Judgmental Parents

[guanophore]

Thank you so much, Anna! I will definitely start new threads soon, so I can learn more! Thanks for the links too!

You can almost get a day’s fill of Catholicism on here! The Mass can be accessed online through EWTN and you can also find a Catholic radio station near you that will bring you Catholic programming 24/7 and will answer a lot of your questions.

I also recommend having the daily mass readings delivered to your email. I like the Veritas

You can also get them from the US Bishops. If you use iTunes you can download the readings and a reflection, which will help you understand the way Catholics interpret scripture.

I will still honor my parents’ wishes and continue to pray and study! And thank you for your insight. I will try to think of them just wanting what they believe is best for me! Thank you!

They are, like many anti-Catholics, just ignorant (lacking information). people make judgements on what they know (or don’t know) and sometimes they are erroneous. If your parents would not object, there is a free correspondence course on the Catholic faith. This is especially designed to be low profile for persons in your situation.

There is also a more extensive Catholic homestudy series.

If you work your way through these materials, you may be more informed than most Catholics by the time you are able to formally join the Church! You will be in my prayers.

 

[komeeks18]

You can almost get a day’s fill of Catholicism on here! The Mass can be accessed online through EWTN and you can also find a Catholic radio station near you that will bring you Catholic programming 24/7 and will answer a lot of your questions.

I also recommend having the daily mass readings delivered to your email. I like the Veritas

You can also get them from the US Bishops. If you use iTunes you can download the readings and a reflection, which will help you understand the way Catholics interpret scripture.

They are, like many anti-Catholics, just ignorant (lacking information). people make judgements on what they know (or don’t know) and sometimes they are erroneous. If your parents would not object, there is a free correspondence course on the Catholic faith. This is especially designed to be low profile for persons in your situation.

There is also a more extensive Catholic homestudy series.

If you work your way through these materials, you may be more informed than most Catholics by the time you are able to formally join the Church! You will be in my prayers.

Thank you so much to your links to resources! I really appreciate everything (links and prayers)!

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Thank you so much to your links to resources! I really appreciate everything (links and prayers)!

In case no one has mentioned it yet, as you are researching colleges over the next couple of years, check into the Catholic community on and off-campus. You don’t have to go to a Catholic college to find a thriving and vital Catholic community.



Welcome Home!!!

 

[nightranger]

My mother said she had just heard things about Catholics. Like they go to church and then go home and get drunk (my father said the same things too).

Lol… outstanding.

If I were you, I would find a “once saved always saved” church.
It seems like a much happier existence than being a catholic.

 

[komeeks18]

Lol… outstanding.

If I were you, I would find a “once saved always saved” church.
It seems like a much happier existence than being a catholic.

Haha, one time I was talking to my mother about how I didn’t believe that you can never lose your faith. And she told me I was wrong. That once you’re saved, you’re always saved. And I just repeated that I didn’t believe that. Then a week or two later in church in her Bible (NKJV, of course) it had a section on different “Christian beliefs”, and one of the sections was “Security”, and she was trying to prove to me that once you were saved, you were always saved. And I just smiled and was like “whatever”. Yes, Jesus Christ did pay for our sins on the cross, but we can not just go out and sin without repenting and think “oh, I believe in Jesus, I’m going to Heaven”. No, obviously it does not work that way. I’m not saying someone is not going to Heaven because they haven’t asked for forgiveness for a sin before they died, but that they have to have that will in their hearts that they oppose sin and are constantly trying to avoid temptation. Anyway, I just cannot understand that concept. Especially, since Baptists think that if someone turns away from their faith, that that means they were never really saved in the first place. That drives me insane! Like, people can stray from God and no longer have faith. They could have been a Christian and a follower of Jesus but been pulled away by Satan. That is like telling someone who has fallen away from Jesus that they were never God’s children. There is scripture that contradicts “Once Saved, Always Saved.” I believe people can basically “forfeit” if you will their salvation for sin and temptation. 1 Timothy 4:1 and Luke 8:3 are great examples that contradict “once saved, always saved.” Oh, I pray to God that He continues to lead me to the truth. I pray that that truth is the Catholic Church.

