Should I Stay In RCIA?

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

Many of you are saying that I should stay so that I can 'benefit' others through my knowledge. The only faulty logic in that is the fact that when I tried that, I was told to only answer from the material in front of me.

For example, a question asked went something like this:

If a boy spends five hours playing baseball, but only five minutes praying, is he on the quick road to heaven?


Well...everyone said, 'Yes, he is!', while I said, 'Not necessarily. We're told in the Bible that we are to pray without ceasing, and if this boy is spending five hour playing baseball, and only five minutes praying, then the baseball has taken the priority in his life, and that can be a very dangerous thing.'

The teacher then told me, 'Could you just answer from the text, [b]please[/b]?'


Now...if I can only answer from the text, which according to the text, as he's knowing, loving, and serving God, he's fine, then how can I get to the deeper rooted issues with that question? And if I can't do that, then who's benefiting from my knowledge?

[homeschoolmom]

Well, I don't know what your priest has told you regarding staying in RCIA, but you can practice such things as obedience, patience, discipline and long-suffering...

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

Ya'll aren't giving me the answers I wanna hear!

[St. Catherine]

Stay in and answer from just more than the text. People want/need to know more than what is laid out in front of them. If it is like most RCIA text the text is rather simple and does not go into any details. Details matter when it comes to knowing your faith. If sticking to the text in my RCIA class was done the class would have lasted like 5 minutes each session. We were always going off on tangents and it was good and I think people appreciated the further knowledge/understanding that they gained.

Maybe you could make a suggestion to the teacher about your thoughts on how RCIA should be taken on.

Then again maybe you intimidate the teacher with your knowledge.

Do you teach to the lowest level or do you set the standard higher?

[Mrs. Bro. Adam]

Again, I tried, but I was told to only answer from the text.

[theculturewarrior]

Perhaps this isn't the answer you want to hear, but you and your husband should do what's necessary to become Catholic, either at that parish, or another, either sooner (prefered) or as soon as you can find a parish that's going to meet your needs.

The Catholic Church is without blemish, as I've learned on this board. However, inidividual priests, certainly religious education directors, and especially individual bishops are fallible human beings and often show their fallibility most painfully in their administration of the sacraments. By that, I mean, by setting the standards for whose prepared for the sacraments of initiation, or by choosing who presents the gifts to the altar, or in the case of priests, even by (this one particularly burns me up) improvising the prayers of the Mass.

Initiation into the Church, even if you are already somewhat but not fully initiated (my theology here is a bit weak, so don't flog me), was once upon a time between the priest and the catecumen. Somehow we ended up with a lay bureaucracy standing between us and the sacraments. My advice is to play their game. Examine your conscience for any pride that may stand between you and them. smell of elderberries it up, stick it out, and get your sacraments.

When you taste the Holiest of Holies, you will understand, and once you do that, they can't touch you. (You can even vociferate angrily at the treatment of catecumens.)

Not sure if I got all the right terminology but I hope this post makes sense.

God bless you, Mrs. Bro.

[Sojourner]

[quote name='theculturewarrior' date='Jul 24 2004, 09:17 AM'] Initiation into the Church, even if you are already somewhat but not fully initiated (my theology here is a bit weak, so don't flog me), was once upon a time between the priest and the catecumen. Somehow we ended up with a lay bureaucracy standing between us and the sacraments. My advice is to play their game. Examine your conscience for any pride that may stand between you and them. smell of elderberries it up, stick it out, and get your sacraments.

When you taste the Holiest of Holies, you will understand, and once you do that, they can't touch you. (You can even vociferate angrily at the treatment of catecumens.) [/quote]
I think this is great advice. If you get bogged down in the momentary difficulties you're facing, and lose sight of the ultimate prize, you can quickly end up in despair.

This really helped me when I was feeling down ... I kept looking forward to being able to partake in the Eucharist. Toward the end, it seemed like they kept adding on a bunch of stuff, and I kind've developed this attitude of, "Bring it on -- I know what I want, and I'll do what I need to do to get it." Maybe it would help to not get lost in the process, but think of it as working toward the end goal.

Then, after you're done, GET INVOLVED in working with RCIA in your church. I'm doing it this year, and I really hope I'm able to make the experience better for other people than it was for me.

[Paladin D]

I'm worried.....

I haven't gone to RCIA (even though being baptized in the Church). Yet I've gone to Confession and Communion.

[Brother Adam]

I'm worried too Paladin. These answers are deeply flawed and a major part of the reason why I'm headed to Franciscan. To tell a person to sit through something that they should nto be sitting through because it is part of "submission" is a load of bunk. That is not submission.

I shall ask: Consider St. John of the Cross! He was under authority that told him deep devotion to God was not the way to go. That constant prayer and long-suffering made him an outsider and a rebel in the Carmalite order! Had he and St. Terese submitted to authority they would have shown humility to curropt authority and disrespect to God.

Humility and submission to authority only goes so far. I know your strong desire to become Catholic and your strong desire to follow the Lord in the right path. Mindless drones we shall not become, but in prayer and fasting, humble children of our wonderful Lord.

You and I both know that no one in the class is getting much of anything out of it. And their desire to refuse to allow anyone to ask "deeper questions" or seek a deeper truth beyond "Does God have eyes" or "Are there more than one demon".

There are those that tell you your concerns are pride and it is sinful, but that is not so. If you desire the greater good, the truth, and long after God in what you do, but do not do it for your own selfish gain, it is not pride.

Submit to true authority when it speaks the truth. Pray otherwise.

[theculturewarrior]

Maybe you should just find another parish.

[Theoketos]

At the very least you may [b]gain humility[/b]. At the best you might, just maybe learn something new.

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='theculturewarrior' date='Jul 24 2004, 11:21 AM'] Maybe you should just find another parish. [/quote]
Not necessary. Reform needs to start somewhere.

[theculturewarrior]

<--- because you remind me of myself and every other convert/revert.

[Mateo el Feo]

[quote name='Mrs. Bro. Adam' date='Jul 24 2004, 10:14 AM'] Again, I tried, but I was told to only answer from the text. [/quote]
If he tells you that, show him the Holy Bible and ask him, "Do you mean this text?"

[theculturewarrior]

I've thought a little about it, Bro., and I think your enthusiasm is to be applauded. I hope you do manage to bring reform. Much of the problems with the church in America come from people who have already brought reform. There is a certain breed of reformer that seeks to remake the Church in his own image, but I am confident of better things from you. Nevertheless, I would warn you that reform starts with the interior life. I seek most of all to reform myself, and that is work enough for me. I applaud your courage. But I know you have a long difficult road ahead.

I'll keep you in my prayers.