why, as a catholic, am i having such a hard time finding my peace with God?

Question

it seem like the new mass lacks the reverence it once had..i remember going to weekday mass with my grandmother when it was still dark, voltive candles, the church was eerily quiet as we came a half hour early to pray the rosary..now a days, you get there early and people are talking, laughing...i went to confession on saturday afternoon and there were only five people there, yet Sunday, 80% recieved communion..i know i should mind my own business about other people, but i just cant..i think a mockery is being made..people standing in line wearing shorts, sandals, waiting to recieve the body of Christ on their hand from an old woman......nobody in line has their hands together praying, many are talking to each other..during the mass, so many people participate, it is so distracting..i think deep in my heart i want that church that once was....the one that wasn't afraid to tell you that hell waited for sinners..seems the attitude anymore is that God is all forgiving, i don't think so...

Answer 1

I agree. Mostly. The "new" mass does not lack reverence, it is the priest/and/or/the people that lack it. I have not experienced the old Mass very often because I'm only a teen. It is still the same Mass, the same Church. Please don't be angry.
I am sure it is hard for you, but please remember that it is still the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. YOU be reverent and set an example.
The "old" Mass is no better than the "new," it just fosters more reverence, and that was a good thing. People really ought to try to remember what is really happening at the Mass. It is when the veil between heaven and earth is lifted.

Here is a wonderful definition I thought you'd like. My religion teacher is a Norbertine priest, and he taught this to us.

The Mass is the sacrifice of Jesus' Body and Blood at Calvary, re-presented under the appearance of bread and wine, offered by Jesus, the Perfect priest, through a priest, in obedience to His father's will, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

God Bless you. I'll pray for you!

Answer 2

Hello!
I understand what you mean; I am shocked when I see people wearing such attire as T-shirts, football uniforms, flip-flops, and miniskirts to church! I think it's really disrespectful! In the not so distant past, people would wear highly formal attire such as suit jackets and long dresses--which is what they should wear to show the proper respect to God.

Also, people remained as solemn and quiet as they could throughout the service and idle chatter was forbidden. This gave church the hallowed atmosphere that it should have and people could thus feel close to God.

Over the years, many people and churches gradually lost this sense of reverence, until nowadays, it seems like church is just a place where people can meet each other and talk every Sunday, which is quite sad. I cannot say that all churches are like this, for I know there still must be a good handful of devout and dedicated places of worship out there.

Wherever you go, just remember that you are going there to meet and worship God. Whatever anyone else does cannot change who you are and what you are doing. Think of it as a special meeting just between you and God and then you won't have to be distracted by others. God Himself knows your heart and how you would like to be at peace with Him and revere Him.

Mother Teresa once said in a quote, "...In the final analysis, it is between you and God...It was never between you and them anyway."

Answer 3

Let me ask you one question. If a bum came into your church, and wanted to take communion, would you look at him as if he were a creepy old man who had no right coming into your church? Of course you would.
(At least that the way that I as well as the other viewers see it, from the comments that you made) We all know that God doesn't like a gossip and that's just what your doing. It also seems like you think your better than those people in which you speak of. You might not see it this way but that how I see it and I'll bet most of the veiwers on this site see it this way.
(I'm not trying to be mean I just want you to understand some people can think upon reading this)

Now let me get to the point. Do you honesty think that God cares what we look like or who we receive communion from? Shouldn't you be focusing more on the fact that they actually made it to church rather than the clothes that they are wearing? Maybe that's why your having a hard time finding peace with God. From Gods point of view your focusing to much on appearances rather than what is most important(showing up in his house in order to want to know him better). Has it ever occurred to you that maybe the people who are talking, are speaking about God or other things of that nature? If you put your focus more on God and less on what other people are doing or wearing then maybe you'll find that your personal relationship with him will grow stronger.

I'm sorry if I made you upset in any way, it's only an opinion.
God Bless

Answer 4

There isn't any "new Mass". The Mass is the Mass. It sounds like you are too wrapped up in the externals. Which is more important, candles and fancy clothes, or the Body and Blood of the Risen Savior? The Mass, and specifically the Eucharist, is the only form of Christian worship instituted by God Himself, and is the most intimate interaction with Our God that any human being can have while on this earth. Concentrate on the reality, not on nostalgic memories of how the external trappings used to be. The externals are traditions of men, which doesn't mean they are bad; however, the essence of the Mass is divine, unchanging, spiritual, universal, God's greatest gift to His people.

