Where did you learn what you know about Catholicism?

  • Thread starter Thread starter theMutant
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I chose other. It was all of the above, plus really good (name removed by moderator)ut from my mom and nana and godmom. And they’re still there when I have questions.
 
Originally hailing from one of the 5 boroughs of New York, and currently residing in North Jersey, I have been fortunate (other than in school surprisingly… :ehh: or not)to be surrounded by holy priests who know how to teach the faith. But, as a student attending Catholic school, it is almost twice as hard for one to grow in their faith. To best paraphrase a priest friend, Fr. J. Perricone, you must study your course materials, then almost re-educate yourself in true doctrine of our Holy Mother Church. 🤓

A spiritual director is also someone who should be guiding your spiritual journey. Try (in many places i understand it can be hard:bigyikes: ) to find a holy and pius priest who can formally guide you, and ask him. I say this, because I have encountered many Catholics who never thought that the laity could have spiritual directors; that it was something reserved tor priests and religious.

Ohh… and taking part in the holy sacrifice of the mass… is said to help a bit 😉

As always…
Yours in Christ,
Kathleen
 
For me it was the third choice self-study mostly. I went to 15 years of Catholic schooling. Don’t really remember learning anything,even though I had religion class daily and Mass twice a week. Came from an alcoholic,abusive family, so it was hard to learn about God and love and it is still hard for me to know God loves me. It was just very depressing for me. I turned to alcohol myself for several years ,and am married to an alcoholic who is drinking again(but has never been violent.) I have still always remained Catholic but not very good at attending Mass, or understanding anything until the last few years. I attended a bible study for weight loss at our Catholic parish, it was in the bulletin. it was called the weighdown workshop. it got me to read the bible everyday but it also led me to question my faith, not deny, but just to doubt. I also got the internet that year 1999, and started researching and had no idea some protestanst hated Catholics so much!! Anyways I ended up keep searching for the truth and now I understand it so much better !! Thanks to Scott Hahn ,found him on the internet.Also to EWTN and other Catholic pages such as Catholic Answers.I am very happy to be Catholic and follow everything the Catholic church teaches!! I still read the bible everyday and am reading the Catechism.God Bless
 
Originally hailing from one of the 5 boroughs of New York, and currently residing in North Jersey, I have been fortunate (other than in school surprisingly… :ehh: or not)to be surrounded by holy priests who know how to teach the faith. But, as a student attending Catholic school, it is almost twice as hard for one to grow in their faith. To best paraphrase a priest friend, Fr. J. Perricone, you must study your course materials, then almost re-educate yourself in true doctrine of our Holy Mother Church. 🤓

A spiritual director is also someone who should be guiding your spiritual journey. Try (in many places i understand it can be hard:bigyikes: ) to find a holy and pius priest who can formally guide you, and ask him. I say this, because I have encountered many Catholics who never thought that the laity could have spiritual directors; that it was something reserved tor priests and religious.

Ohh… and taking part in the holy sacrifice of the mass… is said to help a bit 😉

As always…
Yours in Christ,
Kathleen
 
For me it was the third choice self-study mostly. I went to 15 years of Catholic schooling. Don’t really remember learning anything,even though I had religion class daily and Mass twice a week.
I attended a bible study for weight loss at our Catholic parish, it was called the weighdown workshop. it got me to read the bible everyday but it also led me to question my faith, not deny, but just to doubt.I lost 40 pounds so I felt God was trying to get my attention. IT was not Catholic though, and messed me up.
I also got the internet that year 1999, and started researching and had no idea some protestansts hated Catholics so much!! Anyways I ended up keep searching for the truth and now I understand it so much better !! Thanks to Scott Hahn ,found him on the internet.Also to EWTN and other Catholic pages such as Catholic Answers.I am very happy to be Catholic and follow everything the Catholic church teaches!! I still read the bible everyday and am reading the Catechism.God Bless
 
For me it was the third choice self-study mostly. I went to 15 years of Catholic schooling. Don’t really remember learning anything,even though I had religion class daily and Mass twice a week.
I started reading the Bible about 6 years ago in a bible study. It kind of messed me up because it wasnt Catholic even though it was held at our Catholic church and advertised in the bulletin.
But I kept reading the bible and searching. About 3 years ago I had an experience where I felt God chose me. (He chooses all of us) I felt like Peter in Luke 5, Get away from me Lord I am unworthy,(I am very unworthy). I feel God wants me to be Catholic, and I now follow all the church teachings. It has been a long process of always being a Catholic.I just wish I knew some good Catholics, to help me in my search. I think maybe that is why I am on this forum, to learn even more. I thirst.
 
I used to subscribe to First Things way back (not sure “how” I justified that as I was a “Sabbatarian” at the time). In looking back I can see how that helped aquaint me with the uncompromising moral teachings of the Catholic Church. As I became increasingly disenchanted with the theology (or “lack thereof”) of the Sabbatarians [WCG offshoots] that I was in fellowship with I began delving into “historical christian orthodoxy”. *. The Trinity was a major turning point which of course led me right back to the Early Fathers. This all led me to question the legitemacy of the Protestant Reformation, Sola Scriptura, the Canon, etc.

