What does it mean to be a Catholic?

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Casilda

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There would be a dictionary definition, but what is the day to day process of that? I ask because for the average Christian (a believer but not Catholic) is that definition the same? I am just having an identity crisis, having been a lifelong believer, but not knowing where I fit. I have papers that prove I started out Catholic and somehow have managed to get back, yet there are still problems ‘becoming Catholic’ in their legal terms. This will be the third Christmas where we are homeless, without a church home, and I feel so lost.
 
It means you believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. If you don’t then you are not. And then you believe everything that comes from that belief.🤷
 
It means that you believe in all the teachings of the One, True Church.
 
It means you were baptized or received into the Catholic Church. There is no other definition. Regardless of your personal belief in anything at all, your baptism is what makes you legally and ontologically Catholic.

There is likewise no way on Earth that you can “undo” your baptism and become non-Catholic. Regardless of how you feel, your acts of apostasy or heresy after baptism, once you are Catholic, your soul remains eternally Catholic even after you die and enter Heaven or Hell.
 
Casilda, I think I know the homeless feeling you’re talking about. As a revert, you would be first returning because you are a Catholic in Spirit–you believe that the Catholic Church is, indeed, the Church Jesus left upon the Earth, and that He promised to not leave her as an orphan, so the Holy Spirit keeps her from error. You agree with what she teaches and will follow her as she follows Christ.

Am I right in underatanding you were looking for what a day-to-day life looks like as opposed to a non-Catholic believer?

Differences you may note in a “Catholic” life would be:

Life in community:
Scripture reading–You have the option of reading Scripture in unity with the Body of Christ–from iPhone Apps to written missals, you can flip to a day and see the readings, even if you can’t get to daily Mass. Some graduate from this and move to the Liturgy of the Hours.

Prayer–yes, communion of saints. Praying for and with others, across time. Praying with the intentions of the Holy Father, the Bishop, for the needs of the Parish, and our needs. Prayer may be more contemplative than what you were used to, or not.

Living evangelistically–giving a reason for the return to hope within us. A particular friend who was not thrilled with my conversion/reversion is now reading Brant Pitre’s Jewish Roots at her own request. You do not know what you will impact.

Sacramentals and Seasons–living liturgically and sacramentally (both Sacrament and sacramental) helps keep us reflecting day by day on the race we have before us, on the Lord we serve, and on the cloud of witnesses who stand with us. As an Evangelical, I had Christmas and Easter. Not to minimize, but there was a bit of a dry spell after the deviled egg plate is put away. With a greater focus on who we are in the scheme of things, we don’t want to drop the ball–we want to run for the prize.

Hope this helps; don’t get discouraged. Jump through the hoops, do what legal things you have to do so your heart can be at home. Until then, attend Mass regularly and pray for spiritual communion. Live as a Catholic, allow the Lord to bring the changes that requires.

Grace to you,
V
 
Casilda said:
There would be a dictionary definition, but what is the day to day process of that? I ask because for the average Christian (a believer but not Catholic) is that definition the same? I am just having an identity crisis, having been a lifelong believer, but not knowing where I fit. I have papers that prove I started out Catholic and somehow have managed to get back**, yet there are still problems ‘becoming Catholic’ in their legal terms**. This will be the third Christmas where we are homeless, without a church home, and I feel so lost.
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Such as…? Well, you have definitely come to the right place.

Could you be more specific? What specific issues are you now wrestling with that seem to be coming in the way of your becoming a fully practicing Catholic? In order to be of any help, it would be helpful to know.
 
Tablefor9 said:
Casilda, I think I know the homeless feeling you’re talking about. As a revert, you would be first returning because you are a Catholic in Spirit–you believe that the Catholic Church is, indeed, the Church Jesus left upon the Earth, and that He promised to not leave her as an orphan, so the Holy Spirit keeps her from error. You agree with what she teaches and will follow her as she follows Christ.

Am I right in underatanding you were looking for what a day-to-day life looks like as opposed to a non-Catholic believer?

Differences you may note in a “Catholic” life would be:

Life in community:
Scripture reading–You have the option of reading Scripture in unity with the Body of Christ–from iPhone Apps to written missals, you can flip to a day and see the readings, even if you can’t get to daily Mass. Some graduate from this and move to the Liturgy of the Hours.

Prayer–yes, communion of saints. Praying for and with others, across time. Praying with the intentions of the Holy Father, the Bishop, for the needs of the Parish, and our needs. Prayer may be more contemplative than what you were used to, or not.

Living evangelistically–giving a reason for the return to hope within us. A particular friend who was not thrilled with my conversion/reversion is now reading Brant Pitre’s Jewish Roots at her own request. You do not know what you will impact.

Sacramentals and Seasons–living liturgically and sacramentally (both Sacrament and sacramental) helps keep us reflecting day by day on the race we have before us, on the Lord we serve, and on the cloud of witnesses who stand with us. As an Evangelical, I had Christmas and Easter. Not to minimize, but there was a bit of a dry spell after the deviled egg plate is put away. With a greater focus on who we are in the scheme of things, we don’t want to drop the ball–we want to run for the prize.

Hope this helps; don’t get discouraged. Jump through the hoops, do what legal things you have to do so your heart can be at home. Until then, attend Mass regularly and pray for spiritual communion. Live as a Catholic, allow the Lord to bring the changes that requires.

Grace to you,
V
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This was extremely helpful, thank you.
 
ClearWater said:
Such as…? Well, you have definitely come to the right place.

Could you be more specific? What specific issues are you now wrestling with that seem to be coming in the way of your becoming a fully practicing Catholic? In order to be of any help, it would be helpful to know.
Click to expand...
Everywhere I have been it all hinges on meeting with a priest. Been actively trying since last March. Then I found out that priest to parishioner ration here is 1:2045, I see where I am having trouble. Even seriously considered moving to a diocese where the numbers are more in my favor.
 
Well Jesus founded a Church, an Assembly, One Community, One Body in Christ.
To be Catholic is to be part of that One Church which Jesus Christ himself founded.

Jesus entrusted the maintenance of his Church to the 12 Apostles, the First Bishops,
Peter being the head of them all. Peter was Bishop of Rome, who was succeeded by
the next bishop then next then the next, all the way up till today who we call the Pope.

It is also understood that the the Church, the Body of Christ, can never be sep-
arated, not even by death, so this One Assembly also includes all the Saints in
Heaven. With that realization, we Catholics also trust that the Saints can & will
pray on our behalf, so I recommend the link in my signature area and suggest
that you take your living conditions up to Saint Jude, that you pray and ask
him to pray for you, as he is very good in these very hard times.

I am terribly sorry to hear about your situation, I can’t imagine what that’s like.
The only other thing I can offer, being a revert myself, is the Nicene Creed:
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.

God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit
was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son
is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy,
catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.

(See link below “Oh Holy St. Jude!”)
 
Casilda said:
Everywhere I have been it all hinges on meeting with a priest. Been actively trying since last March. Then I found out that priest to parishioner ration here is 1:2045, I see where I am having trouble. Even seriously considered moving to a diocese where the numbers are more in my favor.
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Is there some sort of bar to your fully returning to the Church? This is usually a divorced and re-married w/o annullment, but there may be others.

If this is not the case, you probably don’t need to meet with a priest except in Confession. A lot of times a meeting with a priest is suggested because of the potential length of a returning person’s confession.

Don’t let the 1:2045 number scare you; in the US, only a small percentage of those 2045 are in need of the priest at any given time 🙂

Go to Mass, do not receive the Eucharist until you have been to confession, and after Mass, introduce yourself to the priest and give him a quick summary of your situation, whatever it may be. He will be able to advise you. When you communicate with him subsequently, remind him of who you are (I’m the lady who spoke with you about my family’s returning to the Church after the 10 o’clock Mass at XXX church, that sort of thing); that will help him.

How wonderful that you are returning 🙂 I too returned and it has been fabulous!
 
Oh, I should have mentioned that in the case of the need for an annullment, there is usually a different person who handles that at the parish, esp a very busy parish. You can call and ask for that person, or you can call the Tribunal of your diocese–just look up Catholic diocese of XXXX and call them. Don’t forget to put in Catholic as the diocese of some other groups overlap ours–I almost called the Episcopalians once!
 
Well, you could go to Confession, and be the last one in line…(assuming there is a line; the parishes I attend have varying lines.) I doubt the priest will walk out on you after your Confession, or you could just pop in and say, Father, there is no one else in line, can I speak to you privately?
 
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