New Catholic Seeking Advice

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ASawyer

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My name is Aaron and I have been Catholic for a little over a year, although I have learned so much about Catholicism via RCIA and independent reading I still feel like I’m missing something.

I have a few good Catholic friends (I am the only Catholic in my family) and I just love how they have been raised and how much they truly have learned over their 18/19 years of life. I am jealous of them for that. I know there is so much to learn about the Church and about everything from CCC to the traditions etc.

However sometimes when I talk to these friends I feel like I am nothing more than an impersonator because I do not know as much as them. There so much to learn that I need some ground points. It is also kind of hard because I have taken a liking to this very devout and well education Catholic girl, who I have learned much from thus far. I just do not want to sound like an idiot. I see the Holy Spirit in her and she in me and we are going to begin reading the CCC together shortly, but I want more, I am craving for more knowledge about this beautiful religion I have not been apart of for my 19 years of life. I have had no interest in stuff like TV since I started talking to her because I want this strong relationship with God and the knowledge that she has acquired from CCD, her family, and Catholic school. I’m a bit too embarassed to ask her about it because I think she believes I know more than I do; and although RCIA did teach me a lot (same with the books I’ve read), I have missed out on the traditions and little things about being Catholic.

I plan to always be Catholic and I plan to raise my kids that way (when that happens sometime down the road) but I feel like there’s much more I need to learn before I would even consider myself a ‘true’ Catholic.

All advice appreciated and welcomed.
 
Buddy…

I’d say that by even thinking as you are you are further along than you think! Keep at it. If you believe in Christ’s real presence in the Holy Eucharist, you know more than (what is it now…50%?) most of the pew warmers.

The CCC is good, but I’d recommend the Baltimore catechism for a more straight forward learning tool. You can find it online…

Also, check out ‘Radio Replies’ for EXCELLENT traditional teachings presented in a question / answer format. Also online for free. I think I started a thread on it a little while ago if you want to search my threads it’ll give you the link…

Forward!
 
Don’t give up. I’m also a convert, but I was in my 30’s when I went through RCIA. And found it lacking as well. But it can only take you so far. It’s like the kindergarten of the Church. We are just getting started. Our life should be one of learning to be a faithful Catholic. We will fall many time (if we don’t believe that, we are lying to ourselves), what is important is the getting back up. And that’s also the hardest part. But we can do it in Jesus’ name. I’m struggling a bit right now, but I know I’ll “get over it.” Of course, I no more than say that and then something else will come along and give me the go around. Be patient with yourself, and let God do His work in you, and through you. 👍
 
Being a good Catholic is more than having a store of knowledge. It is quite possible to know many things, but lack virtue. It is also possible to have the virtue of faith but lack charity (cf. 1 Cor. 13:2; Imitation of Christ, chs. 2-3).

By all means continue to learn about the faith, but remember that humility and charity are more important than knowledge. Your fear of looking dumb in front of your girlfriend is a perfect example. She will probably think *more *of you if you are willing to learn from her, not less; but even if she does think less, this can help you grow in humility.
 
I have been Catholic all my life, and I still learn new things from time to time. The Church’s history and writings are inexhaustible during a single person’s lifetime. One should not feel daunted by that.
 
Christy_Beth said:
Don’t give up. I’m also a convert, but I was in my 30’s when I went through RCIA. And found it lacking as well. But it can only take you so far. It’s like the kindergarten of the Church. We are just getting started. Our life should be one of learning to be a faithful Catholic. We will fall many time (if we don’t believe that, we are lying to ourselves), what is important is the getting back up. And that’s also the hardest part. But we can do it in Jesus’ name. I’m struggling a bit right now, but I know I’ll “get over it.” Of course, I no more than say that and then something else will come along and give me the go around. Be patient with yourself, and let God do His work in you, and through you. 👍
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I’m not really struggling with Catholicism, I guess I’m looking for what I’ve missed. You make a good point to what RCIA is, and it is the more or less roots of Catholicism. But unlike the children raised in a Catholic household who have CCD, their parents, and most cases their extended family; we do not (well at least I do not).

