J
jeb5346
Guest
This is a description of my current situation as it pertains to my faith and the faith of those around me who I care about dearly. The advice and words of encouragement would be much appreciated from anybody who has been in a similar situation or simply believes they can help.
I am a baptized Roman Catholic who was raised in a Lutheran church. I received my “first holy communion” and “confirmation” in this church and my family has been long time members, especially my mother. I have become close with the pastors and I can really feel that Christ is close to the church and the members of the congregation are filled to the brim with faith, hope and charity for the Lord. They are also on the right side of most theological issues. That being said I have realized the faults of Protestantism both empirically and through study and have come to believe in the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I am now taking RCIA classes in order to be confirmed during Easter.
Needless to say this is a time of both joy and anxiety. I am excited that I am returning to the orthodoxy of the Church and I will finally be taking part in the sacramental life Christ intended us too. In doing so, however, I am heading down a completely different path than most of my Christian family and friends. I know it is the right one, but that does not change the fact that my practical religious life will be complicated. Although I respect my former Church, I know that I must live out the Truth in the face of heresy.
My main concern is my Mother. She was born and raised Catholic, but when she married my father who was Lutheran she began attending the Lutheran church I mentioned earlier. She knows about my conversion and that I plan to be confirmed during Easter and is very supportive of it. She is a faithful women of the highest moral fiber, but I do not think she fully understands the differences between the Catholic and Lutheran tradition, or that there even is one. Especially because our church is quite conservative and is very similar to the Catholic liturgy. I know some of you will say the obvious answer is to discuss this with her but honestly I am afraid. I do not know if I should try to get her to return home through admonishment or just pray and hope to set an example. I love her dearly and with the holiday season coming up it will break my heart if I let this difference, no matter how important, come between our time together.
Anybody who has any advice please comment and pray!
I am a baptized Roman Catholic who was raised in a Lutheran church. I received my “first holy communion” and “confirmation” in this church and my family has been long time members, especially my mother. I have become close with the pastors and I can really feel that Christ is close to the church and the members of the congregation are filled to the brim with faith, hope and charity for the Lord. They are also on the right side of most theological issues. That being said I have realized the faults of Protestantism both empirically and through study and have come to believe in the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I am now taking RCIA classes in order to be confirmed during Easter.
Needless to say this is a time of both joy and anxiety. I am excited that I am returning to the orthodoxy of the Church and I will finally be taking part in the sacramental life Christ intended us too. In doing so, however, I am heading down a completely different path than most of my Christian family and friends. I know it is the right one, but that does not change the fact that my practical religious life will be complicated. Although I respect my former Church, I know that I must live out the Truth in the face of heresy.
My main concern is my Mother. She was born and raised Catholic, but when she married my father who was Lutheran she began attending the Lutheran church I mentioned earlier. She knows about my conversion and that I plan to be confirmed during Easter and is very supportive of it. She is a faithful women of the highest moral fiber, but I do not think she fully understands the differences between the Catholic and Lutheran tradition, or that there even is one. Especially because our church is quite conservative and is very similar to the Catholic liturgy. I know some of you will say the obvious answer is to discuss this with her but honestly I am afraid. I do not know if I should try to get her to return home through admonishment or just pray and hope to set an example. I love her dearly and with the holiday season coming up it will break my heart if I let this difference, no matter how important, come between our time together.
Anybody who has any advice please comment and pray!
This doesn’t have to be a sit-down, holiday-ruining conversation. Just brush up on the key differences between Lutherans and Catholics and let it come up naturally. Your example will be enough to comment on. From the perspective of a cradle-Catholic-turned-Lutheran-Catholic-revert, I’d say the big issues are the Real Presence, church structure (esp. the Papacy), Tradition and why the Bible isn’t the only source of revelation (2 Thess 2:15 here), Purgatory/Communion of Saints, Confession to a priest/man’s role in his salvation, and Mary/Marian devotion. It’s a lot, but if you get those down, you’ll be able to work through a lot of the main objections from your family and friends.
I think she just has to go to Confession, but it would probably be easier to schedule an appointment with the priest rather than trying to get everything sorted in a regular Confession time slot. Then she should be fine and ready to take Communion, unless something’s awry with your parents’ marriage or something else odd.