I'm catholic and I dont think i'm getting out of it-what do i do?

Question

Im 13, take religion at church weekly, try to go to church whenever i can. I believe in god and am catholic, was baptized and confirmed catholic, my entire family including extended are all catholic. When I go to church I dont really feel like i'm getting anything out of it, I pray and everything but i don't feel a connection or anything-I believe in god and I pray to him when I need guidance but when I go to church I don't get anything it's like the people drone on and it isn't getting through to me. WHat do you think I should do-I'm christian I know that but I dont know if another denomiation would get to me more but my family probably wouldn't accept the fact that i don't get anything out of catholic i dont know what to do because i dont want church to be a meaningless hour every sunday i want it to mean something, have an influence over me, thanks for any help you can give

Answer 1

Joe,

You say that you "try to go to church whenever" you can. What does that mean? Are there some Sundays when you do not go to Mass?

You see, you have a backwards attitude about Mass. Maybe it is not your fault. Perhaps your parents do not show a great fervor for the Catholic Faith. However, you should have a love for the Lord and a desire to be intimate with Him. You cannot get more intimate than receiving Holy Communion. Your heart should have a burning desire for the Eucharist.

If you have missed Sunday Mass, please go to confession as soon as possible, and confess this sin. Also, tell the priest about your apathetic feelings about the Mass. He will instruct you and advise you.

Whatever you do, do not listen to the biased advice from non-Catholics. They have an agenda to take Catholics away from the One, True, Apostolic Church founded by Jesus, and you are their prime demographic.

Learn about your faith, join the Youth Group at your parish, and attend Youth Conferences in your diocese.

Stop thinking about what YOU can "get out of" attending mass, but think instead about your faith in God and give thanks for all of the blessings you have received.

Answer 2

I think its great that you are so young, yet desire to know and want to have there be a spiriutal side to you too.

This is a nice article about "Worship that is Good for You."
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20060901/article_02.htm

The Bible has so much to offer us, forming a close relationship and a friendship w/ the True God is possible and we can benefit so much from it. The main thing is learning his name and using it in your worship and in your prayers. Look up Psalms 83:18

(Psalm 83:18) . . .That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth.

This short article also discusses how we can Take in Knowledge of God:
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20061015a/article_01.htm

Read your bible daily, just a few minutes even, you'll start off by learning about how the earth was created, learn about God's original purpose for the earth and why we grow old and die (all in the first few chapters!) You'll learn about how early on God had a plan to send Jesus to the earth and have him be a ransom sacrifice for us (Gen 3:15) then get to read about miraculous events such as the Flood, the Ten Plagues, and learn about how God was always with his people as long as they worshipped him as he wanted them too.

God doesn't approve of idol or image worship, and always made it clear it was something that if people did it they would not receive his blessings. The Bible is clear that his true followers are proved by their "works" (which means their actions and how they live their lives all the time) and not by what they say.

When you get into the New Testament you'll learn about Jesus and what he did on the earth and his love for his Father is so evident and apparent, and how he and his apostles spoke to people about the coming of God's Kingdom and how it was going to be a real government to end mankinds problems forever. This is the message he preached when he was on the earth, and thus he instructed his followers to do the same thing.

* Matt 24:14 & also
(Matthew 28:19-20) . . .Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded YOU. And, look! I am with YOU all the days until the conclusion of the system of things. . .

You need to be able to learn what he Bible truly has to say, make it a part of your life and not have it feel like its a burden in any way.

(1 John 5:3) . . .For this is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome,. . .

I have loved studying and learning what the Bible has to say, I started studing the Bible when I was your age, and it was the best decision I ever made.

What We Believe in our Faith:
http://www.watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_03.htm

Pray about it, use God's name and ask him and tell him you want to learn about him and serve him the way that he wants. Tell him in your prayer that you want to benefit and get something out of your worship and have it mean something and have you really be able to understand and apply what you learn.

(Psalm 145:18) . . .Jehovah is near to all those calling upon him, To all those who call upon him in trueness.

Answer 3

It isn't unusual for someone your age to find church a place where "people drone on".

I think you are worrying too much about what you should get out of it. I don't think much would change at this point if you were going to a Catholic Church or another Christian Church.

When I was growing up my Father was Catholic and my Mother was Protestant. I went to Catholic Mass every other Sunday and to a Protestant Church (Presbyterian) the other weeks. It sounds like it might have been confusing but for the most part it wasn't because I could ask questions when differences came up - and they did. When I was 18 years old, I decided which Church I wanted to join.

So, my point is that at any Christian Church you will learn about the Christian faith - and you said you are a Christian so as you go to Church as you get older it will start to become more meaningful to you. When you get to college you might want to try out some Protestant Churches (or you might not) and I think that is fine but I don't think you need to worry yourself or upset your parents by going on a spiritual quest until you are a bit older.

