This Catholic Journey Forum

being saved

wonder4u — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:56:12 GMT

i was wondering why persons who ciaim they are saved, by just accepting Christ into their hearts, say they remember the place, day, moment, and seem to have an unforgetable experience, and catholics never have this. why are they so positive about this. i accept Christ as they do, and never experience this. thank you for any input.

wonder4u

Question

ApostleBJP — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:50:44 GMT

" As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi. You have only one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth father, for you have one Father in heaven. Do not be called 'Master'; you have one Master, the Christ."

Matthew ch 23 (reading from Saturday)

OK, so why do we call priest Father and Superior Nuns Mothers? It seems to me, that there is no justification for this is the Bible for the Catholic Church. Do not get me wrong, I still think that the Catholic Church uis the stronger ...

misunderstandings of our faith

wonder4u — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:39:06 GMT

i am convinced it is difficult to be catholic. God gave us quite a challenge to remain faithful. i am bound to do so though. i recently e-mailed a minister who has a tv program called Quick Study, a program i watch with my friend. i asked why i hear underlying negative implications about the catholic church. he responded back that the bible states Jesus is who we worship and Mary has no part in it and Jesus is the head of the church and not the pope. he had scripture verses for reference. ...

Purgatory and Prayer

AngelRock — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:40:21 GMT

Dear Group,

I wana play devils advocate in away, so bear with me in this question. I was always taught that when a person is dead that we should let them rest so to speak. I have also been taught that when a person communicates with the dead that they are doing so because they have supernatural powers-that they have the powers of mediums- those that can communicate with the dead.

OK, so given that fact, then we as Catholics have simular powers because we ask the angels , saints, brothers ...

Hi all

AngelRock — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:55:11 GMT

Dear Group,

I just wanted you all to know that I have started a new blog called Benedict's Paper. It is about what I am reading and thinking about as I travel in my journey in the Catholic Church. There is also areas on my blog where you can comment. In fact, I encourage your comments because that tells me that I have readers and it also gives me aditiobnal things to write about. I encourage you all to check it out!

hey ..good to find this board

jpmagnum@gmail.com — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:20:40 GMT

I typed in Catholic and your forum came up.I thought we were the only Catholics out here.

We are a group of ppl that have been together for 3 plus years.We started at ezboard,moved to runboard and now we have a forum here(and the board at runboard is still open).We're newbies here.

I am inviting everyone from our forum to stop over and join your forum.

Some of the folks have busy schedules but i'm sure they'll come the min they get a chance.

Be sure and stop by and see us.

I'll be ...

Christ's sacrifice on the cross

wonder4u — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 13:26:04 GMT

i recently had a friend ask me if Jesus dying on the cross once, was not good enough for me, we as catholics have crucifixes and at every mass reinact his death. i was not quite sure how to respond to this. please . some enlightenment on what i should have said. thank u wonder4u

Animals in Heaven

CFaith — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:20:56 GMT

I was just wondering what you people think about animals in heaven. When I was very young, I remember telling my mom that I loved our dog. She told me that I could not "love" the dog because dogs do not have a soul and they won't go to heaven. I was devastated. For me, her opinion about loving animals is completely wrong. I know I love my dog, and many other animals that have been in my life. But as far as animals being in heaven, I hope she was wrong about that too. Scripture, ...

I need some help

AngelRock — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:00:03 GMT

Dear Group,

In a previous letter, I had reported that I had learned that in the Catholic Church one does not get saved in the Protestant way of thinking because it is God that is looking for us and not us looking for God. Then I read this:

"The perfection of spiritual strength consists properly in a man's daring to confess his faith of Christ in the presence of anyone at all,and in a man'snot failing to do so from fear or confusion, for strength drives out inordinate fear. Therefore, ...

the bible

wonder4u — Thu, 15 May 2008 01:31:11 GMT

why do non-catholics always think catholics do not read and focus on the bible enough. honestly it seems we really don't and as i grew up in the church, it was not something that was taught as thoroughly as my non-catholic friends. the catholic church does not have bibles in pews as do other churches. i would appreciate some answers to this.

wonder4u

International Rosary

Mary1973 — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:35:54 GMT

Does anyone or has anyone prayed along with the International Rosary on EWTN? I was the other day and I have to say I think they need to either update it or stop using it. First of all, the quality of the film is poor. The opening prayers are a bit disconcerting also. The girl prays what seems to be a combination of the Nicene and Apostles' creeds. Then, she changes the words to the Hail Mary.

And what to me is the strangest thing of all is how they all suddenly have candles and it ...

