Non-Catholic with questions

[heathkyker]

Hello. I am not Catholic. I do, however, absolutely love the Catholic Church, and I do believe that it is the true church of Jesus Christ. I was baptized with the Trinitarian formula at age seven.

In my job, I see many shrines in peoples front yards honoring Mary, Jesus, and many other saints. I often ask for the intercession of Mary, and I am devoted to Jesus 100 percent. I attend a nondenominational church with my fiance, who is also a non-Catholic, and I would like to ask:

1. I know that in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it states “there is no salvation outside of the church.” Does this mean I am going to hell?
2. Can I still pray the rosary even if I am not Catholic?
3. Can honoring Mary go too far?

I’m sure I’ll have more questions later

 

[adrift]

Welcome!

1. I know that in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it states “there is no salvation outside of the church.” Does this mean I am going to hell?

There are other threads on this topic that you could search for.
Anyone who is baptized is considered part of the Church. Try this link and this link for a good explanation.

1. Can I still pray the rosary even if I am not Catholic?

Why not? Would you include me and my family once as you pray the rosary. I would appreciate it.

1. Can honoring Mary go too far?

You would have to define to far. If you were truly honoring Mary, you would as she does, put God first. So if you were truly honoring Mary, it would always be honoring God as well.

 

[ralphinal]

Hello. I am not Catholic. I do, however, absolutely love the Catholic Church, and I do believe that it is the true church of Jesus Christ. I was baptized with the Trinitarian formula at age seven.

In my job, I see many shrines in peoples front yards honoring Mary, Jesus, and many other saints. I often ask for the intercession of Mary, and I am devoted to Jesus 100 percent. I attend a nondenominational church with my fiance, who is also a non-Catholic, and I would like to ask:

Welcome and hello

1. I know that in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it states “there is no salvation outside of the church.” Does this mean I am going to hell?

Not because of that. I pray that you don’t go for any reason. Anyway, if you were baptised, you are part of the Church. Now, I don’t know if you are a first cousin, a thrid cousin or what, but you are in the Family. Basically, to be “outside” in this phrase is to know what the CHurch teaches, to know that it is true, and to refuse to accept it. Any other state is to be removed but not automatically in a state of loss of salvation.

1. Can I still pray the rosary even if I am not Catholic?

Please do. You might like to look at some of the meditations out there. Also, do not neglect the Luminous mysteries. Jose Maria Escriva had some good meditations.

1. Can honoring Mary go too far?

I’m sure I’ll have more questions later

Yes, and when it does, it is against Church teachings

I welcome your questions as they come up

 

[vee8]

Hello. I am not Catholic. I do, however, absolutely love the Catholic Church, and I do believe that it is the true church of Jesus Christ. I was baptized with the Trinitarian formula at age seven.

In my job, I see many shrines in peoples front yards honoring Mary, Jesus, and many other saints. I often ask for the intercession of Mary, and I am devoted to Jesus 100 percent. I attend a nondenominational church with my fiance, who is also a non-Catholic, and I would like to ask:

1. I know that in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it states “there is no salvation outside of the church.” Does this mean I am going to hell?
2. Can I still pray the rosary even if I am not Catholic?
3. Can honoring Mary go too far?

I’m sure I’ll have more questions later

Welcome!
1 others answered that
2. pray away! Ive heard of at least one non Christian that loved to pray the rosary. It was a friend of my Japanese teacher that passed away. I have a question though when you pray the rosary as a non Catholic what do you say for the Apostle`s Creed at the beginning? Do you substitute another Our Father or something? Also if you like the rosary you might also like the chaplet of Divine Mercy too.
ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm
3. Hmm can you love your Mom too much? Mary is the perfect Mom who never gets tired of our childishness and who never keeps the attention to herself but redirects us to He who had done great things for her. That is if people arent making up their own beliefs.

 

[Belloc_Fan]

1. I know that in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it states “there is no salvation outside of the church.” Does this mean I am going to hell?

Others have already answered, but you’re considered a “separated sister” in Christ. That is, you’re in an imperfect union with the Church. There’s damage to repair, but it’s radically different than being totally outside of the Church. That said, as I understand it, you can cut yourself off from the Church if you feel God’s call to join the Catholic Church and refuse Him.

From my perspective, the important question isn’t “what might happen to me if I don’t join the Catholic Church?” but “if this **is **the Church founded by Jesus Christ, why not start RCIA ASAP?”

1. Can I still pray the rosary even if I am not Catholic?

Absolutely!

1. Can honoring Mary go too far?

No. But let me be clear. **Worship **of Mary would be morally awful, of course, terribly terribly sinful. But honor isn’t the same thing as worship at all, and it doesn’t risk it. Think of the people you honor the most - is that in any way the same as the worship you give to your Lord?

Imagine it’s mother’s day. You might get your mom a card, or maybe something bigger (a nice gift), or even bigger (gift, card, and breakfast in bed), or something huge (all of the above, plus a nice cruise). Is there some point on that list where you stopped just loving and honoring her and started worshiping her? Of course not.

We believe that Mary is our spiritual Mother, and that Jesus Christ made her so from the Cross, when He told the Beloved Disciple (literally John, but representing all of us), “Behold your Mother.” Additionally, Revelation 12:1-5 describes Mary as the Queen of Heaven, and Rev. 12:17 describes her as the Mother of all Christians. So honor her as you would your mom, the Queen of Heaven, and the Mother of God, rolled into one. (note also, that all of those attributes of Mary are strictly Biblical, so this isn’t some weird thing that the Catholic Church added later).

 

[User_Name_Craig]

What a great post.

Good luck and God Bless You!!

Craig