Can anyone offer me some advice?

[Minty]

I am so confused right now

Let me start off as saying that I'm not anti-Catholic...in any way, but something in me has always been very sure that I'm not ever going to become Catholic, something in me totally rebels against (and has been very scornful about in the past regarding) things like Papal Infallibilty, the non-ordination of women, the teaching about birth control, etc....or so I thought


I'm new to Christianity as a whole (11th March, to be exact), but I find myself drawn, incredibly drawn, towards Catholicism lately. There is just...something... that has drawn my attention. I love the idea of the rosary, the veneration of the Virgin Mary and the other Saints, the idea of confession. I have never even set foot inside a Catholic Church in my life, but I have a great desire to go to one (I know that I can't take communion, but I'm not too bothered at the moment, I just feel that I need to be there).

My family would never understand this...they accept me being a Christian, even though they are not...but I myself have said in the past and recently, so many things against Catholicism in general that this sudden need to embrace all things Catholic would baffle them (as it is baffling me, to be honest).

Sorry about the rambling nature of this post...I'm just hoping that someone here can help me in some way...I'm not sure how though, is the problem.

 

[Anglian]

Dear Minty,

I'm not a Catholic, so I hope you'll understand I have no agenda at all in responding, save to say that your attitude is refreshingly open-minded, and if the Spirit is guiding you towards the Church, then go with Him.

Go to a Catholic Church, talk to the priest there, tell him what you've told us. Then just enjoy exploring the richness of the Church which goes back to Christ's commission to St. Peter. If this is where you are being guided, you'll know it.

Don't worry about others. It is you the Spirit is speaking to - not them - at least not now.

Pray; read you Bible - contrary to Protestant myth Catholics do read their Bibles, and they worship God, not the Virgin Mary. There are many good threads on Catholicism in this forum, so perhaps read some of those.

I have found the Catholics here really good company, and I'm sure that you will too.

May He guide you where you are meant to be,

Bless you,

Anglian

 

[miguel_de_luis]

What Anglian said and,

remember anybody is welcomed to pray

 

[ProScribe]

Conversion is a process that takes many years. So basically, you could spend the rest of your life learning about Catholicism or Orthodoxy.

 

[Davidnic]

You have an open mind and heart. Do you have any Catholic friends who could go to Church with you and then you could go out to eat afterwards and talk. I have done that with people.

Also you can hang around here in OBOB and ask some questions. I am a cradle Catholic but we have a few people here who have gone through converting and may have advice.

Take your time. Ask any questions you have and pray. God will guide.

 

[ElviraRio]

use the web as an information tool only, and in moderation. don't make any friends over the web. Get to know people in your Church, whether it be Catholic or not, and ask God to reveal to you what he wants you to know as he wants you to know it.

 

[tinythinker]

omething in me totally rebels against (and has been very scornful about in the past regarding) things like Papal Infallibilty, the non-ordination of women, the teaching about birth control, etc...

...but I find myself drawn, incredibly drawn, towards Catholicism lately. There is just...something... that has drawn my attention. I love the idea of the rosary, the veneration of the Virgin Mary and the other Saints, the idea of confession. I have never even set foot inside a Catholic Church in my life, but I have a great desire to go to one...

...I'm just hoping that someone here can help me in some way...I'm not sure how though, is the problem.

I asked about this recently - someone who holds certain liberal or progressive positions or other views which do not conform to Catholic teachings but who nonetheless feels drawn to the Church. I hope you get some good answers - I am curious about what kind of advice someone in the position would receive as well.

 

[Minty]

Thank you so much for all of your replies, they mean a lot to me

Anglian, your advice is amazing and I will follow it, my nearest RC Church is about a ten minute (or three bus stop) journey from my house, so I'll definitely go when I have the time.

Davidnic, I don't know any other Catholics in my area at all. The only Catholics I know, I work for, and I wouldn't feel comfortable speaking to them about this (they are only 'Catholic enough' to get their kids into the best Catholic school around here, but for that they wouldn't bother).

Thanks for the advice about the internet, ElviraRio, I only use the net as a good information gathering tool (as I'm limited in the amount of time that I have to get out) I do verify any info I get with 'real life' experience, though

Tinythinker, that is my main problem, how do I reconcile the things that I believe in now with the things that I would need to believe in in order for this change to be.


Thank you all once again

 

[Gwendolyn]

Hey Minty You have come to the right place.

You'll be able to find a lot of information here. I joined CF in 2005 I think, when I wanted to learn more about my Catholic faith (was brought up Catholic enough to go to a Catholic school ). Sometimes you'll hear things you like, sometimes you'll hear things you don't, but take it all in good humour. We're a pretty diverse group here, and while people love telling us that OBOB doesn't represent Catholics you'll find in the pews at church, I disagree. I think you can get a pretty good feel for the sorts of lives everyday Catholics are living from interacting with the people here.

Don't ever be afraid to ask questions and don't feel discouraged if you don't receive answers you're comfortable with at first. The Catholic faith is a deep one, and there's lots and lots to learn. It just takes some time to digest!

If you have the guts to go to a Catholic Mass on your own, bravo. It's not an easy thing to do. But it will definitely be worth it. You can totally attend Mass or even chat with a priest if you like, without any pressure whatsoever to convert or conform. Asking questions is a necessary part of life and I think anyone at your local parish would be glad to have you.

So stick around, hang out, and let us know how you're doing.

Conversion is a process that takes many years. So basically, you could spend the rest of your life learning about Catholicism or Orthodoxy.

Quoted for truth. Having faith is a conversion, and that conversion continues your whole life long.

 

[WarriorAngel]

I am so confused right now

Let me start off as saying that I'm not anti-Catholic...in any way, but something in me has always been very sure that I'm not ever going to become Catholic, something in me totally rebels against (and has been very scornful about in the past regarding) things like Papal Infallibilty, the non-ordination of women, the teaching about birth control, etc....or so I thought


I'm new to Christianity as a whole (11th March, to be exact), but I find myself drawn, incredibly drawn, towards Catholicism lately. There is just...something... that has drawn my attention. I love the idea of the rosary, the veneration of the Virgin Mary and the other Saints, the idea of confession. I have never even set foot inside a Catholic Church in my life, but I have a great desire to go to one (I know that I can't take communion, but I'm not too bothered at the moment, I just feel that I need to be there).

My family would never understand this...they accept me being a Christian, even though they are not...but I myself have said in the past and recently, so many things against Catholicism in general that this sudden need to embrace all things Catholic would baffle them (as it is baffling me, to be honest).

Sorry about the rambling nature of this post...I'm just hoping that someone here can help me in some way...I'm not sure how though, is the problem.

I wish i had the magic answers....
But outside of talking to a good priest, i think you should probably read ..
'Catholicism for Dummies.'

Alot of folks said this helped them. And it gave them a better idea of what Catholicism actually is.

As for that feeling 'you need to go to Mass'...follow that.
God will take you on His journey and you just need to respond and take His hand as He leads you.



Rest assured my sig still speaks to me:

Matthew Chapter 7​

7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." ​

 

[chilehed]

I am so confused right now ....

I understand. My family thought I was nuts when they found out I was investigating Catholicism, and I found out how much anger my mother harbored toward the Catholic Church. But once I was convinced that God was calling me to enter the Catholic Church I couldn't let any of that stop me.

I got a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to study, and I made good use of the library and radio archives at catholic.com. I also started to read the letters of the Early Church Fathers, the men who learned the faith directly form the Apostles.

And I prayed a lot. I did start going to mass at a Catholic parish to check it out. If you're OK with praying the Rosary, then by all means start doing it - remember that it's a meditation on the Gospel. I like to get to Mass about an hour early and pray the Rosary in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. I highly recommend it.

Our prayers are with you. Don't be afraid.

 

[SpiritualAntiseptic]

Catholic Churches offer an RCIA process- Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. Basically, they have classes were you learn about the Church. There's no pressure or anything like that
At the end, you can decide whether or not you want to go through the process of joining.

 

[isabella1]

Mighty Angel, I love my Catholic faith. You will enjoy the journey of discovering the richness and beauty of Catholicism. As for me personally, what I am drawn to the most, is Jesus in the his Blessed Eucharist. Spending time with Jesus in adoration before the Blessed Eucharist in prayer, always gives me the answers I need. Our lord has never failed me, not even once, when I come to him and care enough to spend time with him.

You said "I love the idea of the rosary, the veneration of the Virgin Mary and the other Saints, the idea of confession. ". The rosary is a very powerful and complete prayer. I have heard it said (I forgot what saint said this), that whenever we say the rosary that the saints and angels say it with us and that our Blessed Mother is always praying it with us, and if someone doesn’t complete their rosary (because they have fallen asleep or other) that the Angels will not let it go unfinished and they finish praying it.

Here is a little info on the rosary. I have lots more on my blog, if you want to know the history of it, and how to pray it, and what the prayers mean.

I will keep you in my prayers for the Holy Spirit to guide you. God Bless you on your journey.