About that time I read Richard John Neuhaus’ Death On A Friday Afternoon which became my primary “meditation” leading up to that year’s Passover Season [we didn’t celebrate Easter]…

Without endorsing any of his recently declared heretical positions, I read Roger Haight’s Jesus: Symbol of God which exposed me to the many different approaches to Christology. I mention this just because it had the effect of pointing me more directly towards the Catholic Church. (And I did learn about the thought of “one Jesuit” for better or worse)…

That’s when I discovered EWTN - Tim Staples happened to be on the first time I tuned in… What can I say, I was hooked… Jimmy Akin, Karl Keating, Father Mitch, Scott Hahn…

I am presently in RCIA and am blessed with two very holy priests who lead the class. They have directed me to some very good resources along with their excellent teaching *…

There is also a local apologist who has been gracious enough to “e-dialogue” with me…

Our local Catholic Bookstore - St Raphael’s - has a wonderful selection of resources…

The Holy Father…

And most recently, all of you, my brothers and sisters…

Enjoying the forum very much!

Grace & Peace**
 
And how could I forget John A. Hardon’s The Catholic Catechism??? I picked up a copy at a Christian bookstore shortly before I discovered EWTN…

I should also mention “Vatican Radio” and of course The Catechism of the Catholic Church SE…
 
I was born Catholic and raised as a good one, but I really started learning about it recently from a a discussion email list at the college I went to.
 
I’m a “Cradle Catholi-palian” (I’ll explain later). I’ve always been involved in the Church, as a lector, cantor, and Eucharistic Minister (I’ve gotten away from that lately); later on as a music director and a member of a diocesan Liturgical Commission. I went through the normal parish CCD program and Confirmation classes. I suppose the most learning I did until I was well into my 20s was reading Scripture to prepare for my assignments as a lector.

I really began to explore and study The Faith when a visitor to my parish introduced me to a book by Scott Hahn called Rome Sweet Home. I read it and thought, “Wow, this actually makes sense.” I read it again and it made more sense. I read it a third time and looked up all the Scriptural citations, and I was off to the races - actually the local Catholic bookstore.

The second book that really lit an intellictual and spiritual fire was Catholicism and Fundamentalism by Karl Keating. (Let me be the 266,543rd person on this forum to say, “Thanks, Karl!”) I began to realize the overwhelming depth and richness of Catholic Theology, Church History, and Apologetics. I have also learned a lot from Peter Kreeft’s many books.

I have learned the most from the recordings of Scripture studies by Scott Hahn, and the writings of our Papa, John Paul II.
 
I was very lucky. Although I was baptized Catholic, my family fell away when I was very young. I came back to the Church in my Freshman year of college. I transfered from a huge college to a small Benedictine college after my Freshman year. Most of my formation happened there.

Since then, I have read alot that helped increase my knowledge.

PF
 
Reading. Lots. And asking questions when I don’t understand something. Thinking about things. About life. As things have been happening in my life, I’ve been getting a better understanding of some issues or any understanding at all.

I’m having a feeling that receiving a good pounding from life pushes you further into Catholicism.
 
I didn’t get much of a Catechesis. I pretty much have been picking it up on my own, with some (lots) of help from a close friend. I also started just reading the Catechism, and I plan on reading it cover to cover. This site is actually quite helpful as well.

Eamon
 
I’ve learn everything from EWTN and Catholic Radio and forums like this. Fr. Corapi has taught me so much in his Catechism class. I listen to Catholic Answers almost every day. I have not had good teaching in church. The RCIA class that I was in years ago was only interested in getting your name on the church roll. Basically they didn’t care what you believed. The fact that I am in the Catholic church today is only Gods grace. If it weren’t for EWTN becoming available and good teaching on Catholic radio I don’t know where I would be now.
 
40.png
theMutant:
This is an offshoot of the poll, “Why are Catholics so reserved, generally speaking, about sharing their faith?” (forum.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=16057). It struck me that the overwhelming vote was that Catholics are poorly catechized. I wish the bishops would see that poll and take it as a wake-up call regarding Catholic education and catechesis.

However, if the average Catholic is poorly catechized, from where did you learn what you know about the Catholic Faith?
Click to expand...
I learned it from all three, Catholic schools, good homilies, and self study. In fact, I should have included a fourth: my mom.

I think people tend to blame others for their ignorance. You wanna know more about Catholicism, there’s plenty of opportunities available, but you have to put down the remote control, get off the couch, and take advantage of those opportunities. Most Catholics are just too whiny and lazy and want to be spoon fed, without having to put any effort into their own education, in my opinion.
 
In fact, I should have included a fourth: my mom.
Click to expand...
***Thats the number one source for most folks, ***the poll seemed a little deficient by failing to include parents as the primary source of religious instruction.
 
If you/U need to ask this/that QUESTION, you don’t FULLY UNDERSTAND the ,“CATHOLIC CHURCH,” and it’s HOLY SPIRIT… Ask, in your mind, and ye shall… 😃

But in the long run YOU/ONE just starts PRAYING to be part of God’s will, (prayer of St. Francis), because/porque’, you may be mentally and physically swamped, and confounded trying to understand ,“it,” all… 😃
 
8 years of Catholic grade schooling (Franciscan), 6 years of Jesuit high school and college (though that was much poorer in terms of Catholic teaching), which then led to about 5 years of apostasy, followed by a return to the faith and then 17 years of serious self-study (lots and lots of reading).

Teaching now at a Catholic high school has strengthened significantly my knowledge of the faith.

“You retain 10% of what you hear, 20% of what you see, 40% of what you see and hear, and 70% of what you teach.”

My parents were no help. Dad was non-Christian, and Mom was a Sunday-only Catholic. She relied upon the schooling entirely for my formation.

Oh yeah. There was the seven YEARS of receiving the Eucharist 6 days a week. I think that had something to do with it as well.:rolleyes:
 
I learned from self study of the CCC, Church Fathers, Scripture various books, EWTN tv and wewn radio. Also from one on one discussions with a priest. RCIA class provided a lot of fluff and would leave alot of its people with ideas such as of other churches as being equal.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top