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mayra_hart
Guest
I PERSONALLY ALWAYS PRAY WITH MY EYES OPEN LOOKING AT JESUS IN THE CROSS. IT HELP ME CONCENTRATED AND THINK ABOUT THE THINGS I DID DURING THE WEEK. BLESS YOU ALL.
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Anna_Elizabeth
Guest
Dear Posters To This Thread,
I woke up a few minutes ago, (it’s a little after 6:00 am here), with one clear thought in my head: This person is not Catholic. I don’t mean that he/she is just lacking in all the basics, to say nothing of the “refinements!” Neither the things we have read, nor the manner of expression reflects knowledge of Catholicism. Rather, the comments and observations are, at best, the hackneyed complaints reiterated by traditional anti-Catholics.
There isn’t even anything creative here.
OTOH, your responses have demonstrated what a wonderful diversity of communication with Our Lord you all have! Once again God brings good out of evil! 
God bless,
Anna
I woke up a few minutes ago, (it’s a little after 6:00 am here), with one clear thought in my head: This person is not Catholic. I don’t mean that he/she is just lacking in all the basics, to say nothing of the “refinements!” Neither the things we have read, nor the manner of expression reflects knowledge of Catholicism. Rather, the comments and observations are, at best, the hackneyed complaints reiterated by traditional anti-Catholics.
There isn’t even anything creative here.
OTOH, your responses have demonstrated what a wonderful diversity of communication with Our Lord you all have!
Once again God brings good out of evil! God bless,
Anna
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mercygate
Guest
Well, if Catholics are coming to Church “out of obligation” (and I wish more of them would!), they are coming for an even better reason than “because they really want to.” Coming out of obligation shows a depth of commitment that has gone beyond personal preference and has entered the realm of the loving will.
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carol_marie
Guest
Wow, I’m not so sure that I could make the call that someone is truly Catholic or lying about it. I read the posts and I’m thinking is this person sounds more sad than deceitful and for that I am sorry. I know it’s hard making the switch into the Catholic faith and RCIA or not, one doesn’t become full fledged 100% Catholic overnight (or even in 2 years.) Cut some slack please. Gladtobeme, hang in there. You are in the right place, of that I think you know. Try to forget about others in the pews next to you. Who knows, some are no doubt praying with their eyes open and others might be thinking about what to cook for super. Who knows, who cares. You said you pray when you kneel and that’s what’s important.
God Bless,
CM
God Bless,
CM
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dumbox1
Guest
There’s no doubt that different Catholic parishes can have different “personalities.” Some are very warm and welcoming, others can be a bit cliquish (sp?).
Gladtobe, my advice would be that, since you feel you’ve identified a problem at your parish (lack of greeters, etc.), volunteer to be a part of the solution. Talk to your pastor – there’s no reason you can’t be the greeter at whatever Mass you regularly attend. Find a friend or family member to help out, and you’re on your way.
(In fact, I’m working right now on getting a regular “welcome for newcomers” off the ground at my parish, because it’s something I’ve felt that we need. So trust me, it can be done – very easily, in fact).
God bless,
Mark
P.S. – I agree with the other folks re: eyes closed vs. eyes open. I pray every which way. God hears me.
Gladtobe, my advice would be that, since you feel you’ve identified a problem at your parish (lack of greeters, etc.), volunteer to be a part of the solution. Talk to your pastor – there’s no reason you can’t be the greeter at whatever Mass you regularly attend. Find a friend or family member to help out, and you’re on your way.
(In fact, I’m working right now on getting a regular “welcome for newcomers” off the ground at my parish, because it’s something I’ve felt that we need. So trust me, it can be done – very easily, in fact).
God bless,
Mark
P.S. – I agree with the other folks re: eyes closed vs. eyes open. I pray every which way. God hears me.
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MariaG
Guest
I never said you should believe something because I said you should. I said there are things you should believe because the Church, Christ, says you should. Read again.
I also said there are things the Church says I am supposed to believe that I do not yet quite understand why. I accept that the Church is right without yet agreeing with what she says. I was trying to show you that you are not alone.
Unlike some others, I actually believe you are a Catholic of just a few years, but I have no desire for your prejudice against me. I suspect you are just young, however, I still have no desire to subject myself to the this level of prejudice from a fellow Catholic.
You have a very set idea of what worship is and isn’t. You know you are supposed to genuflect, but miss the reason why. When confronted by your ignorance, you start throwing around slander about others. Once again, I find it easier to believe you may be very young or at least emotionally young.
