Strong Desire to Attend Mass, But Not Catholic

[Zundrah]

I prayed at the sacred heart of Jesus Christ, prayed at the shrine of Mary in my church but on my way out of the chapel I looked over at the tabernacle yesterday after mass, but I still just can’t do it…

 

[EvelynEVF]

I’ve been reading lately about Protestants who leave their church and become Catholics. I have yet to hear a story about someone who left their Protestant church because they rejected the belief in forensic justification, i.e. that God declares those who believe in Jesus righteous.

.

Would you clarify this for me? How is this different from the usual Catholic belief?

I absolutely reject the idea that God declares us righteous despite ourselves, ie the whole whitewashed dungheap thing. Salvation is a process, in which we really do become righteous, not just faking it because God said so. That was a part of evangelical protestantism that never sat well with me, because it implied that God really didn’t care who I really was.

 

[grandfather]

Would you clarify this for me? How is this different from the usual Catholic belief?

I absolutely reject the idea that God declares us righteous despite ourselves, ie the whole whitewashed dungheap thing. Salvation is a process, in which we really do become righteous, not just faking it because God said so. That was a part of evangelical protestantism that never sat well with me, because it implied that God really didn’t care who I really was.

This topic belongs on another thread. It is a discussion that has been beat to death in many apologetics forums. It has nothing to do with the OP or her experiences. Some posters have converted from Protestantism for reasons of their own, but if someone wants to open a discussion on this it probably should be in another forum.

 

[RebeccaJ]

I prayed at the sacred heart of Jesus Christ, prayed at the shrine of Mary in my church but on my way out of the chapel I looked over at the tabernacle yesterday after mass, but I still just can’t do it…

It’s ok Jennifer. God holds you. Did you read St. John? I also recommend this.

 

[Liraco]

@Judith: If you read this, tomorrow (Tuesday the 4th) is your favorite saint’s feast day. St. John Vianney, the “Cure De Ars”.
Extra special now that he’s the patron saint of ALL priests (who we should be praying for harder in this year of the priest.)

I prayed at the sacred heart of Jesus Christ, prayed at the shrine of Mary in my church but on my way out of the chapel I looked over at the tabernacle yesterday after mass, but I still just can’t do it…

Zundrah, please make a new topic or a prayer intention for this if you’re having problems (but please don’t send this thread off-topic). If you do, send me a message to go over there.

I’ll be praying for you.

 

[mlz]

It’s the Holy Spirit of God calling you, IMHO.
What would it hurt to check and find out
mlz

 

[WASP]

I brought up the forensic justification concept because Jennifer definitely “feels” something. For the sake of peace in this forum, I won’t deny that it’s the Holy Spirit. But I think that conversion to Catholicism should include a conscious denial of the idea that God declares the sinner who believes in Jesus Christ to be righteous.

I will not post on this subject anymore in this forum. I will take advantage of the many helpful threads on this site. Thank you.

 

[grandfather]

I brought up the forensic justification concept because Jennifer definitely “feels” something. For the sake of peace in this forum, I won’t deny that it’s the Holy Spirit. But I think that conversion to Catholicism should include a conscious denial of the idea that God declares the sinner who believes in Jesus Christ to be righteous.

I will not post on this subject anymore in this forum. I will take advantage of the many helpful threads on this site. Thank you.

I understand this seems very important to you.

 

[Susan_Calvin]

I prayed at the sacred heart of Jesus Christ, prayed at the shrine of Mary in my church but on my way out of the chapel I looked over at the tabernacle yesterday after mass, but I still just can’t do it…

Still can’t do what? Genuflect/bow? Like RebeccaJ said, don’t worry about it… you are in RCIA, new to the church and just learning… ironing out the kinks so to speak. Myself, I don’t have any problem with genuflecting, but I have problems in other areas. No one’s perfect. Everyone’s different, just continue to be as open to learning as you currently are and you will be fine. I’m happy for you and praying for you too!

 

[Susan_Calvin]

I’ve been reading lately about Protestants who leave their church and become Catholics. I have yet to hear a story about someone who left their Protestant church because they rejected the belief in forensic justification, i.e. that God declares those who believe in Jesus righteous.

I haven’t read any stats about it, but I would imagine that Protestants-turned-Catholics have no exposure or commitment to that doctrine. I also believe that there is no essential difference between Roman Catholic teaching and Wesleyan beliefs (Nazarene, Assembly of God, Methodist, etc.). Therefore, I am not surprised when someone leaves one Church for the other.

