Little update for everyone
Blessings to all and glory to God for all things!
First off, I would like to apologize for my absense lately. With finals week, trying to get down to Georgia to my parents new house, trying to get situated, and all the reflecting I have been doing, I've been pretty slow to get on here. But I'm here now!
To all my fellow Latin-Massers, I want you all to know that I have found an amazing community here in Atlanta (where my parents just moved) called St. Francis de Sales Traditional Latin Rite Church where EVERYTHING is done according to the liturgical books of 1962! First Mass I went to was Mass of the Nativity of Our Lord at Midnight and I think I'm on my sixth Mass in less than a week there!
I met some cool peeps and look forward to making friends with them especially during the summer months when I'll be back. I am so glad to have friends who are orthodox Catholics (because most of you know how I HATE modernism and like totally am up to here with the way the Second Vatican Council was interpreted and the craziness it has throw the Church into :( ) that I can actually have Catholic discussions with and not feel like the bad-guy for calling out heresy all the time! What a relief, the only problem is I have to go back to school eventually and at this point, I do not think I can go back to the parish I attend while at school because it's AWWWWFUUULLL!!!!
The music at this parish is really good and it really helps me to pray at Mass and reminds me that I am participating in something holy that leads to salvation, and not some social gathering, and it just hurts my heart how far "catholics" have fallen from real worship and the knowledge of God.
This church has statues, a high altar, side altars, INCENSE, candles, actual confessionals and not reconciliation rooms and priests that wear priestly garments, I think I've died and gone to Heaven!!!!!
Also, what beautiful homilies I've been experiencing here, especially the one on the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus where the priest explained to us how powerful the Sacred Name is and now we should always be making acts of reparation for the abuses and misuses of His Name.
Hopefully all of you will get to Mass for the wonderful Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord or His triple manifestation! Such a high holy day and try to go to Mass and fast even tho it's no longer a holy day of obligation in the US and I do not understand why because this feast is important, one of the most important of the year.
Love,
Christopher
Good questions! Great questions =)
[QUOTE=TNetz;430974011]Hi all. Great thread.
I don't mean to question your religion but I do have a few questions of my own. My apologies if they've already been answered. Im looking for answers or a place that I might find them.
There are a lot of things (possibly through my ignorance) that I don't understand/agree with about the Catholic religion. I'll list them below. Again, please don't take my remarks as judgmental. I will admit to being ignorant to some things.
What is the significance of the Pope? I understand his purpose but what does the Bible say about his significance? To me, he is praised as a God but he is only a man. All be it a great man.
It seems to me that Catholics are very materialistic. Asthetics, money, tangable symbolisms. Do you guys agree? Is there a reason for this?
Why is the church worshipped in a way that take presidence over worshipping God? It seems that way to the Layman. It seems the church is everything.
Why is Mary worshipped? I understand her significance but to me she was a mere mortal. During my Catholic wedding we were sent to pray to Mary. I did not understand this.
Are the holy ghost, Jesus, and God separate entities?
Why do I need a piece of paper to accept communion? No offense intended. That's how I see it.
Do Catholics believe in a mystic relationship with God through Christ?
It seems there is a lot of "politics" involved in the Catholic church. Appointments ect. It seems to me where there is power there is abuse. Am I wrong in thinking this?
Most of the churches I go to spend very little time reading scripture and more time with formalities. In other words, I never walk away having learned anything. My time is taken up with Communion followed by the offering. Rince and repeat. Are all Catholic churches this way?
I was baptised Catholic and shortly moved to Florida where I spent most of my time in Baptist churches. I've never recieved communion as you can probably tell. I also attended all masses in the Army (4 of them on Sundays, you can guess why :D) I always considered myself non-denominational protestant. Over all I feel like I had a stronger relationship with God when I was less intimidated by Catholic formalities. I have a Catholic wife that would love to see me convert. I just need to learn a little more first.
Thanks![/QUOTE]
Hello and welcome to our thread!
You asked lots of questions, and albethem great ones, in-depth answers to all of them would be a lot to read, so I'll try to hone in on some specifics for certains questions and observations you have :)
You asked: Why is the church worshipped in a way that take presidence over worshipping God? It seems that way to the Layman. It seems the church is everything.
Well, first of all, we want to remember the Supreme Model for everything in existence which is none other than the Great Holy Trinity and the relationships that each Person of the God-head has with each other, and therefore with humanity.
So, keeping that in mind, we cannot separate Almighty God from His Church.
The Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians 5:23 states
". . .as Christ is the head of the church. He is the saviour of his body."
And in his Epistle to the Romans 12:4, 5 he says
"For as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office: So we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."
Therefore, Christ is the Head of the Church (and all that pertains thereto (doctrine, Laws, Scripture, sacraments, the faithful (Church militant--Catholics on Earth, Church suffering--the holy souls suffering in Purgatory, Church triumphant--the Saints in Heaven), etc.).
So, whenever someone speaks of the Body of Christ, not only are they speaking of His Sacred Body given to us in the Blessed Sacrament, but also all faithful Christians, His adopted children.
We cannot separate Christ from His Church. His Truth subsists fully in the Catholic Church. When Catholics speak of Church, they aren't talking necessarily about a building or just an Earthly institution, but rather a Mystical Body which includes the supernatural (hence, the angels and stuff, grace, mercy, justice, all those things we cannot see or discern with human senses unless God wills).
The Church (that is the Catholic Church) is perpetually worshipping God (through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass) and perpetually praying to God (the Divine Office). Very beautiful thing to contemplate :).
You asked: Why is Mary worshipped? I understand her significance but to me she was a mere mortal. During my Catholic wedding we were sent to pray to Mary. I did not understand this.
Neither [faithfully practicing] Roman Catholics nor [faithfully practicing] Eastern Orthodox worship the Blessed Virgin Mary (or the Theotokos to the Eastern Orthodox). You will find that we rightfully venerate her as the highest of the saints and the greatest of all of God's creations. Through her comes to us all of the graces we receive from God the Son. She is the Mother of God. She is the great intercessor for the people of God. She is the perfect model of the Christian. She obeys God like no other mortal can. She praises and rejoices in the Lord like no other mortal knows how. She is full of grace!
Also, because she is the Mother of Jesus Christ, she knows her Son like no other creature. Christ, who is perfect, has the perfect relationship with His mother and will not disobey the Commandments of His Father (one of which is the honor thy father and thy mother). Christ is our Brother, so the Blessed Virgin is our mother as well. The perfect mother always has the best interest of her children at heart and prays constantly for our salvation through her Son.
If you want to take a more simplistic view of why Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox venerate Our Lady (although this hardly does justice to who she is), just like we are instructed to pray for each other, why wouldn't we ask her to pray for us?
Hope that helps somewhat, and if you would like answers to more of your questions, please just askt hem again!
Blessed Christmas season to you!
Christopher