Comments for A Green Catholic http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com Learning the Catholic faith and livin' green Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:05:25 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 hourly 1 Comment on My testimony – the long version by Dan http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/09/06/my-testimony-the-long-version/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Dan Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:05:25 +0000 http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/09/06/my-testimony-the-long-version/#comment-34 I have stumbled upon this site through a link from CAF that led to a link to something else that led to a link to something else that led here. In any case, I am thankful to have found it. I am so glad that the mumbling, disorganized RCIA and other issues did not finally keep you away from the Church. As a cradle Catholic, I kept going to mass in college to assuage my father's anger -- and keep the tuition support coming. A few years later, having tossed aside the quasi-Buddhist stuff of college, an Assembly of God coworker hooked me up with a Catholic Charismatic prayer group -- "I don't understand what you guys do with Mary, but there's a lot more love in that Catholic prayer group than in my church." To make a long story short, I returned to the church with vigor, if not complete understanding. With the help of Scott Hahn, Tim Staples, Fr. Corapi, EWTN, Relevant Radio, et.al., and, of course, the guidance of the dear Holy Spirit, 90% of the stuff makes sense and the other 10% will either come or I will just accept it, knowing that I cannot understand everything and I will just trust in God. Going to mass almost every day, I now understand those old ladies who used to pile into the pews every morning when I was a young altar boy. They may not have raised their hands and shouted, "Praise the Lord!" but, in their own way, they were whispering, "I love You, my Lord." And Holy Eucharist. . . what an incredible gift! By the way, conversion stories help us cradle Catholics understand what we believe. Since the priest is supposed to preach on the Sunday readings and we were so poorly catechized in our youth, we don't understand why we call Mary a Queen, why Purgatory makes sense, and what is really going on at mass. Because of people like you, the Hahns, Fr. Corapi and the rest, we learn things we had never even considered before. Thanks! And, by the way, my wife and I no longer say TGIF. We say TGIM, looking forward to "The Journey Home" on Monday evenings. The things we learn from that program! Sorry for the babble, but God bless you, your wife and children. You are a wonderful witness. Ralph Martin signed a book for my wife in which he wrote, "Keep going." I guess we all need to do so. You are in our prayers. God bless. Dan I have stumbled upon this site through a link from CAF that led to a link to something else that led to a link to something else that led here. In any case, I am thankful to have found it.

I am so glad that the mumbling, disorganized RCIA and other issues did not finally keep you away from the Church. As a cradle Catholic, I kept going to mass in college to assuage my father’s anger — and keep the tuition support coming. A few years later, having tossed aside the quasi-Buddhist stuff of college, an Assembly of God coworker hooked me up with a Catholic Charismatic prayer group — “I don’t understand what you guys do with Mary, but there’s a lot more love in that Catholic prayer group than in my church.” To make a long story short, I returned to the church with vigor, if not complete understanding. With the help of Scott Hahn, Tim Staples, Fr. Corapi, EWTN, Relevant Radio, et.al., and, of course, the guidance of the dear Holy Spirit, 90% of the stuff makes sense and the other 10% will either come or I will just accept it, knowing that I cannot understand everything and I will just trust in God.

Going to mass almost every day, I now understand those old ladies who used to pile into the pews every morning when I was a young altar boy. They may not have raised their hands and shouted, “Praise the Lord!” but, in their own way, they were whispering, “I love You, my Lord.” And Holy Eucharist. . . what an incredible gift!

By the way, conversion stories help us cradle Catholics understand what we believe. Since the priest is supposed to preach on the Sunday readings and we were so poorly catechized in our youth, we don’t understand why we call Mary a Queen, why Purgatory makes sense, and what is really going on at mass. Because of people like you, the Hahns, Fr. Corapi and the rest, we learn things we had never even considered before. Thanks! And, by the way, my wife and I no longer say TGIF. We say TGIM, looking forward to “The Journey Home” on Monday evenings. The things we learn from that program!

Sorry for the babble, but God bless you, your wife and children. You are a wonderful witness. Ralph Martin signed a book for my wife in which he wrote, “Keep going.” I guess we all need to do so. You are in our prayers. God bless.

