Living as a Catholic before converting

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marinadelayne

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I’m currently considering joining the Church, but I have not yet fully made up my mind click here for a more detailed description of my situation]. That being said, I am fairly certain that I will eventually enter the Church - it’s really only a matter of when at this point. I am aware that I cannot participate in the sacraments until after I am confirmed. However, I still want to live a life that aligns with my newly developing beliefs in the mean time. Any advice on how to live as a Catholic before actually converting?
 
Go to Mass every Sunday (or Saturday vigil). It is an obligation as a Catholic. Participate, as far as you are able, in the Mass. Learn the responses & postures, sing the hymns, make a spiritual communion during the distribution of the Eucharist. You can reaffirm your baptism, if baptized, holy water.

Learn the morals and virtues of the Church and live them in your life. You can start RCIA without a commitment to joining the Catholic Church.
 
In addition to what Horton said, start to develop your prayer life.

The Morning Offering is a good way to start the day.

As you go along you may discover other forms of prayer such as the Liturgy of the Hours, the Rosary, or lectio divina. Try them out, see what fits you best, and make it a regular part of your day.
 
Something else you might enjoy and learn from is following the liturgical calendar. Even now our parish has extras near the doors of the church (they give them out every year), or you can search and even add to an online calendar if you use it. Many saints are celebrated on the calendar and it would be a good opportunity to learn about them, how they practiced their faith and what they may have written about it, and some of the traditions and devotions that have developed around them. Some of these things (like traditional foods) are more just for fun, but I find I really enjoy the rhythm it brings to my life. 🙂

God bless you!
 
marinadelayne said:
I’m currently considering joining the Church, but I have not yet fully made up my mind click here for a more detailed description of my situation]. That being said, I am fairly certain that I will eventually enter the Church - it’s really only a matter of when at this point. I am aware that I cannot participate in the sacraments until after I am confirmed. However, I still want to live a life that aligns with my newly developing beliefs in the mean time. Any advice on how to live as a Catholic before actually converting?
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You can live like a catholic if you apply the methods developed by fr john harden as a Marian catholistist.

There is a series of 7 daily religious activities in this system they only require dedication like working out at the jym.

They will make you feel righteous. And catholic.
 
One way to live as a Catholic before converting is to attend Sunday Mass.
You, however, would NOT be able to receive holy communion! Live in
accordance with the ten commandments and the eight beatitudes. I would
also encourage you to get a CATHOLIC Bible.

Although in my opinion nothing is wrong with the Protestant Bible OTHER THAN the fact it is NOT complete. The Protestant Bible is missing 7 books (Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), Baruch, 1st & 2nd Maccabees, chapters 10-16 of Esther, Daniel 3:24-90, Daniel 13, & 14.)
 
In addition to the previous advice, I’d say read the catechism. All of it. There’s no need to go in poorly catechised.
 
Thank you all for your responses! The advice is greatly appreciated.
Brassring said:
In addition to the previous advice, I’d say read the catechism. All of it. There’s no need to go in poorly catechised.
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I had considered making this a goal prior to entering the Church, but my friend who has been guiding me through this process had advised against it. I’m not entirely sure what his reasoning was. Have you found it is doable to read the Catechism straight through?
 
marinadelayne said:
Thank you all for your responses! The advice is greatly appreciated.

I had considered making this a goal prior to entering the Church, but my friend who has been guiding me through this process had advised against it. I’m not entirely sure what his reasoning was. Have you found it is doable to read the Catechism straight through?
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The Catechism is something of a reference book and not so much something you would read from cover to cover. I don’t consider it particularly readable at all. We give our catechumens and candidates the US Catholic Catechism for Adults which I think is much more accessible. Even with that I don’t suggest that people try to read it straight through but to dip into it and read sections of interest. And as questions come up use it to find authoritative answers.
 
The Catechism is not at all unreadable, any more than the Bible. For the life of me, I’ll never understand where this notion comes from. I did read it straight through, just few sections a day. It took about ten months. I was also reading the entire Bible (with deuterocanon) at the same time.

Sometimes I wonder if some people advise new converts against reading it just on the basis of “Well, I’ve never read it, so no one else should, either.”
 
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