Why does the Church make joining it so difficult?

[mrspjm]

I feel very strongly called to enter the Church at 54. I was raised as a Protestant (Baptist), was baptised as an early teenager. I drifted away over the years. I have done a lot of studying and have not found anything about the faith that I cannot fully embrace. I know a lot of people who are members of the Church who actually know less about their faith than I have learned from my study and reading. And I know Catholics who do not even believe in transubstantiation or the Real Presence or go to confession but still receive Communion. It is very painful for me to attend Mass and be required to deny myself the Eucharist because I am not “technically” Catholic.

I do not understand why the Church makes it so difficult for people to enter it. Today I attended an Episcopal Church a half hour drive away from my home because they have an “all are welcome” policy regarding Communion, and I felt a desperate need to receive it. But I do not understand why it is necessary for it to be this way!! My current schedule makes the RCIA impossible.

Prayers and any suggestions would be very much appreciated…thank you and God bless you.

 

[mick321]

I feel very strongly called to enter the Church at 54. I was raised as a Protestant (Baptist), was baptised as an early teenager. I drifted away over the years. I have done a lot of studying and have not found anything about the faith that I cannot fully embrace. I know a lot of people who are members of the Church who actually know less about their faith than I have learned from my study and reading. And I know Catholics who do not even believe in transubstantiation or the Real Presence or go to confession but still receive Communion. It is very painful for me to attend Mass and be required to deny myself the Eucharist because I am not “technically” Catholic.

I do not understand why the Church makes it so difficult for people to enter it. Today I attended an Episcopal Church a half hour drive away from my home because they have an “all are welcome” policy regarding Communion, and I felt a desperate need to receive it. But I do not understand why it is necessary for it to be this way!! My current schedule makes the RCIA impossible.

Prayers and any suggestions would be very much appreciated…thank you and God bless you.

For the reasons you cited, it should be evident that joining and remaining in the modern Catholic Church is NOT difficult.

Indeed, it is FAR too easy.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

When you say that your schedule makes RCIA impossible, do you know that for sure? Have you spoken with the pastor and/or RCIA director? Can they accommodate your schedule in another way?

One thing about RCIA is that the rite has a lot of flexibility, especially for those who are already baptized. I would ask if the parish can’t offer some of that flexibility to you.

 

[1ke]

Speak to your priest and look at options that can work around your schedule. The church does not make it “hard” to become a Catholic.

I would also suggest that you might need some further formation if you were so quick to go to the Episcopal church to “receive” since what you received was not the Eucharist.

 

[mick321]

When you say that your schedule makes RCIA impossible, do you know that for sure? Have you spoken with the pastor and/or RCIA director? Can they accommodate your schedule in another way?

One thing about RCIA is that the rite has a lot of flexibility, especially for those who are already baptized. I would ask if the parish can’t offer some of that flexibility to you.

Thank you.

 

[jmcrae]

My current schedule makes the RCIA impossible.

When it becomes important to you, you will find the time for it.

Most Coordinators of RCIA are more than willing to accommodate a difficult schedule, as long as it seems clear that you are doing your best.

 

[mrspjm]

When it becomes important to you, you will find the time for it.

Without knowing me or my situation, which I will not put in this forum as it’s no one’s business, you are in no position to comment on what is - or is not - important to me, are you?

And yes, I know that it was not really the Eucharist, but since I am not allowed the Eucharist, it was better than nothing.

 

[TimothyH]

I feel very strongly called to enter the Church at 54. I was raised as a Protestant (Baptist), was baptised as an early teenager. I drifted away over the years. I have done a lot of studying and have not found anything about the faith that I cannot fully embrace. I know a lot of people who are members of the Church who actually know less about their faith than I have learned from my study and reading. And I know Catholics who do not even believe in transubstantiation or the Real Presence or go to confession but still receive Communion. It is very painful for me to attend Mass and be required to deny myself the Eucharist because I am not “technically” Catholic.

I do not understand why the Church makes it so difficult for people to enter it. Today I attended an Episcopal Church a half hour drive away from my home because they have an “all are welcome” policy regarding Communion, and I felt a desperate need to receive it. But I do not understand why it is necessary for it to be this way!! My current schedule makes the RCIA impossible.

Prayers and any suggestions would be very much appreciated…thank you and God bless you.

