What were you told about visiting a Catholic Church

[JonNC]

Were you surprised by the amount of Scripture used?

Not speaking for TU, but a Lutheran would not be surprised by the amount of scripture used, as the Lutheran liturgy is built on the Catholic liturgy. Virtually the entire Mass, Catholic or Lutheran, is from scripture.

Jon

EDIT: I was nevber discouraged from visiting a Catholic Mass. And I *never *heard the “idol worship” stuff from my dad, who was a Lutheran pastor.

Jon

 

[Jon_Hus]

I agree with rev kevin. I cannot remember ever being told anything about visiting a catholic church. It is true that we are critical of the theology of RCC but I cannot remember it ever being made personal.

I have been to Mass 100s of times over the years, several times within the last year and to churches in several states. I agree with a previous poster about it being like visiting your Aunt, cold, distant and very predictable. I usually sing the hymns as long as they aren’t too doctrinally alien to me and I don’t do any of the mechanical things like crossing myself. I don’t know what to think about the $2.00 for lighting a candle and I would never take communion there or bow infront of a statue of any kind. Another thing is I will skip the responsive readings as I don’t think God is impressed with me repeating the same thing over and over, but that is just my attitude on the matter. I probably fall in the catagory of observer.

It is always interesting to watch catholics when they visit my church. I have to say though, if a visitor is sitting near me I will try as unobtrusive as possible to smile and help them especally when they fumble with the Bible or hymnal, but this is hard to do without offending them. The trend in this area is to announce the page number of the pew Bibles where to turn so this lessens the problem. In general I just simply remain being my friendly, helpful and loveable self.

 

[Roman_Catholic_1]

When I was converting and started visiting a Catholic Parish the only thing I remember being told was that I had made a great choice because Catholic Mass was much shorter than other Christian churches services. It was a big football town so getting home in time to catch the afternoon game was, evidently, important to some in those parts

God bless

 

[JonNC]

When I was converting and started visiting a Catholic Parish the only thing I remember being told was that I had made a great choice because Catholic Mass was much shorter than other Christian churches services. It was a big football town so getting home in time to catch the afternoon game was, evidently, important to some in those parts

God bless

We get around this problem by starting divine service at 10:30. So even on days with no game, we beat the Baptists to the nearest restaurant or WalMart.

Jon

 

[blazerdave]

We get around this problem by starting divine service at 10:30. So even on days with no game, we beat the Baptists to the nearest restaurant or WalMart.

Jon

That is key to choice of a church or parish. There are probably one million Baptists in my city, and it seems like they all get out of their worship services at the same time. The only way to get a decent meal on Sunday is to avoid any 11:00 worship. Period. When asked why I’m not Baptist, it’s because I can’t eat lunch at 1:15!

The Catholic masses meet at staggered times, however, so I haven’t figured out their traffic/dining patterns yet LOL

 

[losh14]

I agree with a previous poster about it being like visiting your Aunt, cold, distant and very predictable.

I think some Catholics have this experience as well. There’s a ‘personality’ to each parish, mainly dependent upon the pastor and the choir. The parish we’re in is mostly families with schoolkids and retired folk. Very quiet. The choir is awful, sorry to say, and neither of the priests are good homilists, both ramble, one mumbles. The parish we prefer to go to is very vibrant, has lots of young professionals and young families, has an excellent choir and an energetic priest who gives impassioned homilies. I’ve often thought that we could boost attendance if only we would emphasize the homilies a little more.

I usually sing the hymns as long as they aren’t too doctrinally alien to me and I don’t do any of the mechanical things like crossing myself.

I do the same with hymns in other Christian churches. I actually stopped making the :signofthecross: for a while until I heard a really good sermon on how it is calling ourselves into God’s presence by invoking His Name upon us. Now I :signofthecross: reverently and slowly and really despise when it’s done quick.

I was wondering in evangelical churches why and when someone holds their arms up and either pumps or sways during sermon or song.

I don’t know what to think about the $2.00 for lighting a candle

Just a donation, mostly in older parishes with higher upkeep costs. I don’t like paying for prayers, so I appreciate when donation forms for organizations have an option to ask for prayers without giving one.

and I would never take communion there

On this I appreciate. This is a theological divide and it is better to not.

and I would never … bow infront of a statue of any kind.

I get bowing in front of the Sacrament, since we believe Christ to be Present there. I don’t get the statues. I’ve thought that the proper mode for a statue in a church is kneeling or in prayer, but always facing the Sanctuary.

Another thing is I will skip the responsive readings as I don’t think God is impressed with me repeating the same thing over and over, but that is just my attitude on the matter.

I think there are distinct modes of prayer, one of which is responsorial so that it is participative prayer over Scripture rather than just listening or just reading. It engages two senses. I often find myself repeating a refrain during my own prayer, seeking shelter in the Word. But there are other ways to pray as well.

