Catholics Only - What if you have trouble accepting things about your faith but you have nowhere else to go?

[fide]

Interesting. Seems that every church has flaws

That's because every church has human beings in it. Thanks be to God He is patient with us, guiding us - if we persevere earnestly - into "all the truth."

Jhn 16:12 "I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
Jhn 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Jhn 16:14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Jhn 16:15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

 

[concretecamper]

We as Catholics can have solace that Jesus shows up inside the bread at every communion

 

[AlexB23]

OK?

 

[mourningdove~]

Actually, this lingo is one reason I stay Catholic, lol.

That is one reason you stay Catholic?
I didn't know your dislike for Protestantism ran so deep.

I'll have to remember that, the next time you post for encouraging reasons to stay Catholic.
How easy was that!

 

[Lady Bug]

That is one reason you stay Catholic?
I didn't know your dislike for Protestantism ran so deep.

I'll have to remember that, the next time you post for encouraging reasons to stay Catholic.
How easy was that!

Sorry, I didn't know it would be this offensive, lol.

 

[mourningdove~]

Sorry, I didn't know it would be this offensive, lol.

No, your response was just surprising to me.

I wasn't here when you became Catholic.
I don't know your journey, and especially not your journey thru Protestantism ...
which apparently you have made.

It does seem you periodically have your concerns about remaining Catholic.
I meant what I said, in my previous post.
The next time you share your concerns, I'll just try to remind you of how distasteful Protestantism is to you.
That reminder seemed to help you here, to feel more sure of your decision to become Catholic.
And when I jump into your threads, I only mean to be helpful.

 

[concretecamper]

OK?

Ugh. Catechsis is in order.

Jesus DOES NOT show up inside the bread. The bread becomes His Body and Blood. Words have meaning, when you say Show Up, you display a lack of understanding of what the Eucharist IS

 

[AlexB23]

Ugh

No idea what you are getting on about. You reply with such short sentences. God bless, and talk later.

 

[Lady Bug]

Ugh

Just say what the problem is, because I need to know too. LOL

 

[Lady Bug]

No, your response was just surprising to me.

I wasn't here when you became Catholic.
I don't know your journey, and especially not your journey thru Protestantism ...
which apparently you have made.

It does seem you periodically have your concerns about remaining Catholic.
I meant what I said, in my previous post.
The next time you share your concerns, I'll just try to remind you of how distasteful Protestantism is to you.
That reminder seemed to help you here, to feel more sure of your decision to become Catholic.
And when I jump into your threads, I only mean to be helpful.

I know, the thing is when someone says "Just read the Bible for yourself and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into what it means" and you got a multitude of denominations that claim that the HS guided them into what they believe, it makes you wonder what HS they're talking about. Not only that, Protestants like to claim that we should read it for ourselves and let the HS guide us but if this supposed HS guides us into believing the Catholic interpretation of a certain verse, Protestants suddenly get upset and say we're wrong. I'm like - HOW CAN YOU SAY IT'S WRONG when we're TAKING YOUR ADVICE? I CAN'T STAND IT!!

 

[mourningdove~]

I know, the thing is when someone says "Just read the Bible for yourself and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into what it means" and you got a multitude of denominations that claim that the HS guided them into what they believe, it makes you wonder what HS they're talking about. Not only that, Protestants like to claim that we should read it for ourselves and let the HS guide us but if this supposed HS guides us into believing the Catholic interpretation of a certain verse, Protestants suddenly get upset and say we're wrong. I'm like - HOW CAN YOU SAY IT'S WRONG when we're TAKING YOUR ADVICE? I CAN'T STAND IT!!

I do believe the Holy Spirit helps guide us thru this life ... but I get your concerns. I really do.

That is one of my big concerns about the synod meetings the Church has been holding. The emphasis in them has turned towards 'listening' to what the Holy Spirit is saying. And they appear to be making decisions based on what they are 'hearing'. It is possible they might 'hear' some things right, but I know from personal experience that we can get into real murky territory when we start making decisions solely based on what we believe we are 'hearing'. Takes alof of discernment, to get it right.

There is so much confusion today within the Body of Christ. I think a great deal of it is due to wrong 'hearing'.

 

[Lady Bug]

I've been convinced that the most effective method to stay Catholic is to be exposed every now and then to the doctrines you ran away from

 

[Michie]

Hi, I don't want to cause people to roll their eyes at me, although I can't prevent everything.

Have you ever questioned certain things that people believe in or do, but when you think of other denominations, you realize you have nowhere to go?