Not my will....or is it

AngelRock — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:21:03 GMT

Dear Group,

When I became a Catholic, I did so because not only was God calling me (through Mary and the Holy Spirit) to the Catholic Church, but because I personally wanted to. I was tired of living a life of being just a Christian but rather a Catholic Christian. So anytime I see the words 'not my will but your will oh Lord,' I have to wonder if it really is my will, the Lord's will, or is it both. If it is both, then I am more than ready and prepared to be consecrated to His will for my ...

ever present difficult journey

wonder4u — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:42:46 GMT

i would like to hear from anyone with a loved one who are od different beliefs and faith, especially i would like to hear from BillC and Searching as i have had answers from u before. i realized what i feel and why i feel uncomfortable and uneasy when my companion is talking of the bible, talking of Christ ect. and it is because i at those times feel so separated from him and know i will never be there with those same beliefs he has. while at the same time i feel bad about it knowing he really ...

Happy 4th of July

Mary1973 — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:03:49 GMT

Have a great 4th of July.

Confession Question

AngelRock — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:37:21 GMT

Hey I have a question:

If a person does something wrong (minor sin) and they ask God's forgivness first, then go to the person offended and get their forgiveness, do they still confess it to a priest?

A Couple of Questions

AngelRock — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:21:47 GMT

Dear Group,

1) what is "Ordinary Time?" (as in the twelth week in Ordinary Time)

2) Also, in todays Gospel Reading, I am wondering if Christ is refering to Protestant Christian groups or so called "Cult" ministries (i.e. Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc.)

faith vs works

wonder4u — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:56:59 GMT

hi everyone

i am in need of some responses and insight. as i have written prior, i have a loved on who is well versed on the bible. the other nite as i usually let things slide by, and not say anything, this time i disagreed about works, he asked if i thought i could work to be saved and i said works and faith. he aske. pleased if Christ dying on the cross was not good enough for me. he kept saying show me in the bible where it says works, it is not there. i know it is there but ...

Hello!

Amber — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 23:26:03 GMT

Hello, everyone! This is Amber. I've set up this forum because we can never have too many places to meet other Catholics, learn more about the faith and talk with others who are curious about what Catholics believe.

I hope to keep things as orthodox as humanly possible around here!

A little about me: I am a mother to three great kids, ages 9, 7 and 6! We are converts to Catholicism and I was received into the Church on April 7, 2007! I am currently enrolled in three college courses and ...

I may be unpopular after this

Benedict John-Paul — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:07:58 GMT

Dear Group, OK well now the race is set and the nomoniees are chosen. Being this far out from the November race, I wish to espress some thoughts about my thought process concerning the course that our country is taking in regaurds to the political structures in both the executive and legeslative branches. I think it is no secret that (after eight years of the Bush administration) America is getting to the point where we are tired of the economy as well as the jobless rates. In addition we are ...

May Contest Winner

Admin — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:38:22 GMT

Benedict John-Paul! You are the winner of Catholicisim for Dummies! Congratulations!

faith vs works forgot one point

wonder4u — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:04:44 GMT

i forgot one important point in my last letter. i told my friend that 7 books of the bible were thrown out and thus the king james version was made, he did take pause at my statement and said something about martin luther. also when i mentioned works he did comment on a verse of James but had something to say ab out that one which i can't remember and i don't want to ask thank u wonder4u

I am still amazed at my faith

Benedict John-Paul — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:33:42 GMT

Here it is almost six months since my baptism and four months since my confirmation and I am still learning a lot about myself and my faith that I did not know. In the Protestant faith I was told that I was resposible for trying to find God, and that I had to ask Him into my life through Jesus Christ. However, if I am hearing Father Mitch in his homily on EWTN, it is not us that are searching for God, but it is GOD searching for us in much the same way that He was searching for Adam and Eve after ...

Explaining closed communion to non-Catholics

Amber — Wed, 28 May 2008 16:45:05 GMT

My oldest son is getting ready for First Communion this Sunday. I believe my family will be attending. The question is how do I explain closed communion to my family without being offensive. I realize they may be offended either way (as I was before I converted) but how do I present it in a way that helps them understand and is the least offensive? What have been your experiences with this issue?

the rapture

wonder4u — Sun, 18 May 2008 02:49:12 GMT

my friend who is well versed on the bible talks about the rapture. basically it is christ will return and reign on earth for 1000 yrs. some people will be taken up whiles others will stay during a tribulation. i don't remember this teaching in my catholic catachism. could someone explain this to me. thank you wonder4u

Bowing Your Head

Mary1973 — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:27:12 GMT

Are new Catholics taught to bow their head at the name of Jesus? I know I always do but I don't notice many other people doing it anymore even those my age who are cradle Catholics.