I’m actually not Protestant though… and I didn’t leave any church to become Catholic. I had no church. My background is Jewish, and I was raised secular. I consider myself Jewish as an ethnicity. Protestantism, I have no experience and very little knowledge of, other than reading C.S. Lewis, who is an author I really enjoy. I really know very little about Protestant belief and I’m not sure how your comment relates to my thread, or to me, as a Jew.

 

[Susan_Calvin]

@Judith: If you read this, tomorrow (Tuesday the 4th) is your favorite saint’s feast day. St. John Vianney, the “Cure De Ars”.
Extra special now that he’s the patron saint of ALL priests (who we should be praying for harder in this year of the priest.)

Yes I love St. John Vianney and it was wonderful to go to mass this morning! Father spoke about him, and shared his personal thoughts on his patron saint. It was very interesting. He’s definitely my favourite saint at this point.

 

[Susan_Calvin]

Men and women give off signals to one another when they are hormonally attracted and want to know if the other person feels the same way. This might be called flirting. When men’s signals are ignored or they don’t get the right signal back the woman is an ice princess.

I’m terrible at flirting. I really am! I honestly rarely notice if a guy likes me or not, I’m more interested in my robots and computer most of the time! So in reality its not so much that I am unfriendly, as that I am a hopeless dork! A close friend told me my personality is a lot like Gil Grishom’s from CSI.

 

[Susan_Calvin]

You are a mass nerd like me!!

LOL a mass nerd?? That is great, I will have to remember that one and tell my priest too!
qui est ce:

Some Sundayss, if I’m scheduled to cantor at a different masss than the choir, I even go twice. (I sing in choir and occasionally cantor).

I go twice some days also, depending on what I am doing for the day. I often have gone twice on Saturdays, when there is a daily mass in the morning, and a Sunday vigil mass in the evening. I love mass!

 

[Susan_Calvin]

Greetings! St. Maximilian Kolbe is a saint that I highly esteem. By now you probably know that he had a newspaper, was a priest and, giving his life to save another, was martyred in Auschwitz. I’m going to let you read all the details about him rather than trying to re-tell the whole incredible story. He is the patron saint of journalism.

I’ve honestly only read a very little bit about him, thus far. I’ve been very busy with work lately and haven’t had much extra time, even to come on here. But he does sound very interesting and I really want to read about him more. Also Edith Stein.

luminoushope:

About your other statement–it has been my contention for years that single people are not respected as they should be.

I agree with you. People tend to think I am either a man-hater or a lipstick lesbian or both. I’m neither though… just honestly more interested in my work and in having lots of friends and acquaintances. As you say, you feel called to marriage. I don’t… I feel called to interact with many people but not have one particular person who is “the one” or more important to me than others. I have never felt that I wanted to commit myself to another human being. I could see myself making a committment to God, totally! But not to another person. It just doesn’t seem right for me.

luminoushope:

Have you ever, even briefly, visited the idea of becoming a Sister? You seem so well geared to it since your nature seems to be devout.

Actually I have wanted to be a Sister for most of my life. From age 5 on I dreamed of being one and drew pictures of myself as a nun. I even gave myself a religious name when I was about 7 years old. Like a pretend one… after the Sisters told me they took a new name when becoming a Sister. It was a very strong desire from an early age, and then its come to me off and on through the years as an adult, but I’ve mostly ignored it. I just never thought it was possible as I was a Jew and not Catholic. When my friend became a Daughter of St. Paul, I was in all honesty quite jealous of her. But I rationalized to myself that:

a) I am not Catholic
b) The only reason I want to be a Sister is because the Sisters were so kind to me as a child, and its a way for me to relive my childhood and kindness afforded to me, etc.

So I didn’t think it was a true vocation. I kept telling myself I was being silly. However, now that I am becoming Catholic (which I honestly never thought was a possibility before), I am revisiting the idea again. I’m very interested in St. Edith Stein and Sr. Rosalind Moss and they are both Jewish.

I have spoken to my priest about it briefly, and he suggests that I pray and discern about it for the next 4 years or so. Most congregations want you to be Catholic for 3 years before consideration, is what he told me. I am fine with that, I’m in no rush. And in any event, I feel extremely unworthy so I will need to work on myself a lot more. I’m thinking about doing St. Louis de Montfort’s total consecration to Mary.

luminoushope:

But that same devotion can be lived out as a godly single lady, or married lady.

