Just what is important?

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fred_conty

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I was riding in my car on vacation several years ago, and I turned on the radio and happened upon a catholic station. They were discussing various topics of which one of them was “salvation”. They commentators were catholic who had been converts. And they were saying that it seemed strange to them, I’m parapharsing, that the catholic church did not talk about this subject as much as the protestant chuches. And they specifically brought up and referred to hell.

What do you think? What should we stress more in your opinion? Is it heaven, hell, sacraments, forgiveness, Mass, prayer, evangelization, salvation, sermons, charity, spiritual life, the stories in the bible, RCIA, church history, seminaries, love, colleges, youth, government, clergy, some teaching, saints, sin/sins, liturgy, retreats, books, public entertainment, electronic media, teachers, cell phones, rosary, donuts after church, or something else?

What do you think is not being thought/taught/considered enough today? What needs the most attention? What is the big big problem, or some good thing that needs more attention?
Or what will do the greatest good or the greatest harm?

Keep it within 50 pages. (yak,yak)
 
We need more of Jesus. We need less attention on our behavior, less attention on what WE do, less less less of “I” and more “Jesus.” We need to hear more about who He is, what His purpose is, more of the stories He told, more of the example He lived. We cannot conform to what we do not know. We cannot fall in love with who we don’t know and we certainly cannot change without being in love with Jesus.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, give me more of Jesus!

One reflection on the person of Jesus brings forth more change than a thousand lectures on good or bad behavior.
 
From my experience overt last few years, more emphasis needs to e placed on the truths of the Catholic faith. These who follow the Truths will go to heaven, they will be saved. But, in my experience people are not being catechized well enough to completely understand the Catholic Church and what a Catholic must do and believe to be in Nikon with God and the Church.
 
Lady_Love said:
We need more of Jesus. We need less attention on our behavior, less attention on what WE do, less less less of “I” and more “Jesus.” We need to hear more about who He is, what His purpose is, more of the stories He told, more of the example He lived. We cannot conform to what we do not know. We cannot fall in love with who we don’t know and we certainly cannot change without being in love with Jesus.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, give me more of Jesus!

One reflection on the person of Jesus brings forth more change than a thousand lectures on good or bad behavior.
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I think we take it for granted everyone knows him, but you’re right. Many don’t know his life or who he is. And if they did, they would be so moved.
 
mountee said:
From my experience overt last few years, more emphasis needs to e placed on the truths of the Catholic faith. These who follow the Truths will go to heaven, they will be saved. But, in my experience people are not being catechized well enough to completely understand the Catholic Church and what a Catholic must do and believe to be in Nikon with God and the Church.
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I’ve heard converts say that before, why were they never told, or why did it take so long before someone said something to them.
 
I find it distinctly peculiar that those denominations who preach the assurance of salvation are the most obsessed and troubled about that same salvation. A dichotomy. We must simply die in a state of grace, as no one is saved until they are safely in heaven. To that end, we have the Sacraments.

The Church has, does and will address the last things (death, judgment, heaven, hell), but has neglected them for decades.
 
fred_conty said:
I was riding in my car on vacation several years ago, and I turned on the radio and happened upon a catholic station. They were discussing various topics of which one of them was “salvation”. They commentators were catholic who had been converts. And they were saying that it seemed strange to them, I’m parapharsing, that the catholic church did not talk about this subject as much as the protestant chuches. And they specifically brought up and referred to hell.

What do you think? What should we stress more in your opinion? Is it heaven, hell, sacraments, forgiveness, Mass, prayer, evangelization, salvation, sermons, charity, spiritual life, the stories in the bible, RCIA, church history, seminaries, love, colleges, youth, government, clergy, some teaching, saints, sin/sins, liturgy, retreats, books, public entertainment, electronic media, teachers, cell phones, rosary, donuts after church, or something else?

What do you think is not being thought/taught/considered enough today? What needs the most attention? What is the big big problem, or some good thing that needs more attention?
Or what will do the greatest good or the greatest harm?

Keep it within 50 pages. (yak,yak)
Click to expand...
My answer would be “All of the above”. Stressing one thing at the expense of the others results in an unbalanced picture which is what many are complaining about now.
Too much stress on forgiveness and heaven etc and one winds up with “presumption”…something we see a lot of today.
Too much stress on hell and condemnation and one goes too far the other way and risks despair.

What needs to be stressed is the fullness of truth which includes the whole picture heaven AND hell, forgiveness AND condemnation, etc. etc, etc…

Just my 2 cents

Peace
James
 
JRKH said:
My answer would be “All of the above”. Stressing one thing at the expense of the others results in an unbalanced picture which is what many are complaining about now.
Too much stress on forgiveness and heaven etc and one winds up with “presumption”…something we see a lot of today.
Too much stress on hell and condemnation and one goes too far the other way and risks despair.

What needs to be stressed is the fullness of truth which includes the whole picture heaven AND hell, forgiveness AND condemnation, etc. etc, etc…

Just my 2 cents

Peace
James
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James, they don’t make pennies any more. It has to be “my nickel’s worth”.
 
The biggest bang for the buck I’d say, would be we began to talk more about Transforming Union and Divine Union, and ways to get there. Mysticism, in essence. More church history or teaching about morals really just builds up knowledge. But how is it useful to know we need to lose our anger and our judgment and we should forgive people, without knowing how we are to gain these qualities? Because we tend to think it’s our “responsibility” as if we were to will these things into place and not do so would be sinful or neglectful or at least undesirable. Track record of people using their own will to control these things is very poor; we need to learn what “surrender our will” really means and how to practice it. So I say emphasis on exercising and edifying our hearts.

