how can I become a better Catholic?

Question

i want to know more concerning my religion, to enhance my relationship with God...but where do I start? i read the Bible and follow it,should i get a bible companion?? honestly i want to learn more, be more spiritually at one...any suggestions? oh and also i WILL ignore all the comments saying Catholicism is not a true religion, know your bible not man, change religion and so on. if you do write that, know that one of the thumbs down came from me! thank u guys!!

I'm sorry Midge but I dont beleive that it is murder.

Answer 1

I suggest you teach religion education at your parish. You do not need to know everything to teach second or third graders.

Teachers have the opportunity to learn all kinds of stuff and become a better Catholics.

In addition to reading the Bible, you might also want to read:
+ The Catechism of the Catholic Church: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/index.htm
+ The Documents of Vatican II (these are very beautifully written): http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/index.htm
+ The books of Pope John Paul II

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Watch EWTN. Maybe go to a Catholic Book store and get The Peita and Imitation of Jesus (small devotion books) pray the rosary, wear a Scapular. God Calling is a good book or Story of a Soul by St. Therese. Look and see if your chuch has anything going on for young adults or a bible study. Catholic Churches usually have tons of clubs.

Answer 3

Daily Mass if you can manage it.

Eucharistic Adoration; just sitting in the Lord's presence.

Look and see if there are any Catholic Bible studies in your diocese.

Or start a Bible study group in your parish if there isn't one. There are "guided" programs that you can do as a group.

Personally I think I have learned more by watching EWTN and listening to local Catholic radio than I've learned anywhere else.

FREE Catholic CD's from CatholicCity. (see link below) I listen to them in the car.

I once heard a priest suggest that you say this simple prayer: COME AND GET ME JESUS! But you have to mean it. He will guide you to where He wants you to go and what He wants you to do. Just be careful what you ask for. :)

Answer 4

http://www.scripturecatholic.com/index.html
http://www.salvationhistory.com/
http://www.fisheaters.com/
http://www.ewtn.com/
www.newadvent.org
www.catholiceducation.org

these are sites that have helped me. the salvation history website has a free study course you can sign up for and do at your own pace. a catechism will help you out aswell. oh let me check for another site, they offer a free study programme aswell, http://www.amm.org/chss.htm, again this one is free but if you are able to donations are welcomed.

you can go to your local catholic store for concordances and other bible study guides etc........

hope these help you out and god bless.

some others, ewtn has a t.v and radio station that will help. if you can locate some of the writings by the early church fathers they can also help, i know that scripturecatholic.com has some of the writings. from the other people that answered gathering with others to study can be fun and interactive. sorry this is long but i just get so much joy when i study that i wanted to include all the things that have helped me that may help you.

Answer 5

I've gotten closer to G-d and gained deeper understandings through studying the lives of the saints. I'm Messianic, but I admire many of the Catholic ways and the devotion in which many of them live their lives in service to G-d. A couple of my favorites are Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Therese of Lisieux. There's a movie I have which I think you will get spiritual insights through... the first times I watched it, it seemed a little weird or confusing but it was because it had deep spiritual meanings that made my spirit just soar.... It also has beautiful music and nature scenes. It's really wonderful! The movie is about Saint Francis of Assisi by Director Franco Zeffirelli, called "Brother Sun, Sister Moon." (made in 1972)

Answer 6

Catholics discover their true destiny in Christ by their full and active participation in all of the work, worship, sacraments, and devotions of the Church.

Start out by trying to get to Mass at least one extra time each week, in addtion to Sunday.

Pray the Rosary daily.

Get to confession more often.

Read anything George Wiegel (the late Pope John Paul II's personal biographer) has written.

Get involved in parish activities. Join church groups and clubs. Give freely of your time, talent, and treasure.

Enroll in Catholic bible studies and other adult faith courses. When you're ready, begin to teach those courses, as well.

Spend part of each day working to develop your personal holiness, to increase your knowledge and understanding of the faith, and then, work at putting it all into practice.

Attend a Cursillo weekend, or other type of spirtitual retreat.

Send for my free Catholic Resource CD.

God bless you!

Answer 7

Here's a thing that worked for me - go on a Cursillo weekend. If this movement exists in your diocese, it is like a shot in the arm: RCIA in a weekend, and then a follow up method that works to keep it up.

Speaking of RCIA, you can always participate in that for a year. Even if you are already Catholic, typically the team will still let you join in the group if you feel like you could use a "refresher."

Answer 8

i too would like to get back to my religion (catholic). I think attending church is a good place to start. Maybe get together with some other people for a bible study or something. I'm glad you want to regain your spirituality!

Answer 9

Get involved with a Bible study group - if your parish doesn't have one, ask the adult faith committee to start one.

Find a parish or community program to serve in - when we give our time to God, He blesses us!

Spend time in prayer. There are many good novenas and prayer books available. Use them to help deepen your faith.

Consider a retreat - they are great for deepening faith as well.

Answer 10

Well for one thing you can start believing like a Catholic is supposed to believe--like abortion is a sin. In a previous answer you stated it was everybody's right. The Catholic Church teaches it is murder. One is supposed to be excommunicated if one espouses a different opinion in public. They excommunicate themselves really because this is an issue that cannot be reconciled with the Body of Christ. Remember when Jesus says "if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off ...." well, this is what he himself does to sinners and abortion is a sin and people that condone it are sinners. Now, true if you did not know then that is one thing but, now you do know.