Sixty nine yr old in RCIA process

  • Thread starter Thread starter openmind
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
O

openmind

Guest
I have continued in spite of not understanding everything and having doubts of not seeing everything as I should. I am staying hoping I will be given the grace when the time comes. I have took part in The Rite of Welcoming and plan to continue hoping the light will come on when the time comes.
Anybody have any suggestions or advice. Praying would help me. I believe a lot of people praying for the same intention makes a difference.
 
Congratulations on receiving the Rite of Welcoming. That is a great first step.

I always and will continue to pray for in increase in knowlege of the faith. I pray for people to see the truth of the Church and for non-Catholics to see the light and become Catholic.

My advice would be to not leave your questions unanswered. Ask about things you aren’t sure about, ask until they answers make sense. This website is a great place to find out information. Use the “search” or post a topic.

Some of the first things I read about the Church was “Catholicism for Dummies” and “Pillar of Fire Pillar of Truth” Then of course the Bible and the CCC. These helped me answer a lot of questions and helped me to ask more informed ones when I had them.

Pillar of Fire Pillar of Truth
 
First of all, I wish you many blessings on your journey!

a few years ago we had a man in his mid 80s come to our RCIA group. He was a bit hard of hearing, so sometimes didn’t follow all that was being said, but he turned up every week faithfully, and was a great example to the younger people. When the time came for his reception into the Church I gave him a lapel pin in the shape of a cross as a welcome gift and he never took it off. The last time I saw him was just before Christmas one year, he saw me in the pew and smiled and pointed to his lapel pin and I waved at him. Just a few weeks later he was taken ill suddenly and died in hospital.

He had said earlier that being a Catholic was the best thing he had done in his life - his family had always thought him a bit simple and he had always worked in manual jobs, but he loved God, and Our Lady, and he showed that it is never too late to come into the Church, even though the finer points of theology eluded him. He was a sincere man with a good heart, and that is all that is necessary. May the Lord rest his soul.

Stick with the RCIA, don’t worry about it - you will be given the grace to get through it. I will remember you in my prayers.

God bless,

Pat
 
openmind said:
I have continued in spite of not understanding everything and having doubts of not seeing everything as I should. I am staying hoping I will be given the grace when the time comes. I have took part in The Rite of Welcoming and plan to continue hoping the light will come on when the time comes.
Anybody have any suggestions or advice. Praying would help me. I believe a lot of people praying for the same intention makes a difference.
Click to expand...
I will certainly pray for you along with the woman I am sponsoring in RCIA this year.

I know a former Baptist minister who became a Catholic hermit, and at first had the same struggles with understanding that you describe. He wrote two essays; the second one describes his struggles with the Catholic view of Mary. Perhaps you’ll find his words helpful:

Why be Catholic?

Obedience: The First and Foundational Virtue
 
God Bless You. I was a sponsor for a 81 year old ex-marine, and he required lots of my time. I was his third sponsor:p
He had lots of questions and plugged along, but he always has a great big smile on his face when he receives the Eurcharist.
Keep going, and best of luck.
 
Howdy and a great big welcome! You’re nearly home! 😉

Becoming Catholic was the best thing I ever did too. And I studied hard to understand things, believe me. Mary wasn’t a big problem. I got into a bind and asked her for help, and she dropped help on my head so fast, I had to jump outta the way! Started praying the rosary right after that. 😃

But coming to grips with the Eucharist, oy! And I didn’t get it at all until I went to a Healing Service where the priest processed with the Blessed Host exposed in the Monstrance. And everyone one had tears in their eyes and knelt in such reverence when He passed by.

And when He passed in front of me and paused…That was the moment I got it! I saw Him. And I hope anyone who reads this knows that I am not talking about the priest. I’m talking about Him! I saw Him. He was right in front of me. The Lord was passing by!

You should’ve seen me at the next convert class. I could hardly wait to tell everyone, especially the wonderful Irish priest teaching us. I think he thought I’d gone a bit nuts, but I was ecstatic. Thrilled. Delighted! I had finally got it and I started making Holy Hours right away.

Devotion to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, the Rosary, the Divine Mercy, Mass as often as you can get there, frequent reception of the sacraments. Study the Bible and the Catechism. And if you don’t get something, don’t sweat it. Pray about it, ask, study, and wait on the Lord. He will give you Light in His own good time.

May the Lord richly bless you, and welcome again! 🙂
 
Welcome Home!
stay with the program and go with the flow
it happens when it happens and the time frame is not the same for everyone, there is no magic about the timing of the rights

have you ever fallen in love?
it wall happen much like that, you will just know, and then be frustrated and impatient at waiting for the sacraments, but as every happily married couple knows, the waiting was part of the experience and very necessary.

if you do nothing else, pray daily and just read and re-read the Sunday gospel and think about it.

when you are puzzled or doubtful simply ask the Lord to answer you. Sit before the Blessed Sacrament and just ask him, “are you here, Lord?”
 
When joined the Church in 2001 my husband grandmother joined with me. She was so excited when I told her I was in RCIA and she couldn’t wait to start the classes too, she was 76. She was also Baptized that Easter! It was such an awesome thing to go through with her. My husband and I took her, and his aunt, who was Grandma’s sponsor, to the classes every week. It really brought us closer together and we learned so much about Grandma. She had gone to Church with her husband for 56 years, but never joined. She was like a child learning something for the first time…it was pure joy for her! .
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top