I don’t remember the exact quote or its source, but I recall hearing/reading that the one thing of which the angels could be jealous, if it were possible for them to be jealous, would be our intimate relationship with the Lord in the Eucharist.

And as for Confession/Reconciliation, it is truly wonderful. The only problem I have with it is that I keep hitting my head on the ceiling afterwards:D , as I just float along, filled with joy and an unburdened spirit.

I’ve just finished a book with which many people on this board are certainly familiar, “The Lamb’s Supper,” by Scott Hahn, himself a converted Presbyterian minister. I haven’t been bored at mass in a few years, but, after this book, I don’t think I can approach the mass with anything less than awe – whether or not the priest mumbles, the music is out-of-tune, or the others in the pews are sleeping. It’s nice that we as Catholics focus on the Presence of Jesus and not on the quality of the minister leading the service. The mass is truly a slice of heaven here on earth. If we really saw what is going on, we’d die from awe.

In any case, God bless you and may His Spirit lead you where He wants you to be. And, if you’ve got a minute, say a prayer for my Cubs. You’ve already won two WS Rings. I think it’s our turn.

Dan
 
Faithx6 said:
I’m an adult convert from a Protestant background and I sympathize with your feelings. I, too, had a distinct lack of welcome from Catholics after I entered the RCC…
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It’s a serious problem the church needs to address, but has to recognize first.

I noticed this years ago. The parishes tend to be very large and the worshiping tradition (at least in the urban USA) can be very anonymous. In my neighborhood one could go to the same Mass for years without sitting next to the same people twice.

In some of the old heavily ethnic neighborhoods or the small rural parishes that might not be the case.

But in the large suburban parishes…miss a Mass and no one calls to see if you are OK. The priest cannot remember most of the parishioners by name, and of course confession is usually anonymous. There is a rush to clear out the parking lot before the cars start pouring in for the next Mass. Due to circumstances like these a sense of community is lacking.

Someone new to the church could think they are being uniquely ignored, but no…everyone is equally ignored.

Eastern Catholic parishes are often much smaller and the sense of community can be very strong, with a social hour after the one liturgy. But then some people interpret as cliquish what is just longtime friends focusing upon each other (especially when they speak in their mother tongue).

In both of these settings, it is incumbant upon people to reach out to the new faces among them with a warm welcome. It is a social skill people need to work on, even Christian people, whom one would hope would know better.
 
The OP is making the fundamental attribution error. In layman’s terms this means “When I act like a jerk it’s because I’m having a hard day and I’m stressed out; when you act like a jerk it’s because you are a jerk.”

Paul
 
Annie_B said:
So, are you saying “get over it”?
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Yes, I am.
Annie_B said:
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.
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I disagree. Christ himself said turn the other cheek, and blessed are the peacemakers.

Some person that you don’t even know being rude should not even garner a second glance, let alone be the catalyst to prompt someone to leave the Church.

Fraternal correction might have been an option for the OP-- offering it up would have been an option too. Walking out on the Church isn’t an option.
Annie_B said:
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!
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Yes, certainly. But when one of our brothers fails us, we are to forgive 70x7… not use it as an excuse to dog the Church and leave in a huff.
 
Hesychios said:
It’s a serious problem the church needs to address, but has to recognize first.
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I disagree. I have never felt unwelcome in a Catholic Church. I have been to many, many different parishes because I traveled extensively with work. I also lived in a major city and attended dozens of parishes in that city. Now I live in a rural, small community. I’ve traveled all over the world, and have always been welcomed.
 
1ke said:
I disagree. I have never felt unwelcome in a Catholic Church. I have been to many, many different parishes because I traveled extensively with work. I also lived in a major city and attended dozens of parishes in that city. Now I live in a rural, small community. I’ve traveled all over the world, and have always been welcomed.
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I know this is a bit off topic, but does your small rural community have a Catholic church? Mine does not:( We have just over 200 people spread out in our town, but we do have a small baptist church - that is all…

Annie
 
Annie_B said:
I know this is a bit off topic, but does your small rural community have a Catholic church? Mine does not:( We have just over 200 people spread out in our town, but we do have a small baptist church - that is all…

Annie
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Yes, it does. We share our priest with two other parishes, though.
 
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