This is hard (please do not take offense)

  • Thread starter Thread starter lookaround
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lookaround said:
the Catholic Church is not the only church that has the Eucharist
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Dear Lookaround,

It seems to me that you have not been catechised fully or correctly. The Catholic church is the ONLY church that has the one and only true/Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. Only the Catholic priests have the authority to change the bread and wine into the real body and blood of Christ. This gift has been handed down by the apostles.

God Bless
Jeanne
 
I think lookaround was referring to the Orthodox churches, as he mentioned it in an earlier post, and they do have apostolic succession and valid Eucharist.

It does sound like the OP’s catechisis was poor, but there are plenty of Catholics who are poorly catechized. The important thing is the relationship with the One True God in His Son and Spirit.

It is essential to understand that all Marian doctrines are Christocentric. Mary always says what she said at Cana - “do whatever He tells you to do.”

The Immaculate Conception says that Mary received baptismal grace in order to prepare her to be the Tabernacle for the Incarnate Lord. Many people think it means she was not conceived by normal human reproduction (wrong) or that she was otherwise superhuman/quasi-divine. Wrong.

The Assumption says that Mary was taken into Heaven, body and soul - exactly what is promised to each of us if we perservere in Grace - not because of works but because of His Grace.

Transubstantiation is a way of explaining the Real Presence - an explanation that works if you already understand the Greek view of reality on which it is based. The essential doctrine is that the Eucharist is truly and exclusively Jesus’ Body and Blood. It is true that the Orthodox refuse to try and explain this in human terms, being content to recognize it as Mystery.

This post will be way too long if I try to address every item mentioned here, but I encourage you to hang around and ask questions before you bail out. It would be tragic to walk away from Jesus because of misunderstanding or bad teaching.
 
lookaround said:
I remember one of the things I was told in RCIA was that since Catholic means Universal its ok if everyone has different beliefs.
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Yikes!! :eek:
Not entirely true.
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Understatement of the century, there.
Looking back, since I did RCIA at college I think the instructor was more liberal and trying to soften everything for the group.
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I have always been of the opinion that one year or less of instruction is not long enough to really become a Catholic. For me, it took seventeen years. It probably would have taken less time if I had been determined to become a Catholic throughout that whole time period, but really, it took me about five or six years to deal with the teachings on Mary. It was a very gradual process of building idea on idea.

I would not expect a new convert with one year of instruction and two years of experience in the Church to be able to “get” Mary - I honestly don’t think it’s possible. So, what I would say to you is, give it some time, keep studying, and give yourself a break - don’t give up on yourself this early.

When you received Confirmation you made a promise to believe what the Church teaches you. You made a leap of faith that what the Church teaches you is bound to be true, because of the promises of Christ. Keep in mind the words of Peter when the teachings of Christ made absolutely no sense to him, and everyone was leaving - Jesus asked him, “And you - will you also leave me?” Peter replied, “To whom would we go, Lord? You alone have the words of eternal life.” Peter didn’t understand the teaching, but he trusted it, because it was coming from Jesus. We, too, need to trust Jesus, even when the teachings aren’t making any sense to us.
 
lookaround said:
I have only been a member of the Catholic Church for a little while (2 years).
In this short time one thing that I have discovered is that while I do not know who is a REAL Catholic (I don’t know if anyone is). I know that I am not.
There are many good things about the Catholic Church (wonderful people, charities, has made more positive changes then any other church) and I find that I agree more with the teachings of the Catholic Church then any other church, but more is not all.

I think back to my baptism and confirmation, and wonder if the Catholic Church should have ever baptized me. Honestly, the answer is probably still yes.
There is nothing I was asked that I would now say “no” to. My beliefs have not changed, but what I thought we all believed has changed.

I know many of you will think that I built my faith on sand, that I do not want to submit to authority, or that I am not being sincere in following God.
I understand and don’t hold it against you. There was a time I would have thought the same thing.

What I do know is to be a true worshiper we must worship in spirit and in truth. Sadly if I remained in the Catholic Church I would not be doing this.
I would just be a body in church on Sunday.