If you have embraced the faith and have studied, then you probably know the Church’s position on Episcopalian communion - it is not the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinit of Christ. Only a validly ordained priest of the Holy Catholic Church can confect the Blessed Sacrament. When an Episcopalian priest says the words of institution, nothing happens because they have not recieved valid sacrament of Holy Orders. What you recieved may have been communion, or something else even, and it may have satisfied your desire outwardly, but it was not the Eucharist, and it cannot confer sanctifying grace as does the Eucharist.

That you can recieve the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity is a great mystery, and a great gift from God. It is one of the most important things you will ever do in your life, and carries with it great reward for those who do so properly disposed and realize what it realize what it really is, but also great risk for those who do not. This is just one reason why the Church has always endeavored to teach the faith fully, to the extent that it is possible, before allowing anyone to receive.

I’m willing to bet, that if you approached a deacon or priest about joining, expressed your great desire, and told them about your schedule, they would be willing to work things out with you. I’ll bet that there is somone, somewhere in your diocese who would be willing to meet with you on your schedule.

-Tim-

 

[purplesunshine]

I find joining the CC vs the christian denominations is akin to the parable of the seed.

The seed that falls on the rock sprouts up quicky but dies soon. This is like the fervor of most churches.

That and many protestants change churches more frequently than my brother changes socks. Its because the doctrine isnt all that different and its usually over ansillary issues like music, community and socks.

 

[PJM]

=mrspjm;8400053]I feel very strongly called to enter the Church at 54. I was raised as a Protestant (Baptist), was baptised as an early teenager. I drifted away over the years. I have done a lot of studying and have not found anything about the faith that I cannot fully embrace. I know a lot of people who are members of the Church who actually know less about their faith than I have learned from my study and reading. And I know Catholics who do not even believe in transubstantiation or the Real Presence or go to confession but still receive Communion. It is very painful for me to attend Mass and be required to deny myself the Eucharist because I am not “technically” Catholic.

I do not understand why the Church makes it so difficult for people to enter it. Today I attended an Episcopal Church a half hour drive away from my home because they have an “all are welcome” policy regarding Communion, and I felt a desperate need to receive it. But I do not understand why it is necessary for it to be this way!! My current schedule makes the RCIA impossible.

Prayers and any suggestions would be very much appreciated…thank you and God bless you.

***You raise some very valid issues about “un” Catholics who claim to be Catholic. Still that does not answer your questions; so please, my friend allow me to add a different perspective.

Faith as it relates to ones personal salvation is not as much about what the Church does or does not permit; rather it is about you and your [OUR] God, on a very personal level.

From this perspective what the CC does makes a great deal of sense. We have what is termed the four NECESSARY sacraments of initiation as a requirement for entry into the CC. Why?

Be assured it for your Spiritual benefit. All seven of the sacraments are instituted by God, and all of them are for the benefit of humanity as God is already perfect.

Baptism; which sounds to me is validly received by you already, makes you a member of the Christian community. And that is a good thing. But there is more to ones Spiritual life then simply being a member of “the community.” Catholics are more like family. Our roots are traceable back directly to he very apostles we read about in the Bible. The RCC is the ONLY Faith and ONLY Church actually founded by Christ Himself.

Baptism opens us up to the possibility of additional graces. Sacramental graces, which do effect, as Christ determines they would; the possibility of us attaining our salvation.

KNOW my friend, that while salvation MAY BE possible if one is not a Catholic; under very strict conditions; we Catholics have the “inside” track because we are the only ones [all Catholics included here], that are doing what Jesus actually taught and commands. This is where the other three sacraments come into “play.” Confession [John 20:19-23] permits Catholics to actually KNOW that are sins are forgiven. Not guess; not hope; KNOW! A pure soul is required to enter into the CC in order that one may receive Jesus Himself in Person in Catholic Holy Communion. [Don’t beleive the claims of OSAS; the Sinners Prayer, Faith or Grace alone… all of this is man-made frabrications.

One must be an informed, practicing Catholic W/O any un-Confessed - unforgiven Mortal sins in order to receive Christ Worthily. St. Paul warns in a most frightful manner of what happens to those who choose to receive Jesus unworthily. [COLOR=“Blue”]1 Cor. 11: 28-30 “Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died” The “death*” referenced here is Spiritual death: Hell.

