The changes in the outward expression of Catholicity and the loss of faith

[CSPaxChristi]

I am a young Catholic who without slander to any church practice; was recently thinking if the changes of church liturgical practices after VII led or are leading to indefrentism among Catholics. For example, Latin American Catholics are converting in droves to Protestanism. I have talked to hundreds of these people and some of the most common responses that I get is that there isn’t really a difference between Catholicism and Protestantism. They say the music is mostly the same, some of the prayers are the same and the only main differences are some dogmas and religous practices. I know this is wrong and explain to them but there response is that even Catholics are adopting Protestant traditions (Charasmatic Renewal).

 

[CSPaxChristi]

Please don’t use this post to attack others. I am just asking for a response from various Catholic view points.

 

[CapitalistCatholic]

They might be correct in saying much of the music might be similar. I would respond to them that Catholics have the Body of Christ, which the Protestant churches do not. There is no denying that abandoning the Catholics Church because “it’s basically the same” is abandoning Christ’s Body, and therefore abandoning Christ himself.

 

[CSPaxChristi]

Yeah it’s sad to see this happen. I try to explain to them all this but it falls on death ears. Most of the time they just respond by saying they want Jesus without the religion.

 

[CapitalistCatholic]

I would then respond, “That’s like saying you want the King without his Kingdom, or the Head without his Body. If you want Christ, you must believe in his Church.”

 

[CSPaxChristi]

Very true. It’s sad to see places like Brazil where Protestantism is taking a lot of people out of the church.

 

[CSPaxChristi]

Yes it is important to remember that outside the church there is no salvation. I have also sadly had to explain to Catholics that Protestantism and Catholicism are not the same. I belive that a lot of parishes are unknowingly causing harm by introducing Protestants hymns during the mass. This past Sunday I heard the Protestant hymn The Old Rugged Cross during the distribution of communion.

 

[CapitalistCatholic]

The Old Rugged Cross isn’t that bad with organ accompaniment and good congregational singing, but knowing Catholics the latter will be impossible. If you want to cause a change in the Liturgy in order to attract more converts, take it to your pastor or bishop.

 

[LawyersGunsAndMoney]

There is no denying that abandoning the Catholics Church because “it’s basically the same” is abandoning Christ’s Body, and therefore abandoning Christ himself.

I assume that most of these people either don’t understand the doctrine of the Real Presence or don’t believe it, so I doubt this argument is going to be persuasive. If they already accept Catholic premises, they probably aren’t leaving.

When people say they want God without the religion, I assume they mean that they feel like God can be obscured by what feels like a ton of highly technical, dry doctrines and arguments.

I’ve felt that way about CAF sometimes; sometimes it feels like people are approaching God like an actuarial table or a computer program.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I doubt that the Church music in places like South America was vastly different before Vatican II.

I also don’t think the people there are leaving because of post-Vatican II changes. It’s more likely the Protestant church up the street is doing a better job of providing social opportunities, good “feels”, and fewer rules. No need to be confessing your sins all the time at the Protestant church, and many of them are fine with divorce and remarriage also. Maybe the Protestant church is even quicker to offer help and support to people having economic or life troubles.

Protestant churches in a majority Catholic area often work a lot harder to give the people what they want. Plus, in the past there were a lot fewer Protestant churches in areas like Brazil, so people didn’t have options like they do today.

Now if you want to talk about post-Vatican II changes in USA, that’s a little different story.

 

[TheLittleLady]

We all need to be better at evangelization!

Jesus said one of these:

Let your music be so glorious that they will hear it and glorify your Father in heaven

Let your prayers be so pious that they will hear them and glorify your Father in heaven

Let your light so shine before men that they will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

[stpiosson]

Fundamentally it is a failure of catechesis. If one truly understands the mass and that Christ Himself is truly present in the Sacraments and especially in the Eucharist then one could never leave the Catholic Church. The Church must do a much better job at catechising the people so that they are brought into a personal relationship with Jesus in His Sacraments and especially in the mass and the Eucharist.

People often say that they don’t get anything out of the mass. I think this reflects a failure to understand what the mass IS. It all comes down to effective catechesis in the end. Yes fellowship and social activities can enhance the lives of the people but these are, in the final analysis, merely nice to haves. If people had a vibrant, living faith based on a proper understanding of the importance of daily prayer, the absolute importance of the mass and the Sacraments then that would be sufficient for them.