 

[guanophore]

Haha, one time I was talking to my mother about how I didn’t believe that you can never lose your faith. And she told me I was wrong. That once you’re saved, you’re always saved. And I just repeated that I didn’t believe that. Then a week or two later in church in her Bible (NKJV, of course) it had a section on different “Christian beliefs”, and one of the sections was “Security”, and she was trying to prove to me that once you were saved, you were always saved. And I just smiled and was like “whatever”. Yes, Jesus Christ did pay for our sins on the cross, but we can not just go out and sin without repenting and think “oh, I believe in Jesus, I’m going to Heaven”. No, obviously it does not work that way. I’m not saying someone is not going to Heaven because they haven’t asked for forgiveness for a sin before they died, but that they have to have that will in their hearts that they oppose sin and are constantly trying to avoid temptation. Anyway, I just cannot understand that concept. Especially, since Baptists think that if someone turns away from their faith, that that means they were never really saved in the first place. That drives me insane! Like, people can stray from God and no longer have faith. They could have been a Christian and a follower of Jesus but been pulled away by Satan. That is like telling someone who has fallen away from Jesus that they were never God’s children. There is scripture that contradicts “Once Saved, Always Saved.” I believe people can basically “forfeit” if you will their salvation for sin and temptation. 1 Timothy 4:1 and Luke 8:3 are great examples that contradict “once saved, always saved.” Oh, I pray to God that He continues to lead me to the truth. I pray that that truth is the Catholic Church.

You already sound pretty Catholic to me!

You will probably enjoy reading some of the OSAS threads here. Do a search and pick one.

 

[nightranger]

Haha, one time I was talking to my mother about how I didn’t believe that you can never lose your faith. And she told me I was wrong.

Actually I was laughing about your mom thinking that all us catholics got drunk after mass. The rest I was serious about. Living a good catholic life, espescially if you are single, worse if you are young and single is no fun.
I’m not young, but I am single, and to be quite honest with you, I hate it.

 

[komeeks18]

You already sound pretty Catholic to me!

You will probably enjoy reading some of the OSAS threads here. Do a search and pick one.

Haha, I will take that as a compliment! When I spoke to my mom one day after we had briefly spoke about my interest in Catholicism, I said to her (I have a hard time biting my tongue; my sarcasm is always trying to attack, haha!) “I must be such a disappointment.” But she didn’t get it. And I definitely didn’t want to have to explain it; it would’ve been too awkward. I was meaning that it must be disappointing knowing they had raised me right (Baptist) and that I had been taught that the Catholic Church was wrong, and that I was choosing to have an interest in it. She even said to me before, when I asked her what she would do if I ever converted to Catholicism, “I would pray for your soul.” That’s basically her telling me I’m going to Hell! I know it sounds like I want to become Catholic, just because it would get a rise out of my parents, but that is certainly not the case (although, I do enjoy pressing people’s buttons). But no, I will have to search from OSAS threads. Hopefully, they’re funny and entertaining, haha!

Actually I was being serious. Living a good catholic life, espescially if you are single, worse if you are young and single is no fun.
I’m not young, but I am single, and to be quite honest with you, I hate it.

I’m sorry you’re unhappy. I don’t see how you being unhappy has anything to do with being Catholic. You can still having a fun life being a Christian. I don’t understand your negativity towards the Catholic Church and your Catholic lifestyle, since I think you consider yourself Catholic…I’ll be praying for you.

 

[nightranger]

I’m sorry you’re unhappy. I don’t see how you being unhappy has anything to do with being Catholic. You can still having a fun life being a Christian. I don’t understand your negativity towards the Catholic Church and your Catholic lifestyle, since I think you consider yourself Catholic…I’ll be praying for you.

I’m not unhappy, but thanks for your prayers.
It all comes down to truth. There is only one truth: that revealed to us by Christ and passed on through his apostles. That = catholic (or orthodox).

The fact that I don’t like this doesn’t change the fact that it is so.
I want to be lazy and sinful and live life as I see fit. But I can’t, because the truth is always there, staring me in the face. Hence my frustration.