Don’t get me wrong, I love Catholicism, its the reason I went through with baptism and confirmation but I feel like I can only read (ie The Faith Explained by Trese, Catholic Answers to Catholic Questions by Thigpen, or even The Catholic Source Book [even that is hard to fully understand without knowing the traditions or family life]) and thus learn so much stuff about tradition verses living it.

I try and pray the rosary at least once a week (strive for twice) but it’s hard with college; but I don’t know how often ‘normal’ Catholic families do it or the environment they do etc. It’s more frustrating than it is a struggle, for me at least.

I know I have to trust in Jesus and I am but I’m not going to lie, I’m a tad impatient ;).
 
ASawyer said:
My name is Aaron and I have been Catholic for a little over a year, although I have learned so much about Catholicism via RCIA and independent reading I still feel like I’m missing something.

I have a few good Catholic friends (I am the only Catholic in my family) and I just love how they have been raised and how much they truly have learned over their 18/19 years of life. I am jealous of them for that. I know there is so much to learn about the Church and about everything from CCC to the traditions etc.

However sometimes when I talk to these friends I feel like I am nothing more than an impersonator because I do not know as much as them. There so much to learn that I need some ground points. It is also kind of hard because I have taken a liking to this very devout and well education Catholic girl, who I have learned much from thus far. I just do not want to sound like an idiot. I see the Holy Spirit in her and she in me and we are going to begin reading the CCC together shortly, but I want more, I am craving for more knowledge about this beautiful religion I have not been apart of for my 19 years of life. I have had no interest in stuff like TV since I started talking to her because I want this strong relationship with God and the knowledge that she has acquired from CCD, her family, and Catholic school. I’m a bit too embarassed to ask her about it because I think she believes I know more than I do; and although RCIA did teach me a lot (same with the books I’ve read), I have missed out on the traditions and little things about being Catholic.

I plan to always be Catholic and I plan to raise my kids that way (when that happens sometime down the road) but I feel like there’s much more I need to learn before I would even consider myself a ‘true’ Catholic.

All advice appreciated and welcomed.
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Hi Aaron,

If I might make a suggestion, it would be to try to focus on measuring your progress towards the achievement of Christian perfection, rather than by your knowledge compared to others. This is easier said than done, which I know first hand.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting that you should not make efforts towards knowing your Faith, far from it. I am merely suggesting that Heaven is the goal, and that all of us, me certainly included, need to keep that in the front of our minds at all time.

Since you did mention a desire to know your Faith better, and also traditions, I respectfully suggest that you consider the study of these three books side by side with one another.
  • The Catechism of the Catholic Church
  • Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, by Ludwig Ott
  • The Sources of Catholic Dogma, by Denzinger.
I am currently doing this in such a way that I choose a topic in the CCC, and then track it down in the other two books and compare what all three have to say about it. I am finding it to be incredibly fruitful.

If you try this, I believe you will gain a deeper understanding of how the Faith has been traditionally taught, where our teachings come from (Sacred Scripture, Church Fathers, Councils, etc.), and then how it is presented and taught in modern times. Please don’t misunderstand me on that last bit. Truth does not change, and the sense of a doctrine cannot change, this was explicitly taught by Vatican I.

First Vatican Council, Session Three, Chapter 4, On Faith and Reason
  1. For the doctrine of the faith which God has revealed is put forward not as some philosophical discovery capable of being perfected by human intelligence, but as a divine deposit committed to the spouse of Christ to be faithfully protected and infallibly promulgated.
  2. Hence, too, that meaning of the sacred dogmas is ever to be maintained which has once been declared by Holy mother Church, and there must never be any abandonment of this sense under the pretext or in the name of a more profound understanding.
May understanding, knowledge and wisdom increase as ages and centuries roll along, and greatly and vigorously flourish, in each and all, in the individual and the whole Church: but this only in its own proper kind, that is to say, in the same doctrine, the same sense, and the same understanding.

