Children to be received into Catholic faith

KellyWelly

bonty44 wrote: »

Thanks Marcheline.
So how does transubstantiation present itself? What does that mean for my children? Does it mean that I totally disregard the beautiful Christening days which they both enjoyed and that the Catholic church does not recognise them? Does that mean that the Catholic religion does not recognise any other faith?

transubstantiation doesn't present itself - it's one of the Holy Mysteries. What it means is Catholics believe the bread and wine are changed in their substance (trans - change, substance - the make up of it) into the actual real blood and body of Jesus.

Catholics do recognise other faiths and things really have changed in the past generation or so - the Vatican II council made sweeping changes to the way things are done in mass and the new generation of priests and Catholic teachers are far more enlightened than in the past. I was brought up Catholic and I've never felt bitter about it.

shelley_crow

what do your children think?

Speaking as someone who was born CoE and mother decided to convert me to Roman Catholicism when I was six, all i felt was being powerless. I didn't have a choice and I think that's what's made me turn against religion altogether. If i had been given the choice, I would have remained as I was instead of having to go through a baptism, first communion and confirmation that I didn't want, along with being made to attend church weekly.

They may be young but it would be worth finding out how they feel about it.

bonty44

I think they are quite happy to be CofE but also quite happy to become Catholic as they go to a Catholic school so they see that as the 'norm', so to speak, and they both know Father very well through school.

I just want to be absolutely certain that i understand it all before I meet with the Parish Priest; I dont' understand all this jargon like 'Eucharist' and 'Blessed Sacrament' and dont' want to come across as really thick or not understanding and supporting my husband. He has tried to explain it to me but I just find the whole thing very complicated.

bonty44

Ooh, just spotted 'first communication' in your post, Shelley-Crow, what does that mean? I've googled all about being received in to the Catholic faith but that doesn't tell me much about what the children will need to do and what impact that has on our daily lives.

suki1964

bonty44 wrote: »

Suki1964, would you mind telling us why? I don't want my children to feel permanently guilty OR to feel that they can pass judgement on others. Just something that a few of my friends have said to me. I would really like to support OH on his faith journey but want to know EXACTLY what it's going to involve for my children.

My Father was taught by the Holy Brothers and his upbringing had a huge impact on our lives as children (not good) Now that was a long time ago and the Church has moved forwards in leaps and bounds.

Tbh, now as Im older and perhaps a bit wiser and more forgiving I have been turning more to the Catholic Church. More so now I have moved to part of the country where the church (of all faiths) does play such an important part in peoples lives.

shelley_crow

sorry, typo, should read communion.

If i remember correctly I was about 8ish, it is the precursor to confirmation. The kids get dressed up (back in my day it was in small versions of wedding dresses and boys wore shirt with a sash). This was to reaffirm the promises made on the child's behalf at their baptism and the first time the young person receives the host.

KellyWelly

there is a really good book designed for adults being received into the Catholic Church, maybe it would help you to understand it all, it's called "Your Faith A Popular Presentation of Catholic Belief"

I don't know what's allowed or not on linking but if you put that into amazon it comes up and it's £6.84

Marcheline

Hi again, the reason I mentioned it is because it may be confusing for your children to get their heads around and if you want to get them received into the faith then you may need to answer their questions on the host actually becoming Jesus, it's confusing enough for me as an adult, let alone children!

In answer to your other question, Catholics do recognise the need to work together with other faiths, but we are taught that there is only one true faith (the Catholic Church)

I really do think that the best course of action for you to take is to speak to your local Catholic Priest about any concerns you may have. They will be able to confirm or deny anything we have said on here and you can decide how best to proceed from there. EDIT: Just read your posts about coming across as thick to the Priest, do not worry about this at all: the Priest will understand that the technical language is going to be difficult for people at first! It might be an idea to speak to the Priest alone so that you don't feel swept along in the conversation as you might if your husband is there. Going by yourself at first means you can ask everything you want.

lostinrates

OP, fwiw my mother is catholic, my father was a C of E babtised aethiest who was determeined that I would have a broad view....so although I was Cristened catholic, and went through the ''normal'' First Holy Communion etc as a catholic and church every second week I also went to a C of E church once a month with my dad (for balance,) and the other 'dad' weekend we either did something fun or something educational. I don't recall it ever being an issue with any one at either church. But it would be fair to everyone to let the priest and vicar of your church what the deal is

Also, in my rural community catholic churches are quite sparse, so the local parish church allows a priest to give a service from a C of E church once a week. This is the first time I've come across this so I don't know how common it is, but it works here.

Savvy_Sue

KellyWelly wrote: »

there is a really good book designed for adults being received into the Catholic Church, maybe it would help you to understand it all, it's called "Your Faith A Popular Presentation of Catholic Belief"

I don't know what's allowed or not on linking but if you put that into amazon it comes up and it's £6.84

The school gave me a similar book, when I expressed astonishment at some of the things DS1 was and was not being taught at his RC junior school.I am sure the priest would have something similar as well, and would be only too delighted if he thought you too would be received.

As for your MIL, I shall keep my opinion of her opinion to myself. If you'd like a reasoned response to it, please send me a PM for a link to an article. I'm away for the weekend (planned before I knew MSE would be down!) so it will be Monday before I get to respond.