I have a question about the catholic church.?

Question

I have been attending the catholic church for the past several years, and plan to convert from Methodist, however, I work evenings and can not right now go through the classes. I have a few questions about what parts of the service I can take part in. I know communion is off limits, but may I take part in the holy water ritual at the door as you leave and enter the church? Also, the bowing as you enter the pew? And after scriptures, could you please give detailed description on the sign that is made. It's something more than the cross and I can not decipher it. Thanks for your help, and anything else you add would be most appreaciated.
jp

Answer 1

I was raised as a catholic, and I know you can use holy water any time you want to (it is not a ritual). The bowing is also something you can do, it is a gesture of respect. If I understand your question right, the sign that is made after the scriptures is the sign of the cross, and it is made three times: once in your forehead, once in your mouth, and once in your chest. Cross goes from up down and from left to right, and it is done with your right hand. It has a deep spiritual meaning, but it mainly represents Jesus Christ and the Holy Trinity.

Answer 2

Talk to the priest and the RCIA team. There may be classes in a nearby parish, or times may be adjusted. Most parishes would be willing to work with initiates.

Anyone can bless themselves with the holy water when entering or leaving the church. Genuflecting (the "bow") is a sign of reverence to God.

Before reading the Gospel message, you (and the congregation) makes 3 crosses - one on your forhead (showing you accept the teaching and will continue to think about it), one on your lips (showing you will share the message) and another over your heart (showing that you will contemplate the meaning and apply it to your life). This is a sign of reverance.

Making the Sign of the Cross is easy. It again is showing reverence to God. You use your right hand. You move from your forehead to your chest to your left shoulder ending with your right shoulder. Many people make the Sign of the Cross throughout the Mass.

Good Luck and God Bless!!

Answer 3

I am a convert to the Catholic Church from the Episcopal Church (11+ years ago) so here goes:

You can participate in everything within the Mass EXCEPT Holy Communion/Eucharist. As a baptized Christian, you are in communion with the Catholic Church, but not FULL communion. I blessed myself with Holy Water all the time before becoming Catholic.

Before entering a pew AND immediately upon exiting a pew, a person genuflects (to go down upon bended knee) to show reverence to Jesus who is physically present in the Tabernacle--Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

In terms of signs: The only sign that I can think of is before the reading of the Gospel. The priest or deacon says, "The Lord be with you." Then we respond, "And also with you." Priest or deacon then says," A reading from the Holy Gospel according to ____(Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)

We say, "Glory to you, O Lord." As we say this we make the sign of the cross (always with our right hand) on our forehead, then over our lips, and finally over our heart. This happens pretty quickly.

When I'm doing this I'm silently praying:
1. May thoughts of God be always in my mind
2. May the praise of God be always on my lips
3. May the love of God be in my heart

I hope this helps!! May God bless and keep you.

Answer 4

You can take part in all facets of mass except for Holy Communion. Once you've received your First Holy Communion, you will be able to take part in that as well. You might consider talking to the priest about your desire to receive the Eucharist at mass. You should not have to wait until you are Confirmed before you receive First Communion.

Yes, you may dip your fingers in the holy water fonts by the doors and bless yourself as you enter and exit the church. When entering the pew, as you arrive for mass, one typically genuflects next to the pew they choose to sit in.

As far as the sign you are asking about, I believe you are referring to the the sign parishioners make with their thunb immediately after the priest says, "A reading from the Holy Gospel according to...." When this happens, parishioners make a small cross signs on their forehead, then again on their mouth, and one last time on their hearts.

feel free to contact me with any more questions you might have.

Answer 5

jp

Please pay no attention to the catholic-haters in this forum. And please don't fall for their propaganda. They do not intend to lead you astray, but they really have no idea what they are talking about.

You can participate in all parts of the sacred liturgy except for communion. If you talk to the priest about your desire to come into the Church and your work schedule, I'm sure he will work something out with you.

Catholics and Orthodox genuflect as they enter and exit the pew or pass in front of the altar to express reverence for the Body of Christ reserved in the taburnacle.

Before the gospel reading, we make a small sign of the cross with our right thumb on the forehead, lips and over our heart while mentally saying this little prayer:

Lord, be in my mind; on my lips; and in my heart.

And, if you really want to learn the history of the doctrines of the Catholic Church, and that they are scriptural, and much older than the made-up doctrines of our fundamentalist brothers and sisters, please check-out my website. The info it contains was crucial to my own conversion (conversion of heart - I was raised Catholic). Also, praying the rosary was instrumental to my conversion. It is truly an amazing prayer. Meditating on the mysteries of Christ's life is THE best way to foster a deep relationship with him.

My website can be found at http://www.geocities.com/orthodox_doctrine/

God bless.