It is always interesting to watch catholics when they visit my church. I have to say though, if a visitor is sitting near me I will try as unobtrusive as possible to smile and help them especally when they fumble with the Bible or hymnal, but this is hard to do without offending them.

I visited an ICC once where the pastor whipped through at least three dozen verses of Scripture in about 12 minutes. I spent most of the time catching up. At that point, I’d almost prefer a powerpoint or a notesheet and could read on my own time later.

Something that took getting used to in college was going to non-denominational services with my Protestant friends and watching them write in their Bibles. I was horrified! But I see the usefulness of it now, though I think I’d still keep my thoughts separately so that when I go back later to the same passage I may not be limited on insight to what I thought before.

 

[Mrs_V]

I was taught that Catholics were not Christian and so going to a mass was not to replace Sunday worship, that they get up and down a lot (this was always followed by a chuckle at how ‘silly’ it was), and that they use a lot of voodoo type of stuff (statues, water, incense) etc… I don’t remember ever being told not to go up for communion. I was told that the first time I ever went to a mass by one of the ushers.

I was brought up Southern Baptist.

 

[losh14]

When I was converting and started visiting a Catholic Parish the only thing I remember being told was that I had made a great choice because Catholic Mass was much shorter than other Christian churches services.

You know, it was a real shocker the first time I went to an evangelical free assembly with a college girlfriend. I grew up in a town where people left each other alone for the most part in terms of religion, and my non-Catholic friends complained about how long Mass was. My freshman-year girlfriend raved about her church, so we went.

I swear the pastor spent ten minutes on every single word in each passage of Scripture. She was really thrilled by the service, but I really had to use the bathroom. So when the pastor asked for visitors to be introduced and she stood up and said “this is my boyfriend, Jeremy” I was not happy to stand up and get a barrage of welcomes and handshakes. By the time it was over, three hours later, I had nearly wet my pew.

 

[losh14]

It sounds like a lot of what opened the door to converts here is that they found that what they were told about the Catholic Church was far from the truth and felt free to explore.

 

[4Squarebaby]

I have been to Mass 100s of times over the years, several times within the last year and to churches in several states. I agree with a previous poster about
It is always interesting to watch catholics when they visit my church. I have to say though, if a visitor is sitting near me I will try as unobtrusive as possible to smile and help them especally when they fumble with the Bible or hymnal, but this is hard to do without offending them. The trend in this area is to announce the page number of the pew Bibles where to turn so this lessens the problem. In general I just simply remain being my friendly, helpful and loveable self.

There is the reoccuring joke to turn to page xxx when Pastor knows we have no pew Bible and we all have different translations in front of us.

 

[answermethis]

I was taught that Catholics were not Christian and so going to a mass was not to replace Sunday worship, that they get up and down a lot (this was always followed by a chuckle at how ‘silly’ it was), and that they use a lot of voodoo type of stuff (statues, water, incense) etc… I don’t remember ever being told not to go up for communion. I was told that the first time I ever went to a mass by one of the ushers.

I was brought up Southern Baptist.

I was moved by you “signature”
I will lift you in prayer…I have had the honor of shepherding many families thru loss in labor. :knight1:

 

[Dylpickleh8]

When I was converting and started visiting a Catholic Parish the only thing I remember being told was that I had made a great choice because Catholic Mass was much shorter than other Christian churches services. It was a big football town so getting home in time to catch the afternoon game was, evidently, important to some in those parts

God bless

Off topic:
Our mass time depends on the Priest.
Our Pastor, Fr. Johnson, usually takes only about 55-60 minutes to say mass.
However, the Parochial Vicar, Fr. Charles takes about 65-70 minutes.
You know why?
Fr. Johnson is a huge Football fan, so we always joke he does it fast to get home to watch the Game. (That’s not really the reason, we’re just joking)

Some of my non-Catholic friends were absolutley amazed that Mass was only an hour , vs. two hours at their Baptist church.

On topic:
I’ve been to my Grandma’s Methodist Church. where the youth-group people were pretty accepting of my Religion.
Their services take forever compared to mass.

 

[Jon_Hus]

Something that took getting used to in college was going to non-denominational services with my Protestant friends and watching them write in their Bibles. I was horrified! But I see the usefulness of it now, though I think I’d still keep my thoughts separately so that when I go back later to the same passage I may not be limited on insight to what I thought before.

I personally carry a small notebook with me to church and everywhere else for that matter. I don’t have any problems with writing in my Bibles but I perfer a nice clean page to read. As you know it’s the message in the words that are holy, not the printed page. I know lots of people who write in their Bibles and I do it sometimes.

On the subject of Bibles, I have a collection of them in many translations, versions and editions, (even a few Roman Catholic editions), probably about 100 of them total. Of course some of them I never read and some of them are collectable so I never write in them. But most of them are nothing special. My favorite Bible for general study is a New King James with references and a MacArthur Study Bible in NASB translation. I usually take a NIV thinline or NIV study Bible to church.

