Question for Cradle Catholics

[Genesis315]

That is wonderful. God bless your father for teaching you so well. :heaven:

Yes thank you! Even though he and my mother divorced when I was a todler, and my mother was an episcopalian, he made sure I went to CCD and received all the sacraments–and I even served as an altar boy . I remember being very, very young and my dad would take me to Mass on the weekends he had me and my mom to episcopalian service on her weekends. And while externally they were very similar (to a small child they were pretty much the same) something always felt missing to me at the service–it always seemed “fake” to me (for lack of a better term.) Of course, I would later learn that the Real Presence was what was present at Mass that made all the difference .

(as an aside, my episcopalian mother and half-brother have been showing a great interest in Catholicism lately–my mom has been watching EWTN, especially during Holy Week and my brother went to Mass on Easter down in college! :extrahappy:we’ve been having good conversations about certain doctrines too–slowly but surely they’re coming along! )

 

[lak611]

(as an aside, my episcopalian mother and half-brother have been showing a great interest in Catholicism lately–my mom has been watching EWTN, especially during Holy Week and my brother went to Mass on Easter down in college! :extrahappy:we’ve been having good conversations about certain doctrines too–slowly but surely they’re coming along! )

:extrahappy: I will keep your family in my prayers. It looks like the Holy Spirit is leading them to the Catholic Church.

 

[LeahInancsi]

I am actually a revert. I was baptized as an infant, went to CCD and received Holy Communion and Confirmation. Then I went to Catholic high school and even Catholic college. When I was in my mid-twenties, I fell away from the Church and did not practice any religion. A friend of mine happened to take me to a Christian music festival where there were representatives from various churches (Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist and Methodist). Somebody from the Baptist church gave me a Bible (KJV). I had never read the Bible before. I was searching for meaning in my life at the time, but I did not know Who I was looking for. I decided to read the Bible all the way through. After reading this Protestant Bible, I realized that everything I had been taught in Catholic school was true. I repented first to God and then to my priest and went back to the Catholic Church. I found out that there was an adult Sunday school class in my parish which studied the Bible. I joined the class and have been a member for many years now. I also read the Bible on my own all the way through. So I credit the Baptist church for leading me back to the Catholic Church, and I credit my parish for showing me what the Bible says to Catholics. Most of all, I credit God, the Holy Spirit, because I would not be where I am or understand anything without Him.

Your story is very unfortunate, but too true.

 

[Anne1964]

I learned the basics in CCD classes and have increased my knowledge by reading books, books, and more books.

I have also taken some distance education classes through The Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation (VLCFF) at the University of Dayton.

vlc.udayton.edu/

 

[Unexpected_Dawn]

Despite being a cradle Catholic, I have really only begun to develop a real understanding of the Bible in the last couple of years, since my “re-conversion” to Catholicism.

Since then, I’ve had a few good resources:

1. EWTN radio programs such as “Deep in Scripture” and “EWTN Open Line.”
2. My parish pastor, who is awesomely knowledgeable about the Bible! His homilies always teach about the Bible readings, and he also teaches Bible study classes each week that delve even more deeply into the readings.
3. Adult faith formation classes offered by my diocese.
4. Taking time to read and meditate upon the Bible!

It is my hope that if I have children, and they are ever asked this questions, they can answer “My mom!”

 

[JAbellMI]

I’m also a CradleCatholic born prior to Vatican II. I have vague recollections of the Latin mass (and am looking forward to some of the changes coming). My earliest memory is the sense of Holiness in the church, God’s presence in the Eucharist and Confession.

Over the years like alot of my peers I became more and more interested in the worldly and very little time for faith (I still believed but just didn’t need to attend. Too much noise in my life to hear the Holy Spirit

My road back started in my 30’s. I lost my job and my wife was with child. I decided to return to college and pursue a degree in the medical field.

My first step back was a tape someone gave me by a Charismatic pries named Fr John Bertalucci. Although I’m not charismatic his love for the Holy Spirit rekindled him in my own soul (thank God I had had all the sacremnets as a child so the Holy Spirit was with me).

That first summer I got a job with a temp agency over summer break and they placed me with Our Lady Rosary Makers where the Deacon introduced me to Pascal’s Wager and the Power of the Rosary.

Every day as I made the long trek accross campus I prayed the Rosary. I also found myself in the Newman center were once a Friar came up to me out of the blue and said I was told to give you a hug which caused me to break down and go to my first confession in years.

When I graduated I discovered a brand new internet apostolate called CatholiCity which had e-mail discusion groups where I had many weeks of discusion and apologetics with a Presbyterian. Through this forum I learned about Scott Hahn, a newly converted minister. I devoured all of his books and tapes. I discovered EWTN audio and document library, the cathecism online catholic answers and other books.

My wife’s family was Appalacian Mountain Southern Baptist so we were always being told about how Catholics were going to hell which motivated me to learn what I could to defend against their remarks.

I was soon writing short tracks answering their objections.

I learned about St Max Kolbe and this led me to start my own very crude web site (I’m now on my 6th generation of web sites).

I highly recomend books such as Rome sweet Home by Scott and Kimberly Hahn, Reasons to Belive by Scott Hahn. Also Catholicism and Fundamentalism by Karl Keating. And of course the Cathecism

 

[stignatius]

I was a cradle Catholic Church, but fell out early, because my family wasn’t paticularly Christ-centered. But now, looking back, I really didn’t learn that much about what the Catholic Church actually believes from Catholic school or Sunday School (though this may be my fault ). It was mostly the “pray to Mary” “Jesus loves you” “Be nice” stuff.

So I’m self educated, with books and websites, and the catechism. The Catholic Home Study Service has been paticularly helpful:
amm.org/chss.htm

 

[Seamus_Sully]

This is fundamental and absolutely acceptable by all Christians.

