Returning To The Catholic Church

[Michie]

Yeah, it can be hard to, plus confession is not just right after mass at my church, so I have to go on Saturday evening.

Yeah the schedules offered don’t always work out.

 

[AlexB23]

Yeah the schedules offered don’t always work out.

That is true. Anyways, I have to slowly get working on a devotional.

 

[Michie]

That is true. Anyways, I have to slowly get working on a devotional.

Are you doing a devotional book?

 

[AlexB23]

Are you doing a devotional book?

Not quite a book, but in a table format. To make a devotional, I go onto www.openbible.info (a topical Bible to search for a topic), then I grab two to five verses and put them into the "verse section" of the table. Typically, I use NIV, NKJV, ESV or NRSV-CE (if I am using Catholic/Orthodox books). Then, I develop a prompt for an AI run privately on my computer, and ask the AI to explain and connect this verse to our daily lives. Finally, as I do not want the AI to write everything, I write a paragraph or two (manually) of how this verse relates to my life. Computers are not capable of discernment, or using past experiences, so the "societal relevance/life anecdote" section is where a human does better at.


Devotional in progress

How a devotional is made inside of the AI: The AI which I use is free, private, and is developed by the French (Mistral AI) for general usage. Mistral is a secular company, but their AI can be used for everything from writing emails, to summarizing articles, as well as explaining Bible verses.

However, this will be the first time I hooked up Mistral AI to PDF version of a Catechism and a Church History book, so that means the AI will be more knowledgeable on the Catholic faith, as well as a bit on Orthodox, Lutheran and more modern denominations.

 

[Michie]

Not quite a book, but in a table format. To make a devotional, I go onto www.openbible.info (a topical Bible to search for a topic), then I grab two to five verses and put them into the "verse section" of the table. Typically, I use NIV, NKJV, ESV or NRSV-CE (if I am using Catholic/Orthodox books). Then, I develop a prompt for an AI run privately on my computer, and ask the AI to explain and connect this verse to our daily lives. Finally, as I do not want the AI to write everything, I write a paragraph or two (manually) of how this verse relates to my life. Computers are not capable of discernment, or using past experiences, so the "societal relevance/life anecdote" section is where a human does better at.


Devotional in progress
View attachment 351283


How a devotional is made inside of the AI: The AI which I use is free, private, and is developed by the French (Mistral AI) for general usage. Mistral is a secular company, but their AI can be used for everything from writing emails, to summarizing articles, as well as explaining Bible verses.

However, this will be the first time I hooked up Mistral AI to PDF version of a Catechism and a Church History book, so that means the AI will be more knowledgeable on the Catholic faith, as well as a bit on Orthodox, Lutheran and more modern denominations.

View attachment 351284

Well that is interesting Alex. You have a timeframe for this project?

 

[AlexB23]

Well that is interesting Alex. You have a timeframe for this project?

No time frames, as then it becomes robotic and forced. I try to make 10-30 devotionals per month, and have started since April 2024, but today's devotional will be the first one to use a shortened version of a Catechism and a 400+ page Church history book as potential sources the AI can pull from.

 

[Michie]

No time frames, as then it becomes robotic and forced. I try to make 10-30 devotionals per month, and have started since April 2024, but today's devotional will be the first one to use a shortened version of a Catechism and a 400+ page Church history book as potential sources the AI can pull from.

Do you plan on sharing it or is it for your personal use?

 

[AlexB23]

Do you plan on sharing it or is it for your personal use?

I share them under this tag: Bible Analysis

However, I do have these devotionals saved on my computer in documents (one document has 10 to 30 devotionals, spread over 10-30 pages, meaning 1 devotional per page), and I sometimes convert them to PDFs as well as keeping the original document.

bible analysis

www.christianforums.com

 

[SashaMaria]

I know confession is not always my favorite thing to do. I still struggle with it. It’s my previous Protestant mindset I guess.

i’m a cradle Catholic and have never liked Confession and struggle with it too. What I’ve found is the more often I go, the easier it is.