I trust what Jesus said about Peter (and the Apostles to a different extent) being able to bind and loose on earth. At times it's kind of hard to deal with things that not explicitly in the Bible (Marian dogmas) or things that people do that look like idolatry that actually isn't (people bowing before "what the statues represent" and not the statues themselves - I'm still kind of iffy about people doing this because even though the Catholic teachings don't promote bowing before the STATUE, it looks like they're doing that).

Yet I don't want to go anywhere else. Protestantism IS wrong and a great big tremendous thank you to St. Frances de Sales for him eloquently pointing out the flaws in Protestantism (in his book The Catholic Controversy). He has changed my life. Orthodoxy is romanticized a lot but their fasting rules are...well. And Catholicism is the only one that believes in purgatory, and I refuse to deny that. And I hate "faith alone, faith alone, faith alone."

I'm trying to stay encouraged. I may eventually shut this thread if it doesn't go well.

Lady Bug, I think all of us converts go through what you are going through right now. Catholicism can seem exhausting and very demanding to us as compared to what we are used to. I really feel like it’s part of the growing process. So do not feel alone!

 

[Lady Bug]

Lady Bug, I think all of us converts go through what you are going through right now. Catholicism can seem exhausting and very demanding to us as compared to what we are used to. I really feel like it’s part of the growing process. So do not feel alone!

I think that Catholicism isn't that hard much of the time, lol. However, Holy Week is such a challenge for me, mentally and physically, that I'm tempted to just go to Easter Vigil and skip the Holy Thursday and Good Friday. It's kind of sad though because the other two Masses are amazing.

I do find it kind of burdensome when a Holy Day of Obligation is not on the same day as a regular Sunday Mass. For example, this year's All Saints.

I do kind of wish I could eat meat on a Friday - outside of Lent we can but I can never think of a proper penance to satisfy. I could handle the meat thing if I didn't feel like I had to hide that aspect from my dad.

But I think that being Catholic isn't that bad if you are in an environment that is conducive to you living out the faith - and I'm not in one.

 

[Michie]

I think that Catholicism isn't that hard much of the time, lol. However, Holy Week is such a challenge for me, mentally and physically, that I'm tempted to just go to Easter Vigil and skip the Holy Thursday and Good Friday. It's kind of sad though because the other two Masses are amazing.

I do find it kind of burdensome when a Holy Day of Obligation is not on the same day as a regular Sunday Mass. For example, this year's All Saints.

I do kind of wish I could eat meat on a Friday - outside of Lent we can but I can never think of a proper penance to satisfy. I could handle the meat thing if I didn't feel like I had to hide that aspect from my dad.

But I think that being Catholic isn't that bad if you are in an environment that is conducive to you living out the faith - and I'm not in one.

Yes it is always easier with support.

 

[mourningdove~]

I do kind of wish I could eat meat on a Friday - outside of Lent we can but I can never think of a proper penance to satisfy. I could handle the meat thing if I didn't feel like I had to hide that aspect from my dad.

But I think that being Catholic isn't that bad if you are in an environment that is conducive to you living out the faith - and I'm not in one.

Can I get really Catholic on you?

If you haven't already done so, study up on 'redemptive suffering' ...

Please don't hit me, I'm not being unsympathetic, and I care ...
but there are ways of dealing with difficult things that can give meaning to them.

God bless you.

 

[fide]

Can I get really Catholic on you?

If you haven't already done so, study up on 'redemptive suffering' ...

Please don't hit me, I'm not being unsympathetic, and I care ...
but there are ways of dealing with difficult things that can give meaning to them.

God bless you.

This very gentle pointing as with a laser, lights up an issue that needs several overlapping spotlights on a huge missing link for many, many Christians in general today - at least maybe a thread or more of its own sometime - the place of Redemptive Suffering in the Gospel. I've read many attempts to minimize if not "interpret" the Pauline passage (for example) to make it cancelled or erased completely, among some Catholic as well as non-Catholic "interpreters":

Col 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
Col 1:25 of which I became a minister according to the divine office which was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,
Col 1:26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now made manifest to his saints.

 

[mourningdove~]

This very gentle pointing as with a laser, lights up an issue that needs several overlapping spotlights on a huge missing link for many, many Christians in general today - at least maybe a thread or more of its own sometime - the place of Redemptive Suffering in the Gospel. I've read many attempts to minimize if not "interpret" the Pauline passage (for example) to make it cancelled or erased completely, among some Catholic as well as non-Catholic "interpreters":

Me, too. And I don't think it's a very 'popular' teaching to offer for study, unless one's heart is predisposed to it, or one is very desperate. There was a time in my life when I was both, and it may have saved my life to find a purpose for my suffering. And that is why I mentioned it. Understanding redemptive suffering became a blessing to my life, in a time when I saw very little blessing in it.