For example, I’ve never in my 53 years as a cradle Catholic, heard a sermon on “contemplative purgation,” or St. Teresa’s Little Way or anything like that. It’s all food for the head but not enough for the heart.

Alan
 
I imagine these converts were merely stating a personal point of view, not meant to be a criticism. I am a convert myself (40 yrs ago) and as I recall, the Protestant services are much more simple. They lack the richness and depth we experience as Catholics. Salvation, then, is one of their fewer choices.

I liked the response of “Jesus.” However, our studies of the lives of the Saints are something other churches would find quite inspiring. I guess what I mean to say is that I feel like our great variety of topics is one very beautiful aspect of our faith.
 
fred_conty said:
I think we take it for granted everyone knows him, but you’re right. Many don’t know his life or who he is. And if they did, they would be so moved.
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I think it’s just the opposite. Many know a lot ABOUT Him, most don’t KNOW Him.

Makes all the difference in the world.
 
CB_Catholic said:
I think it’s just the opposite. Many know a lot ABOUT Him, most don’t KNOW Him.

Makes all the difference in the world.
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It surely does! 🙂

To know Him is to have pondered all the parables and paradoxes, and seen how they all make sense, ultimately. That’s one way I measure it. Also by the fruit of the spirit; if you aren’t producing those unconditionally w.r.t. circumstances, then it can be strengthened or needs just needs a little life to be breathed into it. Because the closer you are to Jesus, the more you will produce Good Fruit and plant Good Seed.

Alan
 
fred_conty said:
I was riding in my car on vacation several years ago, and I turned on the radio and happened upon a catholic station. They were discussing various topics of which one of them was “salvation”. They commentators were catholic who had been converts. And they were saying that it seemed strange to them, I’m parapharsing, that the catholic church did not talk about this subject as much as the protestant chuches. And they specifically brought up and referred to hell.

What do you think? What should we stress more in your opinion? Is it heaven, hell, sacraments, forgiveness, Mass, prayer, evangelization, salvation, sermons, charity, spiritual life, the stories in the bible, RCIA, church history, seminaries, love, colleges, youth, government, clergy, some teaching, saints, sin/sins, liturgy, retreats, books, public entertainment, electronic media, teachers, cell phones, rosary, donuts after church, or something else?

What do you think is not being thought/taught/considered enough today? What needs the most attention? What is the big big problem, or some good thing that needs more attention?
Or what will do the greatest good or the greatest harm?

Keep it within 50 pages. (yak,yak)
Click to expand...
The New Covenant, emphasizing and explaining it.
 
Eternal life. We are taught to seek eternal life through Jesus because He is the way, and the truth, and the life. He is the resurrection and the life. Through Jesus, we become one with God, spiritually.
 
The whole purpose and objective of the Catholic Church is to give you Jesus. Jesus’ forgiveness in reconciliation, Jesus’ flesh and blood in Eucharist, Jesus’ healing in anointing of the sick, Jesus’ spirit in Confirmation. Jesus is what is most important and the Catholic church is most important because she is the means by which we encounter Him.
 
There are so many good ideas.

I’ve often wondered how many people in our parish have read on the the four gospels.
Or if they know a short life of Jesus in any form. I’ve often wondered if this in itself might bring some life back knowing him. It would be interesting to take a survey.

Just a thought.
 
fred_conty said:
I was riding in my car on vacation several years ago, and I turned on the radio and happened upon a catholic station. They were discussing various topics of which one of them was “salvation”. They commentators were catholic who had been converts. And they were saying that it seemed strange to them, I’m parapharsing, that the catholic church did not talk about this subject as much as the protestant chuches. And they specifically brought up and referred to hell.

What do you think? What should we stress more in your opinion? Is it heaven, hell, sacraments, forgiveness, Mass, prayer, evangelization, salvation, sermons, charity, spiritual life, the stories in the bible, RCIA, church history, seminaries, love, colleges, youth, government, clergy, some teaching, saints, sin/sins, liturgy, retreats, books, public entertainment, electronic media, teachers, cell phones, rosary, donuts after church, or something else?

What do you think is not being thought/taught/considered enough today? What needs the most attention? What is the big big problem, or some good thing that needs more attention?
Or what will do the greatest good or the greatest harm?

Keep it within 50 pages. (yak,yak)
Click to expand...
I agree with what others mostly said, and that is Jesus. But then all those topics are relevant to our faith and Jesus is always the benchmark – we see everything from the viewpoint of Jesus. In other word, the Church has to give Jesus to us.

Basically that would be to always emphasize on the Church teaching (Magisterium), Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture. This is the Church business and our business. Normally we do not emphasize on what others say about us or what their belief is. First and foremost, Catholics must be deep in their own faith. From this underpinning, we will see the world from our perspective and not theirs. Then we will be able to make an informed judgment.

Similarly we are to bring our faith to the others so that they may know Jesus through us or to put it the other way, to bring Jesus to them from the knowledge of our faith.

Uninformed Catholics would lead to problem. We saw that happened in the past and the Church had to do damage control, sometimes when it had become so bad that could be in the form of Councils. So the Church emphasis should always look after the sheep and accord passing comment to the others when they affect the sheep.
 
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