Questioning sponsor teaching and our relationship?

[LoveMercyGrace]

I am writing this post with a bit of frustration…but think that will help me to verbalize all at once some of my concerns.

I am a returning Catholic, having been Baptized and First Communion, I attend regular mass
reconciliation and receive Eucharist.

The parish priest assigned me a sponsor who refers to them self as a cradle Catholic.
So our life experiences have been very different. And we are each well into our adult years.

Some of the concerns I have are this. One is the promotion of a True Life in God book by
Vassula R. sorry I forgot her last name! My sponser is very into this book and centers
prayer groups around it. Personally I had - have - some questions about this authors claims
but I can not really judge - maybe I am discerning? There are some prayers I like in it very much, but I don’t really read the book I paid $25 for.

I am really wanting and desire to learn more about the Catholic faith right now, having been back only 2 mos, and it is very different than when I went before.

The other concern I have is being taken to a Baptist prayer group, well I agreed to go! But
I am feeling like I know about Baptist Methodist non denominational etc etc etc…its just right now I am studying for Confirmation and would like my focus to be there.

Now I think me voicing my questions about the True Life In God and stating opinions has created somewhat of a tension between me and my sponsor because they really like the TLIG series. …
So now…we do not have open dialog about faith and Catholic theology and me centering on what things I need to know about Confirmation - but there is this tension. It feels like “competitive” and it is becoming uncomfortable for me I realize. And maybe for them too, I don’t know.
So rather than throwing in the towel and leaving the church with this growing resentment, I really feel God has moved me to return and this I am called to do.
I do not have any choice of parish unless I travel many more miles. Something inside me
says I am in a situation where Christ is calling me to keep my eyes on Him and to trust in Him.
How do I get through the next weeks being in such frequent contact with my sponser?
I keep telling myself I am going to church for God, not a sponser. It is a distracting situation.
I mentioned I was going to go see the priest after mass and just get to know him and ask some questions. Sponsor told me that I -as a woman- I am not allowed EVER to be alone with a priest. So they said “I will go with you”. really??
Is this true…we can never have confidential talks with our parish priest outside of the confessional?..and if so, is confessional the appropriate place to ask spiritual direction questions?
Sorry if I have rambled on but I do hope someone can give me some insight on how to handle this. Being a small parish in rural area presents its own challenges in a way
and I guess I am concerned if I try to move out of this relationship with sponsor I will not make confirmation anytime soon.
I am not required to attend year long RICA class, only to work with sponser for couple months until confirmation can be made… I am strong in self study discipline, very motivated, have many books and internet to study from.
Any suggestions from seasoned Catholics most welcome. God Bless~
.

 

[VeritasLuxMea]

Ryden sounds like another one of those scammers that deceive the faithful. Fortunately, atheists and skeptics like Joe Nickell have your back!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vassula_Ryden#Criticism

In Skeptical Inquirer magazine in 2011, longtime investigator Joe Nickell compared Rydén’s “messages” to alleged communications from Jesus to other women claiming revelations and wrote, “the contrived handwriting, the linguistic lapses, and the indications of fantasizing all suggest that Vassula Ryden is not in touch with supernatural entities but is simply engaging in self-deception that in turn deceives the credulous. Her automatic writings therefore are not works of revelation but simply of pious imagination.”[20] Nickell says that Rydén’s personal misspellings and linguistic errors are identical to those claimed to be written as Jesus, God, Mary, her own invisible “guardian angel, Daniel,” and Satan, and all seem to have the same hand writing and grammar.[20] Nickell suggests, “If God deigns to use the English language, should we not expect it to be rendered accurately?”[20] Some skeptics have noted how the revelations have changed with time and now conform more with church doctrine.[2]

(Visit the link if you want to check out the sources cited.)

Yeah, she sounds no good.

 

[Regina_Love]

Talk to your RCIA leader. Explain your concerns with your sponsor. Perhaps they can find a new one for you.

 

[Used2beSherryG]

Welcome Home to the Catholic Church, first of all. May God continue to bless you on your journey. My advice to you is to just call your parish priest on your own, have a meeting and discuss your concerns. Your sponsor sounds very prideful and self centered. While her intentions cannot be discerned by me or anyone else, the old saying goes "The road to hell is paved with ‘good intentions’. Pray for your sponsor to become obedient to God’s will, but right now, your own faith needs nurturing and understanding from a fully informed Catholic, so speaking with the priest about your concerns and questions is definitely in order now. Please continue to study your Catechism which is very comprehensive and has answers to any question about the faith you may have. If you do not have a Catechism of the Catholic Church, you can buy one online for about 7 dollars (paperback version). It sounds as though you would not have access to a Catholic Shop in your area. Attending non denominational events is the last thing you should be doing right now. Catholic Answers has great theologians on staff to answer any particular question you may have.
I’ll be praying for you on your journey.

 

[Sheadad]

I have been through RCIA twice with family members and have been a sponsor twice, so I have some experience.

Sometimes people that volunteer to be sponsors are zealous about their faith. The problem is, it can be routed in the wrong direction, as your personal experience shows. Try and look at the big picture and realize that one person in the Catholic faith does not make a community. Stick close to Christ along your personal journey as it sounds like you are doing.

It would be great if you could be assigned to a different sponsor, but if not - just take the experience and learn from it. Sometimes God allows this diversity so that we will grow from it and affect change. You might even use the experience to become a sponsor yourself and help others along their own faith journey - along the TRUE path. Just think what an awesome thing that would be.

Best wishes to you.

 

[1ke]

No it is NOT true. Make an appointment with your pastor and WITHOUT your sponsor. Lay out your concerns about her pushing a questionable book on you and wanting to take you to non-Catholc prayer groups. Tell him you would like a differnt sponsor-- and by the way you can select your own sponsor, you do not have to take one assigned to you.

Ask for his help in extracating yourself from this person and finding someone more compatible and with a better understanding of Catholic teaching.

 

[Alexx]

The Catholic Church has indeed warned several times regarding the teachings and activities of Vassula Ryden. There are two documents on the Vatican website:

A Notification pointing out doctrinal problems: vatican.va/roman_curia/co…_ryden_en.html

And a circular letter advising against the participation in her prayer groups : vatican.va/roman_curia/co…-ryden_en.html

Moreover, Vassula Ryden has also had serious problems with her own Greek Orthodox authorities (she is not Catholic, if you didn’t know).

There is a website created by former followers of Ryden, in which you will find many articles explaining the problems and questions raised by Vassula and her local associations’ claims and activities, as well as testimonies from former followers. The website is: www.pseudomystica.info (there were problems to access the website when I was writing this answer, so you might want to check it later).

Since you mention having to purchase one of Vassula’s books, you will then be interested by the most recent article on that website, which explains the instructions Vassula’s followers have been receiving to buy great numbers of her latest book in order to get it on the bestsellers’ lists, and afterwards to resell the books on Amazon to get their money back! The article is here: pseudomystica.info/heavenisreal.htm

You should certainly go see your parish priest on your own and voice your concerns about your sponsor, which are justified.

With my prayers,

Alex