Faith and Politics

Benedict John-Paul — Sat, 24 May 2008 16:30:58 GMT

Dear Group,

I am beginning to find various talk in all my groups that relate diffrences in the Democratic and Republican races for the presedency in this election year. So now, after hearing that McCain is not totally 100% pro- life, my question is two fold.

1. Do we know what religion and/or denomination McCain is?

2. Is there presendence in the Catechism of the Catholic Church NOT to vote for a candidate if there is no candidate that reflects the views of the Catholic Church?

How can I tell.....

Benedict John-Paul — Mon, 19 May 2008 21:24:28 GMT

Dear Group,

How can I tell what sins I need to confess? For years I have had a problem with impatience, and I sometimes feel guilty about it. I know that I should try to develope more patience, but I get confussed about when (or if) I need to confess something like my impateince. It is almost like it is one of those seven deadly sins. Any ideas or feedback on this?

Judging Others

Benedict John-Paul — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:55:06 GMT

Dear Group,

As a new Catholic, I find it sometimes harsh when I hear a person say that such and such person is not a Catholic or a "nominal" Catholic based on how they stand on an issue. Now, please do not get me wrong, I am NOT saying that I am going one way or the other on certian issues concerning faith and politics. What I am saying is that I do not think that it is not right that we pass judgement on these people just because things that we see (or do not see) them doing. I ...

Where do you stop?

MaBeck — Tue, 13 May 2008 18:28:59 GMT

I'm a terrible evangelist. I guess I don't have a lot of patience with people who not only reject the Gospel, but refuse to investigate anything. The Fathers of the Church, Canon Law, the writings of the Saints: these things are at everyone's disposal but few people make use of them.

To top it off, I firmly believe in free will and in your right to choose who or what you worship, or if you worship at all. I'm not going to beat down your door to talk about my Church, though I'll gladly talk ...

Protest the Pill Day '08

Cindy — Sat, 10 May 2008 23:26:04 GMT

Protest the Pill Day '08: The Pill Kills Babies

June 7 marks the 43rd anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Griswold v. Connecticut, the first of many decisions that led to the culture of death we live in today...

http://www.thepillkills.com/index.html

History of the Pill

How the Pill Kills

Question

Benedict John-Paul — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:13:57 GMT

Hi all,

I have been trying to get an answer all week to something that I cannot find anywhere. Before I ask, I must point out that I am against abortion and I fully believe and respect the teachings of the Church in paragraphs 2270-2275 of the Catechism. Further down in pp. 2307-2317, it talks about avoiding war at all cost. So, it seems that I am in a balancing act so to speak because the candidates this year seem to not be talking about the abortion issues as muchj as they are about getting ...

hello

wonder4u — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:19:14 GMT

hi

i am wonder 4u and am so glad to know there is a web site such as this am lookinf forward to some answers ro a question that has been on my mind for the last few months

stress when with a loved one

wonder4u — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:40:55 GMT

i have a problem which has come into my life as i met someone in august and am now in love with. he is a person of great faith in God and we believe in basic things, however, he was raised catholic, become an athiest at some point, them came to know the Lord thru funamentalism. i find his constant references to the Bible, tv preachers and a statement one time that i am in need of more than my catholic faith can give me(mostly meaning more of the Bible) causes me to feel anxiety when anything ...

pro-life

Jeanne — Wed, 07 May 2008 00:24:36 GMT

Hi Everyone!

Sorry I have not been around lately..............

Met an incredible man last week, Rev. Walter Hoye! We were both at a pro-life meeting!

And he told the story of what is happening to African-Americans because of abortion!!

It is frightening! 1900 black babies are aborted DAILY and the result is a rapid decrease in their population! Planned Parenthood is doing this deliberately!!!

Would you please visit his blog at www.issues4lifefoundation.wordpress.com and add it as a link ...

One Man, One Woman

Cindy — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:02:06 GMT

One Man, One Woman

Catholic Answers Action

What is marriage?

Marriage is a covenant "by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life [that] is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring" (CCC 1601).

Why is marriage only between a man and a woman?

Marriage is oriented toward procreation, and only a man and a woman can procreate. Also, God made men and women to complement each other, ...

Cell phones at Mass

padrebear — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:52:36 GMT

At Mass today, we were distracted no less than five times by ringing cell phones. I will never understand why people bring cell phones to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Wouldn't you think that people would know better?

Fr. Trigilio (of EWTN fame) posts a sign at his parish, asking people to turn off their cell phones before they enter the church. I wish more priests would do the same!

