romeorcanterbury Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 Hi Everyone, I'm writing because over the past few months I've begun to believe in the Real Presence. I'm an Episcopalian and I high church smells and bells one at that. Meaning my church uses incense and sung liturgy and venerates the Virgin and the Saints and has regular times for reconciliation but adheres to the Book of Common Prayer and is in the Anglican communion and so on. So now I'm faced with dealing with this. Transubtantiation sp? has been my only Catholic Church hurdle and now I've jumped it. My question is where do I go from here? I've gone to weekday mass at a local Roman Catholic church but am still regularly attending mass at my Episcopal church. I'm sort of afraid to say anything or do anything about it and I don't know really where to start. Not to mention my displeasure with a lot of things in the ECUSA right now. I guess really I'm scared because, like Cardinal Newman, I've always been a big believer in the Via Media and now I feel like an outcast from my church and not a part of the Catholic church and I don't know how to make that leap. Any input? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 Hello... well, why don't you talk to a nereby parish priest? He'd be delighted to talk to you... Or posibly the Director of Religious Ed. at the parish... (you are far from alone in your "jumping"... many of us have been there. Feel free to voice concerns and frustrations here...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellenita Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 romeorcanturbury - welcome! You are not alone in what you are experiencing! I certainly went through something very similar before I converted, although I started the journey from being a high anglican on the issue of apostolic succession! HSMom is right, speak to a priest. He won't put pressure on you - my priest was interested in what I was thinking and feeling, not in pressurising me to make a decision. Find out if the church has an RCIA class you can join. Again, there will be no pressure on you to convert... only you can make that decision! I also lurked at Phatmass for ages before I finally plucked up the courage to speak to a priest. There is a rich source of information about the Catholic faith here which I found really helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
journeyman Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 former Episcopalian also . . . low church, though . . . welcome to PhatMass Cardinal Newman was looking for a way to include the Anglican Church in the Catholic communion . . . if I remember what I've read, he thought the Anglican Church was separated from Rome in the same way that some of the Eastern Churches were . . . different rite, different history . . . but the same core beliefs . . . I think he ended up concluding that he couldn't find the historical evidence to sustain that hypothesis . . . I think he was one of the last great proponents for the Via Media, and since his time, the drift has increased Some of his other writings, outlining his contemplations upon leaving the Anglican Church, might be helpful to your journey as well. If I remember correctly, he wrote Apologia pro Vita Sua to explain . . . and then got into a "letters to the editor" debate that (may) shed additional light (the latter didn't help me that much when I read it) That can be found in libraries (and on the net within - among other places - Collected writings [url="http://www.newmanreader.org/works/index.html)"]http://www.newmanreader.org/works/index.html)[/url] (yes, it is in English!)(there is no requirement to learn Latin to join - although it may help if you already know it) There are other more modern writings out there . . . Rome, Sweet Home, Our Journey to Catholicism (Scott and Kimberly Hahn) has been recommended by others, even though I have not yet read it. PM has an extensive reference section [url="http://phorum.phatmass.com/index.php?showforum=21"]http://phorum.phatmass.com/index.php?showforum=21[/url] . . . which cover a multitude of topics The links on Anglicanism are found at [url="http://phorum.phatmass.com/index.php?showtopic=8772"]http://phorum.phatmass.com/index.php?showtopic=8772[/url] scroll down the page to Anglican Again, welcome. I'm not that far ahead of you time wise, but if any of us can help, just post (or pm - private message feature on the site) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theculturewarrior Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 I love the Anglican tradition and liturgy, what little of it I've been exposed to. The Book of Common Prayer was my introduction to the Divine Office, and the most beautiful liturgies I've attended have been Anglican Use or celebrated by Anglican Use priests. Here is an example of an Anglican Use parish (which I have been to, btw) where you can learn more about the Anglican Use, and Episcopal/Roman relations. [url="http://www.atonementonline.com"]http://www.atonementonline.com[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PedroX Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 My first liturgical worship experience was at St. Paul's in London. Strangely, that experience propelled my on a path to Catholicism. Please feel free to ask us any questions. We promise not to bite! Also, be prepared for a "liturgy shock", as we Catholics are still working our way back to beautiful liturgy. peace... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dUSt Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 The closest Catholic church I live to is actually an Anglican Use Catholic church, which is basically a Catholic church that use to be Anglican and converted. They were given special permission to retain some of their Anglican traditions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellenita Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 [quote]Also, be prepared for a "liturgy shock", as we Catholics are still working our way back to beautiful liturgy.[/quote] I was surprised at how 'low church' Catholic Mass seemed to be at first, having been used to 'smells and bells' and chanting the creed and the kyrie eleison, and having an altar rail, and being on my knees for part of the creed and the Hail Mary..... ...... Trouble is there's just no getting away from transubstantiation and apostolic succession! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theculturewarrior Posted May 9, 2005 Share Posted May 9, 2005 The Anglican Use is almost a different liturgy! There's even quiet hopes (usually prefaced by, "I know it will never happen") of a separate Sui Iuris Anglican Catholic Church in communion with Rome. Check this out... I've got a copy of the first printing. I like Morning and Evening Prayer even better than the BCP. [url="http://web.archive.org/web/20020607183301/www.bookofdivineworship.com/pdflinks.html"]http://web.archive.org/web/20020607183301/...m/pdflinks.html[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest goingcatholic Posted May 19, 2005 Share Posted May 19, 2005 RCIA is the way to go and it will help you decide if Catholicism is the way for you. I know it has done wonders for me and I absolutely love it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel9 Posted May 19, 2005 Share Posted May 19, 2005 I was a member of the Episcopal Church for several years. I enjoyed the experience, but eventually felt that something was missing. Eventually, I began to miss the fullness of spirituality that I could see in the Roman Catholic Church. I went to talk to a RC priest about how I was feeling. He gave NO pressure, just straight answers and comments. I finally decided that I was tired of "Brand X" and wanted the real thing...becoming a member of the Roman Catholic Church. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you make this decision. - Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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