[need help] Considering becoming Catholic but essentially clueless

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Hey all,
This is all probably going to sound rather naive,
So, I haven’t had religion be much of a part of my life other than when I was incredibly young and part of a Catholic school. I’ve been seeing a lot more people who are catholic online as of recent I’ve started slowly getting behind their beliefs more and more for a while now but I just don’t know what Catholicism really entails and whether or not I should become a part of it I’m looking into it all when I get the chance in my own time but I don’t have much as life is rather hectic at the moment. What’s it actually like being Catholic? I’ve always been rather against religion or just not behind it since I was young but the more and more I see of Catholic people the more and more it kinda draws me in and the more I wish to be a part of something that seems so great What do you actually do and what are, if you have the time to explain, the beliefs you’d follow as a Catholic and basically anything that I’d need to really know.
I’ll try and reply whenever I can.
Thank you for your time in advance. Any and all replies will be oh so greatly appreciated.
 
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What is the hardest time that you are having with Catholicism? Because you need to get over those barriers before you get to anything else.
 
I don’t really have any issues with it or anything that’s stopping me from following it, I just don’t really know if I should or not and I don’t really know a whole lot about it.
 
Well you do know its not a club, you kind of sound like you want to become Catholic because its the in thing to do. 🙂

Its more then just a list of things to do, its about wanting to be a part of the church God created. Its about understanding, that when you become a member of God’s church, you will change and become someone new. Its about wanting to learn to do God’s will… where do you fall in regards to your relationship with God?

Have you been to a Catholic service, or an RCIA class?
 
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I’m so glad you’re considering becoming Catholic!!! Congratulations!!! It would be such a joy to finally embrace Catholocism!!! 🙂 The best thing to do is to read the Cathechism and take RCIA Classes. Also, talk to a priest. He can help you. Know that I’ll pray for you as well. 🙂 God bless!!! 🙏 🙏 🙏
 
Hey,

My reversion to Catholicism started in October of 2018. I am only 16 years old, and at the time I was 14. I had the same experience as you, I went through Catholic school, but never was devoutly Catholic. Let me just say, I am certain that this change in my life was because of God, and I am extremely happy to have reverted. My outlook on life is happier, but that is the least of what makes me happy I reverted! Integrity has been restored to me, I never feel alone, I have recognized the sole purpose for my exist: union with God. We really were made for no one and nothing else but God. If we do not chase after God with all of ourselves, we will never be fulfilled. The beauty of the Church, the hundreds of years, thousands, of history are beautiful. Yet, this beauty does not even show you a drop of the infinite ocean of what God has in store. Trust me in saying this, if you genuinely seek God’s heart, He will guide you. It does not take circumstances to fulfill God’s will, any moment you can please Him. Hold on to prayer and trust that all is for a reason.

I will be praying for you. You may not now feel fully what good will come of following God through the way He wills, Catholicism, but you feel little urges, and that is what will spark your reversion.

God bless you!

Our Lady of Sorrows close to your heart.
 
I am so excited for you!! This is great news!

There are soooo many things that I could write here, to explain what it means to be Catholic. But in essence, it means walking with God every day; having a personal relationship with Christ. For you, that might mean daily Mass. Or it might mean falling in love with the Rosary. Maybe forming a relationship with Mary, or getting to know the saints.

It will bring you strength and peace, the likes of which you didn’t know were possible. :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:
 
Get ahold of a copy of Catholicism for Dummies those yellow and black covered paperbacks. You could probably buy a used one on Amazon for next to nothing.

It is a good beginners book to get you started, before people start talking about more things and confuse you. 😉
 
What I recommend is watching one of our daily masses. Here is a sight I go to:

http://www.catholictv.org/masses/catholictv-mass

What you will find is that Catholics come in many different flavors. While the religion is Universal and Present in every continent, there are also regional practices.

Don’t get caught up in the politics, again political dynamics are different across the world. Instead, see if you like the Mass and the teachings.