 

[roadtoemmaus]

Answermethis,

I can’t answer your original question because truly, what I was told over the years upsets
me. People pass on misinformation and opinions that are based on misinformation – as I began to learn about the Catholic faith FROM Catholics I found truth.

I will, however, answer your second question - yes, it was hard for me to go into the church the first time because of the things I had been told over many years. I had to be encouraged by the Holy Spirit which I have experienced from time to time in my life - or maybe my guardian angel to even read about the Stations of the Cross online - as the cross or crucifix is considered something of idolatry in the church I have recently left - I obeyed and did read, and was touched at my core by finding what I was missing in my life, focus on Jesus Christ - a few days later I wandered into our church about 10:30 a.m. on a weekday morning at the beginning of the Lenton Season because I wanted to see the stations - And to my surprise, I felt again, that same spirit telling me that I was visiting a very good place. And that I should return. I spent the week reading about the Mass and attended the next Sunday. That was in February. Yesterday I began RCIA.

As for the bits of knowledge. Wow, I need wheelbarrows full! There’s so much to learn. For me, I think I needed the spiritual awareness because the bits of knowledge will take a lifetime to acquire.

Hope

I was so moved by your post, I started to cry! I am an RCIA team member at my parish and am in awe of the insight of our candidates. They all have wonderful stories of conversion and journeys to our faith. Please know that we may not have all the answers you are looking for the first time you ask, but we will try to find the answers you need.
May the Holy Spirit bless your journey.
I will pray for you.
God be with you.:hug1::

 

[losh14]

My favorite Bible for general study is a New King James with references and a MacArthur Study Bible in NASB translation. I usually take a NIV thinline or NIV study Bible to church.

I usually have my NKJV, NASB, NIV and NRSV out together, along with a Strong’s. For more casual reading it’s the NASB for pure readability though I really don’t care for the editorial notes in there.

By chance, have you explored any of the Bible Studies on Scott Hahn’s site, salvationhistory.org. I think it presents the Catholic understand of Scripture fairly well, and you may be surprised how much is held in common.

 

[bonniemarie]

I 'm annoyed with the lies i was told by people and family about the Catholic Church. I can honestly say i"ve never felt as at home in a church as i have been since we’ve been attending mass the past month.

 

[bonniemarie]

Forgot to add i was raised baptist.

 

[Jon_Hus]

By chance, have you explored any of the Bible Studies on Scott Hahn’s site, salvationhistory.org. I think it presents the Catholic understand of Scripture fairly well, and you may be surprised how much is held in common.

I really don’t care for reading the Bible or commentary off of a computer screen. I’m old school read from a book. Right now I’m doing a study of the difference between covanent and dispensational theology with emphasis on the role of the Nation of Israel in past/present/future. I’m including in my study a hard look into early church doctrinal development history. I have for that reason a number of primary sources such as the complete set of ECF and a number of official Catholic works. Included also are several works on V2, Trent and the early Councils. I kid my Catholic sister about having more Catholic books than she has. She turns red in the face but doesn’t disagree with me.

Since I’m taking a semi-scholarly approach, I have to (for my sanity sake) take breaks from time to time and during those times I’m involving myself in a simple reading (for the shear joy of it) of the Bible from Genesis to Rev without any kind of commentary.

Since you use Strongs, I wonder if you have heard of The Complete Word Study New Testament By: Spiros Zodhiates? He puts the strongs number on every word of the NT and includes a lexicon of greek words and parses every word. The author is a greek scholar who was born in Greece. Another thing, even though I don’t like computer Bibles, have you checked out e-sword? It is a free computer program with many free extras including a KJV with strongs numbers in the text and hyperlinks to the dictionary. It also has several Catholic translations, very impressive program for free.

 

[jessep28]

Most of my family/friends are either Lutheran or don’t really talk about their faith, so I didn’t really have any preconceived notions about stepping into a Catholic Church.

The first time I visited one was for a Vigil held for a friend’s relative last year (I was 25). I didn’t burst into flames, so I guess there is no harm is going to one. Although, they did pray the Rosary, so I had no idea what to do during that time.

I did facetiously ask one of my friends afterwords if a closet in the back of the Sanctuary was where they locked up the visiting Lutherans/Protestants, but I don’t think he caught on and acted kind of offended.

 

[answermethis]

Most of my family/friends are either Lutheran or don’t really talk about their faith, so I didn’t really have any preconceived notions about stepping into a Catholic Church.

The first time I visited one was for a Vigil held for a friend’s relative last year (I was 25). I didn’t burst into flames, so I guess there is no harm is going to one. Although, they did pray the Rosary, so I had no idea what to do during that time.

I did facetiously ask one of my friends afterwords if a closet in the back of the Sanctuary was where they locked up the visiting Lutherans/Protestants, but I don’t think he caught on and acted kind of offended.

LOL:knight1: