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TwinMommy
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That is great!!
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pablope
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pablope
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Yes, you can pray it. It is not limited to Catholics only. Well, it looks like the Holy Mother found you already…you are already looking at the Rosary…
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Mariem2
Guest
Twinmommy: It’s a joy to read your posts. Your enthusiasm is inspiring.
Most kids I know say this prayer at bedtime:
God our Father, I come to say
Thank you for your love today.
Thank you for my family
And all the friends you give to me.
Guard me through the dark of night,
And in the morning send your light.
Amen.
I reckon it’s suitable for a 5 year old.
I’ll say a little prayer tonight for you and yours.
Most kids I know say this prayer at bedtime:
God our Father, I come to say
Thank you for your love today.
Thank you for my family
And all the friends you give to me.
Guard me through the dark of night,
And in the morning send your light.
Amen.
I reckon it’s suitable for a 5 year old.
I’ll say a little prayer tonight for you and yours.
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TwinMommy
Guest
There are also apps for the Rosary, the Divine Mercy…for free.
And yes, the saints…once you get to read about them…they help enrich us.
I did realize that on the app I have that there is an interactive Rosary. Totally awesome!
I think for the first couple of weeks I will go to Mass on my own, so I can learn and inquire about things as needed.
I do plan on reading up on Guardian Angels. I did see the prayer in a list of prayers and it peaked my curiosity. Guardian Angels have never been brought up in the churches I was at,
Thank you for letting me know about that. I did not know that was coming up. I don’t know much about Lent except you give up something…that could even be wrong. Learning that all I knew was way off.
I will start looking later today into what the schedules are. I would love to be there on those days.
That is great that Mass is said every day.Really love hearing that.
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Shamati
Guest
I’m not catholic yet I pray the Rosary & i believe it gives great honor to God by honoring his mother. I like to make up my own rosary combinations which is fun!
On the question of Bibles i have a superb recommendation for you. I am swedish but like o read english Bibles from time to time and so when I bought myself a Catholic Bible I went with the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition because of these two facts: It is the Bible translation preferred by Dr. Scott Hahn who is a very learned (former evangelical) Bible scholar AND it is the version used by Pope (Emeritus) Benedict XVI in his various papal letters and teachings.
Since you are in the position I was in when I looked for a catholic bible I recommend this specific one called Catholic Scripture Study Bible by St. Benedict Press amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1935302493/ref=redir_mdp_mobile
tanbooks.com/index.php/Catholic-Scripture-Study-Bible-RSV-Large-Print-Edition
It is not a regular study bible in the way we’re come to know them in the protestant world as it has almost no footnotes, but instead it has a number of beautiful inserts of full pages called “Faith Facts” that lists & explains the most common questions about the catholic faith with references to their biblical basis through scripture references. It is very high quality with medium large font and the Words of Christ in red
its a bit expensive but except for my family bible its the best quality bible i have laid my hands onIf you’re a bookjunkie like me i also highly recommend the Jesus of Nazareth series by Benedict XVI
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TwinMommy
Guest
It really hit it home as to how deep the meaning on praying the Rosary is when I was watching some vids on YouTube about how it is done. The enthusiasm of this one girl was inspiring.Yes, you can pray it. It is not limited to Catholics only. Well, it looks like the Holy Mother found you already…you are already looking at the Rosary…
I was a Buddhist for about two years. When saying mantras Mala Beads are used. Each bead, you say the mantra. The Rosary with no meaning behind it is how I would describe it. Really seems like it helps focus the prayers and gets you into the right place to go to God.
Was reading up on Lectio Divina and I really felt pulled to it. Mediating and praying go so well together. When someone is focusing their minds on God, there is nothing wrong with it. I know in my current church meditation is frowned upon big time for some reason. I don’t get it.
I am being shown the things I need to know from one minute to the next. I can not wait to get to Mass. My mom flies in tomorrow morning for a week. I might see if she will watch my boys while I go to Mass at a local church here.
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TwinMommy
Guest
How long have you been moving into the Catholic faith out of Protestant?I’m not catholic yet I pray the Rosary & i believe it gives great honor to God by honoring his mother. I like to make up my own rosary combinations which is fun!
On the question of Bibles i have a superb recommendation for you. I am swedish but like o read english Bibles from time to time and so when I bought myself a Catholic Bible I went with the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition because of these two facts: It is the Bible translation preferred by Dr. Scott Hahn who is a very learned (former evangelical) Bible scholar AND it is the version used by Pope (Emeritus) Benedict XVI in his various papal letters and teachings.
