I'm Heartbroken

[soflochristmas]

I was unable to spend Easter with my family. Most of them are fallen-away Catholics/Christians. They profess a faith but have succumbed to that prevalent “society” belief that they can be their own church and “faith alone” (with living a good life) is all that is expected of them by God. Don’t get me started.

As if this isn’t sad enough, my sister is the ONLY person in my family that has maintained a solid practice of her Catholic faith; probably because she’s the only one with a family (two girls). She’s at a very heterodox parish in Tampa but she at least attends Mass fairly regularly and my nieces are receiving the sacraments. In fact, she reached out to me to be my younger nieces sponsor for her confirmation in May.

OK, so why am I heartbroken? My sister visited my mother, who is retired on St. Augustine beach, for Easter weekend. When I spoke with them on Sunday, my sister mentioned that she attended a “sunrise service on the beach”. I was stunned because I was certain the Catholic Church on St. Anastasia island does NOT have such a service. She must have picked up on my “pause” and silence and she offered, “it wasn’t a Catholic service…but…”.

My heart sank. My sister (and by example to her kids) substituted the worship of the earth/environment for the real presence of Jesus on the Eucharist in the authentic Christian worship of the Mass.

Given the nature of her parish and the weakness of her catechesis, maybe this shouldn’t have surprised me or effected me as it did. But I’m heartbroken and distraught over it.

I need your prayers and advice.

 

[Marie5890]

Love them. Pray for them. Keep living your living example.
Keep a Christ-like attitude.

 

[Miserys_Fence]

My sister (and by example to her kids) substituted the worship of the earth/environment for the real presence of Jesus on the Eucharist in the authentic Christian worship of the Mass.

I think this is a rather unfair statement. Just because a religious service is held on the beach doesn’t mean anyone is “worshipping the Earth” or that the ceremony is non-Christian. When you attend Mass inside your church, are you worshipping the building?

WE are the church, not the buildings we sit in to worship. “Whenever two or more are gathered in My name…”

Miz

 

[estesbob]

I think this is a rather unfair statement. Just because a religious service is held on the beach doesn’t mean anyone is “worshipping the Earth” or that the ceremony is non-Christian. When you attend Mass inside your church, are you worshipping the building?

WE are the church, not the buildings we sit in to worship. “Whenever two or more are gathered in My name…”

Miz

From a Catholic perspective this could not be more inappropriate. When we attend Mass in our Church we are atending in a edifcie that was consecrated to the Lord and in which the Lord is physically present. I live in a mountain town and my Pasotr is often approached by people who want to get married in a meadow in the mountains. His reply is "why would you want to get married in front of the Mountains when you can get married in front of he who made them?

On another note why would one have a Easter service on a beach? What connectiojn does the Ressurection of Christ at have to do with a beach in Florda? Were they there to glorify the Lord or just there to be in a really “neat” place

 

[dashso40]

Where I live, there was a service on the beach by a Christian church around here, and the paper said they went there to worship Jesus. Now, I don’t understand why the beach is a place for finding Jesus, but that’s where they like to go. But they are worshipping Jesus, not the earth… At least your sister believes in Jesus, my mother and brother hardly believe in anyone. Keep praying for your family and lead by example

 

[karennascargo3]

Just remember though, at least she is worshiping with a Christian faith to the same Christ and Lord we did Easter. God is everywhere; even on that beach and it’s the heart that matters. It just seems she is just conflicted about the Catholic faith.

Also remember that you get to a point where there are no more words. More words will turn a person away, rather than bring them back. It now has to come from God; thankfully, you still play a major part in that calling and stirring in their hearts.

You see, you have to have faith and keep praying for your family. It is often that broken heartedness that causes us to increase those prayers that so much needed for them. God will honor the urgency and passion you express and feel for them.

Call on the saints and angels involvement. It often takes an army to change the heart and bring them back to The Church. There is much you can do in that respect.

Faithfully pray novenas to St. Dominic, St. Monica and daily praying of the Rosary for your family. Pray to St. Michael that he protect them so they not perish before returning to The Church. Finally, request others to join your sorrow and pray for your family.

 

[soflochristmas]

I think this is a rather unfair statement. Just because a religious service is held on the beach doesn’t mean anyone is “worshipping the Earth” or that the ceremony is non-Christian. When you attend Mass inside your church, are you worshipping the building?

WE are the church, not the buildings we sit in to worship. “Whenever two or more are gathered in My name…”

Miz

Maybe I didn’t express myself very well. Sorry. Allow me to try again.