Then comes the Sacrament of Confirmation were each person enters into a Personal-Covenant-Relationship directly with God. Each person is committing to know, and obey both ALL of Gods commands and all of the commands of God’s church. If one is not aware of these through a proper formation; which is not possible on ones own; then one can hardly be qualified to make such a serious commitment. GOD will hold us to what we commit to know and to do. And that my friend is why RCIA is an absolute necessity. It is for YOUR benefit as much as it is for the CC.

It is my prayerful hope, that this is of help to you.

God Bless,
Pat**

 

[Incomplete]

I feel very strongly called to enter the Church at 54. I was raised as a Protestant (Baptist), was baptised as an early teenager. I drifted away over the years. I have done a lot of studying and have not found anything about the faith that I cannot fully embrace. I know a lot of people who are members of the Church who actually know less about their faith than I have learned from my study and reading. And I know Catholics who do not even believe in transubstantiation or the Real Presence or go to confession but still receive Communion. It is very painful for me to attend Mass and be required to deny myself the Eucharist because I am not “technically” Catholic.

I do not understand why the Church makes it so difficult for people to enter it. Today I attended an Episcopal Church a half hour drive away from my home because they have an “all are welcome” policy regarding Communion, and I felt a desperate need to receive it. But I do not understand why it is necessary for it to be this way!! My current schedule makes the RCIA impossible.

Prayers and any suggestions would be very much appreciated…thank you and God bless you.

The Church does not make it difficult, just time-consuming. When you are received into the Church, you will state that you believe in all of its teachings. Your priest will want to know that you do, in fact, understand the teachings before you say you do.

As others have said, contact your priest. The normal method of entrance is through an RCIA class at Easter Vigil, but that isn’t the only way to do it. My mother-in-law was received at age 85. Because of health problems and other reasons, my priest taught her privately.

Explain your situation to a priest. He might meet with you privately until he is certain that you know what you will need to know before being received into the Church.

I understand your frustration about those who do not embrace the faith and still receive communion. Remember this: they still have to answer to God. It would be a good thing to pray for them.

If I were you, I’d call a priest and tell him your situation. In the meantime, when you can’t received Eucharist, offer up your pain for those who received unworthily.

I’m so glad you are listening to God’s call. Now go, talk to a priest, express your desires and the obstacles to class, and be prepared to be obedient…because if things can’t move as quickly as you desire, it might have something to do with God’s timing.

Congratulations on finding Truth, and welcome to the path home! You have my prayers.

 

[1ke]

And yes, I know that it was not really the Eucharist, but since I am not allowed the Eucharist, it was better than nothing.

Actually, it is not better than nothing. It is the opposite. If one recognizes the Real Presence and discerns the Body and Blood one is obliged to refrain from that which is not.

 

[At_Trent]

I feel very strongly called to enter the Church at 54. I was raised as a Protestant (Baptist), was baptised as an early teenager. I drifted away over the years. I have done a lot of studying and have not found anything about the faith that I cannot fully embrace. I know a lot of people who are members of the Church who actually know less about their faith than I have learned from my study and reading. And I know Catholics who do not even believe in transubstantiation or the Real Presence or go to confession but still receive Communion. It is very painful for me to attend Mass and be required to deny myself the Eucharist because I am not “technically” Catholic.

I do not understand why the Church makes it so difficult for people to enter it. Today I attended an Episcopal Church a half hour drive away from my home because they have an “all are welcome” policy regarding Communion, and I felt a desperate need to receive it. But I do not understand why it is necessary for it to be this way!! My current schedule makes the RCIA impossible.

Prayers and any suggestions would be very much appreciated…thank you and God bless you.

Hi, I will offer a simple reply here.

Consider the things in this life we must bear. These are our crosses. Then consider what Jesus Christ had to endure for us. Compare His with ours, and perhaps the wait to enter the Chuirch will not seem so burdensome.

God Bless.

 

[Victory9]

Have Faith! The Holy Roman Catholic Church hasn’t ‘set out’ to make things difficult for those souls wanting to enter into communion with her, but has a responsibility to educate you in the Faith, even if you’ve already been studying it for yourself. You must be humble, and go through the necessary instruction required by the Church. This is something that you must also mortify yourself with ~ humility, patience, and obedience. While your schedule may not allow you to attend RCIA classes, it is entirely appropriate and encouraged to set up a schedule for individual instruction with a parish priest. The Church is true to her mission ~ she will not leave any soul flailing, drowning, abandoned. It is very important that you receive instruction, so that you fully understand not only what the Catholic Church teaches, but what are our responsibilities and obligations as practicing Catholics in good standing with the Church. You will inevitably have questions, whether they be with the Faith, with the Sacraments such as Confession (now called Reconciliation), with Church history, Purgatory, The Blessed Virgin Mary, the help of sacramentals, intercession of the Saints, etc. The Church, in her wisdom, puts these rules into place precisely so that you fully understand and come to believe in the Faith and Truth that is the Church. Though raised in the Church, my experience with friends and family over the years has shown me that converts are generally much better Catholics than those raised in the Faith from the cradle ~ and you set the great example for those not-so-fervent Catholics to see.

