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markadm
Guest
Quite right! (Though I had sortof thought of the 10 commandments as being inside the profession of faith, but good point.)
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crowonsnow
Guest
I thought that once a Catholic, always a Catholic. Even excommunicated Catholics are still Catholics. Right?
And all Catholics are sinners, so distinguishing lapsed Catholics as sinners is a distinction without a difference.
Most importantly, no one has mentioned the Bishop of Rome. I always thought that Catholics (Roman Catholics) are persons who’s religious loyalty and identification is with the Bishop of Rome. And I don’t mean whoever happens to be Pope. That changes. I mean the office.
And all Catholics are sinners, so distinguishing lapsed Catholics as sinners is a distinction without a difference.
Most importantly, no one has mentioned the Bishop of Rome. I always thought that Catholics (Roman Catholics) are persons who’s religious loyalty and identification is with the Bishop of Rome. And I don’t mean whoever happens to be Pope. That changes. I mean the office.
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Aramis
Guest
Fundamentally, to be Catholic is to accept the dogmas of the church and to be in union with Rome.
There are many churches that are part of this union.
Many have different theology, a a few of them have slightly different doctrine. The CCC represents Roman Doctrine.
The Melkites are essentially Orthodox who accept the pope… Amongst the Eastern Catholic Churches, there are quite a few things that other posters consider “not catholic” but which are considered by rome to be as fully catholic as “Holy Days of Obligation”.
There are many churches that are part of this union.
Many have different theology, a a few of them have slightly different doctrine. The CCC represents Roman Doctrine.
The Melkites are essentially Orthodox who accept the pope… Amongst the Eastern Catholic Churches, there are quite a few things that other posters consider “not catholic” but which are considered by rome to be as fully catholic as “Holy Days of Obligation”.
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jmcrae
Guest
One becomes a Catholic by receiving the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion.
One becomes a good Catholic by following the precepts of the Church, and by doing one’s best to believe and do all that the Church teaches and holds to be true.
This is the absolute minimum, by the way - this is how you climb up into the bottom level of Purgatory, a skin’s-width away from the flames of Hell.
To achieve Sainthood, we must not only do these minimums; we must also have a strong prayer life and a strong interior relationship with Jesus Christ, and be out there giving without counting the percentage to the poor and needy, and helping our priests not only when they ask us to, but also when we see a need that they haven’t noticed yet, and when we go to Mass even on days when we don’t have to, just because we love to be there.
One becomes a good Catholic by following the precepts of the Church, and by doing one’s best to believe and do all that the Church teaches and holds to be true.
This is the absolute minimum, by the way - this is how you climb up into the bottom level of Purgatory, a skin’s-width away from the flames of Hell.
To achieve Sainthood, we must not only do these minimums; we must also have a strong prayer life and a strong interior relationship with Jesus Christ, and be out there giving without counting the percentage to the poor and needy, and helping our priests not only when they ask us to, but also when we see a need that they haven’t noticed yet, and when we go to Mass even on days when we don’t have to, just because we love to be there.
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NewPerspective
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PBP
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belindacy
Guest
If you want to help lead them back you need to say something but I’m not what or how to say it.
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oneGODoneCHURCH
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jmcrae
Guest
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jmcrae
Guest
The first step is to love them, and to include them in things. At this point, don’t worry that they are receiving the Sacraments in an unworthy manner - Jesus knows them better than you do, and He wants them back even more than you do, so let Him handle that part.
There will come a teachable moment when you or someone else can mention to them that this is inappropriate, and that they need to get to Confession, but right now, just rejoice in every small step forward, no matter how badly they stumble along.
Issue invitations at every opportunity - “I’m going to Mass, want to come?” “I thought I might go to Confession after supper tonight, want to tag along? We can go get coffee and dessert afterwards at that nice little cafe around the corner from the Church.” “Some friends invited me to come to the Shrine, I’ve heard it’s gorgeous, and there’s a big, famous shopping mall down the road a bit from there that we could visit afterwards; I need a new purse, anyway - want to come along?”