I suggest you put me on ignore. I never have put someone on ignore before, but you will be my first.
Truly, God Bless,
Maria
God, please protect and guide gladtobe. Show Him the true warmth and Spirit that resides within your Church. Forgive me Lord for having failed to do so.
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gladtobe
Guest
Maria
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No, I am old enough to be your grandfather. Thank God I'm not.The fact that you follow everything that comes out of Rome does prove you check your mind at the door. I agree with modern day church tradition, if I find early church evidence for such teaching and it compliments scripture as well.BTW-You did not mention what you disagreed with?
You definitely remind me of a lady I see on the Sanford and Son TV show. Her name is Aunt Esther. She is always telling Fred Sanford what she thinks he ought to be doing. I just hope your not as ugly. I will not make posts to you or about you, if you do the same.
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gladtobe
Guest
Carol Marie
Butt out with doesn't concern you. Your just a busybody.
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km112482
Guest
Br. Rich SFO:
I also have another question why dont people kneel when recieving communion. Only one woman does this in our parish, and to me if we believe that this is the body and blood soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ shouldnt we be kneeling before we recieve him. It isnt something I have ever done, but now that I am beginning to come to a understanding of the importance of this special sacrament I wonder why we dont have to do it. My mother n law told me whne she was young you did kneel that was when the mass was still done in Latin. I mean I would think that is a sign of reverence just like when you genuflect.
Kerri
I always thought that if you genuflected before entering it was a sign of reverence even if the blessed sacrament was before you are not? Just wondering. Our tabernacle is behind the altar at church so it is always present before us, so I know we should always genuflect. I just also thought that even so it is a sign of reverence because you are in God’s house.
I also have another question why dont people kneel when recieving communion. Only one woman does this in our parish, and to me if we believe that this is the body and blood soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ shouldnt we be kneeling before we recieve him. It isnt something I have ever done, but now that I am beginning to come to a understanding of the importance of this special sacrament I wonder why we dont have to do it. My mother n law told me whne she was young you did kneel that was when the mass was still done in Latin. I mean I would think that is a sign of reverence just like when you genuflect.
Kerri
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km112482
Guest
I cant believe that people are fighting like this. I do not think that this is very christian at all just my opinion. I did not really read all the post, but I thought these forums werent about stuff like that and that we could all agree to disagree and realize that some people opinions we will not always agree with, but if we cannot change them then we shouldnt fight about it.
Kerri
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gladtobe
Guest
Kem
You're right. But sometimes when one posts an opinion, some old battleaxe gets all bent out of shape because it doesn't agree with her interpretation of what the church says, and so she resorts to character assassination, such as "you are deceitful", "you are not really a Catholic" and trash talk like that.
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PeterC
Guest
Gladobe said:
I knew I was wrong as soon as I posted that comment. One of the things I pray for every day is to not react like that to you or anybody else in my life. It’s beginning to work but as you can see, I still slip now and then. I am sorry and you should be offended. Here’s the prayer I say to help me avoid hurting you …….
In the name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, I renounce anger and expel anger and resist anger. I command anger to leave me NOW in JESUS NAME! GO!
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Tantum_ergo
Guest
Moderators, will you please check posts 35, 36, 37, 38, 45, 46, 47 and 50? I think it’s time that this thread was closed. The OP’s question has been answered thoroughly. In the spirit of charity, let there be peace and an end to this.
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km112482
Guest
Tantum ergo:
Kerri
I agree I cant get over this. That people just cant get along on here.
Kerri
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kage_ar
Guest
Gladtobe – When I entered the Church through RCIA, it was a wonderful thing. My best friend was my sponsor, and she knows every Catholic in the state! This class of people, together every week for so many months, sharing our faith – walking the road to Rome together- it was wonderful. After Easter Vigil, the classes ended, but I still felt connected to the Parish through my friend’s connections.
Then, I moved across the country. The parishes seemed so cold. I chalked it up to the East Coast, and in a few months, we were back in the South – but, in a town far away from my original Parish… and for almost a year, no one knew my name – it seemed everyone rushed to their cars and all that. Then, I decided to attend a Bible Study for adults that took place while my son was in CCD – I met people, one couple lived on my street.
The more I became involved with the Parish – the more friendly it became – now, it seems my Parish has so much going on that I’d have to quit work to be at all of them!
