We Have Lost Our Identity!

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Has anyone ever confessed to not doing Friday Penances? A lot of people, I’d venture most, don’t know that we’re required to do a penance on Friday. I’ve had to confess forgetting this in the past and I thought the priests would tell me “That’s not required”, but they never have.
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I think I have once. I don’t think you have to confess this anymore because it is no longer a mortal sin to eat meat on Friday’s.

I think the Church should bring this practice back. It was stopped so that people could perform a penance of their choice, but how many Catholics do you know who regularly perform a Friday penance? I don’t know any. Most think that Vatican II did away with that sort of thing.
 
Dempsey1919 said:
I think we Catholics have lost a lot of our distinctive culture.

A chaplain friend of mine asked how people know that we are Catholics? She stated that people know we are Christians by the way we act and behave. She believes that showing mercy, compassion and love to others is displaying one’s Christian faith in public. I don’t disagree with her, but I think that showing someone mercy wouldn’t automatically make them aware that you are Catholic. Most people would just say that you are a “nice” person. Christianity wouldn’t even enter most people’s minds.

The only way people will know you are Catholic is if you show them. If I saw a Corpus Christi procession, I would know that the people involved were all Catholic. If I passed by a house with a statue of the Virgin Mary in the front yard, I would know that the person who lives there is Catholic. If I saw a group of people praying the Rosary in public, I would know they are Catholic. If I saw a man in a habit, I would know he was a priest.

The best way to witness to others is by practicing the time-honored traditions and customs of the Church. In years gone by, it was easy for people to know who was Catholic and who was not. It wasn’t uncommon to see Catholics “crossing” themselves as they passed a Church. Many Catholics carried a Rosary with them throughout the day. Catholics did not eat meat on Friday’s. Priests, Monks and Nuns all wore the habit. Corpus Christi processions were common. May altars and May crownings were also common. Most Catholics decorated their homes with sacred images and crucifixes.

Most Catholics, including myself, rarely show any public demonstations of faith. We have mostly abandoned those things which singled us out as Catholics, and I think this is a real shame.

Please share your memories with us. What things did you do as a child to show your Catholic faith to others? Was your house decorated with images of the Saints and Our Lord, for example? Did you have a statue of the Virgin on display in your yard? Did you abstain from meat on Friday’s? Did you carry a Rosary with you in public? Did your priest always wear the habit in public? Were you educated by religious?

What can we do to reclaim our Catholic identity?

Should our religious start wearing the habit?
Should we display religious art in our home, workplace, institutions etc?
These are just examples. Share your thoughts and memories about the things which separated us from the rest of the non-Catholic public.
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I was raised in the Catholic era of the 40s and 50s. Everyone in the neighborhood knew I was Catholic because I went to the Catholic Grade school three blocks away. Most of my friends were Catholic because we went to school together and lived short distances from each other.

I like the idea of displaying my rosary on the rear view mirror of my car. I have done that, but then I thought doing so might be disrespectful, so I took it down, but am going to put it back up againl. I want people to see I am Catholic. I also have a pro life bumper sticker on my car, “I knew you before I formed you in the womb” GOD. I display statues of our Blessed Mother in my home. Either make the sign of the cross or nod (while driving) when passing a Catholic Church. I also wear a medal of the Immaculate Conception constantly and carry an extra rosay, beside the one on my car mirror, with me constantly.

I also think the sisters should return to wearing their habits. Priests have to be in clerical dress, so why not the sisters?
 
Dempsey1919 said:
I think I have once. I don’t think you have to confess this anymore because it is no longer a mortal sin to eat meat on Friday’s.

I think the Church should bring this practice back. It was stopped so that people could perform a penance of their choice, but how many Catholics do you know who regularly perform a Friday penance? I don’t know any. Most think that Vatican II did away with that sort of thing.
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Oops, I didn’t hear that either. Thought it was only during Lent. I have a lot of Penances to do. :eek:
 
Oops, I didn’t hear that either. Thought it was only during Lent. I have a lot of Penances to do.
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The Friday Penance still stands. Catholics are no longer ordered to abstain from meat, but have the freedom to choose their own penance. All Catholics are required to perform some form of penance on Friday, but most priests have relaxed on this issue. These days, most Catholics mistakenly think that the Friday penance was abolished.
 