First Vatican Council, Session Three, Canons
  1. If anyone says that it is possible that at some time, given the advancement of knowledge, a sense may be assigned to the dogmas propounded by the Church which is different from that which the Church has understood and understands: let him be anathema.
However, the manner in which we present unchangeable Truth can change. Its important to understand the difference between those two things. I struggled with that when I came into the Church. Perhaps this does not apply to you, but my sense from speaking to other converts is that I am not alone in this issue.

The two books other than the CCC that I mentioned above are both available freely online, or you can purchase them if you prefer a hard copy. Because they are online for free, I downloaded them and saved them in PDF format and in mobi format for use in Kindle. Unfortunately, the files are too large to upload to CAF or I would be happy to share them with you.

I hope this is helpful.

Peace of Christ,
 
There are many resources that can help you grow in your faith. RCIA, can only touch the depth of what one needs to know to fully understand their new faith. The Deacons and preist are always good resources for specific questions, and as a deacon I am always happy to guide people in the faith. A book I would recommend that is easy to read and understand is “Catholicism” by Fr. Robert Barron. His “Word on Fire” web site is also helpful.
DCNFAB
 
I have an idea of what you are going through and the best advice I can give is to remember that it’s a day-by-day process. I came into the Church 7 years ago not knowing anything, but having the desire to embrace everything Catholic. I’m also the only Catholic in my family, but we have the communion of Saints and all of our Catholic brothers and sisters! Prayer has been the key for me and attending daily Mass along with having a good Spiritual Director.
My favorite book has been the “Introduction to the Devout Life” by Saint Francis de Sales and I aim to pray the Rosary every day. Mike Aquilina has some excellent books for “beginners” that really helped me, too. Get to know the teachings of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church and you can’t go wrong. Most of all, desire God’s will every moment…

comepraytherosary.org/
 
ASawyer said:
I have a few good Catholic friends (I am the only Catholic in my family) and I just love how they have been raised and how much they truly have learned over their 18/19 years of life. I am jealous of them for that. I know there is so much to learn about the Church and about everything from CCC to the traditions etc.

However sometimes when I talk to these friends I feel like I am nothing more than an impersonator because I do not know as much as them.
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You’re just hanging around the wrong people. 😉

Not really, but my experience has been just the opposite - so many life-long Catholics who don’t know much about their faith. Admittedly, these are people in their 50s & older. I think there are more young people know who do know quite a lot.

But whether a convert or cradle Catholic, learning never stops. And you have a unique perspective to add to any conversation about the faith - your own conversion story.
 
Firstly don’t worry!

If you know the basics, vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/credo.htm

eg you know that the bread & wine is transformed into our Lord, if you know Christ was born of a virgin and became man, died for us & rose again from the dead for the forgiveness of sins & those who are forgiven will rise from the dead too, that there are three aspects of God: the Father, Son & Holy Spirit and they are all wholly God, if you know there have been many holy people to inspire us, if you know our mission is to pray & help the poor, if you know God’s spirit lives on earth with us, if you know authority has been passed down.

This is only by memory if I have forgotten anything i’m sorry, but you get the idea, all the rest is a garden of faith around the central tree.

PAX+
 
"Seek you first the Kingdom of Heaven and all things will come to you’. Some scripture verse like that. Seek out those in the Church who can help you grow, and just be honest with the girl you are interested in and ask for her help in your growth. Tell her that you are excited in your newfound faith, and she can’t help but be excited with you also. She will want to help you!

For I know that I am going to be converted as a Catholic too and my fiance is just delighted and proud of me for finding the faith. So, don’t be embarrassed.
 
ASawyer said:
My name is Aaron and I have been Catholic for a little over a year, although I have learned so much about Catholicism via RCIA and independent reading I still feel like I’m missing something.

I have a few good Catholic friends (I am the only Catholic in my family) and I just love how they have been raised and how much they truly have learned over their 18/19 years of life. I am jealous of them for that. I know there is so much to learn about the Church and about everything from CCC to the traditions etc.

