Trying to explain some things to a Catholic friend

[cyberwolf001]

I sent one of my best friends (A Catholic) a gift box earlier this week.

It had a brown scapular, green scapular and a miraculous medal.

Now my friend is a kind and caring person. But she isn’t what I’d call the brightest bulb in the box. She was beyond confused about all three and just want to do with them.

In spite of being a cradle Catholic she has no idea about purgator scapulars or the Miraculous medal.

To give you an idea of where she is at she found Praying the Rosary Without Distractions to confusing and frustrating to work through.

This is about what the book contained at this links
catholiccompany.com/content/Joyful-Mysteries-of-the-Rosary.cfm
catholiccompany.com/content/Luminous-Mysteries-of-the-Rosary.cfm
catholiccompany.com/content/Sorrowful-Mysteries-of-the-Rosary.cfm
catholiccompany.com/content/Glorious-Mysteries-of-the-Rosary.cfm

Yes even that is over here head… It took me half an hour to explain what a decade of the Rosary is and she still finds it confusing. (For that matter so do many Protestants and cradle Catholics I know).

While I may not be Catholic anymore myself I want my friend to understand why she believes what she believes and what the Church teaches…

How am I to explain purgatory, indulgences, the brown and green scapulars and the miraculous medal to someone that is this easily confused?

Mind you my package had all the standard pamphlets explaining everything but she found those very confusing as well.

Help me…

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FYI I don’t think she is playing stupid I see many people like this. Anything more complex than a sound bite sends them spiraling into confusion.

My biggest problem with explain the faith to my Protestant friends was that Catholicism can’t really be reduced to that level of stupidity.

It’s more than “Jesus is Lord and the King James Bible is the Word of the Lord!” therefore it must be of Satan.

 

[beckycmarie]

Cyber,

I am a teacher so I know exactly what you’re talking about. It takes some amount of patience to teach someone new concepts they have no background knowledge to grasp.

In this situation, I would start with the Green Scapular. She may be overwhelmed with all the sacramentals and information all at once; so I’d teach them one at a time. When she understands the purpose of one, move on to another.

The Green Scapular is the easiest to understand and use. Here’s a website that has info on the Green Scapular, and the info is short and to the point:

Green Scapular Devotion

She should be able to handle that.

 

[scott1228]

Keep in mind that the Lord taught with images and parables. That is the simplest way to teach.

We have big words to explain the truths of the faith but the truths themselves are often simple.

I would explain the teachings by referring to everyday life. What is a scapular similar to? A locket. A locket reminds us of a loved one.

Try this approach.

Best wishes,

Scott

 

[MoreThan1Hat]

If you’d like an easily-understandable explanation of purgatory when you get to that point, PM me and I’ll give you the one I used with my kids. The youngest was 5 when I explained it to them and he got it right away.

I’ll pray for you, and for your friend as well, meanwhile.

 

[MarieVeronica]

While I may not be Catholic anymore myself I want my friend to understand why she believes what she believes and what the Church teaches…

Hi Cyberwolf. I’d like to take this opportunity… to extend a loving reminder to you, that if you were baptized a Catholic… you are still a Catholic. This holds true for everyone who is baptized into the faith. Even if they fall away, and are no longer practicing. In other words…

Once a Catholic… always a Catholic.

And I would like to add, my friend… that you are doing a very, very GOOD job of caring for your friend… and instructing her about Catholic traditions. You are certainly living you Catholicity… more than many folks who are still “practicing”. God bless.