Dan

]]> Comment on My testimony – the long version by Toby Wenning http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/09/06/my-testimony-the-long-version/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Toby Wenning Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:51:24 +0000 http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/09/06/my-testimony-the-long-version/#comment-33 Hi. I first read your posts on CAF and found what you had to say interesting, intelligent and relevant. I am swimming the Tiber as I write this. I felt your frustration as you explained your discontent with protestant churches and the poor catechesis in the RCIA. Way to go God! He kept you and your wife together and on the right track in that time. I had a couple of thoughts I would like to share: 1. In reference to suffering. I have always smelled a rat when it came to the various protestant teachings on suffering but was never able to put my finger on what exactly was missing. Now though I think it comes from the Sola vortex. Because the protestant is bound by scripture alone and the purpose of suffering is limited to a few scriptures. The protestant is then left to conjecture. However it must fit within the framework of grace through faith alone. They are left with extra parts even though they followed the directions. Explaining what to do with these extra parts is usually when they teach things beyond scripture and make me go hmmm! The Catholic Church doesn't have that problem. The way I have come to understand redemptive suffering is this: It is the sum of the sufferings of Christ's body that redeems the world. 2. Really the Catholic Church is the original "non-denominational " church. It was called catholic to distinguish itself from the heretical movements started by distinct teachers in distinct places. How funny is that? It seems to me many protestant churches are trying to reinvent the wheel on his one. Thanks for sharing your talents. I have enjoyed them. Toby Hi. I first read your posts on CAF and found what you had to say interesting, intelligent and relevant. I am swimming the Tiber as I write this.
I felt your frustration as you explained your discontent with protestant churches and the poor catechesis in the RCIA. Way to go God! He kept you and your wife together and on the right track in that time.
I had a couple of thoughts I would like to share:
1. In reference to suffering. I have always smelled a rat when it came to the various protestant teachings on suffering but was never able to put my finger on what exactly was missing. Now though I think it comes from the Sola vortex. Because the protestant is bound by scripture alone and the purpose of suffering is limited to a few scriptures. The protestant is then left to conjecture. However it must fit within the framework of grace through faith alone. They are left with extra parts even though they followed the directions. Explaining what to do with these extra parts is usually when they teach things beyond scripture and make me go hmmm!
The Catholic Church doesn’t have that problem.
The way I have come to understand redemptive suffering is this: It is the sum of the sufferings of Christ’s body that redeems the world.
2. Really the Catholic Church is the original “non-denominational ” church. It was called catholic to distinguish itself from the heretical movements started by distinct teachers in distinct places. How funny is that?
It seems to me many protestant churches are trying to reinvent the wheel on his one.
Thanks for sharing your talents. I have enjoyed them. Toby

]]> Comment on Grace through the sacraments by ascottwoodill http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/10/03/grace-through-the-sacraments/comment-page-1/#comment-29 ascottwoodill Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:16:32 +0000 http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/10/03/grace-through-the-sacraments/#comment-29 Great blog! I love your summary of the online debate. Peace be with you, Scott http://scottwoodill.stblogs.com/ Great blog! I love your summary of the online debate.

Peace be with you,
Scott
http://scottwoodill.stblogs.com/

]]> Comment on My testimony – the long version by djrakowski http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/09/06/my-testimony-the-long-version/comment-page-1/#comment-28 djrakowski Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:32:30 +0000 http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/09/06/my-testimony-the-long-version/#comment-28 Folks, I'm sorry it's taken so long to respond! <b>Guenther from Vienna</b>: thanks for your kind words! I've noticed that a lot of cradle Catholics enjoy reading conversion stories. Why is that, do you think? <b>anton</b>: My conversion was definitely guided by God. When I started looking into converting, I was relatively anti-Catholic. There was no real reason for me to look into Catholicism, so I suppose God planted the desire in my heart, and I just followed where He led me. <b>Anne Marie</b>: Too many converts (or near-converts) have shared stories about RCIA that are MUCH worse than what I encountered. Fortunately, the deacon who led our class wasn't teaching heresy - he was more interested in teaching us about various (often unapproved) Marian apparitions and the pious devotions he learned as a young man. We've since developed a very deep friendship, and I've found him to be a very wise, generous, deeply Christian man. So much for first impressions, eh? Oh, and I may have to write a post about the evangelical issues you mentioned. I have to take time enough to ensure I'm being charitable, though ;) <b>Rusty</b>: I'd love to take part in the RCIA team, but I have a feeling that in doing so, I'd be overextending myself. I've signed on for one rather demanding ministry (forming a special needs catechism program), which is more than I can handle for now. Have you joined your RCIA team? If so, let us know how it's going! <b>Milehimama</b>: It's still hard for me to get. Though I could say much, much more on the subject, I'll leave it at this for now: Our Lord chose Judas, and we all know what he ended up doing. Keep in touch, folks. I know I don't post very often, so I appreciate you following me here from Cafeteria is Closed. Folks, I’m sorry it’s taken so long to respond!

Guenther from Vienna: thanks for your kind words! I’ve noticed that a lot of cradle Catholics enjoy reading conversion stories. Why is that, do you think?

anton: My conversion was definitely guided by God. When I started looking into converting, I was relatively anti-Catholic. There was no real reason for me to look into Catholicism, so I suppose God planted the desire in my heart, and I just followed where He led me.

Anne Marie: Too many converts (or near-converts) have shared stories about RCIA that are MUCH worse than what I encountered. Fortunately, the deacon who led our class wasn’t teaching heresy – he was more interested in teaching us about various (often unapproved) Marian apparitions and the pious devotions he learned as a young man. We’ve since developed a very deep friendship, and I’ve found him to be a very wise, generous, deeply Christian man. So much for first impressions, eh?