However sometimes when I talk to these friends I feel like I am nothing more than an impersonator because I do not know as much as them. There so much to learn that I need some ground points. It is also kind of hard because I have taken a liking to this very devout and well education Catholic girl, who I have learned much from thus far. I just do not want to sound like an idiot. I see the Holy Spirit in her and she in me and we are going to begin reading the CCC together shortly, but I want more, I am craving for more knowledge about this beautiful religion I have not been apart of for my 19 years of life. I have had no interest in stuff like TV since I started talking to her because I want this strong relationship with God and the knowledge that she has acquired from CCD, her family, and Catholic school. I’m a bit too embarassed to ask her about it because I think she believes I know more than I do; and although RCIA did teach me a lot (same with the books I’ve read), I have missed out on the traditions and little things about being Catholic.

I plan to always be Catholic and I plan to raise my kids that way (when that happens sometime down the road) but I feel like there’s much more I need to learn before I would even consider myself a ‘true’ Catholic.

All advice appreciated and welcomed.
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ASawyer, have no fear! Old lady here 😉 I left the Catholic church for over 37 years when I turned 24. Now I am 62. I too feel like an imposter sometimes. Have no fear, though. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to grow in the most important virtue…humility. I’ve been back in the church for 2 years now. Let me tell you some things I have done to overcome those feelings you mentioned.
  1. I got involved in ministry…a bit too many ministries. 😊 however, being involved is a great way to get yourself well grounded/rooted in the Catholic church…which is true about anything.
  2. I started purchasing and listening to CDs from the LIGHTHOUSE CATHOLIC MEDIA. I highly, HIGHLY recommend them. You can find them online.
  3. I have recently added daily Mass to my routine. I’ve been doing that since Ash Wednesday this year. I love it.
Please, don’t ever let the enemy convince you that you are not Catholic or that you have somehow come up short. You are on a journey and it has only begun. It’s a long journey so don’t think you’re going to get there by tomorrow 🙂 Enjoy the ride. I am so sorrowful for having ever left the church. I am so happy to be back home. Thank you for sharing your own story with us. It is so encouraging to me. And one more thing:
WELCOME!
 
I think you may be going through the post-convert “dip”. I was warned about this and given advice by my Catechist on how to get through it. Apparently a lot of converts make it through the roller-coaster of RCIA and then the huge emotional “high” of being received into the Church and then…and then…

…and then what do you do. 🤷 You see what I mean? 😉

Take a deep breath. You are going to be Catholic for the rest of eternity, and it’s not a race against time or against other Catholics. Set aside time to read, listen and learn (hard I know with so much else going on in life and especially if you are in college).

I’ll bet that girl you are keen on is as pleased as punch that a nice Catholic chap is interested in her and interested in building a friendship (and perhaps more) founded in faith.

One of the previous posters recommended Fr Robert Barron’s Catholicism series. I heartily agree with that. The whole work (both book and DVDs) are inspiring and soundly accurate and will certainly give you joy.
 
ASawyer said:
My name is Aaron and I have been Catholic for a little over a year, although I have learned so much about Catholicism via RCIA and independent reading I still feel like I’m missing something.

I have a few good Catholic friends (I am the only Catholic in my family) and I just love how they have been raised and how much they truly have learned over their 18/19 years of life. I am jealous of them for that. I know there is so much to learn about the Church and about everything from CCC to the traditions etc.

However sometimes when I talk to these friends I feel like I am nothing more than an impersonator because I do not know as much as them. There so much to learn that I need some ground points. It is also kind of hard because I have taken a liking to this very devout and well education Catholic girl, who I have learned much from thus far. I just do not want to sound like an idiot. I see the Holy Spirit in her and she in me and we are going to begin reading the CCC together shortly, but I want more, I am craving for more knowledge about this beautiful religion I have not been apart of for my 19 years of life. I have had no interest in stuff like TV since I started talking to her because I want this strong relationship with God and the knowledge that she has acquired from CCD, her family, and Catholic school. I’m a bit too embarassed to ask her about it because I think she believes I know more than I do; and although RCIA did teach me a lot (same with the books I’ve read), I have missed out on the traditions and little things about being Catholic.