Answer 6

Holy water: yes anyone may use the Holy water in the proper form of self blessing. You dip you finger tips and make the sign of the Holy Cross to bless yourself.
Bowing to enter the pews: this is called genufleck forgive the mis-spelling there; it is the reverance paid to the King of Kings to move from his direct present of the alter to the side.
Signs after scripture: It is the forehead-lips-heart; you make the sign of the cross with your thumb, in reverance of the word.

As with any convert: have you prayed about your decision, have you asked the Holy Father if your decision is correct. Have you felt the Holy Spirit touch you, have you felt an inner peace and joy. Have you seen a positive out comes in your life with your decision.
No I am not swaying your decision-for we each have a private walk with God. All I ask is have you prayed and pondered on your decision. We change religions because of a great void in our present one-the great need to feel the closeness of God daily. Take your decision greatly-make your decision with the blessing of God.

Answer 7

Jp,

I would like to encourage you to continue on your path to full communion with the Catholic Church. In it, you will find peace, joy and love -- because in it, you will find the fullness of Christ. The Church is His Mystical Body, and so the more you learn to love His Church, the more you will love Him.

Yes, you can participate in any of the rituals or ceremonies of the Catholic Church except for the Seven Sacraments. You can of course participate in Holy Mass, but, as you know, Holy Communion is reserved for Catholics. Don't look at it as if we were cutting you off from us. Your waiting to receive Holy Communion will make it so meaningful for you on that day when you will receive Our Lord's Precious Body and Blood for the first time!

Once again, good luck in your journey towards full communion, and rest assured that many are praying for you!

Answer 8

Hi there.

If you can find any of these rituals detailed in the account of the early church in Acts of the Apostles or any of the New Testament letters to the various churches, then by all means participate in them.
With respect, true Christianity is about a relationship with God through wholehearted faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified to pay the penalty for our sins and rose from the dead. Any rituals that you cannot find support for in the Bible, God's word, you should reject.
May I ask you a few questions ? Do you know that you are a sinner in the sight of a holy God, deserving of His judgement and everlasting punishment ? Do you believe that the Lord Jesus died to pay for your sins and that through faith in Him, his death and resurrection, you can receive forgiveness and eternal life from God, as the Bible clearly teaches ?
You don't need man - made rituals with no basis in the Bible to draw near to your creator. You need a genuine faith in Jesus Christ to save you. Do you have that ?
May I respectfully suggest reading the Bible and praying to God regularly, asking Him to guide you into the truth ? If you do not yet know the Lord personally and you want to, then call out to Him to forgive and save you.
Hope you are challenged by these words and not offended by the manner in which I have expressed myself.

Please read Romans 10:4 - 12.

May God bless you.

Answer 9

THIS WAS EXTRAPOLATED FROM THE BIBLE CODE REGARDING CATHOLICISM:

Catholicism
Virgin Mary - Asheroth
Virgin Mary - enemies from Babylon
Virgin Mary - we burn incense to the Queen of Heaven
Who is Europa? Know! - The Queen of Heaven.
Virgin Mary - let not His mother's sin be erased
Fatima
Know: the Vatican is the Harlot
Sabbath change
Sabbath change
Wonder of Santa. An illustration. - Light of Babylon.
Christmas
Return to give: Christmas season.
Pagan is Easter; why the woe?
A. Sodano; tremble
Lustiger
Lustiger
Battista
The Pope
The Pope
Razinger is impure, and came, came the end! - In the gift of the Euro is a demon!
Ratzinger is god to her - the cardinal will come code found in advance by Fab
And from their crown, yes! - And with a signal, Ratzinger, a weaver enough. code found in advance by Juan
Enmity of the speech - Ratzinger is a deceiver
Ratzinger - Benedict - A nazi depiction: satanic pride, he was stoned to death.
Ratzinger is evil for the faith
Ratzinger - Black Minister
And Ratzinger is offal; a half done fire. Quality of "Minister for the Chip"; and we mocked.

AND THIS WAS EXTRAPOLATED FROM THE BIBLE CODE REGARDING ISLAM:

Islam
Messengers of evil. - Shadow of Islam
Father of the mark that is Islam; as the god Nu is the father.
Islam
Islam
Allah is the moon-god thus!
Allah God is unlucky.
Allah hates all.
Allah, God of distress.
Mohammed
For God an anti-prophet; Mohammed.
And no, Mohammed, I don't support a prophet for wrath.
It was established; Mohammed as prophet, and with them was an ignorance. For you a curse spelled i s l a m.
Many are the transgressions of the Mahdi. - A cult in him is the night.
Hand of the pride. - The Satanic Verses, from the climax I will know.

Answer 10

Once a catholic, always a catholic. You can change if you wish but you were baptised when you were born. And i can't see you using the ritual catholic use if you do change. Choice is yours