Oh, and I may have to write a post about the evangelical issues you mentioned. I have to take time enough to ensure I’m being charitable, though ;)

Rusty: I’d love to take part in the RCIA team, but I have a feeling that in doing so, I’d be overextending myself. I’ve signed on for one rather demanding ministry (forming a special needs catechism program), which is more than I can handle for now. Have you joined your RCIA team? If so, let us know how it’s going!

Milehimama: It’s still hard for me to get. Though I could say much, much more on the subject, I’ll leave it at this for now: Our Lord chose Judas, and we all know what he ended up doing.

Keep in touch, folks. I know I don’t post very often, so I appreciate you following me here from Cafeteria is Closed.

]]> Comment on My testimony – the long version by Milehimama http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/09/06/my-testimony-the-long-version/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Milehimama Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:37:44 +0000 http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/09/06/my-testimony-the-long-version/#comment-27 Thanks for letting Cafeteria is Closed post this. My husband is a Southern Baptist but recently started attending RCIA, and he's told me that one of his biggest sticking points is "bad clergy". Can you tell me how you resolved this? I've tried to tell him the Church is not a corporation, we don't just fire people who don't perform, but a family... it's hard for an Evangelical American to get. God bless! Thanks for letting Cafeteria is Closed post this. My husband is a Southern Baptist but recently started attending RCIA, and he’s told me that one of his biggest sticking points is “bad clergy”. Can you tell me how you resolved this? I’ve tried to tell him the Church is not a corporation, we don’t just fire people who don’t perform, but a family… it’s hard for an Evangelical American to get.
God bless!

]]> Comment on My testimony – the long version by Rusty http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/09/06/my-testimony-the-long-version/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Rusty Fri, 26 Oct 2007 15:02:00 +0000 http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/09/06/my-testimony-the-long-version/#comment-26 Thanks for the testimony. I'm a new Catholic (2007) and found some of the same things in my RCIA class. Thankfully, the class has been revamped and we too have a team teaching. I hope that one day you can become a part of that team. I hope that all Catholics who see things wrong will step up and try to fix it. Thanks for the testimony. I’m a new Catholic (2007) and found some of the same things in my RCIA class. Thankfully, the class has been revamped and we too have a team teaching. I hope that one day you can become a part of that team. I hope that all Catholics who see things wrong will step up and try to fix it.

]]> Comment on My testimony – the long version by Anne Marie http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/09/06/my-testimony-the-long-version/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Anne Marie Fri, 26 Oct 2007 14:34:27 +0000 http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/09/06/my-testimony-the-long-version/#comment-25 Your story resonates. Been there, done that especially the evangelical & lousy RCIA parts. What is the deal with "non-denominational" Baptist churches anyway? Seams a bit sneaky to me. Rick Warren even crows about it in his book. I was in one too, but the conflicts got to be to much. In one sermon I would hear that there is no such thing as original sin, but that we humans have a "sin nature". A rose is a rose by any other name. Ya can't attack Catholic teaching and embrace it in one sermon and have any credibility. Your story resonates. Been there, done that especially the evangelical & lousy RCIA parts.

What is the deal with “non-denominational” Baptist churches anyway? Seams a bit sneaky to me. Rick Warren even crows about it in his book. I was in one too, but the conflicts got to be to much. In one sermon I would hear that there is no such thing as original sin, but that we humans have a “sin nature”. A rose is a rose by any other name. Ya can’t attack Catholic teaching and embrace it in one sermon and have any credibility.

]]> Comment on My testimony – the long version by anton http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/09/06/my-testimony-the-long-version/comment-page-1/#comment-24 anton Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:02:28 +0000 http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/09/06/my-testimony-the-long-version/#comment-24 an interesting article...if God had not guided you , thete s no way you would have ended up in the Catholic faith !...too many diversions and barriers in your way !He must really want you with us ! an interesting article…if God had not guided you , thete s no way you would have ended up in the Catholic faith !…too many diversions and barriers in your way !He must really want you with us !

]]> Comment on My testimony – the long version by Guenther from Vienna http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/09/06/my-testimony-the-long-version/comment-page-1/#comment-23 Guenther from Vienna Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:27:42 +0000 http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/09/06/my-testimony-the-long-version/#comment-23 Thanks for this great testimony! :-) I'm sure that also many cradle Catholics (as I) will enjoy reading it ... @ Christine: I agree! Guenther from Vienna, Austria, Europe Thanks for this great testimony! :-)
I’m sure that also many cradle Catholics (as I) will enjoy reading it …

@ Christine: I agree!

Guenther
from Vienna, Austria, Europe

]]> Comment on Grace through the sacraments by Michael http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/10/03/grace-through-the-sacraments/comment-page-1/#comment-22 Michael Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:50:34 +0000 http://agreencatholic.stblogs.com/2007/10/03/grace-through-the-sacraments/#comment-22 Your observation regarding John 14:21-24 - the connection between the indwelling of Christ and keeping the commandments - is excellent. This is a point often overlooked by our Protestant brothers and sisters. God Bless, Michael Your observation regarding John 14:21-24 – the connection between the indwelling of Christ and keeping the commandments – is excellent. This is a point often overlooked by our Protestant brothers and sisters.

God Bless,
Michael

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