Love is heard by faith.

When we accept (faith) love we are accepting patience, kindness, politeness (not rude), perserverance, sobriety, chastity, understanding and generosity (just to mention a few).

God will make us loving, Ezekiel or Jeremiah tells us that.

I am too sleepy to look it up, but it is true.

From the most conservative to the most liberal, they all can accept that love is in charge of faith.

Just listen to Jesus and St. Paul and the entire Holy Bible, then one will clearly see that we are saved by His love.

As we all know, it all comes down to love.

Once one knows that patience is given to us in God’s pouring of love into our heart, one has to want to be patient.

Once one knows that kindness is poured into our heart by God’s love, one has to want to be kind.

Football coaches are Drill Instructors might want to teach meanness, no Christians can accept that meanness.

A Christian must accept God’s patience and kindness.

Once we accept it, He guarantees you will become patient and kind, and all the rest.

I learned the Holy Bible from the Doctors and Fathers of the Church. I learned the Bible from the Bible. I learned the Bible from going to daily Mass from twenty-five years and praying the Psalms daily.

 

[Cobbfmly]

I would have to say all of the above plus my grandparents. Also, I am still learning about the Bible. I can’t imagine ever fully understanding it, unless I go to school to become a theologian.

 

[Mijoy2]

I’m a 50 year old new Christian who happens to be Catholic. I’ve spent $2,000 on various Catholic books, but I’d prefer to learn about my new religion with the company of other Catholics (Sunday School kind of thing). It seems that the average Catholic in the pew isn’t interested in learning the Bible or the Cathechism. I’m looking for fellowship!!!

I’m looking for answers for life-long Catholics and any converts who have some suggestions I haven’t read in other threads.

:heaven: I wish my grandmother (cradle Catholic) were still alive 'cause she could give me the answer I’m looking for and what I need to do. :heaven:

I haven’t read all the posts so please forgive if it’s been suggested.

Strongly recommend “Confessions” Augustine.

It rocked my boat bigtime.

 

[mayra_hart]

iam from P.R.because most people i grew with including my parents were catholic you didn’t question the why in the catholic church. even going to catholic school didnt give me answers.now after 40 years i have found answer to question. now even going to mass even make sense. about the bible i have done a few studies with scott hahn this have make me at least open the book an read.and most of all undertand it. iam glad that iam catholic. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be Adored, Glorified, Loved & Preserved throughout the world, now & forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, please pray for me. Saint Jude, Worker of Miracles, please pray for me. Saint Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, please pray for me. Amen."

 

[LeahInancsi]

I appreciate everyone’s participation in my survery. I was very discouraged the last few days when my own pastor would not respond to my questions about the parish Bible study course and I was finding very few courses in neighboring parishes. I could sympathize with the anger many craddle Catholics feels when they attend a Protestant church and learn about Sunday school/Bible study classes. I felt so lost during that time.

I took Puzzleannie’s advice and wrote to the diocese to ask for information. The gentleman who responded to my message directed me to the local Catholic college (Univ of Dallas) for a four year course that they are conducting at various parishes in the area. This is a college level course and I will prepare myself for it my studying the Little Rock Bible Study course. Perhaps, in four years, I will be able to start my own Bible study class at my parish that I feel so many thrist for.

I still feel that it is very, very unfortunate that the Church has not better educated it’s followers of the events of the Bible aside for short excerpts read at every mass.

BTW, thanks to the person who rated the thread with five stars.

 

[rciadan]

I was born and raised as an Atheist. I never believed in Christ until I went to Mass one day…and walked out needing to be Catholic and not understanding why.

What really confirmed my need was not reading the bible, though I did read it (I know, this sounds heretical, but it is true); rather it was what I read about reading the bible, and* about* the Catholic fath!

The Early Church Fathers are an absolute must read! Highlights for me include;

• St. Polycarp
• St. Ignatious or Antioch
• St. Chrysostom
• St. Augustine
• St. Irenaeus
• St. Jerome
• St. Basil
• St. Vincent of Lerins
• St Eusebius
• St. Cyril of Jerusalem
• St Ambrose
• St. Justin Martyr
• And so many others…
  Also of extreme importance to me has been the reading of the Various Church Councils, such as:

The Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15)
The Council of Ephesus
The Council of Chalcedon
Constantinople
Florence
Council to Trent
Vatican 1
Vatican 2
and the others I failed to think of off the top of my head

But, what has most influenced my methods of understanding and interpreting the scriptures has been,

1. • Reading St. Jerome’s “diary” of his experience in translating the Divine Scriptures.
   • Reading “Providentissimus Deus” by Pope Leo XIII
   • Reading “Divino Afflante Spiritu” by Pope Pius XII
   • Reading “The Commonitory” by St. Vincent of Lerins
   • REading “Spiritus Paracletus” by Pope Benedict XV
     I hope this helps.

 

[mayra_hart]

do i need to do more reading. thank you for all that suggestions. I promise, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you by publishing this request. Amen."

 

[mommyof4]

Bits and pieces at Catholic School, the rest from you guys at Catholic Answers!

 

[Unexpected_Dawn]

I took Puzzleannie’s advice and wrote to the diocese to ask for information. The gentleman who responded to my message directed me to the local Catholic college (Univ of Dallas) for a four year course that they are conducting at various parishes in the area. This is a college level course and I will prepare myself for it my studying the Little Rock Bible Study course. Perhaps, in four years, I will be able to start my own Bible study class at my parish that I feel so many thrist for.

I’ve heard that the 4-year Biblical School is awesome! I know quite a few people in my parish and from other parishes who are doing it. The professors I have met are wonderful; some of them also teach the Adult Faith Formation classes I mentioned. I know you will learn tons about the Bible!