I plan to always be Catholic and I plan to raise my kids that way (when that happens sometime down the road) but I feel like there’s much more I need to learn before I would even consider myself a ‘true’ Catholic.

All advice appreciated and welcomed.
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If you read and study the Catechism of the Catholic Church ( including the footnotes) and read at least the New Testament daily, you will make a good start. Next keep up with these web sites and look over their books, etc. You can’t learn everything in a a year or two, but soon you will be making great strides.

strangenotions.com/

newadvent.org/

ewtn.com/

Linus2nd
 
I just want to say

[SIGN]Welcome Home![/SIGN]

I signed up here to learn more about my faith, and I am a “cradle Catholic” who fell away after my devout mother died when I was 10. There was a lot I missed, and a lot I forgot! I’m still learning or re-learning some prayers that other Catholics can spew out by heart, but that’s OK. God isn’t giving me any pop quizzes!

The heart of a convert is a beautiful thing! Don’t ever feel less-than. You have a lot to bring to our Church! Falling in love with our faith is something that many cradle Catholics don’t ever seem to do, that most converts do. I love to hear conversion stories because the work of the Holy Spirit is so marvelously powerful.

Just do your best every day, pray, receive the sacraments, and read. I am so glad that you have good solid FAITHFUL Catholics around you! What a blessing that will be.

:love::love:
 
ASawyer said:
My name is Aaron and I have been Catholic for a little over a year, although I have learned so much about Catholicism via RCIA and independent reading I still feel like I’m missing something.

I have a few good Catholic friends (I am the only Catholic in my family) and I just love how they have been raised and how much they truly have learned over their 18/19 years of life. I am jealous of them for that. I know there is so much to learn about the Church and about everything from CCC to the traditions etc.

However sometimes when I talk to these friends I feel like I am nothing more than an impersonator because I do not know as much as them. There so much to learn that I need some ground points. It is also kind of hard because I have taken a liking to this very devout and well education Catholic girl, who I have learned much from thus far. I just do not want to sound like an idiot. I see the Holy Spirit in her and she in me and we are going to begin reading the CCC together shortly, but I want more, I am craving for more knowledge about this beautiful religion I have not been apart of for my 19 years of life. I have had no interest in stuff like TV since I started talking to her because I want this strong relationship with God and the knowledge that she has acquired from CCD, her family, and Catholic school. I’m a bit too embarassed to ask her about it because I think she believes I know more than I do; and although RCIA did teach me a lot (same with the books I’ve read), I have missed out on the traditions and little things about being Catholic.

I plan to always be Catholic and I plan to raise my kids that way (when that happens sometime down the road) but I feel like there’s much more I need to learn before I would even consider myself a ‘true’ Catholic.

All advice appreciated and welcomed.
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Yep! How about using your gifts of the Holy Spirit to serve your parish community to edify the Kingdom of God.
 
And don’t be put off by how much reading you find there is you can do!!! 🙂

Take it slowly.

Sometimes I find modern writers are easier to read.
Maybe people can suggest some easier reads 🙂

PAX+
 
Netty1 said:
I think you may be going through the post-convert “dip”. I was warned about this and given advice by my Catechist on how to get through it. Apparently a lot of converts make it through the roller-coaster of RCIA and then the huge emotional “high” of being received into the Church and then…and then…

…and then what do you do. 🤷 You see what I mean? 😉

Take a deep breath. You are going to be Catholic for the rest of eternity, and it’s not a race against time or against other Catholics. Set aside time to read, listen and learn (hard I know with so much else going on in life and especially if you are in college).

I’ll bet that girl you are keen on is as pleased as punch that a nice Catholic chap is interested in her and interested in building a friendship (and perhaps more) founded in faith.

One of the previous posters recommended Fr Robert Barron’s Catholicism series. I heartily agree with that. The whole work (both book and DVDs) are inspiring and soundly accurate and will certainly give you joy.
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I was going through Fr. Barron’s Catholicism series. EXCELLENT. But, I also was going through the “dip” and I’m glad to hear it mentioned. Since I am really a “RE-vert” I started to spiral down. But, just took a deep breath and waited for it to pass. It did.
 
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