 

[Michie]

i’m a cradle Catholic and have never liked Confession and struggle with it too. What I’ve found is the more often I go, the easier it is.

Is Father saying: Oh… it’s you again… ?

 

[Bob Crowley]

HI SashaMaria!

Yes, I have received the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. I will definitely call my Parish and make an appointment with the Priest. With how long I have been away from the church, I suspect Confession will take some time.

I appreciate you! Thank you!

As a fellow Queenslander (if I've read your bio correctly), it should just be a matter of reconcilation and then go from there.

 

[AlexB23]

@Michie , the devotional is ready. But yes, I am glad that OP is going back to church. Bless his faith journey.

Censor Ourselves for Christ (A Devotional on Not Cussing)

Hello folks. Today's devotional will cover keeping our words clean. :) Date July 8, 2024 | Clean for Christ Verse Colossians 3:8 (NIV): "But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." Matthew 15:10-11...

www.christianforums.com

 

[Michie]

@Michie , the devotional is ready. But yes, I am glad that OP is going back to church. Bless his faith journey.

Censor Ourselves for Christ (A Devotional on Not Cussing)

Hello folks. Today's devotional will cover keeping our words clean. :) Date July 8, 2024 | Clean for Christ Verse Colossians 3:8 (NIV): "But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." Matthew 15:10-11...

www.christianforums.com

Thank you Alex! I will comment time permitting. I am preparing for a birthday and also preparing Christmas gifts. (I know, I’m a weirdo).

 

[AlexB23]

Thank you Alex! I will comment time permitting. I am preparing for a birthday and also preparing Christmas gifts. (I know, I’m a weirdo).

You are welcome. Good luck with the birthday and Christmas preparations.

 

[Gnarwhal]

I'm not sure if this is the right section for this question or if this question has been asked before but I thought I'd ask it here and now.

I was baptized in the Catholic Church, went to a Catholic boys high school but after high school I fell away from the church. It's been way too many years since I've been to church and I've got this overwhelming feeling to return to the Catholic Church and be an active Parishioner again. What steps would I have to take to be active again?

Any help would be appreciated!

Welcome to OBOB and welcome back to the Church!

Assuming you received all of your Sacraments of initiation (not just Baptism but Confirmation and First Communion as well) then all you would need to do is go to Confession and you would be in communion with Rome once again.

 

[WarriorAngel]

I'm not sure if this is the right section for this question or if this question has been asked before but I thought I'd ask it here and now.

I was baptized in the Catholic Church, went to a Catholic boys high school but after high school I fell away from the church. It's been way too many years since I've been to church and I've got this overwhelming feeling to return to the Catholic Church and be an active Parishioner again. What steps would I have to take to be active again?

Any help would be appreciated!

Confession.

I am certain you already have all the sacraments.

 

[WarriorAngel]

I know confession is not always my favorite thing to do. I still struggle with it. It’s my previous Protestant mindset I guess.

It's a struggle for everyone. You are not alone.
Even cradle Catholics.
[I knew a kid in elementary school who peed himself]
Pride is probably the factor for me.
It's embarrassing to lay down your sins but the release/relief is worth it.

 

[AussieChris]

Update.....
I went to Confession today! Explained to the Priest that it has been several years since my last confession. I confessed all my sins to the Priest. He absolved me of my sins, gave me 1 Our Father and 5 Hail Mary's.

I'm an active member of the church again and I feel AMAZING!!!!!!

 

[Michie]

Update.....
I went to Confession today! Explained to the Priest that it has been several years since my last confession. I confessed all my sins to the Priest. He absolved me of my sins, gave me 1 Our Father and 5 Hail Mary's.

I'm an active member of the church again and I feel AMAZING!!!!!!

Welcome home my brother!

 

[AlexB23]

Update.....
I went to Confession today! Explained to the Priest that it has been several years since my last confession. I confessed all my sins to the Priest. He absolved me of my sins, gave me 1 Our Father and 5 Hail Mary's.

I'm an active member of the church again and I feel AMAZING!!!!!!

Bro, I went to confession today also, for the first time in two years. God bless you man, for getting back into church brother.