Since you are in the position I was in when I looked for a catholic bible I recommend this specific one called Catholic Scripture Study Bible by St. Benedict Press amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1935302493/ref=redir_mdp_mobile
tanbooks.com/index.php/Catholic-Scripture-Study-Bible-RSV-Large-Print-Edition
It is not a regular study bible in the way we’re come to know them in the protestant world as it has almost no footnotes, but instead it has a number of beautiful inserts of full pages called “Faith Facts” that lists & explains the most common questions about the catholic faith with references to their biblical basis through scripture references. It is very high quality with medium large font and the Words of Christ in red
If you’re a bookjunkie like me i also highly recommend the Jesus of Nazareth series by Benedict XVI
I was wondering if there were any kind of study Bibles. I have four Protestant ones here. I love Bibles. And I love books. I read a lot. I am the librarian at my church and put the entire library together.
What kind of different combinations for praying the Rosary do you use?
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RebeccaJ
Guest
It didn’t take more than a few weeks to get where everyone is standing, sitting or kneeling during ordinary time. The kicker was, Mass changes, sometimes in small ways, sometimes very large, depending on what season of the liturgical calendar.
Coming from a non-Christian background, as far from Catholicism as you can get, I didn’t know there was such a thing as a liturgical calendar. I thought I was doing pretty well, until one Sunday I show up and everyone is standing outside the church, even the priest. Everyone is holding palm leaves, and I was thinking, “Whoa! What have I just walked into?!” For the life of me I didn’t know what I was supposed to do with a tree leaf, or why I was holding a leaf. That was a very weird experience for me! I went home and told my family that the people at Mass gave me a leaf! I was like this:
The second year I went to Palm Sunday Mass, I was more prepared, and had time to read up on what it was all about. The third year I went was the Palm Sunday before I was baptized, and I still thought holding a tree leaf was a weird experience, but I got why.
It is like you said, you don’t understand the traditions or customs. There were times, for a good 3 years, that I felt like I had been dropped into a foreign country where I didn’t know the language or customs. Even now, 5 years since my baptism, I come across terms and traditions I’ve never heard of.
It can be overwhelming. Just take it slow. You don’t need to jump into the deep end and figure out every Catholic tradition and custom. I don’t know that you could, since they vary from culture to culture. Mass is the best place to start, and to read about, as every moment has meaning, and generally is the same across cultures. The most variation I’ve seen is that some cultures put more emphasis on certain Saint’s days than others, with associated celebrations that are unique to that culture.
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HoosMommie
Guest
The rosary was where I began my journey and I have come to love our Blessed Mother Mary. I saw this somewhere: Jesus loves us so much He wants us to meet His Mother. I carry a rosary with me in my purse always (it was blessed by BXVI) and even have one I leave in my car. Our Lady will always point us to Her Son.
It IS learning a whole new language LOL. It took a while for that to sink into my little pea brain, but the ups and downs (literally) of the Mass became natural after about a month. And never, ever think anyone is looking down on you if you don’t go up to receive the Eucharist. They know. And they don’t think anything of it. Read everything you can, in fact, this site, Catholic Answers (not just the forum), has a wealth of information. Before you know it, you’ll be right in the thick of things
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TwinMommy
Guest
Every single church should have a service of that extent on Palm Sunday. I am reading your words and picturing Jesus in my head coming into down on the donkey. Breath taking for sure.It didn’t take more than a few weeks to get where everyone is standing, sitting or kneeling during ordinary time. The kicker was, Mass changes, sometimes in small ways, sometimes very large, depending on what season of the liturgical calendar.
Coming from a non-Christian background, as far from Catholicism as you can get, I didn’t know there was such a thing as a liturgical calendar. I thought I was doing pretty well, until one Sunday I show up and everyone is standing outside the church, even the priest. Everyone is holding palm leaves, and I was thinking, “Whoa! What have I just walked into?!” For the life of me I didn’t know what I was supposed to do with a tree leaf, or why I was holding a leaf. That was a very weird experience for me! I went home and told my family that the people at Mass gave me a leaf! I was like this:
The second year I went to Palm Sunday Mass, I was more prepared, and had time to read up on what it was all about. The third year I went was the Palm Sunday before I was baptized, and I still thought holding a tree leaf was a weird experience, but I got why.
It is like you said, you don’t understand the traditions or customs. There were times, for a good 3 years, that I felt like I had been dropped into a foreign country where I didn’t know the language or customs. Even now, 5 years since my baptism, I come across terms and traditions I’ve never heard of.
