Ready to Revert but

[spockrates]

I think Priest’s LOVE to hear the words, “it’s been 30 years since my last confession…” It means you’re back!! Not sure how much religious education you’ll need. My husband came back after being gone for 25 years. He was Catholic —> became a born again Evangelical -----> then reverted back to the Catholic Church. He would have been one of those former Catholics who complained that Jesus is not the focus of the Catholic Church… or the Bible is never preached. Now that he has ears to hear, he can’t get over how it’s ALL so biblical and all about Jesus. He learns something from every single homily. So maybe you’ll get all the instruction you need just attending mass? I guess it depends on your parish.

Anyhow, welcome home. It really is good to have you back!

Thanks for the welcome, Bird.

 

[Sunflower15]

Hmmm. Not sure how well that will go over: “Bless me father for I have sinned. It has been a good 30 years since my last confession.”



**Are you kidding? What a treat!!!
Go read again Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son…it’s not there for fluff you know!

…you can go to biblegateway.com and look for the New American Standard Bible [Catholic] and enter the passage:

Luke 15: 11-32

**

Yes, there is an Adoration Chapel at the local parish. Someone with whom I recently spoke suggested I go to it. What can you tell me about it?

Oh, can I tell you about it!! It’s Heaven on Earth; it’s the kingdom of Heaven…of Peace and the glory of God on Earth; it’s the Jesus Truly PRESENT in all of HIS Risen Glory [but ‘hidden’ or we would die from looking at Him] in ALL of His BODY, BLOOD, SOUL and DIVINITY…

Pretend you want to go see a very mighty and powerful KING, but he doesn’t even ask for an appointment, you can just drop in any time! He ALWAYS welcomes you, and wants to hear everything about you!
Remember Jesus’ promise that He would be with us until the end of time, that we would not be alone? Well…He has stayed with us! In the form of the Eucharist.

FIrst, learn to ADORE Him, then, after Confession, go to Communion and RECEIVE Him so that you and Him become ONE, like HE is ONE with the Father & the Holy Spirit…

WOW!!!

Also, at first, try to remember ACTS - Adoration [praise Him], Contrition [ask for forgiveness], Thanksgiving [learn gratefulness], and Supplication [intercede for others and self]…to guide you a little…sometimes, you just sit there and feel the peace…and listen to the inner voice within - the HS dwells in us-

**A neat story about St. John Vianney on this… He noticed a very old man coming every day for hours to just sit in front of the Eucharist quietly…one day he asked the man, what do you do all these hours day after day? The old man replied…I just sit here and look at him, and He looks at me, and we are happy like this!

YEAH!!! Heaven on Earth!!!:yup:**

Well, I’ve been baptized, received communion, and was confirmed in the Catholic Church when I was young. It sounds like I’ll need some further religious education, though?

Where have you been all this time -spiritually speaking-? Because depending on whether you were with a different religion or secularized, I can try to give suggestions…
We are ALL supposed to continue our catechesis and you seem to already have what we all have as a minimum…it’s just that you have wasted some time…time is relative spiritually-speaking, though…

BTW, that aunt who does not like you much, she is part of the reason you are here asking…she has been praying for you for decades…I assure you! It’s just she was almost at the point of despair by now…

 

[spockrates]

Where have you been all this time -spiritually speaking-? Because depending on whether you were with a different religion or secularized, I can try to give suggestions…
We are ALL supposed to continue our catechesis and you seem to already have what we all have as a minimum…it’s just that you have wasted some time…time is relative spiritually-speaking, though…

BTW, that aunt who does not like you much, she is part of the reason you are here asking…she has been praying for you for decades…I assure you! It’s just she was almost at the point of despair by now…

Looking for God in all the wrong places. Evangelical churches, mostly. If I have a minimum, it’s because I have this habit of reading Sacred Scripture and asking a lot of questions. Regarding my aunt, perhaps you are correct. My impression of her, however, is that she’d be pleased to see me sweat and wince a little in Purgatory. It seems the gift of the Catechism was made more out of a sense of duty than out of genuine love.

 

[Sunflower15]

Looking for God in all the wrong places. Evangelical churches, mostly. If I have a minimum, it’s because I have this habit of reading Sacred Scripture and asking a lot of questions.

Were you Evangelical for 30 yrs and suddenly got curious about Catholicism again? I’m surprised, by then usually people are very biased against anything Catholic!
However, God was there too. It’s never a ‘wrong place’ to look for God. It’s just that they don’t accept so many graces…frankly, I don’t know how they make it! I need all these graces that our 2000 yr old Tradition provides, and the Communion of the Saints, and our Mother! Sacred Scriptures reading is great!

What I have noticed though is that most Evangelicals - while claiming to constantly read & memorize the Bible - are only familiar with specific parts. When we go to Mass every Sunday, we hear the ENTIRE Bible - not a priest’s particular favorites - but all of it, every 3 years. IF we go daily to Mass, then even sooner. We cannot pick and choose, ALL of the Bible,including the Apocryphal books are read and explained in the Homily/Sermon.

The other thing is that our interpretations are different because older religions -especially international ones like Catholics and Orthodox - must interpret for all, not a particular culture/society within say one hundred yrs in 3 countries.

Regarding my aunt, perhaps you are correct. My impression of her, however, is that she’d be pleased to see me sweat and wince a little in Purgatory. It seems the gift of the Catechism was made more out of a sense of duty than out of genuine love.

Your aunt might be more in need of conversion than you then! LOL! Let’s pray for her…
Purgatory is Heaven, the ‘foyer’ so to speak…so it’s not unusual to go there…I’ll be glad to get there because the only place to go from there is Heaven!

 

[spockrates]

Your aunt might be more in need of conversion than you then! LOL! Let’s pray for her…
Purgatory is Heaven, the ‘foyer’ so to speak…so it’s not unusual to go there…I’ll be glad to get there because the only place to go from there is Heaven!

Yes. If Dante was correct, Socrates will be there. I should like to meet him.

 

[Sunflower15]

Yes. If Dante was correct, Socrates will be there. I should like to meet him.

Oh, yes! A LOT of interesting people should be there!
I pray a LOT for the Holy Souls in Purgatory - who can pray for others but not for themselves - and hope they reciprocate now and after they get to their destination!

I especially pray for those forgotten or who have no one alive to pray for them

If they no longer need my prayers, it’s ok, prayer is never wasted…they go into the ‘Treasury of the Church’ for other others…and it does me good to pray for others anyways!

I majored in Philosophy in college at the Univ. of St. Thomas in Houston, TX… I would definitely enjoy meeting philosophers & theologians!

 

[spockrates]

Oh, yes! A LOT of interesting people should be there!
I pray a LOT for the Holy Souls in Purgatory - who can pray for others but not for themselves - and hope they reciprocate now and after they get to their destination!

I especially pray for those forgotten or who have no one alive to pray for them

If they no longer need my prayers, it’s ok, prayer is never wasted…they go into the ‘Treasury of the Church’ for other others…and it does me good to pray for others anyways!

I majored in Philosophy in college at the Univ. of St. Thomas in Houston, TX… I would definitely enjoy meeting philosophers & theologians!

I was at my grandmother’s bedside the night she died. I have a print that used to belong to her of Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well. (You know, the one who was in and out of relationships but did not marry.) Anywho, I once asked her why she had the print hanging on her wall. She said it was because the woman in the picture reminded her of herself. I suppose she might be in Purgatory. So you are saying I may pray for her?

Regarding philosophy, I did enjoy the subject in college–especially Plato’s dialogs. One of my favorite quotes of Socrates:

Wise I may not call them. For that name is too wonderful, and belongs to God alone! Lovers of wisdom, or philosophers, would be a more harmonious and befitting title.

(Phaedrus)

I like this one, too:

Whereas, the truth is that God is never in any way unrighteous—he is perfect in righteousness. He of us who is the most righteous is of all things most like him. Herein is seen the cleverness of man, and also his nothingness and want of manhood. For to know this is true wisdom and virtue, and ignorance of this is manifest folly and vice.

(Theaetetus, 176)

 

[dachsiemom2]

Hmmm. Not sure how well that will go over: “Bless me father for I have sinned. It has been a good 30 years since my last confession.”

I came back to church last year after a very long absence - 20+ years. I went to confession and made an appointment - “Bless me Father for I have sinned, its been over 20 years since my last confession…” Was one of the most difficult things I have ever done and I was highly anxious. Father was so nice and so kind - put me right at ease and then I wondered why had been so nervous. I used the examination of conscientious that is in the back of one of Scott Hahn’s books. You can also google and a number of sites will come up with the topic also.

Scott Hahn has written some great books and one is “The power of Confession”, I believe. You can check Amazon for the titles.

I love Father Larry Richards and he has a web site www.thereasonforourhope.org. I have ordered a number of his talks on CD and love listening to them. Most are $3 and arrive within a week. You can type his name on YOUTUBE and find some segments of his talks. I was fortunate enough to hear him speak last fall and he is phenomenal.

