Carol,
When people are genuinely seeking information they usually frame an interrogative and conclude the sentence with a question mark.
I think you missed a genuine opportunity for evangelism Mike. You are right, Carol does not seek information the way “most” people do, and her posts do tend to be blunt, somewhat provocative, and responses very sensitive. However, I think that such a person is still genuinely seeking. I made the same mistake with her when she first came to the board, then when I realized my error, I tried to correct it. You can see if you go back through my dialogues with her.
Thank you.
I agree with your concern about those who profess to be Catholics needing to understand and accept the full implications of these verses. That is why I am determined to understand their implications for my belief before I undertake any conversion to the Church: I cannot be less than honest in the face of Church doctrine. Mind you, it seems to me that if I waited until I understood every nook and cranny of The Truth I would be dead. So what to do? Most Catholics never think about transubstantiation.
I don’t know which Catholics you hang with, Mike, but most of the people in the parish pew and at the mission here can;t even pronounce the word “transubstantiation”. I think Carol is absolutely right on this, that most people don’t even think about it. In fact, when some of us think about it, it does more harm than good! One can get tied up in trying to wrap one’s mind around a mystery, then fail to appreciate the mystery.
You seem sensitive about this point yet it is you that is picking one thing to believe while rejecting others out of hand. There are many Catholic dissident groups that hold views similar to yours. Some of them have been excommunicated by Rome so I think this label is appropriate. To be a faithful Catholic you must accept all of the teachings and doctrines of the Church. I think you have much to learn about the faith and pray that you are open to doing so.
I think calling names to people like “heretic” in this case is not conducive to evangelization. Good that you are willing to pray, but as you can see from her previous post, she KNOWS already that she has to accept all the teachings, and is STRUGGLING to do so!
I do worry because so many people fall prey to Catholic dissident groups. I suggest you make sure that your advisors beliefs are in communion with Rome.
I know you said this in ignorance because you had not read her previous posts about who her mentors and teachers are. Apparently it was like a last straw for her.
Please go back and read your own words about transubstantiation…there was no question only ridicule and mocking language. I’m sorry if my posts are causing you pain and sorrow it is my hope they will help you grow.
I found the statement in the title shocking myself. The reason I pulled that post out and made a new thread was because I was amazed at it, especially from an RCIA candidate. However, I think you missed the whole point of the statement, as I did at first. Now I realize that she was right all along. The word “transubstantiation” is a device of man. It is language used to describe the indescribable, and a valiant attempt on the part of our puny reasoning to describe/explain “this is my body”. This is plain to see when one studies Orthodox teaching, which is all about the Real Presence, but nowhere uses this word to describe it.
I think it will behoove all of us to find ways to be welcoming and educating for the Carol’s of the world, or we will never be able to reunite with our separated brethren.