Please be careful about taking advise from people over the Internet or anywhere for that matter who tell you one organized religion is better than another. A lot of people don't agree with the teachings of the Catholic Church but your parents do. Right now you are 13 years old. The most important people in your life are your parents and your family and they are the people you can trust. Trust them until you are old enough to make your own decision about which organized religion you want to join. In the meantime, enjoy being WITH your family at Church services especially during the Christmas Season.

Answer 4

i admire EWTN and that i admire the Church. i replaced right into a protestant yet am now Catholic. there is plenty splendor and expertise and actuality interior the Church that at cases i will’t convey the excitement i've got faith for Her. in case you don’t understand various the element you notice on EWTN, you're able to hold out a little analyzing, seek the internet approximately Catholicism. there's a clarification for each little thing that we do, and multiple of the rituals and ceremonies practiced are very, very previous. in case you maintain gazing EWTN, you’ll finally start to catch on additionally. they have a good number of academic classes that I watch; learn something new every time. God bless and take care.

Answer 5

If you are really 13, don't try to over analyze everything. You are a teenager and your mind is a sea of confussion in every area of your life. Hormones are bouncing off the wall and life makes no sense to you at all. Even though I'm not a religious person, I like the fact that you are a young man who realize things and pays attention to details, however, what you are getting out of going to church is part of a diciplinary period in your life. It teaches you some good morals, (hear the message not the fantasy). One hour is nothing time wise, but time spend with your parents is "priceless" and "timeless". Now , you are the only one that can make your visits to church meaningful or meaningless, it's up to you.

Answer 6

First of all, you say you don't get anything out of Mass, but you get the Holy Eucharist! That alone is huge. The Real Presence of Christ in the Host is a way for you to gain graces to live your life according to what Jesus taught us. Isn't that spectacular? And it's an actual physical connection with God. I think your religious education must be lacking if you have never been taught this. Go to www.therealpresence.org to learn more about that.

Also, you seem to be very concerned about what you are GETTING out of religion. That's part of your problem. Jesus taught us that we're supposed to be GIVING, not GETTING. Start thinking in terms of what gifts you have already received from God (your personal talents, I mean) and think of ways you can use those gifts to help other people. Consider volunteering for a soup kitchen or doing lawn/snow/household work for elderly people in your neighborhood who can't do it themselves. Is there a Life Teens program at your parish or something else just for teens?

Are you an altar server? You are now old enough to help with the incense at High Mass and get more involved -- and thus more understanding -- of everything that goes on at the altar. If you can sing, join the choir. You get the idea.

It's by giving of ourselves, pouring ourselves out for Jesus, that we gain anything at all.

Answer 7

I also did not feel that much when I go to church. Even on the youth leadership team, I was always hearing how people were like "God was really using me." I did not understand. Yet everyone says how even my spiritual gift was faith, and how God really used me.

Not everyone feels everything. You believe in God, and you act for Him. To me, that is enough, however I am not a Catholic, rather I am Protestant, so I am not certain about some of the traditions.

Answer 8

Just be glad this isn't 60 years ago. Think how boring it would be if mass were still in Latin!

Well, you can take some comfort for knowing you're not alone. I and probably other Catholics share your general apathy. I haven't decided myself what I'm going to do about it. And in your position you'll probably be stuck going to church for a while with your parents anyways. But it's good you're thinking about it, and when you get older, you could try other churches. I went to a Lutheran college, and the mass there was infinitely more engaging than it was at my hometown church. But I still haven't settled on what church I'll end up going to. But the fact that you're thinking about it is good. Just keep an open mind. Churches are man's best attempt to do what they think God wants and guide people in their life, but some of them seem to be better at it than others.

Answer 9

It sounds as if you don't understand what goes on at Mass. Merely attending Mass regularly does not automatically mean one knows what's going on.

Learn more about the Mass itself. The more you know about the Mass, the more you will get out of it.

Also, bare in mind that we do not attend Mass to "get" anything out of it. We attend Mass to "give" something into it. It's in giving at the Mass that we find ourselves getting something out of it.

Look up the book, "We Worship: A Guide to the Catholic Mass", by Father Oscar Lukefahr. It explains the origin of every aspect of the Mass. What's going on, why it's done, why it's done at that point in the Mass. Believe me, you will learn alot, and have a new appreciation for the Mass.

Answer 10

Until your 18 your kind of stuck. My guess at 13 you don't feel anything because its being forced down your throat. I remember growing up and WE HAD TO GO TO CHURCH. I would make up anything to try and get out of it. My parents found that unacceptable. I believe in God, always have. If I were you just respect your parents and go to church. When your old enough to make your own decisions. Do just that. Until then, happy church going.