 

[ComputerGeek25]

Got me degree at SUNY outside of Rochester. Met my wife there. Small world.

I’m from that area of NY

 

[Sunflower15]

Thank you, Geek. I consider myself a Geek, too. I work for a software corporation.

Sort of gathered that much from your user name!

Btw, how does your wife feel about this Catholic ‘thing’? Is she open-minded?
Most Evangelicals I’ve known kept telling me I needed to get ‘a personal relationship with Jesus’ even after we were having a deep biblical conversation! Go figure!

They are wonderful people, though I wish they did not think such strange things about us!
I think it’s changing with the Pro Life common ground, etc… Thanks God!

 

[Sunflower15]

Beautiful quotes! I love Philosophy! Especially the saints: Aquinas, Bonaventure, Anselm, Augustine, etc. WOW! Great minds full of love for God!

I suppose she might be in Purgatory. So you are saying I may pray for her?

Wow! We DO have to get you ‘caught up’ with Catholicism…

well do you know about the Communion of the Saints? It’s one of those ‘major’ differences between us and Protestants of most sorts -it’s hard to keep up with the intricacies of 100+ denominations!

Purgatory is neither a place nor a time, though we have no other means to speak of it- but a ‘journey’ to Heaven so that our natures can withstand the Presence of the Almighty when we have not yet purified ourselves of the aftermath of our sins -though this has NOTHING to do with having being forgiven and saved!-

If you break a window, even if forgiven completely, the window does not patch up by itself, right? You must still figure out how to fix the issue of the broken window…

Purgatory is then, the ‘entrance’ to Heaven, figuratively speaking, where our Mother comes to offer consolation for not being in His Holy Presence completely yet. And where we still need prayers of intercession from the rest of the Church/Body of Christ. At that point, we can no longer pray for ourselves but can for others. Others can pray for us.

In this forum, there is a prayer group whose intention is to ‘empty Purgatory’ so that they all enter the full Presence in Heaven, which of course would also help the world, for those in Heaven also intercede for us before the Father!

It’s all about Communion within the Trinity, and of us with God, with each other, and with the angels, who are also part of the Communion of the Saints. Tolkien -whom I believe was Catholic- reminds us of this fact with his fellowship of different beings!

Please, DO pray for your ancestors, and deceased friends, as much as for those still around. We believe in the Resurrection, so unless they are in Hell -we can’t do anything for them anymore once there . If you pray and someone is there, the prayer is never wasted. No prayer ever goes to waste!

I guess you could read on the Church for further details:

1. the Church Militant [us still living]
2. the Church Suffering or Expectant [those in Purgatory]
3. the Church Triumphant [already in Heaven enjoying the Full Glory of the Presence of God!]

 

[lutherlic]

Thanks, Lutheric. I believe I know what the truth is and I’m the kind of person who must go where the truth leads. Just not sure what the process is. What is RCIA, and is it required?

RCIA is the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and is classes for people converting to Catholicism. While that is not your case, I mentioned it because it may be of value to you as a “refresher course” – if you feel that need (or if your status requires it).

 

[spockrates]

Hmmm. Not sure how well that will go over: “Bless me father for I have sinned. It has been a good 30 years since my last confession.”

I came back to church last year after a very long absence - 20+ years. I went to confession and made an appointment - “Bless me Father for I have sinned, its been over 20 years since my last confession…” Was one of the most difficult things I have ever done and I was highly anxious. Father was so nice and so kind - put me right at ease and then I wondered why had been so nervous. I used the examination of conscientious that is in the back of one of Scott Hahn’s books. You can also google and a number of sites will come up with the topic also.

Scott Hahn has written some great books and one is “The power of Confession”, I believe. You can check Amazon for the titles.

I love Father Larry Richards and he has a web site www.thereasonforourhope.org. I have ordered a number of his talks on CD and love listening to them. Most are $3 and arrive within a week. You can type his name on YOUTUBE and find some segments of his talks. I was fortunate enough to hear him speak last fall and he is phenomenal.

Thank you, Dach.

 

[spockrates]

Sort of gathered that much from your user name!

Btw, how does your wife feel about this Catholic ‘thing’? Is she open-minded?
Most Evangelicals I’ve known kept telling me I needed to get ‘a personal relationship with Jesus’ even after we were having a deep biblical conversation! Go figure!

They are wonderful people, though I wish they did not think such strange things about us!
I think it’s changing with the Pro Life common ground, etc… Thanks God!