Joannm said:
This is not necessarily a sign of Catholicism. There is an Anglican Church in NYC that holds a Corpus Christi procession in Times Square every year. I have a friend who is Methodist who has a statue of the BVM in her yard. I have a Lutheran friend who prays the rosary…and there are many Anglican religious who wear a habit and other denominations whose priests and ministers wear the Roman collar. So, how can you tell if someone is really Catholic? I do agree with you btw that we have lost our Catholic identity, but it is not regained by outward appearances.
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When I was a child, the sisters wore habits. I attended St. Joseph Grade School which was around the corner from the beautiful St.Joseph Church. Next to the school was a hospital, St. Elizabeth’s. Now if that isn’t a combination for Catholic identification, I don’t know what is. I do disagree with you about the habits. They make a statement whether they are Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, or another habit wearing denomination.
 
This is a great topic and too true in many ways.

I have a rosary displayed in my car around the rear view mirror as well as a Sacred Heart magnet in my car. At home, I have a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in my lounge and a crucifix on the mantlepiece and a picture of the Divine Mercy. I bless myself whenever I pass a Catholic Church. I don’t have a problem in cancelling a social arrangement if it coincides with Mass and don’t have a problem telling the person that too.

Having said that, it is alot more difficult for us these days to practice our faith in view of this political correctness / fear of offending people mentality etc. which really annoys me.

My husband is not a Catholic. My two teenagers do find it almost embarrassing to discuss their faith and one of them only goes to Mass because I say so. However, I know I was like that in my teens too and am hoping and praying that it will come right eventually. St Monica, pray for us.

However, hopefully here in Ireland there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The Celtic Tiger is long gone now and with the recession, more and more people are going back to Mass which surely is a good thing. See this link:-

catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0901801.htm
 
I have a rosary displayed in my car around the rear view mirror as well as a Sacred Heart magnet in my car. At home, I have a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in my lounge and a crucifix on the mantlepiece and a picture of the Divine Mercy. I bless myself whenever I pass a Catholic Church. I don’t have a problem in cancelling a social arrangement if it coincides with Mass and don’t have a problem telling the person that too.
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I think it’s great that you have the courage and desire to express your faith in public. I wish I had the courage to do the same.

I have seen a few people with a rosary around their rear view mirror and have often thought about doing it myself. What kind of Rosary do you hang on your rear view mirror? Is it an ordinary Rosary or is there a smaller version designed specifically to hang around rear view mirrors?
Having said that, it is alot more difficult for us these days to practice our faith in view of this political correctness / fear of offending people mentality etc. which really annoys me.
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I agree. In America, people are far more comfortable discussing and expressing their religion in public. In Britain and Ireland, religion is severely frowned upon and most people scoff at any religious expressions. I’m English, and religion is looked on very negatively here. This is why I’m not as comfortable expressing my beliefs.
My husband is not a Catholic. My two teenagers do find it almost embarrassing to discuss their faith and one of them only goes to Mass because I say so. However, I know I was like that in my teens too and am hoping and praying that it will come right eventually. St Monica, pray for us.
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I’m sure your kids will both embrace the faith as they grow older. I’m sure your strong influence will rub off on them. However, I have seen many kids fall away from the faith due to poor catechism lessons. I left the faith during my teenage years solely because I was not taught the faith properly.
However, hopefully here in Ireland there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The Celtic Tiger is long gone now and with the recession, more and more people are going back to Mass which surely is a good thing.
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I hope Ireland recovers it’s Catholic roots. For centuries, the Emerald Isle was a shining light in Europe. Irish priests kept the faith alive in Europe. As I said, I’m English and most of my priests were Irish when I was growing up. In fact, my Bishop is an Irishman and most of the Nuns in my diocese are Irish. Ireland is a great country and I hope things improve in the coming decades.
 
