noncatholic churches

[traillius]

I attended some. They always left me hungry for more. Maybe the reason why others aren’t so hungry for everything the CC offers, and not hungry in their churches, is because they’ve never tasted the fullness. If you never ate veggies, but only meat and bread, you wouldn’t long for the taste of something green. However, if you grew up with lots of vegetable intake, and then stopped, you would eventually miss the green,a nd probably go back to it.

 

[Lutheranteach]

Interesting point. I went through RCIA, have been to literally a couple hundred masses in small churches and huge cathedrals, thought some of them were good experiences, some of them miserable. Yet, I have never felt as spiritually full as I do in Lutheran Church services — especially those in my hometown. To each his own. I think we tread in dangerous ground if we think others would be the same religion/denomination if they only knew the whole =stroy or truth…it’s just not always the case.

 

[JackVk]

I was in one about a week ago. It looked more like a concert hall then a church

 

[tabbey48]

I was a Protestant for many years. Now I am Roman Catholic by personal choice. But there are things I still miss from the Protestant churches I attended and served as a Pastor.

I met many “former Catholics” who had taken membership in the Protestant churches I served. They usually said the same thing that was said earlier in this post: “They always left me hungry for more.” The difference was that they were talking about the Roman Catholic Church.

 

[Jim_Dandy]

One can’t love what one does not know.

I have to be Catholic because it’s important to me to believe as the first Christians believed, who were taught personally by the Apostles or their disciples. The Bible came out of the Church; the Church did not come out of the Bible.

Jim Dandy
Ex-Protestant, ex-agnostic, ex-atheist, ecstatic to be Catholic!

 

[tabbey48]

One can’t love what one does not know.

I have to be Catholic because it’s important to me to believe as the first Christians believed, who were taught personally by the Apostles or their disciples. The Bible came out of the Church; the Church did not come out of the Bible.

Jim Dandy
Ex-Protestant, ex-agnostic, ex-atheist, ecstatic to be Catholic!

I agree with everything you said! It is important to me to be Catholic. But I know people who do not agree. And at least some of them were Catholics, were still “hungry”, and found what they were looking for in one of the Protestant Churches. I don’t understand that; but I am telling you what THEY have said.

The truth of the matter is that not all Catholics agree on what “being Catholic” means. If you don’t believe me, just read the posts on Catholic Answers Forum.

 

[gmcbroom]

It’s true that some drift from the faith. It is a phenomenom that occurs in all faiths. In fact Its happening with a friend of mine who is a cradle catholic. I’ve tried to help her by letting her borrow a cd on the 7 Pillars of Catholic Spirituality yet, she declined. So all I can do is pray for her and remind her she’ll always be catholic she just needs to come home the door is always open.
peace be with you
gmcbroom

 

[ConstantineTG]

Interesting point. I went through RCIA, have been to literally a couple hundred masses in small churches and huge cathedrals, thought some of them were good experiences, some of them miserable. Yet, I have never felt as spiritually full as I do in Lutheran Church services — especially those in my hometown. To each his own. I think we tread in dangerous ground if we think others would be the same religion/denomination if they only knew the whole =stroy or truth…it’s just not always the case.

Have you tried an Eastern Liturgy? I have been spiritually fed by the Roman Mass for years but when I started attending a Byzantine Divine Liturgy, it just changed everything for me. The different forms of Church Liturgy is meant for the difference in people, some respond better to one form over the other. But given the completeness of the Liturgy as intended by Christ, I cannot find myself in anything other than a Catholic Liturgy. Even though I acknowledge a Lutheran or Anglican Liturgy will closely resemble a Roman Catholic one, but there is just something missing there.

 

[JonNC]

Have you tried an Eastern Liturgy? I have been spiritually fed by the Roman Mass for years but when I started attending a Byzantine Divine Liturgy, it just changed everything for me. The different forms of Church Liturgy is meant for the difference in people, some respond better to one form over the other. But given the completeness of the Liturgy as intended by Christ, I cannot find myself in anything other than a Catholic Liturgy. Even though I acknowledge a Lutheran or Anglican Liturgy will closely resemble a Roman Catholic one, but there is just something missing there.