The structure of the mass is based on readings and the Eucharist. Typically, you will read something from the Old Testament, then Paul, then the Gospels. The Gospel is the most important message as the Priest reads that and before hearing it we will stand do the sign of the cross on our foreheads, mouth and heart.

While the Gospel is the most important reading, the two other readings will support it in a certain way. After the Gospel reading, the priest will give a discussion. After the discussion the rest of the mass is dedicated to preparations receiving the Eucharist.

So, see if you like the Mass. That’s the start.
 
He wasn’t Catholic, but CS Lewis’ Mere Christianity is a good read for those learning the basics of Christianity.
 
I am a convert to the Catholic Church. I was not raised with any religion. For me, it was a combination of two things above all else. One was that as I was being drawn to Christianity (because of my fear of death), I also sensed that I was supposed to receive the Eucharist more. In the Methodist Church I had recently joined, they were of the (very common) Protestant view that Communion “is just something that we do four times a year.” They believe as most Protestants do that Holy Communion is just a symbol so they just do it once in a while. In the Catholic Church though the Eucharist (Communion) is the main focus.

The Catholic Church has always taught that when Jesus was saying in John chapter 6 that we needed to eat his Body and drink his Blood, he meant that literally. The Catholic Church believes that when the priest says the words of consecration over the bread and wine that they actually become the Real Presence of Jesus. So that was a big thing for me and I was really drawn to that. (Read John chapter 6 and see how Jesus implores his followers to eat his Body and drink his Blood.)

The second thing was my addiction to masturbation. I had been masturbating from the time I was 12 years old and looking at pornography. But in my 30’s, as a married man, it began to become a problem between my wife and I. The strange thing was that I was told when I was young that it was completely normal and healthy and I shouldn’t be ashamed by it at all. (My mom bought me a book written by a doctor that talked all about puberty and the different changes that you will go through. One of the things it talked about was how normal and Ok it was to masturbate.) So because of that, I did it wholeheartedly. Of course, I quickly became addicted to it and remained addicted to it for over 20 years. So here I was as a married man and suddenly I was being told by some that it was not Ok, in fact, it was very wrong. One book I read written by a psychologist said it was just like cheating on your wife. I was confused and I could find no solid answers.

Even among Christians there were different opinions–some said it was Ok, as long as you “didn’t do it too much.” Others said it was wrong but wavered on whether it was a sin or not. Others, like the Catholic Church, said it was always wrong. I had come to believe that it was wrong and that I had been lied to. I really wanted to quit but didn’t know how. It wasn’t until I discovered John Paul II’s Theology of the Body that my whole life changed. Suddenly, I realized that there was a purpose to sex beyond just an immediate pleasure fix. The Theology of the Body has changed many peoples’ lives. It teaches that there is a divine purpose to human sexuality and that was exactly what I needed to learn in order to finally stop doing it. Of course, I needed to pray a lot as well, but God led me out of that addiction. So I would say, look into what the Catholic Church teaches about the Eucharist and the Theology of the Body. There are a number of good books and articles on Catholic Answers about both.

God Bless you on your journey!
 
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Welcome! Just know that there is joy in heaven at your change of heart. Couple of things:
  1. A copy of Catholicism for Dummies - an unfortunately titled but excellent guide to the faith.
  2. Have family or friend who is Catholic? Talk to them and after this panicdemic is over, ask to attend mass with them - only as an observer. The rest can be explained later.
 
I’ll definitely try and pick it up at some point if I can, I’m starting to read up on it online and all that and should have some more time to soon.
 
Oh my, I wasn’t expecting so many replies. They’re all oh so appreciated and I’m very happy that you gave the time to give me such helpful replies. I’ll be looking into the religion a lot more, especially with how it looks like I’ll have more free time, and I will most likely become a part of it.
Thank you all so so much, you’ve all helped out a whole lot.
 
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