It Came From The Roman Church: Catholic horror stories told by Evangelicals & how to respond

This Rock/ Catholic Answers via Petersnet ^ | David Mills

[NYer]

And we took considerable pride in our ability to do so, and took the responsibility quite seriously.

And rightfully so. Altar servers then, actually worked at the mass. It was a tremendous responsibility. They had to remember so much! I had forgotten just how much until I attended the Tridentine mass a few months ago. These young boys had mastered the extensive Latin passages. Genuflect? Arrogant, you surely must remember how many times the altar boy genuflected at the mass. He genuflected each time he passed the Tabernacle. Given that they had to move the Lectionary from one side of the altar to the other, they genuflected copious times. Altar boys often had to kneel on the hard, cold marble stairs in sweltering heat (no a/c in those days).

When I watch the young kids who are "called" to serve at the altar today, they are for the most part, bored. There is little to do and even less to remember. One family in my paris has 3 young boys (7 - 11?). The oldest one is a husky lad with, rosy cherubic cheeks. They are the perfect candidates for the Tridentine mass.

[ArrogantBustard]

No kidding. Really. I never had a dropped Host on my watch. But one fine morning, Father XXXX dropped the ciborium!!! He covered the spot with a purificator; I have no idea what they did to clean it up. I had to run off to school directly after Mass.

AB

[Salvation]

A few years ago, when my parents came to visit, she was talking idly about upcoming elections and why she was voting for the Republican candidate. It was because he was pro-life! I nearly fell out of my chair! I inquired as to this change of heart. She started to lecture me, "Do you know how many abortions are performed every year? Why, it's almost a million and a half a year!"

Great story.

Ask, Seek, Knock. God's timing is not always our timing.

SEEK YE FIRST

Chorus:
Seek ye first
The kingdom of God
And His righteousness,
And all these things
Shall be added unto you
Allelu, Alleluia

Man shall not live
By bread alone,
But by ev’ry word
That proceeds
From the mouth of God.
Allelu, Alleluia

Ask,
and it shall be given unto you

Seek,
and ye shall find

Knock,
and the door
shall be opened unto you
Allelu, Alleluia

[Polycarp]

Impressive, huh?

These were my own despondent thoughts several years ago on the same subject...

[Catholicguy]

But though folks may not be completely orthodox, there is hope!

Truly said. They are in my prayers daily. My wife is a convert after being raised a Congregationalist. That PROVES anything is possible :)

[narses]

What a story. Thank you. I understand even more your passion for Our Lord.

[Catholicguy]

Its all a mystery I do not understand.

My very own thoughts.

[Desdemona]

"But any devout Catholic hears great gobs of the Bible over time every Sunday at Mass."

Absolutely. More than any other denomination.

"Few Catholics can readily cite what's at Luke 15:11-32? I couldn't tell you without looking."

Off the top of my head...his version of the sermon on the mount? I promise, I'm not cheating. In Matthew 5: 2-13.

Knowing me, I probably got that wrong. Maybe it was the loaves and the fishes. I'm sure site will correct me.

[eastsider]

That's what they did at my pre-Vatican II Masses. The priest in charge of the altar boys taught us that it was a universal (read, "catholic" : ) practice.

[Catholicguy]

excellent. I taught my kids that ASK is an acronym; Ask, Seek, Knock. It really is that simple. I had a reconversion experience that began just that way. I asked. Jesus hungers for us. He is just waiting to be asked. His love is consuming and He is waiting to be asked

[sitetest]

Dear Catholicguy,

"My wife is a convert after being raised a Congregationalist."

I'd been meaning to ask you about this...

It is certainly one of the furthest roads traveled that I've heard of.

sitetest

[Salvation]

I'm crying as I write this. Its all a mystery I do not understand

Tears in my eyes as I read it. What a touching story. God bless you for all the good you do in your diocese.

And you are so right, sometimes we do not understand God's reasons until much later.

[Desdemona]

Man, I thought it was bad one Holy Thursday when one of the kids dropped the incensor and nobody quite knew what to do. Live fire on a carpet - right in front of the choir, too.

[Catholicguy]

Absolutely. More than any other denomination.

... and yet there are "traditional" websites that cite we have increased the Sriptural readings in the Pauline Mass as evidence the Mass has been "protestantised."

[sitetest]

Dear Salvation,

Thanks.

sitetest

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

This story closely parallels mine. When I was challenged, I left briefly too. But reading the writings of the Karl Keatings and Scott Hahn's helped. Reading the three volume "Faith of the Early Fathers" clinched it

I just read the bible for myself and did not let other MEN influence me. Something that we NEVER did in 12 yrs of catholic education. What we studied in school was non-inspired stuff like the catechism. Yes I know you are going to say men do influence me because of bible translation, history, etc. But you know we have to have faith in God completly about some things. I have faith that what the bible tells me is exactly what God wants me to know, and that He has the power to keep it exactly the way he wants it.

Becky

[eastsider]

... when one of the kids dropped the incensor ...

Back when, that would have read, "... when the thurifer dropped the thurible ..." : )

[Desdemona]

"...increased the Sriptural readings in the Pauline Mass as evidence the Mass has been "protestantised." "

I don't think so. The Presbyterian church where I have a job (literal paying one) uses two scripture readings. And a Gospel is not always one of them. The Episcopalians use four readings, but not all the rest. Some, but not all. So much of the rest of Mass is from scripture.

[sitetest]

Dear Catholicguy,

"and yet there are 'traditional' websites that cite we have increased the Sriptural readings in the Pauline Mass as evidence the Mass has been 'protestantised.'"

Yeah, I noticed that on the link you gave last night.

What little I know of non-sacramental Protestant churches is that usually, the amount of Scripture at a service is somewhat modest. The featured event of the service is the sermon, given by the minister, explicating on the Scripture.

sitetest

[Catholicguy]

My wife is a convert after being raised a Congregationalist."

I'd been meaning to ask you about this...

It is certainly one of the furthest roads traveled that I've heard of.

Green Scapular

That is the real reason for the conversion. There is a lot more to it but those two words summarise what happened. It happened via prayer. It certainly wasn't anything I did. I mean, can you imagine being my wife? Our current pastor calls her my "poor lady-wife" when he is conducting some parish scriptual classes and I begin running my mouth...."There's brother Larry and his poor lady-wife" as he shakes his head...