 

[komeeks18]

I’m not unhappy, but thanks for your prayers.
It all comes down to truth. There is only one truth: that revealed to us by Christ and passed on through his apostles. That = catholic (or orthodox).

The fact that I don’t like this doesn’t change the fact that it is so.
I want to be lazy and sinful and live life as I see fit. But I can’t, because the truth is always there, staring me in the face. Hence my frustration.

Oh, I understand. I’ve felt that, too. You almost wish you didn’t want to follow God, because then you could live how you wanted. You wouldn’t have to worry about the consequences. I sometimes think like that, too. I sometimes hate the boundaries and expectations of being a Christian. But then I think about how by following Christ we will be rewarded for our struggle.

[bibledrb] Romans 6:22 [/bibledrb]

 

[nightranger]

Oh, I understand. I’ve felt that, too. You almost wish you didn’t want to follow God, because then you could live how you wanted.

Exactly. That is why I wish I was a happily misinformed “once saved alway saved” protestant. Because once you know the truth, there is no going back. And living a truly Christian life is not easy. There are no free passes. You have to own up to your sins and account for them.

Better to live in ignorant bliss.

 

[komeeks18]

Exactly. That is why I wish I was a happily misinformed “once saved alway saved” protestant. Because once you know the truth, there is no going back. And living a truly Christian life is not easy. There are no free passes. You have to own up to your sins and account for them.

Better to live in ignorant bliss.

I can understand that. But even when I was completely Protestant, I was still trying to honor God and turn away from sin. Although, now as I study Catholicism, I do realize and recognize our sins have more impact than I was taught as a Protestant. One of the things I struggle with is how I can pray and ask God to help me to stop doing something and ask forgiveness for my sins, but then I’ll go and do it again? Like, why do I not truly turn away from it? Do I not have enough willpower? Ugh, I don’t know.

 

[nightranger]

One of the things I struggle with is how I can pray and ask God to help me to stop doing something and ask forgiveness for my sins, but then I’ll go and do it again? Like, why do I not truly turn away from it? Do I not have enough willpower? Ugh, I don’t know.

It’s the human condition. One of the few redeeming qualities of the church (true Christianity) is the authority given to Her priests to forgive sins.

So don’t fret about such things. When you go to confession, Christ is truly there, speaking through His priests to forgive you. And when you are done, you can (and will) know that you are truly forgiven. And if you mess up again, so be it. We all do.

 

[komeeks18]

It’s the human condition. One of the few redeeming qualities of the church (true Christianity) is the authority given to Her priests to forgive sins.

So don’t fret about such things. When you go to confession, Christ is truly there, speaking through His priests to forgive you. And when you are done, you can (and will) know that you are truly forgiven. And if you mess up again, so be it. We all do.

Thank you for your comforting words. I pray God will continue in leading me to the Catholic Church! I just tried to pray the rosary, but I was having a very hard time doing so, because while I was reciting the prayers, I was trying to think about the Joyful Mysteries, but since I have not memorized the prayers, I can’t really recite the prayers and think about the Joyful Mysteries at the same time. This is what you’re supposed to do, yes? Any advice?

 

[guanophore]

Actually I was laughing about your mom thinking that all us catholics got drunk after mass. The rest I was serious about. Living a good catholic life, espescially if you are single, worse if you are young and single is no fun.
I’m not young, but I am single, and to be quite honest with you, I hate it.

That is a clear indication of where you need to focus. Each of us must accept where we are in the present, and give glory to God in the midst of it. St. Paul encouraged that we not seek to change our state as much as live in it fully. If we live in singless fully, then we will be much better prepared for a spouse when the time comes. Our lives should be full of joy. I am not suggesting that fun is the focus of life, but how can anyone be attracted to Christ through us if we are lacking in joy?

 

[guanophore]

Thank you for your comforting words. I pray God will continue in leading me to the Catholic Church! I just tried to pray the rosary, but I was having a very hard time doing so, because while I was reciting the prayers, I was trying to think about the Joyful Mysteries, but since I have not memorized the prayers, I can’t really recite the prayers and think about the Joyful Mysteries at the same time. This is what you’re supposed to do, yes? Any advice?

