LDS church publishes an article teaching about Lent

[Porknpie]

I think most Churches are built on being different. When I was Catholic, we Catholics prided ourselves on being different.

Always need to be careful about the word pride but I believe this stems not from Catholics being different, than being The Church established by Christ, and thus, standing in the fullness of Truth.

It’s inconsistent Tex when you were Catholic, and still is inconsistent now, to profess that a Church that had a complete falling away from the Truth, in a great apostasy, could, some 250+ years later, infallibly discern the canon of NT scripture.

That we trust that those Catholic Bishops were infallible in doing so, shows that they were guided by the Holy Spirit, and not just once, but multiple times.

And in discerning whether Jesus Christ really was the Son of God, do we trust a book, or do we trust a Church? Which is the Pillar of Truth?

What does scripture say?

Lent is meaningless unless we have the trust that the Church was right.

Infallibly right.

 

[jane_doe]

You lament the lack of Catholic missionaries to go to just to learn, and see RCIA as a method of conversion. You seem to think that LDS missionaries don’t try to convert people, that they are there just around to let people know about the LDS church with nary an idea of converting. The LDS missionaries use sales tactics (the pushy commitment pattern tactic is really annoying) to get people to commit to baptism within the first or second meeting. The person who meets with the missionaries will be added to the current missionaries list of contacts so that even if they leave the area future missionaries will continue to contact them for the purpose of conversion. Would you talk with Catholic missionaries who behaved like LDS missionaries do, would you think that someone who asked you to be baptized in the Catholic church after an hour of instruction was just teaching you Catholic beliefs?

Your post implies that I approve of Mormon missionaries being pushy (I very much don’t).

 

[jane_doe]

RCIA is how Catholic parishes are setup to answer the questions of inquirers into the faith. That is why people keep pointing you to RCIA.

I’m aware, I get it. It was just frustrating for me, trying to learn, but no RCIA being logistically feasible.

 

[jane_doe]

Jane_Doe,

In case you ever want to do the non-personal type of research into Catholicism (which is what I did when I became curious and interested), I used such resources as the Catechism of the Catholic Church ( you can find free online copies), the Vatican website, the New Advent website, and for me, EWTN (Catholic tv station. But it has changed it’s programing significantly over the past 5 years or so). There is also a really great DVD series by Bishop Robert Barron (then a priest) called simply “Catholicism”

If you like the more personal touch, then yes, then CAF is a good place.

I think the one of the most basic things to understand Catholicism is what is known as the three legs of it. Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition (big T and not little t. There are many traditions and devotions within Catholicism that are not doctrinal, but are little t traditions. The Rosary would fall into that, for example) and the Magisterium (IE the teaching office of the Church.)

And since you are LDS, I would offer a piece of friendly wisdom. Many LDS think that Mormonism and Catholicism are similar because of the LDS is seen as the restoration and the Universal church is the remenant of an apostacy, and thus proof of that apostasy . Truth is, the more I studied, the more I realized that is really more of a myth than not. Yes both have an all male hierarchy and all male priesthood, but the “this is similar to that” really doesn’t hold up if one really understands the different teachings and different traditions.

I’ll give you a brief example. The Eucharist is like the partaking of the Sacrament each week.
No if one looks at the doctrines, the more accurate parallel would be, partaking of the Eucharist would be like going to the temple. IE a personal encounter with the Lord.

The partaking of the LDS Sacrament would be more of a parallel of a Catholic blessings themselves with Holy Water (a renewal of baptismal promises)

Not sure if that makes sense. But I guess what I am saying is that a Mormon needs to suspend their quick and basic understanding of Catholicism in how it is similar to Mormonism because more than likely, the doctrines are haven’t been properly understood

Thank you Marie, for your kind words.

 

[RebeccaJ]

I’m aware, I get it. It was just frustrating for me, trying to learn, but no RCIA being logistically feasible.

Yes I get it. But I don’t think you do. . Catholics think differently. RCIA is primarily for those who are interested in converting. Those who are interested in converting make RCIA logically feasible. They want to convert and will definitely do what it takes towards conversion, in all aspects of their lives. Of course RCIA directors will work with people who are serious about converting, arranging schedules is a part of that.

Casual curiosity has many ways to be satisfied.

 

[lax16]

I’m aware, I get it. It was just frustrating for me, trying to learn, but no RCIA being logistically feasible.

I suggest reading the Catechsm of the Catholic Church. You can read it online for free or get one on Amazon for less than $6.00. I know it’s not the same as discussing Catholicism with another person but it explains Catholic teaching very well.

usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-catholic-church/

amazon.com/Catechism-Catholic-Church-U-S/dp/0385479670

 

[jane_doe]

I suggest reading the Catechsm of the Catholic Church. You can read it online for free or get one on Amazon for less than $6.00. I know it’s not the same as discussing Catholicism with another person but it explains Catholic teaching very well.

usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-catholic-church/

amazon.com/Catechism-Catholic-Church-U-S/dp/0385479670

Yes, I have checked the out. It just not the same as asking somehow “How does your Catholic faith affect your life?”, which is more what I’m interested in.

