I need help from a person of catholic faith?

Question

I am considering converting to catholicism. I don't want people's opinions on whether you think i should or not, I want answer.
What prayers are said and to whom and why

How do you believe you are "saved"

Do you believe in hell?

I also have some questions based on what I have heard about the catholic faith and if you could answer them, I would really appreciate it.
Why the repitition on prayer. Don't you think God, Mary, whoever the prayer is said to would get sick of the same thing, as would you if I just typed one word over and over again.

You say the sacraments must be performed to be saved right? (correct me if I am wrong). well then what happens to people in the remote parts of the world who have led good lives, but have never heard the word of Jesus or God.

Why do people go to hell?It is said Satan punishes them there for not following the word of God. He tries to stray people from God, why would he punish them for doing so.

O.K, this is to the one who I voted best answer(Jay). I can't thank you enough for the clarity you have given me, but with the belief, is it stated at all in the bible (if so what chapters;;I can find the verse). Also, do catholics pray always to Mary?

Answer 1

Catholic here, and a Knight of Columbus. Here are my answers to your questions:

1) Prayers I say are the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and a few hundred others. The best ones, though, are the ones I make up when I am just conversing with God. The order of the words is not what has meaning, my friend.

2) I believe I am saved through the sacrifice of Christ. By that, I am forgiven and made whole. I must accept Christ in order to receive this. If I choose against God...aka Sin...then I must ask again to be forgiven, and re-choose God. This is called confession.

3) I believe in Hell, and I do not desire to go there.

4) Reptition of prayer - this is to "prime the pump" of your mind to become able to listen to God. After a while, your lips say the prayer, and your mind concentrates on God. Then, you are in "receive" mode, and can hear God's voice. God does not get sick of the prayer, and neither does any Saint in Heaven. Do you get sick of anyone saying "I love you"?

5) Sacraments are helps in order to preserve salvation. Baptism is to forgive original sin. Eucharist is to accept Christ into you...physically and spiritually. Confirmation is to be sealed in the Spirit, as the Apostles and Mary were at Pentecost. Penance (confession) helps. Marriage and/or Holy Orders (priesthood) are vocations (jobs). And, Healing of the Sick is a prayer to help you get better, or to help your soul if you are dying.

6) The teaching of the Church says that you go to Hell if you commit a Mortal Sin and do not ask God to forgive it. A Mortal sin is one where you know it is a sin, consider it, and do it anyway. The "people in remote parts who never heard of God" do not know they are missing Church, or to not labor on the sabbath, etc. Thus, these are not Mortal sins. Equally thus, they are not held accountable for them. Counted are when they know something is wrong, think about it, and do it anyway.

7) People go to Hell because they choose to do so. God says (basically), "I love you. Love me back, and accept my teachings. Do this, and live forever with me. If not, to Hell with you."

8) Satan is ALSO being punished in Hell. It is not a bad place just because Satan is there. It is bad...AND Satan is there. Satan is rebelling from God, and thus wants everyone else to do so, also. He delights in our suffering.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have further questions.

Answer 2

Faith if a lifelong struggle. A good Catholic Christian will save he isn't perfrect but God isn't through with him yet.
The Church has 7 sacrament, Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Marrriage,Holy Orders
Penance.
Baptism can be done by anyone but us ordinary layment are not authorized by the Church to go around baptisiing willynilly. However in case of an emergency we can baptise. Even a defrocked priest can baptise and it be consider legitimate in case of emergency.
Marriages are usually performed by a priest or deacon. Celebrating the Mass where the Communion Host and wine are consedrated into the Body and Blood of Christ must be done by a priest. Confessons must be heard by a priest and contrary to what some people think, no money is exchanged. Holy Orders are bestowed by a Bishop on a newly ordained priest.
To receive communion a Catholic must be free of mortal (serious) sin. If he has commited a mortal sin, he must make a sincere confession before receiving Communion.
The Church teaches that there are people who have not come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ who will receive the baptism of desire. That is their lives will be such that if they were aware of the merits of God's grace through baptism, they would have been baptised.
No one is consider as being dammed because they are not Catholic or have not come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The Church does teach that there are two sins that can dam you, despair and presumption. We do not have the right to despair of God's mercy and we do not have the right to presume on God's mercy.
Sin in the long run is singular though made up of many sins. Sin is rebellion against God.