To use the IT analogy of push/pull information, in our old Prot/Evangelical days, fellowship was pushed to the user (church member). In most Catholic parishes, fellowship has to be pulled by the user.
For a start, go to RCIA and sit in – volunteer for a committee – jump into the parish life, you might be surprised!
Then, I moved across the country. The parishes seemed so cold. I chalked it up to the East Coast, and in a few months, we were back in the South – but, in a town far away from my original Parish… and for almost a year, no one knew my name – it seemed everyone rushed to their cars and all that. Then, I decided to attend a Bible Study for adults that took place while my son was in CCD – I met people, one couple lived on my street.
The more I became involved with the Parish – the more friendly it became – now, it seems my Parish has so much going on that I’d have to quit work to be at all of them!
To use the IT analogy of push/pull information, in our old Prot/Evangelical days, fellowship was pushed to the user (church member). In most Catholic parishes, fellowship has to be pulled by the user.
For a start, go to RCIA and sit in – volunteer for a committee – jump into the parish life, you might be surprised!
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Exporter
Guest
gladtobe, You have said that you’ve been a Roman Catholic ( I assume you are Roman Catholic, are you?) for two years. You have said that you only pray to Jesus Christ.
You now asked two questions.Should people pray when the first come into the Church and what are the people doing with their eyes open…right? Well, those are logical questions. I will tell you what I do.
When I kneel I look at the crucifix up over the altar a bit. I realise that Jesus Christ suffered and died for my sins. I may say, “Thank you Jesus for all you did for me a sinner”. Then I will say an “OUR FATHER” while looking at the crucifix. I may say an act of contrition, while looking at the crucifix. The idea that you have to havew the eyes shut tight to pray sounds Protestant to me. If you look at the crucifix and really see it, you get so much of the Gospel just by looking. Good Luck.
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Exporter
Guest
gladtobe, You have said that you’ve been a Roman Catholic ( I assume you are Roman Catholic, are you?) for two years. You have said that you only pray to Jesus Christ.
You now asked two questions.Should people pray when the first come into the Church and what are the people doing with their eyes open…right? Well, those are logical questions. I will tell you what I do.
When I kneel I look at the crucifix up over the altar a bit. I realise that Jesus Christ suffered and died for my sins. I may say, “Thank you Jesus for all you did for me a sinner”. Then I will say an “OUR FATHER” while looking at the crucifix. I may say an act of contrition, while looking at the crucifix. The idea that you have to have the eyes shut tight to pray sounds Protestant to me. If you look at the crucifix and really see it, you get so much of the Gospel just by looking. Good Luck.
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Tantum_ergo
Guest
Moderators, will you please check posts 35, 36, 37, 38, 45, 46, 47 and 50? I think it’s time that this thread was closed. The OP’s question has been answered thoroughly. In the spirit of charity, let there be peace and an end to this.
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gladtobe
Guest
Kage
You have to understand some things. I live in a very rural city. Really small. The priest I took RCIA with was getting ready to retire. It was him and me for RCIA. Pretty small eh? My RCIA was only a month and a half, because he felt I had a good knowledge of the church and the scriptures. I did, but not of the order of the liturgy or even what to do.
You have to understand some things. I live in a very rural city. Really small. The priest I took RCIA with was getting ready to retire. It was him and me for RCIA. Pretty small eh? My RCIA was only a month and a half, because he felt I had a good knowledge of the church and the scriptures. I did, but not of the order of the liturgy or even what to do.
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I was confirmed at Easter. But no one showed me what to do in the mass. I had to learn on my own. I didn't even know what the tabernacle was for up front. I had to do a helluva lot of reading on my own.Through much embarrassment I learned what to recite, when to recite, when to stand and when not to stand. I soon found that even though our parish had a Madonna statue, no one prayed before it.Most people just come to mass and burn a candle for a loved one.
We only have about 50 members tops. 80% are old geysers like myself. There are a few younger people, but they don't come often. There is no weekly bible studies, no greeters and everybody comes to mass, exits as fast as they can** and it's the same week after week .**I keep the faith because I believe strongly in the Eucharist, but inwardly I am lonely, because no one even cares if I even showed up. My wife is an agnostic. She was a Catholic years ago, but gave up going as well, because of the same thing I experience socially.
You are very luck to have church people in your life. Thank you for your kind words and keep the faith.
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MonicaC
Guest
Glad I think that you really need to take a step back and please llok at what you are doing. You have become very judgemental on the people who believe a certain way. I really hope that this is not the way you live you life because it is very distructive.
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