I want to become catholic when I turn 18 but I dont know if anyone would take be seriously, my parents, friends, and the church that I would be attending. My parents think it's just a phase and I'm afraid that the church might think that too.
How can I show that I'm really determined to the church and that my age doesn't matter?
2007-03-20 17:03:22 · 24 answers · asked by jimmy 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'll be 18 in 3 months
2007-03-20 17:28:29 · update #1
follow your heart! go to church every sundy, it's going to be hard but your going to have to change your ways( if wild). people laugh now but the best revenge is to prove them wrong, and that is how you will gain respect as a catholic son of god. if people don't believe in you, you have to believe in yourself or no one will. i believe in you. i believe that you could do anything you set your mind to, and you should believe that too. god bless.
2007-03-20 17:12:41 · answer #1 · answered by lina c 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your parents might not take you seriously. Your friends might not take you seriously. I would hope that the priest and the church would take you seriously, but it is possible that they might not.
What matters most is what you are feeling called to do. If you feel God is calling you to become Catholic, you have to take the steps at the risk of rejection from peers, etc.
I'm Catholic, and from my experience, anyone who comes and tries to find out more about the faith is normally taken seriously by the church and the preist, etc. In rare occasions where they are not (God forbid you find a priest who is not interested in educating people who are looking to convert or a parish without a RCIA or RCIC program), there are always other parishes.
Take the advice of skepsis... it is very sound about RCIA and RCIC.
About your age and whether or not it is a phase. It might be true that you are going through a phase where you are getting more interested in faith and especially becoming Catholic. If you are honest with yourself about who you are, you will also understand that we all go through phases. This does not mean your interest is "just a phase" and you should not pursue it, but rather, you should know that you will constantly be growing and going through different "phases". When you are 25, you will not have the same faith as now. When you are 35 you will not have the same faith as when you were 25.
We are constantly growing in our faith and coming to believe more and more. So, do not be afraid if people label what you are going through a phase. It is a phase. But not "just a phase". Rather, it is something you feel deep down in your heart called to do. Courage!
There is also the possibility that other Christians will say you are not a Christian. This is mostly due to prejudice and misinformation about Catholic teachings. I grew up in the south and must say that many protestant groups had no real idea what the Catholic Church actually teaches. The RCIA classes should help you in corrctly understanding the Catholic faith, especially if they use the Cathechism. By the way, you might want to take a look at it even now.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM
2007-03-21 04:48:31 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Time. I believe young people should take time an research spirituality. Also personal meditation or prayer is important to.
I am not a Christian but I admire the Catholic and Anglican faiths, The Anglican Church in particular has show that it can address the crimes of its past and grow to be better than it was. Things like residential schools for First Nations peoples and the rights of women and so on. The Quakers and the United Church also.
Study. Then if you still want to join it when you are eighteen at least your parents will know that you really looked into it and were not just sucked in by a missionary! They love to steal our children!
Catholics have been more laid back in the last few years than they once were. LOL!That burning whiches stuff was murder. Get in there and make sure they remember we are human beings would you please! LOL! I still get heart burn!
Peace.
May your spiritual journey be a blessing to you and all around you always.
PS...re the lost comment! Very offensive.
2007-03-20 17:21:46 · answer #3 · answered by Jamie 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
People of all ages become Catholic. An 18-year-old would likely go through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program. There will be a few free-form Inquiry sessions where you can ask questions and discuss your intentions. If things are still agreeable, you would enter the program as a "catechumen" (or if you are already baptized, "candidate for full communion"). You'd get a sponsor (a volunteer lay Catholic to discuss things with individually) and meet in a group about every week to discuss the Sunday readings and related Catholic doctrine and practices.
The program is designed to operate year-round, although many parishes get serious about it in the autumn. Normally, candidates go through a final period of discernment during Lent and are fully initiated at the Easter Vigil service. But final readiness is a joint decision of the candidate, the pastor and the program coordinator.
Regular attendance at the sessions would be a strong indication of your commitment. So would getting to know parishioners and the parish staff. If you're convinced, they will be too.
2007-03-20 17:38:07 · answer #4 · answered by skepsis 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
How old are you now? People will take you seriously when you are 18. If you are a young teen people might think it is a phase, but not when you are 18. When you are 18 just go talk to a priest. When I was young I wanted to be a RC too and my parents would not let me. Every day I read the bible, said the rosary(which I made myself from old beads). Later when I was 21, I went and talked to a priest and took the catechism classes. (I am now an Episcopalian, but that is a long story.)
2007-03-20 17:24:29 · answer #5 · answered by tonks_op 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i dont think that the church will take lightly of this matter. If you want to show them that you are really serious then when you turn 18, show them that the decision is still there. Then they'll know that it is not a phase. but i would really recommend that before you really take the action, you sit down with your family and talk about it.
2007-03-20 17:08:20 · answer #6 · answered by Prem K 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
age is not a requirement for baptism. You can join the faith at any age. The priest would be more than happy to baptize you. Talk to the nearest priest and attend RCIA classes. It doesn't matter what the world thinks. Becoming a Christian is not a phase. It is a commitment to God. What better Church to belong to than the very one founded by Christ himself. Believe it or not, the Catholic Church is the first Church established 2,000 years ago by a Galilean carpenter named Jesus, who is the Christ. Welcome to God's Community, Welcome Home!
2007-03-20 21:31:49 · answer #7 · answered by adonisMD 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to a Catholic church near you and ask someone if you can talk to the priest about becoming Catholic.
If you have a Catholic friend or relative, ask them to show you how to use the Rosary.
2007-03-20 17:09:34 · answer #8 · answered by newyorkgal71 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Do you want to become a catholic or a Christian? I feel sorry for you because you don't know the history of mama.
Read these books first: "The Secret History of the Jesuits," by Edmond Paris
This is the book the Catholic press is afraid to mention. If you are a Catholic, or have Catholic friends or loved ones, this story is for you. The titled of this book is called "The Godfathers". It is free to read online and there is nothing to download
2007-03-20 17:43:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Before you do anything you need to be sure this is what you want! Do you really want to become Catholic? I'm Catholic and I admit sometimes the Catholic religion seems a little harsh even to me!
If you are sure this is what you want go for it! Talk to your parents again. Sit them down and tell them how serious you are about becoming Catholic. The next step is talking to your preacher. Talk to him/her and tell them why you want to convert religions.
2007-03-20 17:09:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just start going to church, become involved on the activities it has, in a few months you'll know the religion better and it will be enough time for them and for you to see if that is what you really want.
Peace.
2007-03-20 17:08:05 · answer #11 · answered by pulguita picosa 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