It can be overwhelming. Just take it slow. You don’t need to jump into the deep end and figure out every Catholic tradition and custom. I don’t know that you could, since they vary from culture to culture. Mass is the best place to start, and to read about, as every moment has meaning, and generally is the same across cultures. The most variation I’ve seen is that some cultures put more emphasis on certain Saint’s days than others, with associated celebrations that are unique to that culture.
As of right now I am not letting myself get too much information LOL Trying to sit to the basics and that is a lot.
I was just looking at the Mass schedule for a church here and am pretty I will go on Sunday. No clue what to wear to Mass LOL My church is a jeans type church, even the Pastor wears jeans.
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TwinMommy
Guest
That is a beautiful way to look at it. How did you get it blessed?
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KathleenGee
Guest
Twinmommy…
God bless you and your response in seeking truth and new life. It is always so consoling to come across posts like yours and we pray all the time for Christians to see the truth of what the Church is, truly the Pearl of Great Price where we can encounter the fullness of Jesus Christ!
BTW, if one were to go to Mass daily for 3 years, he/she would have gone through the entire Bible.
I like learning Scripture at Mass because I get not only the perspective and content, but also it fitting in with the Liturgical Year, and then the Word becoming fulfilled in the Eucharist.
We see Jesus as Logos – the Living Word of God, so our understanding of Scripture is more of the oral, present manner than our gathering focusing solely on Scripture alone.
The Mass is the place where you leave the world, its boundaries, divisions, sadness, pride…and you enter into God’s time…eternal time, where you actually become a witness to the faith of the Jews in the Old Testament, the early Christians in the New Testament and hearing the words of Jesus in the Gospel by the priest.
The Mass is God’s eternal arena where we are incorporated into faith by the believers of times past, those of today, and those who will come, united with the angels and saints with God in heaven.
May be you can introduce yourself to the priest and ask him to direct you to a place he thinks you would feel most comfortable. He would be overjoyed to hear it is your first time attending!!! He might even have someone from the parish sit with you…
God bless you and your response in seeking truth and new life. It is always so consoling to come across posts like yours and we pray all the time for Christians to see the truth of what the Church is, truly the Pearl of Great Price where we can encounter the fullness of Jesus Christ!
BTW, if one were to go to Mass daily for 3 years, he/she would have gone through the entire Bible.
I like learning Scripture at Mass because I get not only the perspective and content, but also it fitting in with the Liturgical Year, and then the Word becoming fulfilled in the Eucharist.
We see Jesus as Logos – the Living Word of God, so our understanding of Scripture is more of the oral, present manner than our gathering focusing solely on Scripture alone.
The Mass is the place where you leave the world, its boundaries, divisions, sadness, pride…and you enter into God’s time…eternal time, where you actually become a witness to the faith of the Jews in the Old Testament, the early Christians in the New Testament and hearing the words of Jesus in the Gospel by the priest.
The Mass is God’s eternal arena where we are incorporated into faith by the believers of times past, those of today, and those who will come, united with the angels and saints with God in heaven.
May be you can introduce yourself to the priest and ask him to direct you to a place he thinks you would feel most comfortable. He would be overjoyed to hear it is your first time attending!!! He might even have someone from the parish sit with you…
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HoosMommie
Guest
Our RCIA director was in Rome last year and when BXVI came out to bless everyone and everything he had several rosaries with him. They were given to us one night at RCIA. It is now even more precious to me.
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KathleenGee
Guest
Shamanti,
I really like your posts, insights, and reflections, as well as your walk in faith with Mary as your companion.
You could not find anyone better!
I really like your posts, insights, and reflections, as well as your walk in faith with Mary as your companion.
You could not find anyone better!
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TwinMommy
Guest
When you put it that way how could anyone not want to be at Mass??
I just got off the phone with a church here and spoke with the office manager. She was very nice and let me ramble LOL She said to be sure to introduce myself to the Priest and she is sure he would want to sit down at some point before I move and answer questions for me.
I am so excited! :extrahappy:
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TwinMommy
Guest
Wow!!! That is so awesome!
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RebeccaJ
Guest
Indeed. Palm Sunday is amazing. Where I came from (Mormonism and atheism), it isn’t recognized. It was totally new, and surprising, for me.
Sacramentals, such as palm leaves, were completely new to me, and from a Mormon background, they are viewed as signs of an evil and apostate church! They don’t even decorate their churches. So! While all Catholic “stuff” was overwhelming my senses, and was very wonderful, it was also very strange. Now, I can’t imagine life without Mass, and all the things we use in our life, centered on Jesus Christ.