Peace be with all of you.
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Sholom aleichem!
Have you read “Honey from the Rock”? There are a number of organizations. Off the top I can remember Association of Hebrew Catholics. Do a search for Hebrew Catholic. Also, mention that you are a Hebrew Catholic. This should get some help from people who have struggled with the same issues that you may have.

The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!

Sholom aleichem!
 
lookaround said:
immaculate conception: I thought this was about Jesus

transubstantiation: I personally believe it is logical but the Orthodox don’t believe in transubstantiation and the CC says they have a valid Eucharist (I do believe in the Real Presence of the Eucharist)

Peter in charge: the more I learn about history the less likely this seems

days of obligation: once I heard this I was like… wow this is wrong

indulgences not gone: I was told before I converted that they were gone (I even said that if they weren’t I would never become a Catholic)

assumption of Mary: I can believe this as a maybe but not 100%

the Catholic Church never changing: one of the things I liked about Catholicism is that they made major (positive) changes with Vatican II

I was also told that I would never have to pray to saints or Mary if I did not want to. However, once I went to Reconciliation, 3 Hail Mary’s.

The big one (outside of some very negative experiences I had in the Church in only two years) is history.

I knew that the Bible did not agree 100% with the Catholic Church, but I also knew that the Church had Sacred Traditions.
However, for these Traditions to be true they needed to be based in history. Many times the Catholic Church has said, “it has always been this way and everyone believed it”. Its not true.
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Each of these issues could be a thread on its own.

Would it make sense to pick ONE issue and work through that carefully followed by another, etc?

If so, what would be the most troubling issue for you?
 
lookaround said:
I know many of you will think that I built my faith on sand, that I do not want to submit to authority, or that I am not being sincere in following God.

Peace be with all of you.
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And also with you brother. I don’t think you have built your faith on sand or are insincere. The very fact that you seriously think about issues like the Eucharist and even the Assumption of Mary is more than proof to people like me that you really have thought seriously about the Catholic faith. I would even wager that by joining such a forum as this you have shown your dedication to finding religious truth.

How many Catholics in the 15-45 age bracket (I have no idea as to your age :confused:) let’s say even have any idea of how to properly describe Mary’s Assumption? Who? (and I hope not too come off as insulting): The young adult with the ripped football jersey and track pants in Church chewing gum all through the Mass until he remembers to take it out right before the Eucharist without even realizing what he is about to receive? That hypothetical guy may go through his whole life as a cradle Catholic to death without ever once even thinking about the theological issues or beliefs you have raised in seeking Christ and Church.

This is just my poor two cents worth but, it goes without saying, I hope you stay! I for one do not doubt your sincerity and hope Christ watches over you in life and helps you to a decision or at least encourages you to STICK AROUND a bit! God Bless! 🙂
 
lookaround said:
a person who does something out of obligation is not doing it out of love
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Shalom haMashiach.
One may begin as a Mitzva, as when you memorized the Torah for your Bar Mitzva, but with the grace of the Almighty, it may become a act of love

You are warmly welcomed to attend Mass. Also there are a number of resources here that can help you in your discernment of the will of God for you.

Rosalind Moss ewtn - catholic.com/seminars/moss.asp
Association of Hebrew Catholics - hebrewcatholic.org/
Second Exodus, Israelite Origins of the Catholic Faith by Marty Barrack - secondexodus.com/html/sit…teheritage.htm
Roy Schoeman - salvationisfromthejews.com/

Shalom.
 
lookaround, it sounds like your decision to join the Catholic Church was not a fully informed one. If you cannot reconcile your conscience to what the Church really teaches, and I do hope you try, then by all means leave the Church. The Catholic Church doesn’t want you to violate your conscience. It too wants you to worship in spirit and truth.

If you do leave, there is a canonical procedure for leaving the Church (writing your bishop, etc.) and I suggest you follow it. If you simply stop going to church, the Church will still consider you a member and therefore still bound by all its canon laws, particularly the marriage laws, which might unnecessarily complicate things for you should you later -]come to your senses /-]change your mind and decide to return to the Catholic Church.
 
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