Dempsey1919 said:
I think it’s great that you have the courage and desire to express your faith in public. I wish I had the courage to do the same.

Dempsey, I’m certainly not perfect but it is alot easier here in Ireland as the majority of people here are Catholics (even if in name only).

I have seen a few people with a rosary around their rear view mirror and have often thought about doing it myself. What kind of Rosary do you hang on your rear view mirror? Is it an ordinary Rosary or is there a smaller version designed specifically to hang around rear view mirrors?

The rosary I use is a plastic cheap one that I bought in a religious shop and is of normal size. I just wind it round and round the rear view mirror so there is a little bit dangling.

I agree. In America, people are far more comfortable discussing and expressing their religion in public. In Britain and Ireland, religion is severely frowned upon and most people scoff at any religious expressions. I’m English, and religion is looked on very negatively here. This is why I’m not as comfortable expressing my beliefs.

I used to live in Zimbabwe and South Africa before coming here to Ireland in 2000. In Zimbabwe and South Africa, it was harder to express my beliefs as there are many many many born again Christians there who were very anti-Catholic in general.

I hope Ireland recovers it’s Catholic roots. For centuries, the Emerald Isle was a shining light in Europe. Irish priests kept the faith alive in Europe. As I said, I’m English and most of my priests were Irish when I was growing up. In fact, my Bishop is an Irishman and most of the Nuns in my diocese are Irish. Ireland is a great country and I hope things improve in the coming decades.

Many thanks. I hope things improve too as well as in the UK. No matter what, if we keep going to Mass, pray, pray and pray some more, everything will come right in the end.
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I hope Ireland recovers it’s Catholic roots. For centuries, the Emerald Isle was a shining light in Europe. Irish priests kept the faith alive in Europe. As I said, I’m English and most of my priests were Irish when I was growing up. In fact, my Bishop is an Irishman and most of the Nuns in my diocese are Irish. Ireland is a great country and I hope things improve in the coming decades.
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Indeed, many have said that Our Lady of Knock didn’t have to say anything because her children in Ireland were holding to The True Faith so heartily. Her appearance there was not a warning or request to return to penance and The Sacraments, but a ‘stamp of approval’ for the time.

Our Lady of Knock, pray for us!
 
There is a move in England to dedicate a statue to Our Lady to show her that she is loved…I would say that people in the UK that are faithful to the church are exemplary Christians…they are taking over where the monks left off…God Bless them for it
 
I just want to add a little tid bit as a seminarian…

Many of you wish that your pastors and bishops would preach Humane Vitae from the pulpit…have you told them your ideas? Have you told them your suggestions. Maybe I am different from the majority of priests, but I would love to hear people’s ideas. Challenge them; they are human too. They have weakness and fears. They are afraid of loosing those borderline Catholics who are hanging on a thread. I don’t know how you feel about that.

Think about this as a priest, they should see all of those in their flock as their spiritual children. As a parent you don’t want to push your children away when you know they are struggling but won’t admit it. Do you push them away and hope they come back? I mean we are dealing with their eternal soul. This can also go from the other side…by not pushing them we let them stew in their complacency and not strive to be Christ like…it is not easy.

I am just saying, priests are not super-human. They need help. They need guidance too. Tell them their homilies were good or bad…they want to hear, and if they don’t tell them anyways, they need to know. They are to lead their flock to Christ and how can you do that if you don’t know the sheep are hungry?

Pray for them! Offer them up to Mary our Holy Mother. Say a Rosary for them weekly or daily. They can change as well. Don’t just be dissatisfied, do something about it. That is all I am saying.

As a priest, if that is indeed where God is calling me, I plan to preach HV from the pulpit to challenge people. To be Christ like and challenge people to do the same…to start a revolution from the inside (heart) out.