If my sister had a choice between receiving Christ in the Eucharist on the most holy day of the Christian calendar, or attending a “sunrise service on the beach”, why would she choose one over the other? What is it about the “sunrise service on the beach” that would make her choose it over Christ in the Eucharist?

 

[soflochristmas]

From a Catholic perspective this could not be more inappropriate. When we attend Mass in our Church we are atending in a edifcie that was consecrated to the Lord and in which the Lord is physically present. I live in a mountain town and my Pasotr is often approached by people who want to get married in a meadow in the mountains. His reply is "why would you want to get married in front of the Mountains when you can get married in front of he who made them?

On another note why would one have a Easter service on a beach? What connectiojn does the Ressurection of Christ at have to do with a beach in Florda? Were they there to glorify the Lord or just there to be in a really “neat” place

Well, other than it’s as far east as you can get (i.e., the first place the sun rises).

 

[soflochristmas]

Where I live, there was a service on the beach by a Christian church around here, and the paper said they went there to worship Jesus. Now, I don’t understand why the beach is a place for finding Jesus, but that’s where they like to go. But they are worshipping Jesus, not the earth… At least your sister believes in Jesus, my mother and brother hardly believe in anyone. Keep praying for your family and lead by example

But I keep asking myself if my sister believes in Jesus, wouldn’t she believe in His Word? Wouldn’t she believe in His presence in the Eucharist? Then how could she pass that simply because having “service” on the beach is more symbolic of Easter than let’s say the historic nature of Christian worship found in the Mass?

 

[JerrySeibert]

Pray for them … all of them.

 

[Khrystyne]

From a Catholic perspective this could not be more inappropriate. When we attend Mass in our Church we are atending in a edifcie that was consecrated to the Lord and in which the Lord is physically present. I live in a mountain town and my Pasotr is often approached by people who want to get married in a meadow in the mountains. His reply is "why would you want to get married in front of the Mountains when you can get married in front of he who made them?

On another note why would one have a Easter service on a beach? What connectiojn does the Ressurection of Christ at have to do with a beach in Florda? Were they there to glorify the Lord or just there to be in a really “neat” place

Christ IS present in the Eucharist, HE is the Eucharist. Why in the world would you want to hang out at the beach and miss consuming Christ?.. Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity!
Yes, God is in your heart (hopefully) and everywhere, BUT His living presence is in the Eucharist. I would say that most people Catholic and Non need to understand, whether you believe it or not Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist. I’ll pass on the waves thank you, especially for Easter. Yikes!

God Bless and Keep Praying

 

[Bluegoat]

Maybe I didn’t express myself very well. Sorry. Allow me to try again.

If my sister had a choice between receiving Christ in the Eucharist on the most holy day of the Christian calendar, or attending a “sunrise service on the beach”, why would she choose one over the other? What is it about the “sunrise service on the beach” that would make her choose it over Christ in the Eucharist?

Almost always there is a kind of logic to what people do. Even if it is just “it seemed like the right thing at the time”.

You haven’t said much else about this service or the group that held it so it is difficult to comment on it specifically.

As for your sister, there are a number of possibilities. It may be that her ideas about the Eucharist do not exactly match Catholic teaching - either she doesn’t believe in the Real Presence at all, or she believes it is present in other places than just the CC. It could be that someone invited her and she felt it was, for any number of reasons, important to accept. It may be that she is not feeling spiritually fed by Catholicism, or perhaps there is a particular issue in her own church which is causing her trouble.

You could always ask, but if you do, you need to really listen to her answer.

 

[corsair]

I agree with Estesbob. However, don’t give up on your sister. My wife and I raised 7 children and have only 1 who is a practicing Catholic and one other who is trying to get his life turned around and return. All of them are grown and have children of their own. Of my 16 grandchildren only 6 of them are Catholic. Never give up on them. Remember St. Monica and her son. That should give you some hope.

 

[japhy]

Well, other than it’s as far east as you can get (i.e., the first place the sun rises).

Look at that! People want to worship “in the east”! It’s funny, but Catholics have been doing that for 2000 years. It’s called worship ad orientem, facing the east. (Traditionally, the altar is at the eastern end of the church; this is still the standard, although it’s not as common in the Latin Church as it is in the Eastern Churches.) As Pope Benedict pointed out in a book he wrote back in the 80s, once upon a time church architecture was such that the light from the rising/risen sun would shine in through the eastern side of the church building during Mass in the morning. This allowed even the architecture and the sun to join in the worship of God. He called it a “cosmic liturgy”.