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Cathryn
Guest
I believe you have it right!
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ChiaraLucia
Guest
Hi, Apryl!
First, I think you are already doing a great deal of good by doing just what you said- praying they be open to receive grace. Also, I want to commend you for sharing your own faith by your actions.
We do have a responsibility to correct our brothers and sisters (and other relations, too!) and this can be a difficult situation. I think we don’t want to come off sounding “holier-than-thou”, or fear we might get into an argument, and so sometimes we allow ourselves to lose the battle before we ever enter into it. I think it’s best to assume both ignorance and knowledge on the part of others, and then try to find ways to be subtle. For example, someone had told me she hadn’t been to Confession since the eighth grade, because that was the last time she “had to”, and she didn’t really see a need to go. Since her children were preparing for First Communion, I later bought them a little book to explain both sacraments and encouraged her to look it over with them. This way, the focus was off of her, but she was still able to receive the benefit of instruction. And happily, she did end up going to Confession! Also, when we share our own stories of ignorance, and how we found out, “Hey, did you know?..”, we can humbly teach others. The message is still out there, even if they don’t want to listen!
Sorry for such a long posting!
First, I think you are already doing a great deal of good by doing just what you said- praying they be open to receive grace. Also, I want to commend you for sharing your own faith by your actions.
We do have a responsibility to correct our brothers and sisters (and other relations, too!) and this can be a difficult situation. I think we don’t want to come off sounding “holier-than-thou”, or fear we might get into an argument, and so sometimes we allow ourselves to lose the battle before we ever enter into it. I think it’s best to assume both ignorance and knowledge on the part of others, and then try to find ways to be subtle. For example, someone had told me she hadn’t been to Confession since the eighth grade, because that was the last time she “had to”, and she didn’t really see a need to go. Since her children were preparing for First Communion, I later bought them a little book to explain both sacraments and encouraged her to look it over with them. This way, the focus was off of her, but she was still able to receive the benefit of instruction. And happily, she did end up going to Confession! Also, when we share our own stories of ignorance, and how we found out, “Hey, did you know?..”, we can humbly teach others. The message is still out there, even if they don’t want to listen!
Sorry for such a long posting!
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tradconvert
Guest
When receiving instructions before converting I was taught the Four Pillars of what distinguishes a Catholic or the Catholic Church, are (adherence to): the Apostle’s Creed, The Ten Commandments, the Seven Sacraments and the Lord’s Prayer. To those four I would add the Six Precepts of the Catholic Church.If you uphold all these then you are to mind certainly a (practising) “Catholic”.
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Aramis
Guest
Actually, it is the Nicene-Constantinoplian Creed that is required by the Councils of the Church, not the Apostle’s Creed.
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markadm
Guest
Ironically, I can say the Nicene Creed from memory, but can’t do the Apostle’s Creed.
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Aramis
Guest
Me, two. The only time I ever use the Apostle’s creed is in saying the Marian Rosary.Ironically, I can say the Nicene Creed from memory, but can’t do the Apostle’s Creed.
And I do that rarely.
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markadm
Guest
And that’s precisely why I’d love to remember it!
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tradconvert
Guest
While I have no interest in agruing for the sake of it, the fact is that it is the Apostle’s Creed that is generally regarded as one of the four pillars of the Catholic faith. Clearly I have no argument with the Nicene Creed which is a more detailed outline of the faith and is what is of course part of the Mass, but the fact is it is the Apostle’s Creed which is the basic outline of the faith for the laity. Frankly I am astonished at the suggestion not everyone knows it by heart (even if they know the Nicene Creed) and not just as part of the rosary.
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markadm
Guest
Well, truly I don’t. Every time I try to say it I find myself saying the Nicene Creed by the end!
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tradconvert
Guest
Well in all good spirit, I suggest you learn the Apostle’s creed as soon as possible.
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