Yeah, it just comes from doing it, reading and asking questions.
If you are worried jeans might be too dressed-down, wear dress pants, and then you can scope out what others are wearing for next time.
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Kal2012
Guest
- It’s totally normal to be nervous about going to your first Catholic Mass. (Just needed to get that out there because my background is similar to yours). And, it’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed. It’s a huge jump, but keep in mind that others have taken the same journey and we are doing great.
- Different parishes have different programming. Larger parishes will have more activities, but smaller parishes have their benefits too.
- You need to just try out different parishes and see if they are a good fit for you and your family.
One I didn’t try because they are just “too big”. One I didn’t like because I knew my husband wouldn’t go for singing Christian rock songs off a screen. One was pointed out as the “Liberal” parish in town. My family is not Liberal in our politics or theology. (Every town has the ‘Liberal’ parish, BTW) The other is the university parish, so I wasn’t sure what that would be like. The parish I’m at was recommended by a friend who had underwent a similar search when she moved to the area - and she spent a long time going to parishes not just in our town, but nearby suburbs as well. For me, it was the fact that they have a nursery and they are right down the street that I live on that closed the deal.
- Everyone’s journey is different. I’ve been attending church (formally, again) more regularly since starting RCIA. RCIA helped me navigate my way around the church part of the community since my spouse doesn’t practice his faith. However, most people in my social circle and community are Catholic. So while mass is still kind of new, Catholicism really isn’t.
- RCIA is great - even if you decide not to convert at the end of it. There’s just a lot of history and topics that the class covers. It’s really a good experience. Also, because the other people in the class are also interested in converting, they have a lot of good information about the parishes in the area too.
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Shamati
Guest
There is a study Bible of the New Testament made by Scott Hahn and others called the St. Ignatius Study Bible. I have not yet bought it because I want both Old and New Testament but I hear it’s a VERY good Bible.
Because the way catholics & orthodox see the Holy Scriptures is so different from the protestant way of what I call “Literalism” it is heard to cram a Bible full with adequate amount of commentary explaining all the Four senses of every scripture word. Protestants usually only deal with One: The Literal Truth of the Word. In Catholicism the commentary goes deeper from the A: literal to B: “What is this Bible verse saying about the Church” C: “what is it saying abou the individual readers soul”, D: "What is it saying about ‘The End of Days’ or ‘The Heavenly things’. Because of this way to read the Bible a complete study of it is better suited to individual books. For example there is a famoua book called “The Life of Moses” written by one of the so called Cappadocian Fathers St Gregory of Nyssa which deals specifically about the literal and allegorical/spiritual interpretations of the Bible narrative on the Life of Moses. I suspect that the St Ignatius study Bible will be more resembling the protestant Bibles concentrating on the literal sense of the Word or maybe mentioning a few from each. Anyway, this kind of reading becomes more “prayerful” and the Bible becomes something more than just a quote-archive from which one can draw “ammunition” to justify various claims. For this reason you dont have the kind of ever increasing amounts of division that exists in protestantism. Everyone know there is some “key” missing and everyone who starta a new denomination think they found it! In the christianity of the church fathers of Old the Bible along with Christ was the very sustenance of the soul & reading it continually in this way makes it possible for Jesus Christ to speak directly to every individual.
I have been moving towards catholicism and orthodoxy for about 1 year or a bit more. I gave up in protestantism (was born a lutheran like most swedes) even before I started seriously thinking about the existence of God and if I were to search for His will. When I became a believer I simply knew within me that only once professing Jesus Christ to be the Son of God and my personal Saviour wasnt alone gonna forgive my past, current and future sins and grant me eternal life. God expected more from us. We have to aim for him in every aspect of our daily life. The cruciiction of Jesus Christ was not simply a “blood debt” being played to an angry God, for God is All Good. The Christ of all time showed us the virtue of humility as he humbled himself to as God become Man in the fleshly condition with all its vanities. He took our sins upon himself and sacrificed His life to change us from within. After having descended into Hell he rose from the Dead on the third day, displaying in full effect for the world to see that God has become Man and Conquered Death itself so that if man believed in Him, obeys His commands & follows his path by way of emulating his life we can too become One with God. These were the true Good News to me, which i never heard before and the understanding of this message and it implications was the way i which the Lord took me out of Egypt. By conquering Death (the fear of), Satan can hold no sway over us. Sadly it has been forgotten in protestantism or is largely left aside for a simplistic wishful thinking approach in which it is sometimes even viewed as unnecessary to stop sinning. No way to inspire a culture and i believe directly responsible for te militant atheism of today.
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