Posted by Flipsactown on April 20, 2004, at 11:49:21
In reply to Calling all Catholics, posted by Miss Honeychurch on April 19, 2004, at 12:39:12
I am male, 18 years older than you, and I know what the "Catholic Guilt" was all about, at least from my point of view. My parents took us to church practically every Sunday and I attended because my parents did, and I thought that if I did not go to church or "Mass" every Sunday that I was going directly to Hell, "do not pass go, do not collect $200". So instead of attending church to praise God and experience God's Love, I went because I did not want to go directly to hell. When I got older, I realized that I did not like attending Mass just for the sake of going to church. I did not like all the strict rules, no meat on Fridays, one had to go to confession before one could receive Holy Communion, the Bread of Life and on top of that one could not eat anything 3 hours before receiving Communion. Vatican II from what I understand loosened some of these "manmade rules". Bottomline: I was married in a Catholic Church over 30years ago and have 3 sons. Although I no longer attend Mass on a regular basis, the Catholic Church laid down the foundation for my deep belief in our Lord, Jesus Christ. Although my sons do not attend Mass on a regular basis, they have learned from my wife and myself that Salvation is not just about attending Mass every Sunday and following manmade rules, it is opening your heart to Him so that you can follow in His footsteps.
God Bless.
FST
> I was raised in the Catholic church. I am now 35. I was never brought up with the whole "Catholic Guilt" thing. I had a pretty standard Catholic education, but I cannot relate to those Catholics who are older than I am who speak of the church as something I never experienced. About how strict it was, punishing it was, unforgiving. This is not the Catholic church I know. The church I know is welcoming and loving.
>
> After Vatican II, was there a marked shift in Catholic education? Speaking to Catholics my age or younger, we all have the same experience. Speaking to older Catholics, it is a different story.
>
> Why the discrepancy?
poster:Flipsactown
thread:337744
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20040408/msgs/338077.html