Answer 5

Well you should mind your own business bout other people and read the bible and what Jesus said on the subject of praying so that everyone else could see how wonderfull you are and his opinion on Ritual It seems he ignored the old laws and ritual of the pharisees you should Ignore the new ones made by man and look into your heart.
You stated your answer You should mind your own business stop playing God If you think other people deserve to be in hell then you are playing GOD my freind and for that you are in HELL right now because you are not at peace with God or the people around you.

Answer 6

just remember that you can be a catholic and be a christian---
but you are not necessarily a christian because you're catholic.

I was born and raised catholic and even have two uncles who are preists

there are alot of people in the catholic church that are victims of thinking that they're going to heaven because they are baptized and participate in the mass when in reality they are trusting in the "traditions of men " rather than the one Who saves and that is Jesus Christ

One point I realized what it meant when the ritual of the eucharist was being done

"It (HIS Blood) will be shed for you and for all so that sins could be forgiven"

that is the very reason we are forgiven. the only reason.

That opened up my eyes and made me realize that I, at that point, needed to be saved because the past 7-8 years did not mean anything. all my efforts were useless. i realized that i could no longer try to earn my way, but only accept the sacrifice that has been done

these other people that you speak about very well could be lost and going to hell and it's up to you to share the true meaning of the gospel--not the traditions and rituals of the church

Answer 7

Quit wasting your time. Make peace with your significant other , your family, neighbors and any other contacts and encourage them to do the same with others. Get real. If there is a God no one knows any more about Him than anyone else. Pray and see if the results are consistent. The Bible is a mixture of history, folklore,superstition and the writer's concept of good, evil and his opinion of what he thought you should know, right or wrong, just his opinion.
Educate yourself. Make a niche for yourself in this world. Be productive. Live and help live. That will make you a somebody. Churches are an insult to induction, deduction and any other form of rational thought....monuments to superstition. Man's inability to accept dead is dead.

Answer 8

first off, despite what people say, the Catholic church is a Christian one. we are saved by grace, the Catholics accept this. they don't deny the Trinity, so from all i can tell they are Christian.(as u probably agree). Paul rebuked divisive people that split churches.
but, I think the probelm is that your not finding a sense of aliveness in the church. a lot of churches become spiritually dead and dye off. seek out one that is living for God, or try to change yours.
u are right and wrong though,
God is willing to forive of any sin, we repent for.
but repentence is more than just saying your sorry, its turning from your ways. Jesus says, that he will rejoice at the return of just one of his sheep.
but ur are also right.
james 2 talks about the two kinds of faith, the saving one, and the non-genuine one.
so, i would seek out a church alive for God,
and pray to God, he can always help you through your difficulties.
the first several chapters of Habukkuk are pretty cool, basically Habukkuk seeks God's wisdom in understanding the sitch.
no idea if this helps, but may God be with you.

Answer 9

Though I challenge the fundamentalist attitude you seem to want for the sense of security it provides, I applaud your call for reverence. What you want to do is find a Catholic church that is as "high church" as possible, though Vatican II officially negated such a thing. You are right to want a church that isn't overly-permissive; you're on the right track. Just make sure to offer the acts of worship your heart is leading you to offer in order to be true to how the Holy Spirit is leading you as you search and talk to your priest. Voice your concerns; you never know: you may serve as a catalyst for renewal in your parish.

Answer 10

I hope you understand that I do not wish to offend you or anyone who is catholic. I grew up in a town that mostly catholic. I have many friends and relatives who are catholic.

The fact is that the roman catholic religion is bad news, not good news. I know you don't want to hear that but it is true. The Bible has all authority and is God's way of expressing His will for us. The roman catholics teach a much different gospel then found in the Bible. Many believe that they are the mentioned in the book of Revelation as the prostitute church. They make Mary and the saints out to be people who are to be worshipped and I just know that this would break Mary's heart if she were here to see it. The Bible never teaches us to pray to saints or Mary or to ask people who are no longer alive on earth to pray for us. There is so much more about the roman catholics that make them bad news, not good news.

Again, I don't want to offend anyone. I just want you to know the truth and pray and ask God to reveal the truth to your heart. I believe that the fact that you don't have peace is a way of revealing to you that something isn't right. I hope my answer helped you put your finger on it.

Seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.