I have a very hard time praying the Rosary for the same reason. There is something about my brain that makes it impossible for me to meditate on the mysteries and still say the prayers. I have to do one or the other. I recommend trying that first. Maybe it will turn out that you are more fortunate, and will be able to do both at once in time.

You might also find that Lectio Divina commends itself to you as a method of prayer and contemplation. Start with whatever comes easier, and you can grow in skills and be able to take on more challenges. Many people find it difficult to start with 5 minutes of Adoration, but can work up to an hour.

 

[komeeks18]

I have a very hard time praying the Rosary for the same reason. There is something about my brain that makes it impossible for me to meditate on the mysteries and still say the prayers. I have to do one or the other. I recommend trying that first. Maybe it will turn out that you are more fortunate, and will be able to do both at once in time.

You might also find that Lectio Divina commends itself to you as a method of prayer and contemplation. Start with whatever comes easier, and you can grow in skills and be able to take on more challenges. Many people find it difficult to start with 5 minutes of Adoration, but can work up to an hour.

Okay, thank you so much for your advice!

 

[BigDave31]

Hi, I am here to encurage you in your journy. I love converts as I am one myself. I was raised in the Pentecostal Church. When I got married I switched to the Baptist (Iwass Southern Baptist at one time to) became a deacon etc. It was’t until I retired that I started reading about church history. About 5 plus years ago that I became catholic!! Praise God!! So by that time I had a family of 6 children. It was hard for me to decide because of them. Would it effect my relationship with them etc.? I love being Catholic!! I love the mass and recieving Jesus every week. I am know 80 years old so I am at the opposite end of the spectrum than you. I will be praying for. I go to one hour of Adoration each Monday AM. I will be saying prayers for you before the Host (Jesus) I love you in the Lord and look forward to hearing more about your journey!!

Peace to You.
Dave

 

[komeeks18]

Hi, I am here to encurage you in your journy. I love converts as I am one myself. I was raised in the Pentecostal Church. When I got married I switched to the Baptist (Iwass Southern Baptist at one time to) became a deacon etc. It was’t until I retired that I started reading about church history. About 5 plus years ago that I became catholic!! Praise God!! So by that time I had a family of 6 children. It was hard for me to decide because of them. Would it effect my relationship with them etc.? I love being Catholic!! I love the mass and recieving Jesus every week. I am know 80 years old so I am at the opposite end of the spectrum than you. I will be praying for. I go to one hour of Adoration each Monday AM. I will be saying prayers for you before the Host (Jesus) I love you in the Lord and look forward to hearing more about your journey!!

Peace to You.
Dave

Oh, thank you so much! Everyone is so supportive here on this forum! I plan on continuing my journey, and having faith in God to lead me down the right path! Thanks so much for sharing your journey with me! I will also pray for you! I will continue to learn and hopefully join the Catholic Church one day! God Bless!

 

[nightranger]

That is a clear indication of where you need to focus. Each of us must accept where we are in the present, and give glory to God in the midst of it.

I can’t buy that. The more I “focus” on the present, the worse it becomes.

Giving glory to God is quite probably an easy thing for those who are happy in life.

For the rest of us who are not, I have my doubts.

St. Paul encouraged that we not seek to change our state as much as live in it fully. If we live in singless fully, then we will be much better prepared for a spouse when the time comes.

Two things: I’m not a saint. So I don’t have the strength of purpose that St. Paul did. I sincerely wish I did, but I simply don’t.

Next, I’m long past the point where I am naive enough to believe that a spouse will come along.

Our lives should be full of joy. I am not suggesting that fun is the focus of life, but how can anyone be attracted to Christ through us if we are lacking in joy?

Good question. And you are right, I should be full of joy. But I am not. Where do you suggest I find this joy? Since it does not now exist in my life, and God seems not to want to give me this “joy,” what should I do? Manufacture it out of thin air?