[230FMJ]

I agree that there are and have been many more negative forces at work in the Catholic church over the past 40 years, as there have been in every aspect of American society. That being said, I think that ritual and familiarity were important parts of what I experienced in the church. I was also caused to learn the meaning of the Latin which made up the Mass, my part as well as what the priest was saying.

I didn’t expect God to be impressed by what I said, but I felt that I was offering Him my best efforts.

[FlyVet]

I've kinda fallen away from the idea that God is impressed by any of our efforts. The only thing we have is grace. Forgiveness. We all fall far too short of perfection, no matter how "good" we are. St. Paul told us the world would be convicted of sin because of: Not being good? Nope. Not being a member of a certain church? Nope. Because of unbelief.

King David "Believed God,and it was accounted to him for righteousness", even though he was a dirtbag who sent his officer to the front lines to be killed, so that he could steal and boink his wife.