It made me sad today

[misspriss]

So I’m a new Catholic, I don’t have any Catholic friends and I really want some. But that is neither here nor there.

So at lunch at work yesterday, I walked in the kitchen and started re-heating my lunch. I was listening to the conversation of the people who were already eating. There was a girl, A, a girl J, and girl K, and an older woman T. A was talking about her experience going from Catholic school to public school, and how she found out people hated Catholics, and how hard it was for her. J was raised Baptist, and talked about that, and K was raised Church of Christ and talked about how much that sucked for her. She is no longer attending church. A went on after T and J left with just me & K to talk about the details of being Catholic. She talked about baptist, closed communion, etc. I am pretty shy so I hardly talked at all I just listed, I wanted to hear what a cradle Catholic had to say about being Catholic. It disappointed me. She said that “no one really goes to confession anymore, it’s pretty antiquated”. At least she goes to Mass every week though. I wish I had said something but I didn’t know what to say. Anyway I hope to talk to her more about it, but I hope I know what to say.

 

[MS_SURVEYOR]

As I get ready just now to attend confession, I know what you mean. I don’t think it was wise to say something in public to A in front of the group. Best to ease into talking about it. The Baptist and Church of Christ ladies would have been a problem. My wife’s family is Baptist. I work with, and have an uncle that goes to the Church of Christ. Good people. Christian brothers and sisters, but know nothing about the Catholic Church. I find it best to pray for them in my own prayer time, that the Holy Spirit will fill them with Love and Understanding for fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Got to go to Confession. Later!

 

[fred_conty]

So I’m a new Catholic, I don’t have any Catholic friends and I really want some. But that is neither here nor there.

So at lunch at work yesterday, I walked in the kitchen and started re-heating my lunch. I was listening to the conversation of the people who were already eating. There was a girl, A, a girl J, and girl K, and an older woman T. A was talking about her experience going from Catholic school to public school, and how she found out people hated Catholics, and how hard it was for her. J was raised Baptist, and talked about that, and K was raised Church of Christ and talked about how much that sucked for her. She is no longer attending church. A went on after T and J left with just me & K to talk about the details of being Catholic. She talked about baptist, closed communion, etc. I am pretty shy so I hardly talked at all I just listed, I wanted to hear what a cradle Catholic had to say about being Catholic. It disappointed me. She said that “no one really goes to confession anymore, it’s pretty antiquated”. At least she goes to Mass every week though. I wish I had said something but I didn’t know what to say. Anyway I hope to talk to her more about it, but I hope I know what to say.

Yes I know, been there, done that. I would guess that that story has been told many times.
There are just two sides, say something or don’t say something.
If we don’t say something, we wonder about our obligation.
If we do say something, we might mess it up.
No win situation.

Maybe it depends on the Holy Spirit’s guidence of each situation.

If it were me, if they asked me a question or opinion, then I would express my faith.
If they didn’t, I wouldn’t because of the circumstance of place.

In any case, if you are understanding, that may build their confidence in you for a later private conversation.

Just a thought.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

So I’m a new Catholic, I don’t have any Catholic friends and I really want some. But that is neither here nor there.

So at lunch at work yesterday, I walked in the kitchen and started re-heating my lunch. I was listening to the conversation of the people who were already eating. There was a girl, A, a girl J, and girl K, and an older woman T. A was talking about her experience going from Catholic school to public school, and how she found out people hated Catholics, and how hard it was for her. J was raised Baptist, and talked about that, and K was raised Church of Christ and talked about how much that sucked for her. She is no longer attending church. A went on after T and J left with just me & K to talk about the details of being Catholic. She talked about baptist, closed communion, etc. I am pretty shy so I hardly talked at all I just listed, I wanted to hear what a cradle Catholic had to say about being Catholic. It disappointed me. She said that “no one really goes to confession anymore, it’s pretty antiquated”. At least she goes to Mass every week though. I wish I had said something but I didn’t know what to say. Anyway I hope to talk to her more about it, but I hope I know what to say.

I try to avoid such conversations at work, but at times it may be difficult, especially if co-workers ask your opinion or experience. You have to have a ready answer and not be trying to think of something on the spot. If you say, “I prefer not to discuss it,” that sounds like you are being haughty or stuck-up about it.

I think you did fine not to enter into the discussion. Perhaps you can look for an opportunity to mention confession to her at another time. Whatever you do, do NOT bring up confession to a priest around the Baptist!!

Out of curiosity, what did A say about our Communion? Is she one of those Catholics who think it should be open to all? And how did the CofC person take all of this? Was she interested, skeptical, revolted or what?

 

[misspriss]

I try to avoid such conversations at work, but at times it may be difficult, especially if co-workers ask your opinion or experience. You have to have a ready answer and not be trying to think of something on the spot. If you say, “I prefer not to discuss it,” that sounds like you are being haughty or stuck-up about it.

I think you did fine not to enter into the discussion. Perhaps you can look for an opportunity to mention confession to her at another time. Whatever you do, do NOT bring up confession to a priest around the Baptist!!

Out of curiosity, what did A say about our Communion? Is she one of those Catholics who think it should be open to all? And how did the CofC person take all of this? Was she interested, skeptical, revolted or what?

Well she explained how Catholic’s have closed communion. It started with her talking about the plans she has for a wedding in the future with her non-practicing Baptist boyfriend, how she was going to have a wedding without Mass, and the difference between weddings with Mass and without Mass. She was talking about how non-Catholics act when they go to Catholic weddings with Mass. She was explaining how they could not take Communion when they have a full Mass with a wedding and that made it difficult if one half of the wedding is non-Catholic. The CofC person was interested because she had only ever experienced the “pass the plate around” type. Interested in the “that is interesting” type. Then A went on to talk about going up for a blessing if you couldn’t take Communion, and the reasons why a person would not be able to take Communion. She only mentioned being too young and being non-Catholic (a visitor) not being a state of mortal sin. But if you think Confession is “antiquated” then being a state of mortal sin must not be a problem…

Anyway, I felt like if I made a point to her about it in front of a non-Catholic, it would only make me look argumentative and put her on the spot. No one asked my religious affiliation, although I have a card from the Catholic church I attend on my desk and wear a Crucifix, they may or may not get anything from that. I hope to be able to say something to her later, when other people are not listening, so she won’t feel like she is put on the spot, you know?

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

I hope to be able to say something to her later, when other people are not listening, so she won’t feel like she is put on the spot, you know?

Maybe you could have a conversation about how you are a convert and you know she is Catholic, and how you find that certains things are not antiquated, on the contrary.