Trying to become a true Catholic

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pabloSD

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Dear brothers and sisters,

What’s the best way for me and my family to become really practicing Catholics? I want to break the vicious circle in my family history of never being observing Catholics, I want to reclaim our Catholic roots and start a new chapter in our family history. My wife supports this, and we want to make sure our children (daughter is six, son is one year and a half) value, respect, and practice their faith. We want to be true Christian Catholics, with Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

I don’t want to be a cafeteria Catholic anymore. I want my nuclear family to change our family history forever.

I was thinking of enrolling in one of the Bible studies or other courses offered by the Diocese of San Diego. I was even thinking of doing the RCIA program, even though I’m already baptized, confirmed, and received Holy Communion.

For starters, I’m starting a “Family Cathechism Night” with my six-year-old daughter. I have the Cathechism my wife used from when she was a little girl, the one she used to prepare for her First Communion.

Thank you for your suggestions, prayers, and comments.
In Christ,
Pablo
 
pabloSD said:
Dear brothers and sisters,

I was thinking of enrolling in one of the Bible studies or other courses offered by the Diocese of San Diego. I was even thinking of doing the RCIA program, even though I’m already baptized, confirmed, and received Holy Communion.

For starters, I’m starting a “Family Cathechism Night” with my six-year-old daughter. I have the Cathechism my wife used from when she was a little girl, the one she used to prepare for her First Communion.

Thank you for your suggestions, prayers, and comments.
In Christ,
Pablo
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Check this group, it has everything for the family…and are a Catholic lay group…

cfc–usa.com/v1.2/
 
Have frequent recourse to the Sacraments. Go to Mass as much as you can, even daily Mass.

Get involved in Ministry at your parish.

Pray often and do spiritual reading.

Spiritual direction may be helpful.

God bless.
 
I think you are on the right track. 👍
Obviously, Sunday Mass should be central. Go to confession often. Pray together as a family. Family Rosary is a great way to do it. Here is a link that you might find helpful for tips on how to get started: cantuar.blogspot.com/2010/09/12-tips-for-praying-family-rosary-daily.html

Also, talk to your children about God, so it is not one hour on sunday thing. Make God the centre of your family life. It might seem strange to do that at first, but it will become a natural thing to do. It is really important that your kids see God as a companion in their life.
 
pabloSD said:
I was thinking of enrolling in one of the Bible studies or other courses offered by the Diocese of San Diego. I was even thinking of doing the RCIA program, even though I’m already baptized, confirmed, and received Holy Communion.

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these are excellent ideas
don’t forget most of all family prayer, nightly or weekly rosary etc.

you cannot do better for a systematic revisit of your faith than volunteering as a sponsor for someone in RCIA.
 
In addition to what all the things the above posters said, I would recommend reading and studying the history and all the teachings of the Catholic Church. There is a book on the Early Church Fathers too.
Get some good Catholic books written by faithful Catholics. My favorites are Scott Hahn’s “The Lamb’s Supper” and “The Imitation of Christ” by Thomas Kemper. Any books on the saints are really inspiring.
 
May I suggest a website?

everycatholicblog.blogspot.com/

You can find saints books, saints miracles, eucharistic miracles, saints movies to help your faith. It may help you to become a devout catholic.

I created the website for just that.

May the merciful Jesus bless you 🙂
 
My kids love when we celebrate some of the Saints’ days in various ways: we always bake (and eat) homemade speculaas (Dutch spice cookies) on the feast of St. Nicholas, we have a big Mexican meal on the feast of Our Lady of Guadaloupe, etc. This sets traditions in our faith and in our family, worth every extra effort on my part.
 
Good for you! I wish I had thought of that 30 years ago when our son was little, but no, we were Catholic in name only and we terribly regret that we didn’t take our religion seriously enough to engrain it into our son. So, one of our major projects these days, now that we’re older is to win our son back to the Church. With prayer and Rosaries and God’s help, we’re sure it can be done.
But in reading the Old Testament I came across a passage where God says basically to post “The Ten Commandments” in your house and to read them and discuss them with your children (grand children for us). So that’s what we did. I had it framed and mounted on a wall in our living room and when we have our kids (on a very irregular basis) we read and study the 10 commandments and they seem to enjoy it. We’re trying to make up for lost opportunities with our son, with our grand children and in the process get our son and his wife back to Church.
So, good for you and I admire you greatly for what you’re doing.
God Bless,
Ron and Michele
 
casey_zia said:
My kids love when we celebrate some of the Saints’ days in various ways: we always bake (and eat) homemade speculaas (Dutch spice cookies) on the feast of St. Nicholas, we have a big Mexican meal on the feast of Our Lady of Guadaloupe, etc. This sets traditions in our faith and in our family, worth every extra effort on my part.
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I agree, celebrating all the various things throughout the liturgical year is a great way to expose your children, and yourself, to the Catholic faith in a fun way. Catholic Icing has tons of great ideas, both crafts and food, to get you started.
 
Hi,
The Holy Bible is a good place to get stories to be read and explained to your children.
Story books from the Bible for children are available.
Talk and read to them about these things which are interesting to them.
Supper time everyone is there and is ideal to read read 10 or 12 lines from the Psalms before praying grace.

Bed time is a good time to say the angel prayer, “Now I lay me down to sleep…”
If they are older, teach them the St. Michael Archangel prayer.
Also teach them a short version of an act of contrition.
“O my God, I am am so sorry for anything I have done wrong today, and I will be better
tomorrow because I love You.”

In the morning as they get out of bed, train them to say the moring offering.
“O Jesus, thru the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I give you everything I do
this day to your Sacred Heart for my family, but also for poor sinners, so
we all meet in Paradise, and I love you.”

In the evening, if the children are small, say one decade of the rosary together.
As they grow older, gradually increase the decades.

If it is possible, visit the Blessed Sacrament in church for a few minutes with them. And explain that Jesus is present there and he hears what we say and think. He enjoys it very much when we come and see Him and when we talk to Him.

In your home, if you have the room, make a special place for God’s presence.
I knew of a family who had a small room with only a kneeler in it and a
crucifix on the wall. The parents never explained anything, but everyone knew that room
was reserved as a special place for God to be in their home with them. And from
time to time somebody would go in and kneel for a while.

Each room should have something on the wall to remind them of spiritual holliness.
These should be blessed.

Have them wear the miraculous medal and chain and have it blessed. If you need info
on this, google “miraculous medal”.

You might want to take a browse in a religious store to see what is available.

The Holy Spirit will guide you.​

“God is love.” John the apostle
 
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