The Episcopal Church / Anglican Church, and Lutheran Church, are not “the same”. Dogma and laws ARE different. “Close” is not the “the same”. It seems clear that The Holy Spirit is calling you. Therefore, pray to Him to give you patience, show you how to proceed, and ask Him specifically to help you with your schedule, because He is always faithful to the good desires of His children, and if He has called you, He will certainly arrange for you, and see to it Himself, that you complete your journey. Open your heart to The Holy Spirit and pray.

Wisdom 6.10-11: To you, therefore, oh kings, are these my words, that you may learn wisdom, and not fall from it. For they that have kept just things justly, shall be justified, and they that have learned these things shall find what to answer.

Mark 9.22: And Jesus saith to him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Hebrews 12.9: Moreover we have had fathers of our flesh, for instructors, and we reverence them; shall we not much more obey the Father of spirits, and live?

 

[St_Francis]

Becoming a Catholic is a serious commitment. Catholic parents are required to attend classes before their babies are baptized. I knew a couple with several children who had taught the baptismal class who were required to take the class for their new baby when they moved.

The sacraments of initiation put a mark on the soul. Once that mark is on your soul, God will judge you as a Catholic. The Church does not want someone who lacks understanding (or the opportunity to learn) to have those marks on their souls–that would be irresponsible. It would be like the state letting someone get a driver’s license without ensuring that they know how to handle a car and what the laws are.

It is tough to wait to receieve the Eucharist, but pretending to receive, which is basically what you did, is not a substitute, and could indicate a concern more connected to the world than to God.

Contact your pastor, and if he is unable to help you out (eg, our pastor is the only priest for miles around and so he might not be able to do it, so don’t take it personally), ask him if he can recommend another priest to talk to or another course of action. If he is unable to help you with that call other parishes, even the diocese, until you get some help, but understand that many priests are really stretched out and often have responsibilities that even parishioners are unaware of.

 

[Jim_Dandy]

True commitment means more than answering an altar call and saying the “Sinner’s Prayer” or some equivalent, which is all most Baptist denominations require. Instant salvation.

Adults wishing to join the Church must make a public profession of faith: “I believe EVERYTHING the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church teaches.” (or words to that effect). The priest has to have the assurance that EVERYTHING the Church teaches has been explained to you and that you freely accept it. This takes time. You haven’t even taken the first step, and yet you criticize the Church for (your words) “making it difficult.”

In addition, it’s of concern (at least to me) that you raced down the street to receive a false “eucharist” in an Episcopal ecclesial community and found it “better than nothing.”

Catholicism – the truth and nothing but the truth – is worth waiting for.

Jim Dandy
Ex-Southern Baptist, ex-agnostic, ex-atheist, ecstatic to be Catholic!

 

[Monica4316]

I feel very strongly called to enter the Church at 54. I was raised as a Protestant (Baptist), was baptised as an early teenager. I drifted away over the years. I have done a lot of studying and have not found anything about the faith that I cannot fully embrace. I know a lot of people who are members of the Church who actually know less about their faith than I have learned from my study and reading. And I know Catholics who do not even believe in transubstantiation or the Real Presence or go to confession but still receive Communion. It is very painful for me to attend Mass and be required to deny myself the Eucharist because I am not “technically” Catholic.

I do not understand why the Church makes it so difficult for people to enter it. Today I attended an Episcopal Church a half hour drive away from my home because they have an “all are welcome” policy regarding Communion, and I felt a desperate need to receive it. But I do not understand why it is necessary for it to be this way!! My current schedule makes the RCIA impossible.

Prayers and any suggestions would be very much appreciated…thank you and God bless you.