 

[lax16]

TexanKnight:

Really? Is that how you would like this conversation to go? Ok. There is no different between Catholics and other religions…is that better?

You said Catholics pride themselves on being different. I am asking who do Catholics pride themselves on being different than? I don’t know Catholics to be this way and would like you to elaborate on your statement.

Have you?

Most definitely. Haven’t you?

I think we can in many areas…many important ones.

Yes, in when it comes to politics. When it comes to theology, not much.

 

[RebeccaJ]

For a catechism, I recommend “The United States Catholic Catechism For Adults”. It covers all topics in more of a discussion format. Inserts examples of US Saints throughout and is very thorough. It is published by the USCCB.

For studying the CCC, follow the footnotes. Use a Catholic Bible, and read the commentaries. usccb.org/bible/books-of-the-bible/index.cfm

The old Catholic Encyclopedia at newadvent.org goes further into every topic. It is the old 1908 edition, but is free and while Vatican II would add to some of the entries it is still very good for learning Catholic teachings.

 

[lax16]

Yes, I have checked the out. It just not the same as asking somehow “How does your Catholic faith affect your life?”, which is more what I’m interested in.

You should start a thread on that. You will probably get a wide range of answers.

 

[lax16]

But the people who Christ taught came to Him. He didn’t go around knocking on doors. He just made Himself available to those who choose to sit and listen. And when they walked away, He didn’t go after them. He let them walk away (John 6).

Catholic missionaries are more about serving and less about preaching, so you don’t find them in the local parishes.

Not sure when you went to your local parish who you asked to talk with? The parish priest and/or deacon should have navigated you who could answer your questions.

Very well stated.

 

[mommakate]

I’m glad the article has been removed, I was disappointed by it. I love having advent and lent as seasons where I can really concentrate on my spiritual life and see where I’m lacking. For instance this lent I’m working on my prayer life. My husband and I have family prayers in the evening and we pray together on our way into work every morning but my personal prayer life is very lacking. So I’m giving up something (time) and I’m giving it to God. I’m getting up a half hour early every morning so I can pray the rosary by myself and read some scripture or a spiritual book.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t examine my conscience at any other time of the year! I usually attend confession at least twice a month and for me I actually find I examine myself more now that I’m a Catholic than when I was a Mormon.

As a Mormon I thought that since I was doing all the things I was supposed to do, going to church, taking the sacrament, reading my scriptures, praying, avoiding sexual sin, keeping the word of wisdom, holding a calling, all that stuff, that I was doing pretty good and I never really took a hard look at myself and saw how much I had to work on. I knew that I still had “minor” imperfections but I was never really going to be perfect was I? And so I never felt the need to look deeper into my soul.

As a Catholic, whenever I do an examination of conscience I realize how I fall short on a regular basis. SoI go to confession and repent and keep trying. The difference for me now is that I’m aware of these sins and I repent of them and try to not commit them again. And some things (gossip, uncharitable thoughts, little white lies, gluttony) were never even on my radar as sins that I needed to repent of and avoid when I was Mormon.

 

[lax16]

I’m glad the article has been removed, I was disappointed by it. I love having advent and lent as seasons where I can really concentrate on my spiritual life and see where I’m lacking. For instance this lent I’m working on my prayer life. My husband and I have family prayers in the evening and we pray together on our way into work every morning but my personal prayer life is very lacking. So I’m giving up something (time) and I’m giving it to God. I’m getting up a half hour early every morning so I can pray the rosary by myself and read some scripture or a spiritual book.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t examine my conscience at any other time of the year! I usually attend confession at least twice a month and for me I actually find I examine myself more now that I’m a Catholic than when I was a Mormon.

As a Mormon I thought that since I was doing all the things I was supposed to do, going to church, taking the sacrament, reading my scriptures, praying, avoiding sexual sin, keeping the word of wisdom, holding a calling, all that stuff, that I was doing pretty good and I never really took a hard look at myself and saw how much I had to work on. I knew that I still had “minor” imperfections but I was never really going to be perfect was I? And so I never felt the need to look deeper into my soul.

As a Catholic, whenever I do an examination of conscience I realize how I fall short on a regular basis. SoI go to confession and repent and keep trying. The difference for me now is that I’m aware of these sins and I repent of them and try to not commit them again. And some things (gossip, uncharitable thoughts, little white lies, gluttony) were never even on my radar as sins that I needed to repent of and avoid when I was Mormon.

Thanks for sharing this.

The more I work on myself, the more I realize I have a loooog way to go. Just when I thought I knew what suffering was, there was more. And then the realization that there are others who are suffering far worse than I am. And then the desire to alleviate suffering in others if I can.

The little things really do add up to a lot. Sarcasm, facial expressions and attitude are all little white sins that I do and I know it hurts others and am trying to give it up for Lent.

Lent is a time for working even harder on the things that we should be doing all year.

 

[TexanKnight]

Always need to be careful about the word pride but I believe this stems not from Catholics being different, than being The Church established by Christ, and thus, standing in the fullness of Truth.

Pride is not always a bad thing.