The word Rosary means "Crown of Roses"

T he word Rosary means "Crown of Roses". Our Lady has revealed to several people that each time they say a Hail Mary they are giving her a beautiful rose and that each complete Rosary makes her a crown of roses. The rose is the queen of flowers, and so the Rosary is the rose of all devotions and it is therefore the most important one. The Holy Rosary is considered a perfect prayer because within it lies the awesome story of our salvation. With the Rosary in fact we meditate the mysteries of joy, of sorrow and the glory of Jesus and Mary. It's a simple prayer, humble so much like Mary. It's a prayer we can all say together with Her, the Mother of God. With the Hail Mary we invite Her to pray for us. Our Lady always grants our request. She joins Her prayer to ours. Therefore it becomes ever more useful, because what Mary asks She always receives, Jesus can never say no to whatever His Mother asks for. In every apparition, the heavenly Mother has invited us to say the Rosary as a powerful weapon against evil, to bring us true peace. With your prayer made together with Your heavenly Mother, you can obtain the great gift of bringing about a change of hearts and conversion. Each day, through prayer you can drive away from yourselves and from your homeland many dangers and many evils.
It can seem a repetitive prayer but instead it is like two sweethearts who many times say one another the words: "I love you"...
A devout exercise to perform praying the Rosary to obtain any request is the "54-day Rosary Novena" in honor of Our Lady of Pompeii.

 

[JoabAnias]

You might enjoy this site:

Welcome to Catholic Bridge

 

[SisterOfTheLight]

I grew up as a Catholic and still consider myself to be one. I simply can't let go of the rosary, the saints, the angels, the Virgin Mary, confession and everything else that makes Catholicism so beautiful. The churches, too, always look and feel wonderful to me. That's a feeling I miss in the churches of other denominations, so in essence I count myself lucky that I'm so at home in Catholicism. Even during the times I followed a different faith, I sometimes walked into a church so I could sit there and chat with God.

Yet, I also have had some negative experiences with this branch of Christianity. I rebel against things like the non-ordination of women and am aware of the fact that many Catholics in my environment don't even know most of the teachings. I'm very liberally minded and have also gotten into a few arguments with priests before. One such argument has lasted for most of my teenage years and consisted of a difference in opinion about the 'gifts of the Holy Spirit'. The one thing that really pulled me back towards Catholicism, despite these somewhat negative experiences, was the huge store of mystical teachings, which I wasn't aware of until some two years ago.

Anyway, I also want to let you know that you're definitely in my prayers. I hope you'll find your way in this very new and exciting road in your life.

 

[ElviraRio]

I asked about this recently - someone who holds certain liberal or progressive positions or other views which do not conform to Catholic teachings but who nonetheless feels drawn to the Church. I hope you get some good answers - I am curious about what kind of advice someone in the position would receive as well.

My opinion about this is as follows. When people are concerned w/ politicizing their faith it ends up being a fruitless endeavor. I often times am envious of the downtrodden, because when they are touched by people who really want to help them, to be Jesus to them, they learn first hand what true faith is. Loving thy neighbor as thyself. Treating the least of these as Jesus would. And they are able to carry that forth in their own lives. I feel it’s extremely unfortunate that there is ‘controversy’ in the Church over things like women’s ordination and birth control, when there are so many people out there who just need to be loved and taken care of. Which is why my advice to minty angel was to forget about the technicalities of faith and just worry about getting to know those around her. Jesus was a one on one kinda guy. He wasn’t a ‘take on the whole establishment’ kinda guy, unless it was the downtrodden he was sticking up for.

 

[stivvy]

I think you should really study and focus on the "Why" the Catholic Church hold a firm position on the points you brought up in the OP. Study it with sincerity and understanding and get the facts and not just heresay.

Talk to those who can give you good clear answers. Many of us here can give you facts, but sometimes going face to face and with an truely active conversation, you can understand it better.

 

[AdJesumPerMariam]

You know, many are being drawn home, now. Minty, All these suggestions are really good, but I'm going to add in here Adoration. Find out when your local Church offers Adoration, then go. Sit, pray, and just talk to God. Ask him what he wants of you. Remember, Catholicism isn't a "feeling" its a true relationship with God, and His Church, established for us long, long ago

 

[Amylisa]

Conversion is a process that takes many years. So basically, you could spend the rest of your life learning about Catholicism or Orthodoxy.

This is certainly what I have been finding! And my Priest told me the same thing. Be patient with yourself, Minty. One thing I have learned is just follow God, don't run ahead of Him and try to figure out what you should do. I have to remind myself of that a lot.

 

[Minty]

Thanks so much for all of the advice, I shall definitely be taking it (am hopefully going to try and get to my local RC Church this weekend )