Becoming Catholic

[Brother Adam]

It's funny.

I love mass.

I love learning about the lives of the Saints and listening to their writings.

I love confession.

I love the Scriptures.

I love Tradition.

I love so much about Catholicism.

For all these reasons I'm becoming Catholic and so much more.

It's the "politicin' " that always bothers me. The tension between the RCIA director and me. The ways Catholics argue about Vatican II, PJII, liturgical abuses, SSPX, and so on. I wish the Church would be cleansed of all this and our focus be on communion with our Lord Jesus, our Blessed Virgin Mother, and the whole family of God. That we would always be excited about getting to mass and that it would be the highlight of our day and week.

[Sojourner]

Bro. Adam,
I understand what you're saying, and you're right ... the strife isn't pretty. I occasionally have frustrations with people in my parish who disagree on pretty important things, or I have personal conflicts with folks.

I wonder, though, if looking at it a slightly different way could help you. I was Baptist for a couple of years ... or at least I attended a Baptist church. On the cornerstone of the building was engraved, "Union Separate Baptist Church."

Now, aside from the obvious irony of being a "union separate" church, this meant that this was a church that aligned itself with the Union, rather than the Confederacy, and so had split along political lines, and it was separate -- isolated from governance by any other church. In other words, no other church could tell this congregation what they should do.

This is just an example of one Protestant church that split itself off to be a body unto itself. At the root of this, of course, is unresolved strife -- differences of opinion or personal conflicts so big the people involved decided they simply couldn't worship God together. This is the root of every single Protestant church -- if you can't get along and agree, quit worshipping together. Sometimes it's theological issues, sometimes it's about music, sometimes it's personal disagreements. Whatever the reason, it's unresolved conflicts.

By contrast, it is a beautiful thing that we don't let these conflicts keep us from worshipping together. You and I can disagree about a lot of things, but at the end of the day, we can stand beside one another and recite the Creed, and we can walk together to receive the Eucharist, reminding us that we are all part of one Body.

Conflict is going to happen wherever you are, but this is the only place you'll find true Communion with the Body of Christ.

[homeschoolmom]

well said, Sojourner...

And Bro. Adam, I know exactly how you feel... It seems so petty to argue about these things (especially stupid things like the legitimacy of the current pope)... when you just want remind everyone of the wonderful blessing we have... That's what heaven is all about... we, unfortunately are still in a fallen world...

<sigh>

[Crusader_4]

I remember sitting in RCIA and two people broke out in an argument about how the lay people shoud minister in the Church (nothing really theolgoical) just the best way to approach it. I sat there thinking "wow Catholics actaully can debate with each other...we are not robots!" I dunno to me it was promising seeing Catholics debate about issues especially the way to go about CERTAIN things but i see what you mean when catholics begin to argue about SSPX and JPII and all of that its often more harmful then good. But i think Sojourner says it best that itsamazing we can disagree openly about CERTAIN issues yet remain together.

[Mickey's_Girl]

Well, and I think that from a convert's perspective, we're all excited about the discovery and the general amazingness of Catholicism. Whereas non-converts maybe take some of that stuff for granted (or haven't "discovered" it recently, or haven't been "feeling it", or probably some weren't ever decently catechized, even) and so they focus on other stuff.

It's easy to lose focus of the main point when it's become second nature to you.

I just keep telling myself, "People are human, wherever you go, and I'm doing what God wants me to do."

Hang in there!

MG

[cmotherofpirl]

The problem is for a lot of people it never became seecond nature.

[littleflower+JMJ]

i thnik it just shows how much we need Our Holy Father and Holy Mother Church and how wonderful it is to be truly guided by the Holy Spirit

[Mickey's_Girl]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='Jul 31 2004, 03:08 PM'] The problem is for a lot of people it never became seecond nature. [/quote]
Yeah, that too.

MG

[MichaelFilo]

Crusader_4 has a point, it'd be weird to be just robots. Would I mind being a robot? No. Would it lead to scandel and abuse? it has. So disagreements on these things can keep Catholics alert. It's also good to remember, when those things are being argued, at least these people are semi-informed about their faith, even if incorrectly.

God bless,

Mikey

[J.R.D]

i dnt know what to say lol