Unread Messages

Mary1973 — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:13:42 GMT

When I came here tonight, none of the threads were marked with the icon for unread posts although there were a couple. I had to scroll through and check the dates.

Question

Benedict John-Paul — Sat, 03 May 2008 23:24:57 GMT

I was wondering if anyone knows about the angel Rapheal in the book of Tobit. Was that the Old Testement equivelent to Gabriel in from the New Testement?

April Contest Winner!

Admin — Fri, 02 May 2008 03:20:40 GMT

BillC! Congratulations, Bill!

You have won a SIGNED copy of Home At Last, edited by Rosalind Moss!

Thanks to everyone who posted on the forum for the month of April.

A new contest will be announced shortly!

Sacred Music

Mary1973 — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:17:05 GMT

On another forum there are huge discussions about the music used at Mass today. Many people think the music today is not very good. I, myself, do not know enough about sacred music to judge one form of music over another.

I think it is good to have music that the congregation can sing. But I do agree with the argument that much of the hymns today emphasize the person instead of God.

Any opinions/comments?

Lack of Reverence

Mary1973 — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:27:09 GMT

I know many of the posters here are converts to the faith. I am sure you know all about the traditional Catholics who much prefer things the way they were before Vatican II. I will leave the theological arguments to the theologians. However, there is absolutely no doubt that there is much less reverence and respect accorded to God today. I like to tell this story as an example.

When I was a youngster, it was the practice to remove a child's tonsils. So, when I was about 8, I went in ...

Liturgical Question

Benedict John-Paul — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:38:43 GMT

I asm kind of confused. In the magazine "The Word Among Us" they have a Liturgy area where I can follow the readings while watching the Mass on EWTN. As some of you know, I can't make Mass bexcause of disabilities and being in the nursing facility. Well, I am wondering if it is just me or what, but it seems that the last two days EWTN has gotten off track. They have been reading something diffrent than what is in the Liturgy.

Any Baseball Fans?

Mary1973 — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:46:20 GMT

Any baseball fans among us? I am a diehard NY Mets fan. I watch as many games as I can and go as often as the pocketbook allows.

Has anyone noticed?

Benedict John-Paul — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:45:13 GMT

I heard from EWTN something that I did not know. The Pope yesterday had a private audience with NBCs Tim Russert and well as CNN's John King and Wolf Blitzer. Now I assume that it is true, but did not know about it until I heard about it. It seems that there are better people in the media who deserve a meeting of the Pope who are true champions of the faith. That is just my opinion.

"My work here is done"

Amber — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 05:44:53 GMT

A co-worker of mine, who is a evangelical Christian, told me she felt her "work" was done where she's working. Basically, she feels that she can no longer reach the people she works with for Christ and she feels that, because she has suffered so much in her life, that no one will want to know God through her anyway.

The question is, is our work ever really done? I realize this is a bit of a rhetorical question... but I found this attitude puzzling. Can we really only be a witness ...

Seeing the Pope

Mary1973 — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:10:11 GMT

I went to an event in NYC on Saturday at which I was supposed to see the Pope. It did not work out as I thought. You can get full details at my blog.

However, a co-worker's boyfriend just happened to be on the street as the Pope passed by on his way to St. Joseph's Seminary. The Pope looked right at him and waved.

Positive Parenting

Amber — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:44:05 GMT

Has anyone heard of, or know anything about "Positive Parenting", a concept by Jane Nelson? I've been reading up on it a bit and it sounds good in theory but I wonder how effective it might be.

Also, has anyone used the concepts presented by Dr. Kevin Leman?

It seems to me

Benedict John-Paul — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:40:48 GMT

that alot of the teaching is done either in the Bible or Catechism and in the Hominallies. I can't even keep up with the encyclicals, So I rely on the books and the minister tyhat comes tio see me each wee as well as EWTN.

I am now Catholic!!!!

Flowerchild — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 06:24:02 GMT

Hi All,

I just have to announce that I am now Catholic! It is still amazing to me. For me it has been such a long journey and something that has always seemed so far out of reach, to now have it, it is so Amazing!!!! It still does not seem real.

Easter Vigil was wonderful. Two in my RCIA group were baptized and that was so special to see that happen for them. I cannot even describe the emotions that I was feeling for those two. It was just so special.

Anyway I had to share.

Terri

Rosalind Moss on "The Journey Home"

Mary1973 — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:48:13 GMT

Catholic Answers apologist Rosalind Moss was the guest on The Journey Home tonight.

If you missed it, the show repeats at Tuesday, 1 AM and 10 AM, Wednesday at 1 PM and Saturday at 11 PM. (All times are Eastern).

If you have never seen Ros, she is very entertaining and her love for Jesus just exudes from her.