It is curious. I’m a cradle Lutheran, and the times I’ve been to Catholic Mass I’ve been moved by its scripture, beauty, and yes, I felt very much at home. I’ve felt the same way when attending a Anglican service. And yet, there is something about the Lutheran liturgy, the music etc., that would be very hard for me to give up.

Oh, that we could share each other’s strengths, and receive His body and blood around each other’s altars.

Jon

 

[Roy5]

A lot has to do with how we were raised. For a traditional Catholic to go to a typical Baptist Church - for example - is to have a very different experience. One is rich in ritual, vestments, and previse liturgy. The other is likely to be a simple worship service, often led by a minister without vestments, and everything can seem much less liturgical, less dependent upon written prayers and such.

I come from a mixed Catholic/Protestant heritage, and I bend more and more toward less ritual, more spontaneity, less pomp and ceremony, more simplicity. I recently watched the consecration of new Bishops in St. Peter's and it really hit me. So much gold, so many ornate vestments, so much precise and even 'prissy' ceremony. I know this impresses many, but I have to wonder what Jesus - born in a manger, with no place to lay his head - was thinking. 

 "Different strokes for different folks." What touches the hearts and souls of many Catholics would leave many Protestant cold - and vice versa. I'm quite sure that God isn't concerned about our rituals. I'm sure that God is concerned about our obedience to those two commandments: love the Lord and love one another. Those words of Amos come to mind. They went something like this (paraphrasing): "I will not smell of your incense. I will take no delight in your burnt offerings. But let justice roll down like waters and righteouness as a mighty stream!"

 

[tsering]

I attended some. They always left me hungry for more. Maybe the reason why others aren’t so hungry for everything the CC offers, and not hungry in their churches, is because they’ve never tasted the fullness.

I guess I could say that is the exact feeling I’m having when coming to the Catholic Church. There is certainly a “fullness” that I cannot find anywhere else, and it really comes down to the One I’m really hungry for - Jesus. He is there body, blood, soul, and divinity. Here is a place where I don’t just feel His presence, or hear His words - this is the place where I experience Him how He intended me to. I love Him - all of Him. I don’t find Him is this way anywhere else, and honestly no other church makes this claim - that He is there body, blood, soul and divinity.

When I first converted to Christ in a pentecostal church, the preacher impressed me when he said that God wants to dwell inside us. I believe this is most vividly experienced when one is finally able to consume Him during the Mass. And I think in reality He consumes us - into His love, His family, His kingdom, His body, His church. He gives all to us, and we give all to Him.

Plus, hands down, I’ve never been to a more biblical church service…ever.

Peace

 

[tabbey48]

It is curious. I’m a cradle Lutheran, and the times I’ve been to Catholic Mass I’ve been moved by its scripture, beauty, and yes, I felt very much at home. I’ve felt the same way when attending a Anglican service. And yet, there is something about the Lutheran liturgy, the music etc., that would be very hard for me to give up.

Oh, that we could share each other’s strengths, and receive His body and blood around each other’s altars.

Jon

To your last sentence, AMEN!!!

 

[Matthew_P_Muehl]

Have you tried an Eastern Liturgy? I have been spiritually fed by the Roman Mass for years but when I started attending a Byzantine Divine Liturgy, it just changed everything for me. The different forms of Church Liturgy is meant for the difference in people, some respond better to one form over the other. But given the completeness of the Liturgy as intended by Christ, I cannot find myself in anything other than a Catholic Liturgy. Even though I acknowledge a Lutheran or Anglican Liturgy will closely resemble a Roman Catholic one, but there is just something missing there.

Since the Protestants do not have valid Holy Orders, The Body Blood Soul and Divinity of Christ will always be missing!