Her father was a drunk, and used to invite his priest over to the house regularly to get soused. He was a mean drunk an beat her brothers and herself after the priest left. She’s not too keen on the Catholic Church.

 

[spockrates]

Beautiful quotes! I love Philosophy! Especially the saints: Aquinas, Bonaventure, Anselm, Augustine, etc. WOW! Great minds full of love for God!

I suppose she might be in Purgatory. So you are saying I may pray for her?

Wow! We DO have to get you ‘caught up’ with Catholicism…

well do you know about the Communion of the Saints? It’s one of those ‘major’ differences between us and Protestants of most sorts -it’s hard to keep up with the intricacies of 100+ denominations!

Purgatory is neither a place nor a time, though we have no other means to speak of it- but a ‘journey’ to Heaven so that our natures can withstand the Presence of the Almighty when we have not yet purified ourselves of the aftermath of our sins -though this has NOTHING to do with having being forgiven and saved!-

If you break a window, even if forgiven completely, the window does not patch up by itself, right? You must still figure out how to fix the issue of the broken window…

Purgatory is then, the ‘entrance’ to Heaven, figuratively speaking, where our Mother comes to offer consolation for not being in His Holy Presence completely yet. And where we still need prayers of intercession from the rest of the Church/Body of Christ. At that point, we can no longer pray for ourselves but can for others. Others can pray for us.

In this forum, there is a prayer group whose intention is to ‘empty Purgatory’ so that they all enter the full Presence in Heaven, which of course would also help the world, for those in Heaven also intercede for us before the Father!

It’s all about Communion within the Trinity, and of us with God, with each other, and with the angels, who are also part of the Communion of the Saints. Tolkien -whom I believe was Catholic- reminds us of this fact with his fellowship of different beings!

Please, DO pray for your ancestors, and deceased friends, as much as for those still around. We believe in the Resurrection, so unless they are in Hell -we can’t do anything for them anymore once there . If you pray and someone is there, the prayer is never wasted. No prayer ever goes to waste!

I guess you could read on the Church for further details:

1. the Church Militant [us still living]
2. the Church Suffering or Expectant [those in Purgatory]
3. the Church Triumphant [already in Heaven enjoying the Full Glory of the Presence of God!]

Thank you for that. Yes, I will pray.

 

[spockrates]

RCIA is the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and is classes for people converting to Catholicism. While that is not your case, I mentioned it because it may be of value to you as a “refresher course” – if you feel that need (or if your status requires it).

Yes, I see. Would it be the priest, then, who would tell me whether I should attend RCIA? And when do the classes start? Someone told me in the summer, I think.

 

[lutherlic]

Yes, I see. Would it be the priest, then, who would tell me whether I should attend RCIA? And when do the classes start? Someone told me in the summer, I think.

I think it would be a very good thing to speak with a priest to discuss your situation in general. He can give you a lot of guidance and really wants to if you give him the chance! Just call your parish office (right now!) and make an appointment. Welcome home.

 

[spockrates]

I think it would be a very good thing to speak with a priest to discuss your situation in general. He can give you a lot of guidance and really wants to if you give him the chance! Just call your parish office (right now!) and make an appointment. Welcome home.

Thank you, Lutherlic.

May I ask what made you decide to become Catholic (no need to answer if the question is too personal).

 

[lutherlic]

Thank you, Lutherlic.
May I ask what made you decide to become Catholic (no need to answer if the question is too personal).

The short answer is that over time, my church moved increasingly to what I call a flexible interpretation of God’s word. One of the things that attracted me initially is the determination of the Catholic Church to remain true to God’s word. By nature I am cautious and questioning. Once I decided to seriously learn more and prayed for an open heart and open mind, I came to understand and appreciate the simple truth that this is Christ’s Church. I feel at home here and have never felt so at peace.

A longish answer is on my blog.

 

[spockrates]

The short answer is that over time, my church moved increasingly to what I call a flexible interpretation of God’s word. One of the things that attracted me initially is the determination of the Catholic Church to remain true to God’s word. By nature I am cautious and questioning. Once I decided to seriously learn more and prayed for an open heart and open mind, I came to understand and appreciate the simple truth that this is Christ’s Church. I feel at home here and have never felt so at peace.

A longish answer is on my blog.

Sounds similar to my story. I’m one to always ask questions. Two questions that Protestants could not answer and that Catholics could answer to my satisfaction were these:

Since God is just, how can a reality with only heaven and hell and no purgatory be considered equitable?

If Jesus was not speaking of the Eucharist, then what could He have meant when He said this? “For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.” (John 6:55)