Yes exactly. I feel that way also. When it comes right down to it, I really just want to do whatever it is God wants for me. I pray for the strength for that, and the discernment. When I have clarity I will be happy with whatever state in life I am called to, and I am in no rush. So its all good!

 

[Susan_Calvin]

Thanks again to everyone who’s written here in my absence. I answered a few of you but I am running out of time on here again! I’ve been extremely busy at work and haven’t had much leisure time for the computer at all. Next Monday I am going on my trip to visit the Missionaries of Charity and volunteer with them. I am very excited, especially to see the one Sister who I knew as a child. I doubt I will be online at all for the week I am with the Sisters. I probably could take my notebook along, but I’m thinking that I should probably turn the visit into a sort of retreat… a technology free one! I will certainly let you all know how it goes though, and hopefully will be online at least a couple more times before I leave.

Regarding the spiritual problems I was having for the last while, they are finally subsiding. I have continued to attend mass daily, pray the rosary and the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel. I enlisted the help of my priest, who gave me a crucifix and has also been praying for me and offering me his advice and general help. It was tough but I seem to have gotten through it OK and feel even closer to God than I did before it all started! Thanks to all of you who prayed for me, I really appreciate it.

 

[po18guy]

Judith, your last two posts brought tears to my eyes. I see that, rather than running from something, as some do, you are actually running toward something. You are not fleeing an emotional overload or an unacceptable situation, but rather seeking fulfillment of what is lacking in your spirit. You are docile to the leading of the Holy Spirit, which is a sure sign of an open, willing heart. May the Lord’s peace surround and envelope you on your journey. Of course, we are continuing our prayers for you.

 

[grandfather]

Also Edith Stein.

Saint Theresa (Edith Stein) Benedicta, was a brillaint philopsopher, maybe a fellow nerd. Have you ever studied philosophy?

I have never felt that I wanted to commit myself to another human being. I could see myself making a committment to God, totally! But not to another person. It just doesn’t seem right for me.

What about committing yourself to all people?

I’m thinking about doing St. Louis de Montfort’s total consecration to Mary.

In a sense St. Louis is a predecessor of Saint Maximilian. In a sense Max took up where Louis left off. It is rare that new Catholics are ready for either one. It takes a certain maturity in faith. This can come rapidly and does. Marian devotion takes the soul to great sanctity. It never fails, or rather, she never fails.

 

[grandfather]

Regarding the spiritual problems I was having for the last while,

Thanks to all of you who prayed for me, I really appreciate it.

You are welcome.

 

[jmcrae]

I’m terrible at flirting. I really am! I honestly rarely notice if a guy likes me or not, I’m more interested in my robots and computer most of the time! So in reality its not so much that I am unfriendly, as that I am a hopeless dork! A close friend told me my personality is a lot like Gil Grishom’s from CSI.

As long as you don’t end up falling for Lady Heather …

 

[Liraco]

I’m terrible at flirting. I really am! I honestly rarely notice if a guy likes me or not

I’m horrible at noticing signals. It’s a wonder I even have a girlfriend being so block-headed about these things. For me to notice others flirting, they have to be the opposite of subtle.

Since you don’t feel called to marriage, perhaps your being oblivious will serve as a “shield” to get the average guy to give up quick (and you won’t even have to turn them down).

It’s cool that you seem pretty set on your calling to being single as so many people seem to just be terrified of being “alone”. Good to hear you’ll take your time on discerning if you’ll become a nun (Robo-nun!..or not )

Judith, you mention Sister Rosalind, did you have a chance to catch her on the CAL podcast? Sadly she’s not been recently (she’s in her novitiate and probably quite busy at times) but it seems tomorrow and later this month she might be on again.

I’m thinking about doing St. Louis de Montfort’s total consecration to Mary.

That’s cool. I found out about it through a podcast (rosary army) and actually did the prayers in podcast form. I seem to use that word a lot… but it’s because of podcasts that I started strengthening/revisiting my faith. Podcasts! There.

A technology retreat sounds like a good idea. How about taking a paper notebook instead? (Or journal I guess would be the better word).

I’ll stop ranting now and pray for you instead.