Matthew

 

[JonNC]

Since the Protestants do not have valid Holy Orders, The Body Blood Soul and Divinity of Christ will always be missing!

Matthew

This is the Catholic teaching, Matthew, and you do well as a Catholic to espouse it. Of course, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger said this, as well:

I count among the most important results of the ecumenical dialogues the insight that the issue of the eucharist cannot be narrowed to the problem of ‘validity.’ Even a theology oriented to the concept of succession, such as that which holds in the Catholic and in the Orthodox church, need not in any way deny the salvation-granting presence of the Lord [Heilschaffende Gegenwart des Herrn] in a Lutheran [evangelische] Lord’s Supper

Understand, of course, that we are convinced without question that at our Eucharist, we receive the real and substantial body and blood of Christ, just as we believe you do at yours.

Jon

 

[Montalo]

to be precise with out language

What you are referring to are ecclesiastical communities, not churches

There are Churches with valid sacraments from the catholic standpoint, namely the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, The Polish National Cathiolc Church, the Arysian Church of the east(i believe).

 

[Jim_Dandy]

Have you tried an Eastern Liturgy? I have been spiritually fed by the Roman Mass for years but when I started attending a Byzantine Divine Liturgy, it just changed everything for me. The different forms of Church Liturgy is meant for the difference in people, some respond better to one form over the other. But given the completeness of the Liturgy as intended by Christ, I cannot find myself in anything other than a Catholic Liturgy. Even though I acknowledge a Lutheran or Anglican Liturgy will closely resemble a Roman Catholic one, but there is just something missing there.

The “something” that is missing there is the Eucharist.

Everything taught by the Apostles and believed by the first Christians can be found only in the Catholic Church.

The Byzantine Liturgy is beautiful. My favorite is the Maronite Liturgy. I love the Latin Mass. I love Mass, period. It’s as essential to my life as as breathing.

Jim Dandy

 

[Jim_Dandy]

A lot has to do with how we were raised. For a traditional Catholic to go to a typical Baptist Church - for example - is to have a very different experience. One is rich in ritual, vestments, and previse liturgy. The other is likely to be a simple worship service, often led by a minister without vestments, and everything can seem much less liturgical, less dependent upon written prayers and such.

I come from a mixed Catholic/Protestant heritage, and I bend more and more toward less ritual, more spontaneity, less pomp and ceremony, more simplicity. I recently watched the consecration of new Bishops in St. Peter's and it really hit me. So much gold, so many ornate vestments, so much precise and even 'prissy' ceremony. I know this impresses many, but I have to wonder what Jesus - born in a manger, with no place to lay his head - was thinking. 

 "Different strokes for different folks." What touches the hearts and souls of many Catholics would leave many Protestant cold - and vice versa. I'm quite sure that God isn't concerned about our rituals. I'm sure that God is concerned about our obedience to those two commandments: love the Lord and love one another. Those words of Amos come to mind. They went something like this (paraphrasing): "I will not smell of your incense. I will take no delight in your burnt offerings. But let justice roll down like waters and righteouness as a mighty stream!"

The Mass is the original form of Christian worship. Christ presided at the first Mass. Have you read the *Didache * and the History of the Church by Eusebius, A.D. 324? Eusebius wrote the oldest surviving history of Christianity outside the New Testament. Eusebius describes St. James (who was the Bishop of Jerusalem) celebrating Mass in mitre (that pointy hat bishops wear during liturgy) and vestments.

“For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 1:11

*“Let my prayer be counted as incense before thee, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice” *Psalms 141:2

Revelation is a vision of the Mass in heaven: “Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones” Rev 5:8

Luke describes Zechariah entering the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem to burn incense at the “hour of incense” in the first chapter of his Gospel.

I learned as a Catholic to read Scripture holistically, by subject or theme. I didn’t do that as a Baptist. It makes a difference in how I understand it.

Peace be with you.

Jim Dandy