Answer 3

We are saved by the grace of God. It is this grace that makes us act. The Apostles did not just sit in the upper room and pray for people -- they got out there and did things. Hence the book of ACTS. The Catholic Church teaches that there are three ways a person may be baptised. 1. baptizm with water -- POURING (not sprinkling as some have reported) or immersing the person in water while saying I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 2.baptizm by blood (martyrdom) 3. baptism by desire - this is a tricky one because it has to do with a persons knowledge. If a person knows that baptism is important for salvation and is just too lazy or something to get around to doind it they are sunk but, if they truly wish to be baptized and especially if they are attending classes and something happens to them and they die, it will be as if they were baptised. Baptizm is the actuall betrothel to Jesus -- the Church's husband. Holy Communion is the consummation of this Holy Sacrament of the wedding. Beautiful. As far as the prayers go. The Our Father -- Jesus himself said "When you pray, say Our Father...." in this especially believe Jesus. I am sure he would have said "oh be careful you dont repeat this prayer all the time" How dumb is that thought huh? As far as Mary's prayer it is just basically Scripture. Hail, full of grace (this is what Gabriel said to her) The Lord is with you. (more Scripture) Blessed are you among women ( Elizabeths greeting) and Blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. As far as repetition. Why are the psalms in the Bible. They are the most beautiful of prayers. They are there to be said. No one says anything about repetition with them huh, It's clear there are things that should not be said over and over again but, these prayers are not them. In short they say they love Jesus. Suppose your husband told you once when you were first married that he loved you and never told you again. Would that be okay, I mean after all he told you once,--- no you cannot hear something like that enough.

Answer 4

1. repitition of prayer.(heathen act) Mat 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

2.sacraments must be performed to be saved? Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

3. to people in the remote parts of the world ; 2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

4.Why do people go to hell? Unbeliefe. Satan doesnt punish but will be punished, with all that refuse to believe Gods word. Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

5. Another question you should have asked is this. Should we call the Pope or the Priest Father? Mat 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
Mat 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Mat 23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

Answer 5

PRAYER:

Catholics are not required to pray in any particular fashion, other than our regular participation at Mass, every Sunday, and on selected Holy Days.

SALVATION:

God saves, because of his great love for us, through the atoning work of his only begotten son, Jesus. Let the others argue about the technicalities.

REPETITION:

The prohibition against repetetive prayer applies only to the pagans, who pray in vain, to false and empty gods.

Jesus commended the woman who tirelessly petitioned the corrupt judge, over and over, until he ruled in her favor.

St. Paul tells us to "pray without ceasing".

THOSE WHO CANNOT HEAR THE WORD:

God is sovereign, and may save whomsoever he chooses, for whatever reason he chooses.

Those who, through NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, do not know Christ, and never hear the gospel, MAY be saved.

However, if God chooses to save one such as this, that person will be saved by the application of the very same grace that was obtained for us, by the singular, perfect, and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, on the cross at Calvary.

DEATH AND HELL:

Due to the intentional sin of our first parents, all of humanity has become enslaved to Satan, sin, and death.

As powerless slaves of the evil one, we are all, absent divine intervention, doomed to share the same fate as our totally corrupt master, which is eternal death, and hell.

Those who faithfully declare their allegiance to Jesus Christ, typically through water baptism, obtain the forgiveness of sins, the power to reject Satan and all his works, become adopted children of God, temples of the Holy Spirit, co-heirs with Jesus, and members of the authentic Christian Church.

And unless, prior to natural death, Satan succeeds in once again turning a soul back to evil, he looses any prior claim he might have had on that soul.

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Happy Easter!

Answer 6

Prayers are said in worship of God, who is our creator and savior. Prayers are said to Mary and various saints in order to ask them to pray for us. The idea is that the people in heaven are closer to God and able to intercede on our behalf. (It's like a prayer chain.)
I believe I am saved simply because I look forward to joining God in heaven and because I have accepted him as my creator and savior.
The Catholic faith believes that Hell is only for those souls who truly do not desire to be with God.
As for repetition, you must keep in mind that God, Mary, and the saints are no longer mortal and therefore human conditions rarely apply. We pray the Our Father because that is how Jesus instructed us to pray, the Hail Mary in remembrance of her cousin's greeting, each one has a story and a reason.
The sacraments are tools that have been given to us by God in order to help ourselves become closer to him. I'm sure that no one who calls themselves Catholic could be justified in condemning you for not performing these sacraments, but in order to become Catholic, these should be experienced.
As I said before, only those who truly do not desire life with God go to Hell. Satan does not punish, he tempts and manipulates for his own gain. He is the essence of destruction, while God is the essence of creation.
God bless you and good luck.

Answer 7

If you really want to learn more about the faith, I would suggest sitting in on a catechism class. You can take the classes and are not obligated to convert unless you feel the Catholic Church is where you belong.

Answer 8

You've asked enough questions to fill a first-year Seminary-level class schedule in Dogmatic Theology, Sacramental Theology, Patristics, Hagiology, Soteriology and History.

Go enroll in RCIA classes at your local parish.

Answer 9

if someone in a remote part of the world knew nothing about Jesus Christ or the Catholic church, they could still go to heaven, this is called invincible ignorance, they would be judged according to their individual conscience, the "internal law" even those who know nothing about religion know when they are doing something evil or something good

Answer 10

This would take a book to answer. Just sign up for a class at any Catholic Church.