Posted on 01/01/2005 3:35:56 PM PST by Rodney King
With good reason, and I say that as a Catholic.
It was a Pentacostal, who once told me long ago, to beware of "man made" things, and to keep your faith in God.
Your journey in faith will take some time, and it will continue to grow. From what I'm reading, you're on your way. Just let the Holy Ghost lead you by the hand, and never let go. You'll be fine.
I think she was talking to me about the way I was trying to illustrate my answer to you.
I hope you didn't take offense anyway.
None was meant.
=== I have since moved to Oklahoma
You're closer to God already, guy!
As a former Okie, I can attest to the fact that anti-Catholic bigotry's pretty standard stuff ... particularly outside Tulsa and OKC.
If you wish to FReepmail me, I'd give you my personal recommendations on some good priests and parishes. If you're in Tulsa, there's even a regular Sunday Latin Mass (over on the northside) where I ran into one of my former Bishop Kelley classmates and his young daughter. Very heartening. Made me wish for a moment I'd stayed back home.
I'll look them up, thanks.
Thanks, I guess I am trying to figure out if the RC church is an intermediary, or a helping hand.
I understand your question, and I'm not a control freak. It's hard to explain.. but I know I need God's help, yet I refuse to ask for it, and I spend days lost, stressed, etc. And sure enough, when I ask for God's help, my problems are resolved.
Thanks for your suggestions, God Bless You, too.
I think it's most unfortunate the Moderators here have seen fit to use an image of some "conservo-babe" with her pants hanging Britney Spears style such that it reappears on your post.
Typical "mixed message" one can expect from a GOP site, I guess.
Anyway ... about EWTN.
I'm sure others have filled you in on Mother Angelica and trads may even have warned you away from some of the questionable content. But though I've always been impressed for the most part by the programming -- Raymond Arroyo is a fellow parishioner here at St. Patrick's in New Orleans -- I was most impressed when I visited the monastery Mother Angelica built in Hanceville.
Stopping en route home from Maryland, I spent an afternoon there in adoration. I'd hoped to make it in time for Mass but it's a little difficult to find and I was in time only to meet some of those families who clearly make their Sunday obligation at the monastery.
Amazing place, Rodney. Now that I'm on their mailing list, it's really a treat to witness how joyful are the lives of those young women who've joined the convent or entered the cloister. Beautiful women whose faces are full of life and light. (As reflected, I'm sure, on the face of any human being who spends that much time before the Real Presence.)
And it's heartening to see how happy Mother Angelica looks. For one so close to death and regardless what limitations she may now have, it's neat to keep tabs on how busy and happy her life still is.
Thanks!
something I would like to experience, but I need to bone up on my Latin.
Excuse me, while I revert to form for a moment. When guys that I trained used to tell me that they knew they were screwing up, knew how to fix it, but could not manage to do so, my last question to them before I washed them out was:
Are you sure that you are not just a dummy?
No offense meant, but you get my point, right? This is a DECISION. Choose right.
If you don't mind one other strictly personal observation ...
This year, largely thanks to a marathon phone conversation with a Jewish friend of my in Manhattan that took me through New Year's on the East Coast and here in Central Time ... I'm giving a lot of thought to the difference between capitulation and true surrender.
For the past five years or so, the Catholic FReepers really helped whip me into shape. I was a "They Will Know we are Christians By Our Love" sorta hoe-down Vatican II Catholic who knew nothing about my faith, really. Our Confirmation classes dwelt on sex and poverty. We painted houses for several weekends but spent only about 20 minutes on the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
(The radical revolution within the Church makes that outside the Church look like child's play ... truly. Keep this in mind as you adventure further.)
Anyway ... so it was with much emotion that the true extent of the inheritance withheld from me all my life (save for the osmosis of my trad family) hit me. Between folks here and my beloved late Monsignor, my erudite and traditional grandparents ... I was thoroughly engulfed.
But I think I mistook some of that initial excitement and wonder and awe for true surrender when it was only mental capitulation. (Exciting enough ... especially for those of us who tend to live in our heads as a rule ... )
BUT ... there must be a balance here for although Christ is the most tremendous lover of all, the relationship cannot be strictly that emotive charismatic sort of "high" just as it tends to grow rigid when approached in an exclusively analytical fashion.
I think, should you decide to actually investigate the Church and perhaps one day join us, you will find that balance in the Eucharist.
This is the Year of the Eucharist. In a way, I find it most appropriate I should have awoken this morning still wondering how, exactly, I shall fully Surrender, instead of merely Capitulating, to Christ.
We shall see.
Take care, Rodney.
There are Latin-English missals available, that make it really easy to follow.
I didn't have a clue about Latin 7-8 months ago. After regularly attending the Traditional (Tridentine) Latin Mass over the last 7 months, I can usually follow along pretty easily.
BTW, it is here that you actually praying the mass. The entire mass is a prayer, and total devotion to God. My own faith has grown exponentially by participating in it, because it is nourished by God alone, not by man made improptu's during some Novus Ordo masses (or other services) you might come across in some parishes.
I find myself falling in love with Chirst over and over again each week. I wish for you the same!
It couldn't hurt to spend a little time in synagogue. Good training.
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