Not Centered on Christ?!

[Brother Adam]

We aren't focused on Jesus? What? We worship Mary? huh? We sacrifice Christ over again? What?

...In the first place, it is intended to stress that at the [color=purple]heart [/color]of catechesis we find, in essance, a Person, the [color=purple]Person of Jesus of Nazareth[/color], "the only Son from the Father...full of grace and truth...

Accordingly the definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, [u]in intimacy[/u], with Jesus Christ: only He can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity." - [i]Catechesi Tradendae 5[/i]

We don't teach Jesus?

Christocentricity in catechesis also means the intention to transmit not one's own teaching or that of some other master, but the teaching of Jesus Christ, the Truth that He communicates or, to put it more precisely, [i]the Truth that He is.[/i] We must therefore say that in catechesis it is Christ, the Incarnate Word and the Son of God, who is taught - everything else is taught with reference to Him - and it is Christ alone who teaches, anyone else teaches to the extent that he is Christ's spokesman, enabling Christ to teach with his lips. - [i]Catechesi Tradendae, 6[/i]

We don't know who Jesus is?

The unique and altogether singular even of the Incarnation of the Son of God does not mean that Jesus Christ is part God and part man, nor does it imply that he is the result of a confused mixture of the divine and the human. He became truly man while remaining truly God. Jesus Chrsit is true God and true man. - [i]Catechism of the Catholic Church 464[/i]

I am the way, and the truth, and the life. - John 14:6

We don't know what Jesus has done?

Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life, Lord Jesus, come in glory -[i] Eucharistic Prayer, Hebrews 2:14-15[/i]

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take awya the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace. (John 1:29)

We don't know where we are going?

The Church, to which we are called in Christ Jesus, and in which we aquire sanctity through the grace of God, will attain its full perfection only in the glory of heaven, when there will come the time of the restoration of all things. - [i]Lumen Gentium 48[/i]

[beautyforashes]

Before i started learning about the Catholic faith and really seeking answers these were the misconceptions that i had about what Catholics believed. i grew up in a Baptist church, and its a pretty common belief among Baptists that Catholics aren't Christians because they don't stress a personal, intimate relationship with Christ.

I was also raised to believe that Catholics worship Mary and the saints, and that they dont think they could go directly to God they have to go through a priest. I'm really burdened for most Protestants (especially where I am because i live in the South and there aren't very many Catholics here) because they are just ignorant to what Catholics really believe.

if i hadn't started dating a guy that was a really strong Catholic and started learning the truth, i probably wouldn't have even second guessed what i believed because i just really didn't know anyone that was Catholic. I'm so thankful that God's drawn me to where i am now and that i have the opportunity to talk to my friends and family about what Catholics really believe and help them to see truth instead of the stereotypical views.

[Brother Adam]

I understand, I chose to become Baptist from being raised Lutheran. Fundamentalists are often difficult to discuss things with. I sure know I was. It was only because of the dedicated patience and charity of people here and the working of the Holy Spirit that I found my way back home from the Baptist Church last year.

[avemaria40]

I haven't dealt with that, but ppl close to me question what i believe, and they aren't Christians and ask me why i would go to such a strict religion and remind me about the Church's dirty laundry, and it annoys the heck out of me b/c they have misconceptions about everything we believe as well.

[DeeDee]

[quote name='avemaria40' date='Sep 20 2005, 05:34 PM']I haven't dealt with that, but ppl close to me question what i believe, and they aren't Christians and ask me why i would go to such a strict religion and remind me about the Church's dirty laundry, and it annoys the heck out of me b/c they have misconceptions about everything we believe as well.
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How true. I was studying the Bible with a group of people recently and one of them, a non-Catholic, started talking about the Pope and how Catholics treat the Pope like he is God because the Pope says he infallable on everything. I was shocked to say the least. A lot of non-Catholics don't understand where the infallablilty comes in.

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

my teacher said that catholicism spent to much energy on statues and decerations and that catholicism dosen't focus on a personal relationship with jesus.

[Fides_et_Ratio]

[quote name='Extra ecclesiam nulla salus' date='Sep 29 2005, 08:35 PM']my teacher said that catholicism spent to much energy on statues and decerations and that catholicism dosen't focus on a personal relationship with jesus.
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I took a protestant friend of mine with me to the Greek Orthodox festival a few weeks ago (under the excuse of eating good Greek food... but I really wanted to grab some authentic icons)...
Then, last weekend, we went to a "catholic" party with some friends of mine from my theology class and she got all defensive about being the only non-Catholic and accused me of worshipping idols, to which I took extreme offense and demanded "And WHEN have you seen me do such a thing?!" and she blurted out, "that's what you bought! I was with you!"... I got very confused and asked, "what? bought what, where?" and said, "an idol! at that stupid thing you dragged me to downtown!"-- and then I realized what she was talking about and said, "the ICON I bought at the Greek festival? ... ICON, not "idol"... BIG difference" the only apology I got was, "oh "

[avemaria40]

My mom and I were talking and she says she doesn't understand why protestants don't think Catholics read the Bible. she was raised a Protestant but she became Catholic after i did and she said that the Mass was full of Scripture

[tojo]

[quote name='avemaria40' date='Oct 13 2005, 05:19 PM']My mom and I were talking and she says she doesn't understand why protestants don't think Catholics read the Bible.  she was raised a Protestant but she became Catholic after i did and she said that the Mass was full of Scripture
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Because most of them rarely read it or study it on their own, and don't know jack about Bible content. Of course, most Catholics don't know jack about Catholicism either....

[tojo]

PM Catholics clearly being shining exceptions

[Nathan]

[quote name='tomasio127' date='Oct 14 2005, 07:27 AM']Of course, most Catholics don't know jack about Catholicism either....[right][snapback]758053[/snapback][/right][/quote]

You know, this is very true. I must say that the majority of people I've come across and spoken with in my parish really don't have much knowledge of the faith outside of what they hear during Sunday Mass. This includes our lay ministers. I get the impression that the only reason they're Catholic is because that's the way they were raised.

[avemaria40]

I was the only kid out of 42 of us at Workcamp in my parish who knew all of the 10 Commandments. And my brother's CCD class did the Hokey-Pokey (don't ask me how that connects to Jesus, the sacraments or w/e, and the fact that this is a 4th grade CCD class, shouldn't they be learning about the Bible, Tradition, and service or something?) and my sister says she doesn't learn anything in CCD. People think we're not Christians b/c the sad thing is, alot of "cradle" Catholics (or Catholics who converted as kids and were put in CCD, like my brother and sister) don't know alot about what the Church teaches. It's really sad.

[theculturewarrior]

Catechesis starts with the parents. If we are going to have well catechised children, we need well catechised parents!

[avemaria40]

true, but if these kids are well catechized in CCD, whether their parents are or not, then when these kids become parents, the same cycle doesn't start over and over again.

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='theculturewarrior' date='Oct 15 2005, 01:20 PM']Catechesis starts with the parents. If we are going to have well catechised children, we need well catechised parents!
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Yup yup. the Declaration on Christian Education from VII emphazises that over and over again.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='theculturewarrior' date='Oct 15 2005, 12:20 PM']Catechesis starts with the parents. If we are going to have well catechised children, we need well catechised parents!
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Amen, amen, amen....