I'm joining the Catholic Church next month. Advice/Books/Etc.?

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Hello fellow Freepers. I believe this is my first post on the Religion forum.

Over the past week or so, I put some thought into something I've been pondering for a while; my spiritual welfare. As it was, I had been part of the 'Sola Scriptua' school of thought (Evangelical Christian). By the Bible and only the Bible. Sounded good enough.

Well...what about before the Bible was put into word? It stuck in my head when reading an article earlier on FR concerning a deconstruction of Sola Scriptura and its inherent weaknesses as a foundation for one's faith.

This, combined with a genuine lack of churchgoing (as a family, we've been uncertain about going to various churches, given that top-down problems with Episcopal/Methodist/etc. churches and their increasing liberalization are a genuine problem for one's spiritual welfare), compelled me to make a decision.

I don't know if my family will follow me, persay, but I'm going to go ahead and take the plunge.

Next month, I'm going to the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle near my home, and I'm joining the Roman Catholic Church.

As is, I have a few volumes of the Magnificat pamphlet and the Catechism of the Catholic Church to read.

Any other pointers from other Catholic Freepers?

[GCC Catholic]

NOBODY becomes a priest to get rich, people DO become Evangelical ministers hoping to get rich.

It was made quite clear to us even from the first weeks of (minor) seminary that a seminarian is to prepare for a life of simplicity... not necessarily poverty, but certainly not lavish wealth.

As for me, it seems the greatest material wealth I'm amassing is in the form of books, mostly received secondhand... but now I'm going to start running into the problem of finding someplace to put them.

[divine_moment_of_facts]

I think your view of conscience is not "self-evident", and it is certainly not the view of the Catholic Church. I'd wager there are a number of Protestants who do not share your view.

I'm truly sorry to hear that. It's straightforward and logical to me.

I'm not exactly sure where to go with this.

Listen to your conscience and it will tell you, but not in words.

Maybe you could tell us more about your thoughts on the matter and how you came to, uh, form them?

I've always had these beliefs and always will.

[GCC Catholic]

A Mac(cabees) version will be out later this year ; )

What about for Linux?! Everyone knows that's the only truly Christian operating system!... freely received and freely given, available to all. Besides, it sounds more like a server program anyways.

That was hilarious, btw; thanks for posting it.

[GCC Catholic]

Congratulations and welcome!

In addition to the other excellent resources mentioned, my suggestions would be Archbishop Sheen's 50-part audio catechism (it's available for free from EWTN's archive and a couple places offer CDs of it now) and Latin Mass Magazine (some solidly Catholic articles, even if you don't intend to attend the TLM).

[TASMANIANRED]

Blessings and joy to you as well.

[TASMANIANRED]

You made celestial choirs sing with joy.

[wagglebee]

I have known several priests who walked away from very lucrative careers to enter the priesthood. It is certainly not the life for most people, but to insinuate that those who do pursue this are somehow in it for money is absurd.

Nothing wrong with having a lot of books, I don’t know how people function WITHOUT a huge stack of read, unread and semi-red books by their bedsides.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

DR.E: Do you kneel before Mary?

ANT: Yep. And before the Eucharist. The bishop. The saints.

Thanks for the info. Judith Anne appeared to be angered that anyone would admit that fact since when asked the same question she repeatedly responded, "I only bow to Christ."

You can see where the confusion sets in, no doubt.

[trisham]

Welcome, friend. :)

I visit here often:

http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm

[dan1123]

We have to make some distinctions or we can't get anywhere.

Distinctions in what? Human method and ritual? The Catholic church did a good job of formalizing the Christian faith and it was especially necessary for their initial audience that was largely illiterate and needed lots of help to walk in their Christian lives. I believe the structures and traditions of the Catholic church to be useful if done carefully, but not essentially necessary. I don't think preferring the Catholic or many Protestant branches of Christianity makes one a better or worse Christian, or smarter or dumber.

Right now it looks like you can say we're mistaken on certain points of doctrine and that's NOT rejection, but when we say you are that IS rejection.