God Bless
 
I think when we waver between the opposite poles of the personal temporary world, as we know it and the non-personal timeless world, we miss the simple most vital aspect of life, its ultimate wholeness. Embracing the earth, sun, wind, rain, plants and animals as one, we experience a greater identity in the mystery of time and space and become a part of the whole.
 
soma said:
I think when we waver between the opposite poles of the personal temporary world, as we know it and the non-personal timeless world, we miss the simple most vital aspect of life, its ultimate wholeness. Embracing the earth, sun, wind, rain, plants and animals as one, we experience a greater identity in the mystery of time and space and become a part of the whole.
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🙂 That goes for the Body of Christ, His Church also.
 
Many of you wish that your pastors and bishops would preach Humane Vitae from the pulpit…have you told them your ideas? Have you told them your suggestions. Maybe I am different from the majority of priests, but I would love to hear people’s ideas. Challenge them; they are human too. They have weakness and fears. They are afraid of loosing those borderline Catholics who are hanging on a thread. I don’t know how you feel about that.
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I would love to discuss these issues with my priests, but I don’t feel that it is my place. What if the priest takes offence at my suggestions? Most priests and laypeople don’t respond very well when I bring up the topic of Humane Vitae etc. In fact, I’ve had priests openly admit that they disagree the Church’s moral teachings. I should add that I never come across as forceful and judgemental when I discuss these things. I just think most Catholics prefer not to discuss these issues. It makes them feel uncomfortable.
 
I don’t hide my faith from anyone, I don’t wear anything but I pray in group rosaries and in almost every room of my house hangs a crucifix. I just moved into a house last summer and when I get my landscaping done I will have a statue of Mary for sure(I want one for inside too). I’m sure I’ve caught a few people off guard that entered my home. I also have a prayer kneeling place set up at home and my Bible is displayed in an open area of the house with a rosary laying across it. My favorite is a very large rosary that was my grandfathers, I have it hanging on a picture over my bed. My big thing is trying to live as a Catholic in my daily life. Its hard sometimes to break old habits.
 
Dempsey1919 said:
I would love to discuss these issues with my priests, but I don’t feel that it is my place. What if the priest takes offence at my suggestions? Most priests and laypeople don’t respond very well when I bring up the topic of Humane Vitae etc. In fact, I’ve had priests openly admit that they disagree the Church’s moral teachings. I should add that I never come across as forceful and judgemental when I discuss these things. I just think most Catholics prefer not to discuss these issues. It makes them feel uncomfortable.
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Hello Dempsey1919,

I am sorry that you have run into such difficulty. I know what you are going through. I have run into professors and priests alike who are “Catholic” and disagree with some Church Teaching. It amazes me that they can justify the destruction of the family…how can you justify that. It amazes me that they are so prideful that they claim it was not an infallible teaching and that it is open to acceptance or not. It saddens me that they are so stone hearted that they can not open them selves up to the Light of Christ shining through the salvation of the family.

Since it is uncomfortable that means someone is doing something wrong…they don’t want to talk about it because they have found no peace with the teaching. They won’t find peace until they defend life and accept it as the beautiful gift that it is. It makes people uncomfortable because if they were to truly pray about it, they would see that by using contraception they are working against God and not with Him…that should make them uncomfortable! We should make them uncomfortable. I, for one, am tired of sitting by and watching the family be destroyed from the inside. I still think, if you can, challenge the priests. Even if they get angry or defensive, make them think about it over and over again. Maybe they will let Christ guide them soon enough.

Pray for those who can not accept this teaching in their heart because of pride or easy-living. People are afraid of uncomfortable situations. How uncomfortable do you think it was to be a Jew and sitting at the table of a tax collector, or saving a prostitute? How uncomfortable will it be when, standing at the feet of Christ, we say we didn’t defend His teaching because it made us uncomfortable…talk about a true lack of comfort. We are called to challenge evil…to fight the evil that has crept into this world.

I will pray for you and for the priests who you are in contact with. I am sorry for my rant, but when I hear about priests, who are to shepherd souls to Christ, denying the Church’s teachings, it makes me truly sad.

God Bless and May Mary Keep you and Guide you to Christ.
 
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