S
sambos671
Guest
As a recent re-vert back to our faith I find myself in a quandary. A quick contextual background for discussion. I was raised Catholic (nominally) though I went to Parochial schools I don’t believe I was properly Catachized. While oversees I met Protestant Missionaries at a young age and saw a healthy devotion to scriptures and exemplary lives reflecting in many respects the teachings of Jesus. Contrary to my experiences as my family (devout in the sense of attending mass every sunday) was split by divorce twice, was very secular in language (profanity common usage), quick acceptance of cultural opposition to the church’s teaching, etc… I quickly left the church inappropriately blameing it for my family’s lack of evidencing faith. Ie… My family goes to Mass regularily and it does nothing to transform them into Jesus’ image therefore the Faith is inadiquate. A lot of factors not considered in my youth. So I became Evangelical. However, when trying to determine exactly in which bracket I fell in I discovered that there were so many contradictory teachings between the denominations truth became ellusive apart from the very basics even the Catholic Faith teaches. Ie Trinitarian God, Jesus two natures, Scriptural Authority, the Virgin Birth of Jesus, Jesus Sacrificial death and subsequent physical resurrection, Jesus’ assention, Promise of his return, Jesus’ judgement, Forgiveness of sins, and promise of eternal life for believers. Where things get dicey are on the particulars 1) how does the atonment work, 2) How does justification work, 3) How should we view sanctification, 4) the workings of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, 5) what extent in Jesus present in the communion, and so on. However, by the grace of God working from my baptism and on in my studies of scripture and how these particular matters were viewed throughout christian history by the Church fathers and honest reflection of many evangelical beliefs. I returned to the Catholic faith holding that it is truely One, Holy, and Apostolic Church.
Now the problem is as I learn more about the Catholic faith and grow in its teaching I find it is very diverse and I’m not sure where I fit in. Now being a fan of history I appreciate the Traditional Latin Mass and often see corrilations between it and the Orthodox Chrysostom’s liturgy in Greek. Though often the Priest who conducts the mass does so quickly and I can barely hear his Latin prayers. So I picked up a 1962 Missal which I found as a great resource not just for the TLM but as a smaller Catachesis book which I often refer to my children. On the other hand I have nothing against the Novo Ordo and am actually excited about the new changes bringing the english closer to the Latin meanings of the words. And I find blessing in both Masses. Having been evangelical for many years its engrained in me to participate in my Parish and help where ever I can which I do. And as many know once you volunteer much more is asked of you for which I don’t mind. This also has led me to the Knights which are involved in many charitable activities. However, as I speak to the wide swath of believers from Catholics who don’t buy 100% into the Magestrial teachings of the Church and the Ultra TLM onlies going to mass in their black suites and women with head coverings which often remind me of Orthodox Jews wearing black suits and hats and locks and both communities seem very tight. I’m beging to wonder where I fit in. I find I’m very conservative and agree with many of the more conservative groups of the catholic faith on social issues such as I wonder why Catholic Politicians who support abortion are allowed communion? Or that the Archdiocese of Boston has been too liberal with the homosexual agenda having a “gay mass” which I understand all are welcome to the Liturgy of the Word but certainly not the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Especially, those catholic men and women who are unapologetically homosexual and don’t see its activity as a sin. In ancient times any one could go to the first liturgy and the second liturgy would be held in secret for only those catachized in the faith and believed to be true all the Catholic church taught. So on one hand I’m very conservative on the other hand I don’t go to the “far right” extreem of believing the TLM is superior to the Novo Ordo. Also I fear (primarily because of my own experience) that much of the Church body of members have “given in” to the secular mores of our society rather than the stead fast teachings of the Church. So where do I fit in?
Now the problem is as I learn more about the Catholic faith and grow in its teaching I find it is very diverse and I’m not sure where I fit in. Now being a fan of history I appreciate the Traditional Latin Mass and often see corrilations between it and the Orthodox Chrysostom’s liturgy in Greek. Though often the Priest who conducts the mass does so quickly and I can barely hear his Latin prayers. So I picked up a 1962 Missal which I found as a great resource not just for the TLM but as a smaller Catachesis book which I often refer to my children. On the other hand I have nothing against the Novo Ordo and am actually excited about the new changes bringing the english closer to the Latin meanings of the words. And I find blessing in both Masses. Having been evangelical for many years its engrained in me to participate in my Parish and help where ever I can which I do. And as many know once you volunteer much more is asked of you for which I don’t mind. This also has led me to the Knights which are involved in many charitable activities. However, as I speak to the wide swath of believers from Catholics who don’t buy 100% into the Magestrial teachings of the Church and the Ultra TLM onlies going to mass in their black suites and women with head coverings which often remind me of Orthodox Jews wearing black suits and hats and locks and both communities seem very tight. I’m beging to wonder where I fit in. I find I’m very conservative and agree with many of the more conservative groups of the catholic faith on social issues such as I wonder why Catholic Politicians who support abortion are allowed communion? Or that the Archdiocese of Boston has been too liberal with the homosexual agenda having a “gay mass” which I understand all are welcome to the Liturgy of the Word but certainly not the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Especially, those catholic men and women who are unapologetically homosexual and don’t see its activity as a sin. In ancient times any one could go to the first liturgy and the second liturgy would be held in secret for only those catachized in the faith and believed to be true all the Catholic church taught. So on one hand I’m very conservative on the other hand I don’t go to the “far right” extreem of believing the TLM is superior to the Novo Ordo. Also I fear (primarily because of my own experience) that much of the Church body of members have “given in” to the secular mores of our society rather than the stead fast teachings of the Church. So where do I fit in?