I don't think Catholicism itself is mistaken on any essential doctrine. What I object to is the idea that the Catholic church is the "one true" church and all other Christians are at best the dregs of the believers, if they end up in heaven at all.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Sorry if you’ve already told us this on the thread, but since your second post was a “Catholic ping,” and you said you were previously “part of the ‘Sola Scriptua’ school of thought (Evangelical Christian),” would you tell us what evangelical church you last attended and belonged to as a member and when that was?

[netmilsmom]

>>I missed that thread.<<

I can link to both if you like. One Protestant Lady came in and said that she was thrilled because she thought Catholics hated Protestants.

We are all Christians, we are all Brothers and Sisters in Christ. I don’t feel comfortable tell you how you should worship and I can’t read your heart nor Our Lord’s mind.

I only know what is right for me.

God Bless!

[netmilsmom]

>>I missed that thread.<<

I can link to both if you like. One Protestant Lady came in and said that she was thrilled because she thought Catholics hated Protestants.

We are all Christians, we are all Brothers and Sisters in Christ. I don’t feel comfortable telling you how you should worship. I can’t read your heart nor Our Lord’s mind.

I only know what is right for me.

God Bless!

[netmilsmom]

Yikes! Double post!

[maryz]

You have a point. I think, broadly speaking, there are two ways of looking at those who disagree with you: one (which I think was far more common in centuries past) is that they know you're right, but, stubborn reprobates that they are, refuse to admit it (so, obviously, they should be executed)! The other, more common today, is that the others hold their views sincerely and genuinely believe they're right and they have a right to think as they do (so, obviously, a 9-year-old can demand to be "transgendered" and not be ostracized for it).

But most everybody's conscience develops (for better or for worse) as they get older, most dramatically, I guess, in the case of a St. Paul type conversion (or any conversion). I think Lucile Hasley said a good way to drive yourself nuts is to judge your years-earlier actions by your converted conscience!

Constant vigilance is the price of more than liberty.

[TASMANIANRED]

Blessings.

[netmilsmom]

>>What I object to is the idea that the Catholic church is the “one true” church and all other Christians are at best the dregs of the believers, if they end up in heaven at all. <<

I think that my church is the best as I think my country is the best.
There are other good ones but I think they are flawed in some way or another. That doesn’t mean they are bad, just not as good as mine. If I thought they were, I would take an easier route.

When my hubby was joining the RCC I told him that it wouldn’t be easy and because of the kids if he wasn’t going to be dedicated, to stay where he was. We as Catholics believe that anyone who walks with Christ can make it to heaven.

And let me tell you, my FRiend, if I didn’t believe we were the best, I would be elsewhere. It’s tough to find a church in the wilderness when camping. It takes tons of effort!

[Judith Anne]

Thanks for the info. Judith Anne appeared to be angered that anyone would admit that fact since when asked the same question she repeatedly responded, "I only bow to Christ."

Reading other posters' minds is against the rules. Some require to be repeatedly reminded, it seems.

There are some non-Catholics who do not share any personal religious information. I do not respond to any questions from those posters.

[dan1123]

IOW, we are CATHOLIC, we believe what the CATHOLIC church teaches, if we thought that the Methodists, or the Presbyterians or the Lutherans had the whole of the truth we’d be them. We don’t believe they do and so we are CATHOLIC.

But there are some beliefs that Catholics, Lutherans, and Methodists share, right? Do you believe the beliefs that Catholics share with Protestant denominations are more important than with the ones shared with Buddhist, or Muslim branches?

I make no apologies, if anyone wants to play the victim that is their prerogative, but I will not cower in my conviction.

Please don't cower, society is crumbling--especially in Europe--because of cowering Catholics. This isn't a Catholic Caucus thread though, so don't be surprised when someone leaves one large highly represented group for another that there are people who object to jubilation over winning over a "convert" who was already Christian.

[Judith Anne]

Sorry if you’ve already told us this on the thread, but since your second post was a “Catholic ping,” and you said you were previously “part of the ‘Sola Scriptua’ school of thought (Evangelical Christian),” would you tell us what evangelical church you last attended and belonged to as a member and when that was?

So far, NO protestant here has defined his/her denomination, so we can all examine their beliefs in the light of our own. Why anyone would respond to a questionnaire, especially when the protestant cohort is also summoned to the questionnaire, is beyond me.