| I am so sorry |
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This is a message for all those who have not received the fullness of Christ while in the Catholic church...as a Catholic I kneel before you and ask you to forgive us.
I wrote this previously in someone else's blog... but I just feel it needs to be said to many.
Please forgive us for many times lacking horribly in charity.
Forgive us for many times getting caught up in "religion" and not telling you about Jesus.
Forgive us for the long boring non-important homilies
for the cold shoulders at church
for our lack of community
for our lack of zeal
for our sinfulness
for our laziness in study of Scripture
For not teaching the faith clearly and relevantly.
Mike n Lau (someone who posted in that blog, I hope you don'd mind me paraphrasing your comment!) wrote in one of his comments that he felt that Catholics (or at leas a particular Catholic that was being talked about) consider Catholicism a religion unto itself rather than just another Christian 'denomination' And that when someone leaves the Catholic Church they react to someone leaving the religion rather than "merely switching churches." So its a big deal for Catholics.
He is so right. That's why we mourn so profundly when someone leaves the Faith. Even though we do believe that other christian communities do follow Christ and most of them with amazing zeal that we should imitate our hearts break profoundly because we know that a personal relationship with Christ inside the Catholic Church is so deep, profound, and real in a way it cannot be anywhere else....
but we have no one to blame except ourselves. It is my lack of zeal, my lack of charity, my failure to explain the faith.
Even though I have no authority to say this... in the name of all catholics...
I am sorry for failing you.
May you keep walking with Christ and may He in His Love, guide you to all Truth and Joy |
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This is a beautiful expression of humilty and I think we could all offer this same apology.
I don't think this applies to only the Catholic faith. All of us as followers of Christ are surrounded by opportunities every day to bring the profound love of Christ into some situation, and often we do not accept the burden. |
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| Hi Ali, I just happened to stumble across this blog and noticed that I was quoted. That's cool, and the paraphrase is fine. I'd just add that the Catholic church is the way it is largely b/c of the leadership of Rome. I hope you wouldn't feel guilty about that, but what would be a good thing is that which spurs you on to reach out to people for Christ as opposed to "for the Catholic church" (yes, little "c"). I'm ok w/being a Protestant, that isn't due to anything the avg Catholic parishioner has done or said. I'd just like to view you as another sister in Christ and member of His Body. Glad to meet you! ~mike |
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ali |
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July 12, 2007 at 11:22am |
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I have to say... I love the leadership of Rome :)
if us catholics lived by what the leadership in Rome tells us, wow! that would be incredibly awesome! oh yay for B16! (that's short for Pope Benedict XVI) |
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Sue |
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July 18, 2007 at 11:38pm |
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| Ali, This was so sweat :) Even though I was born and raised Catholic, it was just not my cup of tea. It took me 25 years to realize that I could look elsewhere. I thought just because my parents were Catholic, that is where I was "supposed" to attend church. I didn't even understand that I actually had options. I used to think church was boring. But now I think it is just because I like upbeat music and I want to be able dress casual and be casual. So a non-denominational Christian church works for me. It was at a casual church, which was more my style, that I first meet Jesus. What I am trying to say, is different strokes for different folks. Catholism did not work for me, but I am glad it is working for you :) |
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Caity |
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November 07, 2007 at 3:14pm |
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| I know this is an older post but I started reading Ali's blog and was struck by a couple of things. Everyone is talking about the Catholic Church like they are all the same. We are all taught the same things, but people are different everywhere. I personally joined the Catholic Church out of my own free will. I went to other churches and the Catholic Church was the only one where I truly felt I could be myself. I didn't have to sing with my hands in the air to show how "into it" I was. I wasn't faced with blatent racism (which I found in a pentacostal church - I'm NOT saying they are all like that). I was allowed to sit and be myself with God. To be with him in my way. None of the things that Ali apologized for in this post are present at my church. I walk away every Sunday or Monday or Saturday night or whenever energized and inspired by the rousing homilies given at mass. The priests at my church encourage me and all the other parishners to be the example they want to see in the world. I feel excited to join in with the fellow parishers that have reached out to me in so many ways. And I feel oh so comfortable wearing jeans and a tee shirt at church and having a real relationship with God at my Catholic Church. I'm not saying we are without sin? But may I ask, who on this earth is? |
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