How sad that we don’t have that anymore in our Roman parishes and people have to walk out to the beach to try and satisfy that latent desire!

 

[Hesychios]

Look at that! People want to worship “in the east”! It’s funny, but Catholics have been doing that for 2000 years. It’s called worship ad orientem, facing the east.

But actually not, at least not in Chicago.

I once did an informal survey for myself (when I considered myself a traditionalist) and found that most Catholic parish churches in my area were aligned in almost any direction except east. In fact, I found a north-south axis to be the most common, even when there was plenty of real estate available. When the buildings were on an east-west axis the altar was as often on the west end as not.

The whole ad orientem concept died long before Vatican Council II at least in Chicagoland.

(Traditionally, the altar is at the eastern end of the church; this is still the standard, although it’s not as common in the Latin Church as it is in the Eastern Churches.) As Pope Benedict pointed out in a book he wrote back in the 80s, once upon a time church architecture was such that the light from the rising/risen sun would shine in through the eastern side of the church building during Mass in the morning. This allowed even the architecture and the sun to join in the worship of God. He called it a “cosmic liturgy”.

Also most graves were aligned in an east-west axis, because at the resurrection one would rise from the tomb facing the returning triumphant Christ.

It seems quaint, but I admire how seriously these things were considered.

You are correct in pointing out that eastern churches seem to be more commonly oriented. Still, the many exceptions are disturbing.

How sad that we don’t have that anymore in our Roman parishes and people have to walk out to the beach to try and satisfy that latent desire!

It is sad.

 

[Spirithound]

Love them. Pray for them. Keep living your living example.
Keep a Christ-like attitude.

And be a good and faithful sponsor for your neice.

 

[joandarc2008]

My Parish has a sunrise beach service with the Eucharist. A tabernacle is taken out and given all of it’s proper respect - the same with our Emmaus Retreat which is held every year on its own island. So, I believe it is possible to have both the beauty of the world that God gave us and the rising of the sun to go with the message “The Son has Risen.” It does not mean I do not attend Easter Vigil as I enjoy seeing new members brought into the Church but I also believe this is is also a valid choice. I would say that maybe you could find a service like this for your sister in your mother’s area for the next year so that your mother could meet her half way. BTW- as your niece’s sponsor it is up to you to make sure she is properly cathechized without overly criticizing her mother - and that will probably be your next challenge.

 

[dashso40]

But I keep asking myself if my sister believes in Jesus, wouldn’t she believe in His Word? Wouldn’t she believe in His presence in the Eucharist? Then how could she pass that simply because having “service” on the beach is more symbolic of Easter than let’s say the historic nature of Christian worship found in the Mass?

I don’t understand people going to the beach to celebrate Easter. I guess her faith in Catholic Church is not strong enough, it is sad , but if she still has faith in Jesus, maybe she’ll come back

 

[zab]

Love them. Pray for them. Keep living your living example.
Keep a Christ-like attitude.

And be a good and faithful sponsor for your neice.

I agree with the above posts. You are not alone. It is heartbreaking for those of us who have loved ones who have left the faith. I believe it is my duty or mission to pray for and offer my daily sacrifices for the healing, conversion and salvation of the souls of my children and all my loved ones. I take to heart Jesus’ instruction to the women of Jerusalem who weeped for Jesus during his passion, “Weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and your children.”

 

[lynnareyno]

Dear Heartbroken,
I am a cradle catholic, but practiced in a lukewarm way for many years ( probably due to a hetrodox parish). However, one Easter we did attend a sunrise service( non-Catholic) when visiting my mother (Catholic) in Florida. It was very nice,very reverent, very moving,etc., but we all felt the lack of something …which of course was the Eucharist. This experience and others like it made me really look into my faith . Why was I Catholic? What does it mean to be Catholic? Why not be protestant…it’s a lot easier? For me and others like me it began a deeper look and walk in my spiritual journey. I switched parishes and am a completely ‘orthodox’ Catholic now…on fire for my Holy Mother and the Church. …because I needed to stop and really study/look into it and make it my “own” .
So don’t be too upset…this could be another step in their faith journey. Our journey’s are not identical.
Ask your sister, neice, mother about the service…what they liked about it, did they miss the Eucharist, etc. It could be a good conversation starter if you can do it without sounding negative or judgemental. Just treat it like an experience for them.
And keep praying for them.