You don’t necessarily have to go through RCIA. Ask the priest if he could just prepare you himself. Some people do this also if you go to a Catholic parish that has the Latin Mass, typically they don’t have RCIA at all but the priest does the preparation for whoever wants to become Catholic. You could still be Catholic the reason there is preparation is because the Eucharist is taken very seriously. Protestant churches and the Episcopal church don’t have the priesthood or the Real Presence, becaues they don’t view it like the Church does and don’t believe the Mass is a Sacrifice. The Catholics you know who don’t believe in transubstantiation and still receive Communion, or go to Communion without Confession, that is NOT allowed actually, that is in fact sacrilege the reason the Church wants people to be prepared is so they can be sure they want to be Catholic after having researched its teachings, and they need to have Confession and the fast before Mass.

I am a convert too… talk to a priest about entering the Church differently.

God bless!

 

[SanAgustin]

I find joining the CC vs the christian denominations is akin to the parable of the seed.

The seed that falls on the rock sprouts up quicky but dies soon. This is like the fervor of most churches.

That and many protestants change churches more frequently than my brother changes socks. Its because the doctrine isnt all that different and its usually over ansillary issues like music, community and socks.

Insightful post, but I will add (not sure if disagree is the right term) that switching between churches is casual, but sometimes it is done over doctrinal issues, or if its over practical matters doctrinal issues are ignored!

Good example, a friend of mine was the son of an evangelical pastor. His wife cheated on him, they got divorced and he wanted to remarry. Whatever the authorities for his church were in Puerto Rico, they would have none of that, and he left to start his own “church”.

Here in the US, when he started his church he would meet at people’s houses. He would say that this was what “he always wanted to do”, like the church in Acts (the name of his church was an ancient word for “houses” but I won’t write it because of google search ). Eventually they ended up meeting in buildings, of course, but his church was always small in size.

There were bills to pay and he couldn’t make enough money, so he went from Evangelical (fundamentalist flavor) to his own church with the same “dogma”, but then started interviewing for jobs as a pastor and ended up in at a Calvinist church. Now they never believed in predestination, but when I asked my friend about it all of the sudden he would start quoting the Bible to support his newly found predestination beliefs.

Just goes to show, that when you remove the Apostolic succession and the authority of the church, key doctrinal differences between these churches become trivial and can be exchanged for convenience, be it getting a job, or adjusting your beliefs based on things like divorce and how much makeup to wear (Pentecostal churches).

 

[Wesley7]

Why does the Church make joining it so difficult?

On the Catholic side of things, it ultimately depends on your dialogue with the priest and the bishop as whether you are a legitimate member of the Catholic Church.

 

[Planty_Pall]

I feel very strongly called to enter the Church at 54. I was raised as a Protestant (Baptist), was baptised as an early teenager. I drifted away over the years. I have done a lot of studying and have not found anything about the faith that I cannot fully embrace. I know a lot of people who are members of the Church who actually know less about their faith than I have learned from my study and reading. And I know Catholics who do not even believe in transubstantiation or the Real Presence or go to confession but still receive Communion. It is very painful for me to attend Mass and be required to deny myself the Eucharist because I am not “technically” Catholic.

I do not understand why the Church makes it so difficult for people to enter it. Today I attended an Episcopal Church a half hour drive away from my home because they have an “all are welcome” policy regarding Communion, and I felt a desperate need to receive it. But I do not understand why it is necessary for it to be this way!! My current schedule makes the RCIA impossible.

Prayers and any suggestions would be very much appreciated…thank you and God bless you.

You’ve lived without the Eucharist since 1957. But In 2011, all of a sudden your desire to be Catholic and your yearning for the Holy Eucharist is so overwhelming that you can’t wait until Easter of 2012 and so you go to the Episcopalians for what you don’t believe is really the Holy Eucharist anyway?

That seems pretty wacky. Don’t you think? It makes one think that maybe the Church is prudent in making folks take a little instruction before receiving into full communion. I truly wish you well, and admonish patience. There is also a reason why, unlike us, these particular Episcopalians apparently don’t care if everybody no matter what they believe about it receives communion in their services. It wouldn’t be flattering to them to explain the reason.

Just trust the Church. Trust God. They didn’t even have Holy Communion in the Old Testament. What do you think? They all go to Hell? Of course not. C’mon, let the Church take care of you and just relax. You’ll be fine. If you can’t go to RCIA explain it to somebody at your parish. They aren’t going to keep you out of the Church because of your current schedule. They’ll make some kind of reasonable arrangement.