Should my RCIA teaching worry me?

[asteroid]

I was worried after RCIA this week. Someone asked a question, a good question - why are bells rung during the Mass?

In her response, the teacher (a nun) got sidetracked into the declaration of the mystery of faith. She began “Christ has died…” but then she stopped, thought a while, and corrected herself.

She then explained that the mystery of faith is “Christ is born, Christ has died, Christ will come again”. She went on to explain that we say this because Bethlehem, Calvary and the resurrection are all a part of the Mass and started forming theological conclusions based on this.

Now, I’m just a lowly RCIA person, just starting out, and haven’t been in mass long - or even for too many years in an Anglican church saying similar things and have read far more protestant books than catholic ones. But even I know that the mystery of faith that we speak or sing in Mass is not what the teacher of the faith told us it was.

How many years has she been Catholic? How many years a nun? And how many times has she been in Mass? And yet, she doesn’t seem to know the basic set up of what we say in Mass.

I must admit I was worried by this (and by her consistently calling the chapters of the books of the Bible “books”). Should I be worried? Am I going to have to be consistently on my guard against false teaching?

Blessings

Asteroid

 

[aimekuelmc]

My understanding of the bells was that it was to bring your attention to the Altar - they are rung at the consecration first as the host is raised, then as the cup.
(I’m going on this from memory, since our pastor doesn’t like the bells, and they are not used in our parish.)

As for the mystery of faith, I don’t know. It doesn’t sound like a serious issue, more a problem of memory perhaps.
If it were me, I’d overlook the small things.
But I would still get a catechism, and other material - the new GIRM perhaps, and learn the faith on your own as a supplement.

I’ve known several who got through RCIA but learned nothing about the faith. They learned on their own but went through the process as a formality.

My own husband went through RCIA and still thought the Immaculate Conception was about Jesus.

Because of that, I don’t trust many RCIA classes (except at my mom’s parish). There are too many who think they know better than the Church.

MC

asteroid:

I was worried after RCIA this week. Someone asked a question, a good question - why are bells rung during the Mass?

In her response, the teacher (a nun) got sidetracked into the declaration of the mystery of faith. She began “Christ has died…” but then she stopped, thought a while, and corrected herself.

She then explained that the mystery of faith is “Christ is born, Christ has died, Christ will come again”. She went on to explain that we say this because Bethlehem, Calvary and the resurrection are all a part of the Mass and started forming theological conclusions based on this.

Now, I’m just a lowly RCIA person, just starting out, and haven’t been in mass long - or even for too many years in an Anglican church saying similar things and have read far more protestant books than catholic ones. But even I know that the mystery of faith that we speak or sing in Mass is not what the teacher of the faith told us it was.

How many years has she been Catholic? How many years a nun? And how many times has she been in Mass? And yet, she doesn’t seem to know the basic set up of what we say in Mass.

I must admit I was worried by this (and by her consistently calling the chapters of the books of the Bible “books”). Should I be worried? Am I going to have to be consistently on my guard against false teaching?

Blessings

Asteroid

 

[rwoehmke]

aimekuelmc:

My understanding of the bells was that it was to bring your attention to the Altar - But I would still get a catechism, and other material - the new GIRM perhaps, and learn the faith on your own as a supplement. MC

Sounds like your teacher is perhaps somewhat not quite up to the job she has taken on…
I have been an RCIA teacher for more than 15 years. A copy of the GIRM might be ok but in my opinion the Catechism of The Catholic Church, a catechism by a Father Hardon, a paperback by a fellow named Shreck on what Catholics believe would be more useful.
My problem with the GIRM is that it gets laypeople so tied into the Rubrics of the Mass that they become “liturgy police” and spend so much effort keeping track of minor abuses(there are major ones in some parishes) that they lose concentration on their prayer and worship during the Mass. There are a lot of books one can buy about the Mass and other Catholic subjects. I think Ignatius Press is probably one of the more reliable sources of “safe” books for learning about the Faith. You can read about and order books at their website, Ignatiuspress.com.
The bells were rung because before Vatican II people often prayed the Rosary, or some other devotions during Mass and the Sanctus bells called their attention to the alter for the consecration. I think that they are still a nice touch today, but many parishes dispense with them.

 

[aimekuelmc]

rwoehmke:

My problem with the GIRM is that it gets laypeople so tied into the Rubrics of the Mass that they become “liturgy police” and spend so much effort keeping track of minor abuses(there are major ones in some parishes) that they lose concentration on their prayer and worship during the Mass.

This is true.
I’ve forgotten the people I know who would nitpick on the little things, so hadn’t thought about that.

But the GIRM would be helpful in determining how bad a parish is.

I’ve also found Schrecks “Catholic and Christian” to be a good help. But my favorite book is “The Faith Explained” by Leo Trese - very easy writing style.

I also second the Ignatious recommendation. Though I was told it was condemned in California, not the place to purchase books from, and was ultra-ultra-traditional - because of who was saying this, I knew that meant they were obedient to the Magisterium.

 

[asteroid]

Query - what’s the GIRM? Not sure I’d ever be in the liturgy police - I’ve been used to a church with basically no liturgy at all so find all the rules and regulations and apparent legalism offputting.

Something else for me to read - I’ve already got the Catechism, a commentary on the catechism, the code of canon law, am working through the Catholic Home Study Service material, use the Liturgy of the Hours as and when I can (usually only morning prayer), the readings from the daily mass, with commentary most days and seem to have a growing collection of catholic books - not overtaking the protestant collection just yet. As and when time and energy to concentrate occur (4 year old children are not conducive to study or contemplative prayer!) these books get read. Still waiting for Scott Hahn books to turn up miraculously in a local charity shop.

Time to go out now.

Does the hour fasting mean fasting from an hour before the start of Mass or an hour before receiving the Host? (not that I receive it yet of course)

Blessings

Asteroid

 

[Ter]

asteroid:

Does the hour fasting mean fasting from an hour before the start of Mass or an hour before receiving the Host? (not that I receive it yet of course)
Asteroid

An hour before receiving the Host

 

[asteroid]

Ter:

An hour before receiving the Host

Thanks for that answer. That means in effect that the fasting for one hour instruction makes no difference whatsoever to most of our lives.

Since the host is received a good 3/4 of an hour into the Mass and it takes me well over 1/4 of an hour to walk to the church the hour fast takes place without any effort.

If you have a dodgy throat are you allowed to suck a semi-medicinal sweet during mass so as not to annoy others with your hacking cough. Would this count as breaking the fast? To me it wouldn’t but I know some people like to be legalistic about the rules.

btw - the GIRM question got answered through Google.

Blessings

Asteroid