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If you had to speak to a non catholic about your faith; what will you say that defines you as a 100%catholic/ not a water down catholic.
Wow, what a great question! (and welcome to the site)
” title=”Smile” />My answer would be that we have the Eucharist. We have Jesus’ body, soul and divinity present before our very eyes and we can consume him everyday of the week.
That’s my answer in a nutshell.
What’s yours?
Great answer Jon and I agree with you that is one of the many things that make us Catholic.
But what makes me 100% Catholic, hmmm, well I’d have to quote Romans (from Paul’s Letters):
“16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.””
The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1996, c1989 (electronic ed.) (Ro 1:16). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.I think that truly sums it up for me. Staying in the Gospel, faith in God the father, Jesus the son, and the Holy Spirit, helps us to be righteous and therefore we can live by faith and God’s will.
This in combination with the Eucharist I think is what makes Catholics more in the fullness of Christ. Now that I have said that, I do not mean that non-Catholics are damned or otherwise. Simply we have fullness in Christ, thru Christ, and with Christ that many do not understand and misunderstand.
Fred,
Fred, I think you did a better job of answering the question than I did. I misread it think that srobert was asking what defines me as a Catholic from non-Catholics.
I like your answer though – not being ashamed of the gospel.
Reflecting on that I think many times how I might be afraid to speak up when I hear someone take the Lord’s name in vain or the little bit of embarrassment of praying in a restaurant or admitting when I am wrong (humilty is sometimes hard for me).
As a Catholic I shouldn’t be afraid of these things, but I just need to lay down my worries for God and push on.
I [b:2figt59p]know[/b:2figt59p] that I am accountable to God for all the things I do and sometimes it is tough to always do the right thing, to do what’s right according to God.
I just need to keep praying and let the Holy Spirit convert me each day and let my heart be open to God.
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Peace be with you Jon,
So true and I believe your right, praying for guidance from the Holy Spirit is the key to making it through life!
Fred,
I appreciate both answers Fred’s and Jon and do agree with them .
I am looking forward to see other member’s comments .
I am a Catholic convert(32 years) and before Episcopalian , I have dedicated many years( 10-15 years) reading and studying apolegetics, history, Traditions ,traditions and I have gained a good sense of what it means to be a REAL Catholic. I have been in many stages and places ; Puerto Rico and Latin America where the charistmatic movement influenced my way of worshiping to the south of the U.S. , where I was member of a church where Latin Mass was a part of regular program.
I come to this forum to hear from other Catholics because I find myself evaluating the influenced and example I have been to others.In the last year , two of my young adults children move to Non- Denominotal churches , their reason being that they needed to feel more challenge spritually and that the botton line being ” we all believe in the same God”. They feel I should be proud that they follow my example.
Just recently in my church i was given the task to prepare a youth activity in being , “100 % Catholic”.thanks,
srobertI come to this forum to hear from other Catholics.
Peace be with you srobert,
What an awesome task you have taken on. My respect and regards to you on this. Many prayers are coming your way to help you in this! If I can be of some help, please ask be glad to do what I can.
I know many “fallen” Catholics and non-denominational folks. My sister, her husband, and their children went to one in Florida for a time. They attained regularly and did what they could in the Church. At the time they had filed bankruptcy and had little of anything.
The “Elders” of the Church came to them and said if they could not tithe more often and more then they had to ask them to leave the Church. Now that’s not too Christian to me.
I have heard similar stories from others as well. But most returning Catholics I know that attended a non-denominational Church said they left because they didn’t want to be confined (told what to do) by the Catechism and the Canon. No did they think they needed a formal worship service such as Mass. They wanted to worship their own way.
Not all return to the Church, but after a time those that did return felt something was missing. When I ask them what that was they say God was missing from their worship and from their lives. So I think it’s a grass is always greener thing.
Give it time and continue to set the example and I believe they will return to the Church. Never lose touch or faith!
Fred,
[quote:18r2abky]I know many “fallen” Catholics and non-denominational folks. My sister, her husband, and their children went to one in Florida for a time. They attained regularly and did what they could in the Church. At the time they had filed bankruptcy and had little of anything.
The “Elders” of the Church came to them and said if they could not tithe more often and more then they had to ask them to leave the Church. Now that’s not too Christian to me.[/quote:18r2abky]
I’m generally cautious in using these types of examples as to how non-Catholic churches operate because there are many former and anti-Catholics that have plenty of stories about times they were hurt by people in the Catholic Church (misleading people to believe that our whole religion is corrupt).Just throwing that out there as a caution.
” title=”Smile” />[quote:18r2abky]I have heard similar stories from others as well. But most returning Catholics I know that attended a non-denominational Church said they left because they didn’t want to be confined (told what to do) by the Catechism and the Canon.[/quote:18r2abky]
Which I find hilarious considering at their new church they are following the current pastor’s confined interpretation of the Bible.
[quote:1w8r3nl6]I’m generally cautious in using these types of examples as to how non-Catholic churches operate because there are many former and anti-Catholics that have plenty of stories about times they were hurt by people in the Catholic Church (misleading people to believe that our whole religion is corrupt). [/quote:1w8r3nl6]
Peace be with you,
I agree. As a general rule I don’t either, but since I know the resource, my sister, I was confident the story was accurate and reliable. Know if this makes anyone uncomfortable and/or offended I apologize, I was just relating a true story that was close to me.
[quote:1w8r3nl6]Which I find hilarious considering at their new church they are following the current pastor’s confined interpretation of the Bible.[/quote:1w8r3nl6]
So true! And that is why a Catechism and a Canon are important. More importantly, why the Catholic faith, only one that can trace its history to the Way and Christ, is the Way!
Fred,
I am so excited that we have a desire to continue the topic ; what defines me as 100 % Catholic . I pary that more people will share how they live as a Catholic.
As we share our feelings, frustations, observations and experiences I find myself looking for simple ways to live my Catholic faith that will speak clearly of WHO I BELIEVE IN and how the Catholic faith has taken me there.
This week was a true gift from God in regards with this challenge, I spend some days in St. Louis visiting my 25 year old twins and the topic came of following our Catholic faith with “all the disappointments and faults” (that is their opinion not mine). My son who has been visiting a non denominational for a year now shared that just recently he had to talk to the pastor after he mention the Catholics in not a positive way in his Sunday service. My son made the point that he did not appreciated and made it clear that the way he found a relationship with Jesus was because of the Catholic church.
Then he turn to us ( his dad too) and told us that he has not found in another church the things that our church practices that help him be in touch with God: solemnity of the mass, the communion with Jesus in the eucharist, the prayers that remind him that he is in one accord with all our Catholic brothers around the world.His twin sister that has stay in the Catholic church join the discussion and shared that staying in the curch has been difficult for her. She recently join a Bible study with some friends and is interdenominational due to the fact that there is nothing available in our church in her area.
I am in awe in the ways that the Lord is speaking to me and this Sunday I share with 50 plus teens how we are the same church Jesus established 2000 years ago. 1 Tim 3:15 “pilar and foundation of truth”
We are ONE< HOLY CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC church and that is the foundation of our faith .
One: Jn 10:16, Ephe 43-6, 1 Cor 12:13………..more if neede
Holy: Jesus is holy and gives us the Holy Spirit to keep his church holy, even if as individuals we are not perfect.
Apostolic:JOHn 10:16,15:16,20:21,21:17 ; Lk22:29-32
Catholic: universal , that has been united in the same teachings since Jesus time and still the same.bless you all , I pray this challenge (100% Catholic) takes to search your heart and your faith and go and be a light to all our non Catholic brothers.
srobert
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