All I felt I could do here was to drop a seed, and let the Holy Spirit plant it and give water to it, if it would be something helpful in this situation. I myself read many books on the subject, nearly every one I could get my hands on. And I listened to Mother Angelica (ewtn) speak about it. And the Holy Spirit taught. And I found hope and purpose again for my life.

... God is amazing like that.

 

[fide]

Just say what the problem is, because I need to know too. LOL

Here is a portion of the 1891 Baltimore Catechism #4 on Transubstantiation and the Eucharist:

*242 Q. What happened when Our Lord said, "This is My body, this is My blood"?
A. When Our Lord said, "This is My body," the substance of the bread was changed into the substance of His body. When He said, "This is My blood," the substance of the wine was changed into the substance of His blood.

"Substance" literally means that which stands underneath. Underneath what? Underneath the outward appearances or qualities--such as color, taste, figure, smell, etc.--that are perceptible to our senses.
Therefore we never see the substance of anything. Of this seat, for instance, I see the color, size, and shape; I feel the hardness, etc.; but I do not see the substance, namely, the wood of which it is made.
When the substance of anything is changed, the outward appearances change with it. But not so in the Holy Eucharist; for by a miracle the appearances of bread and wine remain the same after the substance has been changed as they were before. As the substance alone is changed in the Holy Eucharist, and as I cannot see the substance, I cannot see the change. I am absolutely certain, however, that the change takes place, because Our Lord said so; and I believe Him, because He could not deceive me. He is God, and God could not tell a lie, because He is infinite truth. This change is a great miracle, and that is the reason we cannot understand it, though we believe it.
Once at a marriage in Cana of Galilee (John 2) Our Lord changed water into wine. The people were poor, and Our Lord, His Blessed Mother, and the Apostles were present at the wedding when the wine ran short; and our Blessed Lady, always so kind to everyone, wishing to spare these poor people from being shamed before their friends, asked Our Lord to perform the miracle, and at her request He did so, and changed many vessels of water into the best of wine.
In that miracle Our Lord changed the substance of the water into the substance of the wine. Why, then, could He not change in the same way and by the same power the substance of bread and wine into the substance of His own body and blood? When He changed the water into wine, besides changing the substance, He changed everything else about it; so that it had no longer the appearance of water, but everyone could see that it was wine. But in changing the bread and wine into His body and blood He changes only the substance, and leaves everything else unchanged so that it still looks and tastes like bread and wine; even after the change has taken place and you could not tell by looking at it that it was changed. You know it only from your faith in the words of our divine Lord, when He tells you it is changed.

*243 Q. Is Jesus Christ whole and entire both under the form of bread and under the form of wine?
A. Jesus Christ is whole and entire both under the form of bread and under the form of wine.

*244 Q. Did anything remain of the bread and wine after their substance had been changed into the substance of the body and blood of Our Lord? A. After the substance of the bread and wine had been changed into the substance of the body and blood of Our Lord there remained only the appearances of bread and wine.

245 Q. What do you mean by the appearances of bread and wine?
A. By the appearances of bread and wine I mean the figure, the color, the taste, and whatever appears to the senses.

"Senses"--that is, eyes, ears, etc. Thus we have the sense of seeing, the sense of hearing, the sense of tasting, the sense of smelling, the sense of feeling. The Holy Eucharist is the body of Our Lord just as long as the appearances of bread and wine remain, and when they go away Our Lord's body goes also. For example, if a church, tabernacle and all, was buried by a great earthquake, and after many years the people succeeded in getting at the tabernacle and opening it, and then found in the ciborium--that is, the vessel in which the Blessed Sacrament is kept in the tabernacle--only black dust, Our Lord would not be there, although He was there when the church was buried. He would not be there, because there was no longer the appearance of bread there: it had all been changed into ashes by time, and Our Lord left it when the change took place. But if the appearance of bread had remained unchanged, He would be there even after so many years.

When we receive Holy Communion, the appearance of bread remains for about fifteen or twenty minutes after we receive, and then it changes or disappears. Therefore during these fifteen or twenty minutes that the appearance remains Our Lord Himself is really with us; and for that reason we should remain about twenty minutes after Mass on the day we receive, making a thanksgiving, speaking to Our Lord, and listening to Him speaking to our conscience. What disrespect some people show Our Lord by rushing out of the church immediately after Mass and Holy Communion, sometimes beginning to talk or look around before making any thanksgiving! When you receive Holy Communion, after returning to your seat you need not immediately begin to read your prayerbook, but may bow your head and speak to Our Lord while He is present with you. After the appearances of bread vanish, Our Lord's bodily presence goes also, but He remains with us by His grace as long as we do not fall into mortal sin.

 

[tampasteve]

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