It’s inconsistent Tex when you were Catholic, and still is inconsistent now, to profess that a Church that had a complete falling away from the Truth, in a great apostasy, could, some 250+ years later, infallibly discern the canon of NT scripture.

Why is it inconsistent?

That we trust that those Catholic Bishops were infallible in doing so, shows that they were guided by the Holy Spirit, and not just once, but multiple times.

I will refrain in listing the numerous ways Bishops have proven they were not following God. Let’s just say I do not believe it to be so…

And in discerning whether Jesus Christ really was the Son of God, do we trust a book, or do we trust a Church? Which is the Pillar of Truth?

I trust neither. I trust the Holy Spirit…I trust God.

What does scripture say?

Lent is meaningless unless we have the trust that the Church was right.

The Scripture does not mention Lent…

 

[TexanKnight]

You said Catholics pride themselves on being different. I am asking who do Catholics pride themselves on being different than? I don’t know Catholics to be this way and would like you to elaborate on your statement.

No…I will agree that Catholic Church is like every other Church. I am sorry to have thought differently

Most definitely. Haven’t you?

I suppose it depends…when have you?

Yes, in when it comes to politics. When it comes to theology, not much.

I disagree…

 

[TexanKnight]

But the people who Christ taught came to Him. He didn’t go around knocking on doors. He just made Himself available to those who choose to sit and listen. And when they walked away, He didn’t go after them. He let them walk away (John 6).

Catholic missionaries are more about serving and less about preaching, so you don’t find them in the local parishes.

Not sure when you went to your local parish who you asked to talk with? The parish priest and/or deacon should have navigated you who could answer your questions.

I have nothing against Missionaries knocking on doors like LDS does or the often curious way Catholic Missionaries acted toward Indians and Natives of other lands. The Lord said to “Go ye therefore and teach all nations…” He did not say, “Go to other lands and sit in one place for people to come to you.”

 

[TexanKnight]

I’m glad the article has been removed, I was disappointed by it. I love having advent and lent as seasons where I can really concentrate on my spiritual life and see where I’m lacking. For instance this lent I’m working on my prayer life. My husband and I have family prayers in the evening and we pray together on our way into work every morning but my personal prayer life is very lacking. So I’m giving up something (time) and I’m giving it to God. I’m getting up a half hour early every morning so I can pray the rosary by myself and read some scripture or a spiritual book.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t examine my conscience at any other time of the year! I usually attend confession at least twice a month and for me I actually find I examine myself more now that I’m a Catholic than when I was a Mormon.

As a Mormon I thought that since I was doing all the things I was supposed to do, going to church, taking the sacrament, reading my scriptures, praying, avoiding sexual sin, keeping the word of wisdom, holding a calling, all that stuff, that I was doing pretty good and I never really took a hard look at myself and saw how much I had to work on. I knew that I still had “minor” imperfections but I was never really going to be perfect was I? And so I never felt the need to look deeper into my soul.

As a Catholic, whenever I do an examination of conscience I realize how I fall short on a regular basis. SoI go to confession and repent and keep trying. The difference for me now is that I’m aware of these sins and I repent of them and try to not commit them again. And some things (gossip, uncharitable thoughts, little white lies, gluttony) were never even on my radar as sins that I needed to repent of and avoid when I was Mormon.

As a Catholic, I went to confession often. As an LDS, I confess daily. I do not need a 40-day period to delve more deeply…I do so constantly.

 

[TexanKnight]

You lament the lack of Catholic missionaries to go to just to learn, and see RCIA as a method of conversion. You seem to think that LDS missionaries don’t try to convert people, that they are there just around to let people know about the LDS church with nary an idea of converting. The LDS missionaries use sales tactics (the pushy commitment pattern tactic is really annoying) to get people to commit to baptism within the first or second meeting. The person who meets with the missionaries will be added to the current missionaries list of contacts so that even if they leave the area future missionaries will continue to contact them for the purpose of conversion. Would you talk with Catholic missionaries who behaved like LDS missionaries do, would you think that someone who asked you to be baptized in the Catholic church after an hour of instruction was just teaching you Catholic beliefs?

Sales tactics? I suppose…I mean, if praying, reading Scriptures, teaching, answering questions and helping are considered sales tactics…then I am proud to have been a salesman.

 

[lax16]

Sales tactics? I suppose…I mean, if praying, reading Scriptures, teaching, answering questions and helping are considered sales tactics…then I am proud to have been a salesman.

What about when you were on your mission?

Sorry, TK, I guess I have too good of a memory of your past here when it comes to reading and responding to your posts.

 

[TexanKnight]

What about when you were on your mission?

That is what I was talking about when I said I was proud to have been a “salesman”. I simply disagree with assertion. We taught the Gospel. No one paid any money for anything. We did not sell religion, we do not charge for baptisms, weddings, indulgences, etc.

The only time in any Church I have had to pay anything has been when I was Catholic. I had to pay for a baptism, and I had to pay for a wedding.

Sorry, TK, I guess I have too good of a memory of your past here when it comes to reading and responding to your posts.

I am still the same person. I hold nothing but good memories and fond memories of all of you.