stuck

[sherilo]

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. AMEN.

Why is this not enough? I really was so happy to finally find that most of my reservations about the Catholic church were actually based on bad information. I believe now in the immaculate conception and real presence, two big stumbling blocks. But, I am stuck now. I don’t know if I can go forward into RCIA, but I know that I can’t go backward to Protestantism (no offense to the many truly reverant Protestants out there). I have been reading the early fathers’ and it seems that they had the true church. Now, there are so many rules, i.e. when to stand, when to kneel, when to beat your breast, when to genuflect, when to nod, when to bow, etc. Also, there is so much judgement concerning “cafeteria catholicism.” I understand the reasons behind many of the rules and regs, but still feel that it is not what the early fathers had going on. So many people don’t even know why they do what they do. I am going to read Rome, Sweet, Rome to see if this helps me, because right now, I am stuck.
Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Sherilo

 

[MrS]

It may seem like there are so many rules when to, when not to.

When we stand, for instance, we then do not turn around, we do not clap, we do not gab with our neighbor, we do not sleep.

How may rules do we employ when eating with family? They are simply the norm for behavior. The do’s if you will.

 

[MrS]

If you have access to Fr. Corapi’s series on the Catechism, buy, rent or borrow. If you have the CDs, it really is a great way to drive your car…

 

[nobody]

sherilo:

… So many people don’t even know why they do what they do. …

Yes, I was one of those people for a long time - cradle Catholic, just doing what my mom taught me. But you know what, because of the discipline, it kept me in the church, until I realized how much I needed the Church.

The truth is the truth, regardless of what us humans know, or can explain to eachother.

I hope others are more helpful, I just wanted to share what I could.

 

[JimG]

You seem to be stuck more on “Catholic etiquette” rules than anything substantial.
As Grandma used to say, don’t sweat the small stuff.

When you marry, you marry into someone else’s family, and find that they have a lot of little different ways of doing things. It’s no big deal. The Church family, having been around for 2,000 years, has a lot of family customs.

 

[Didi]

I understand your feelings. I am a cradle Catholic and went through a very dry period in my faith life. Over the last five years I have been going through a major reconversion and have fallen head over heals in love with Jesus and the Catholic Church.

One thing that is so fascinating to me is that there are really wonderful explanations and reasons as to why we do the things we do in Mass. When you start reading about the history, the meaning, the tradition – it all becomes this very beautiful and meaningful way of praying.

For instance, Catholics kneel during the consecration of the bread and wine that is changed through the Holy Spirit into the Body and Blood of Jesus. We do not stand until this consecration is complete, that is after the great “amen.” Then we stand because the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is now present, truly present, on the altar. So, as with any royalty or person of dignity, we stand to acknowledge His presence!

So when we learn the teaching behind the action, it becomes meaninful and beautiful. There are many great books about this – Catholic Answer’s Mass Appeal and Mass Confusion booklets, which are not very long. Also “Why Do Catholics Do That?” by Kevin Orlin Johnson.

Start reading, start learning, and your faith will grow!

 

[Fidelis]

You may be just overwhelmed by it all because it is so new to you and you are trying to take it all in. My advice is not too worry over the externals too much–on a daily basis of living a life as a Catholic, many of them are secondary. Just take one facet of it at a time and enjoy yourself while you learn.

As to what other Catholics do or don’t do, it is easy to get frustrated at the millionaires kid who always says he’s bored when he surrounded by all possible riches. Many who have always been Catholics are like that: they don’t even know what they have. Converts (and reverts like me) have a special mission to bring our brothers and sister into a full appreciation into the riches of the Faith. The best way of course is with patience, joy and perseverance-- they don’t call it the perseverance of the saints for nothing!

 

[justinmatter]

Didi:

For instance, Catholics kneel during the consecration of the bread and wine that is changed through the Holy Spirit into the Body and Blood of Jesus. We do not stand until this consecration is complete, that is after the great “amen.” Then we stand because the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is now present, truly present, on the altar. So, as with any royalty or person of dignity, we stand to acknowledge His presence!

also, did you notice, that just before qwe kneel, we say: holy, holy, holy, lord…

in revelation, it says that the heavenly hosts say something similar whilefalling to their knees (rev, 4: 10-11)
i read about this in a book explaining the mass and when i read it, i felt so great. it was sharing in a piece of heaven!!!

hey, sherlio
as long as the doctrines are clear in your head, the rest should not be too difficult.
go ahead, spend some time thinking this out too but don’t get lost in worries about rules and regulations when you’ve crossed all the major hurdles. pray to the lord to explain these things to you
that would be a major pity indeed!!!

 

[prodromos]

sherilo:

Any suggestions?

Become Orthodox?

 

[sherilo]

prodromos:

Become Orthodox?

Funny you should say that. I was just wondering yesterday if there was another option–something truer to the early church. Was not even aware that there was yet another type of Catholic church. Am not quite ready to explore that, yet though. My head is swimming already. But thanks for the suggestion, and for the information.

Sherilo

 

[Trelow]

Don’t understand so that you may believe, believe so that you may understand.

 

[sherilo]

To all,

Thanks for the great advice. You are all very astute. I do have a personal habit of sweating the small stuff. And I have crammed an awful lot into my head within the last six months, or so. I think that I will take the advice and settle down some. I guess I should just attend Mass and live my new faith for a while. Obviously, patience would be a handy virtue right about now.

Thanks,
Sherilo