tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post6982153185049843064..comments2024-03-05T14:07:28.062-08:00Comments on Ask Sister Mary Martha: On PointeSister Mary Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00580244097177195453noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-81504508371061964812009-12-26T04:42:26.980-08:002009-12-26T04:42:26.980-08:00Anonymous, if you're still checking back, I...Anonymous, if you're still checking back, I'd recommend talking with a priest as soon as possible about your desire for conversion. I was in just your position when I was 16, literally hiding Knights of Columbus pamphlets about the Catholic Faith in my room as if they were dirty books! I had been interested in Catholicism since I was 6 years old but I knew for sure that my parents would not allow me to become Catholic. They only grudgingly allowed me to attend Mass a few times. <br /><br />I intended to convert after I left home but got busy with college, married a non-Catholic, got busy with family, attended another denomination and only when we were in our forties did my husband and I finally become Catholic. Don't wait as long as I did. You may have to wait until you're 18 or have left home but you can be studying and praying until then. It can be good to wait because I've seen young converts leave for some other new faith after a year or two. It's good to be sure and RCIA takes a year anyway.<br /><br />The advice about reading the Fisheaters site is good. Wonderful information there, though it is from the viewpoint of traditional Catholics, those who attend the Traditional Latin Mass or TLM for short, as it was offered for centuries. In the Sixties, Vatican II changed the Mass and it is difficult to find a church that offers the TLM, even though Pope Benedict has given all priests permission to celebrate the TLM. (There is a little problem in that seminaries quit teaching Latin so priests have to re-train.) <br /><br />So unless you're going to become a traditional Catholic, some of the info will not apply, like the requirement of wearing a veil, although women can wear a veil to the Novus Ordo Mass if they want to. The Vatican officially calls the TLM the Extraordinary Form (EF) now and the TLM is called the Ordinary Form (OF), but TLM and Novus Ordo or NO are what you'll see used most at Fisheaters.<br /><br />Be aware, too, that the Fisheaters discussion forums, which can be reached from the Fisheaters site, can get quite rowdy and confusing for new and aspiring Catholics. You're also not supposed to join unless you're 18 or older, and it IS a sin to lie so use that as a reason for staying away! <br /><br />Unless you know a lot about the Faith from reading reliable sources, you'll find it a very upsetting place, I think. Some sound advice is given there but so is a lot of bad advice. It used to be better but a lot of good posters left. It may well be good again when good new posters sign on but beware of it at this time(Dec. 26, 2009) <br /><br />Did you know you can read the entire Catechism online? Also the Douay-Rheims Bible, the original English translation from Latin, and other, newer Catholic Bibles as well. <br /><br />Hope you come back and read this and good luck in your journey of faith!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-91421382867984657372009-12-21T04:57:03.610-08:002009-12-21T04:57:03.610-08:00Great Religion Magazine collection for all religi...Great Religion <a href="http://www.presstitles.com/view_all.php?catid=3&subcatid=12&sub_catid=153" rel="nofollow"> Magazine</a> collection for all religious people. Wish you a Merry Christmas and May this festival bring abundant joy and happiness in your life!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08450322587651810071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-21556068069581620112009-12-20T05:39:03.228-08:002009-12-20T05:39:03.228-08:00Sister, I just heard on the BBC about Mother Mary ...Sister, I just heard on the BBC about Mother Mary MacKillop...she has had her second miracle approved and is about to be canonized. I had never heard of her before, but she had a remarkable life, and would make a wonderful patron saint for us teachers. Perhaps you might look her up and tell others about her?drenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-821382410851630692009-12-19T21:03:16.611-08:002009-12-19T21:03:16.611-08:00Anonymous: I admire your following your own path l...Anonymous: I admire your following your own path like that. The thing about secrecy is that it suggests a certain unhealthiness. The secrecy aspect alone might freak out your parents much more than the content would, if they eventually "find out." They might respond like you're in some kind of cult. Maybe it would help to think in terms of "private" instead of "secret." It's normal to feel private about spirituality. <br />Good luck. I'm sure you'll find a good way to deal with it. I look forward to reading what Sister advises you.<br />Lucylucy minnowhttp://xxcatholic.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-4963023128905634372009-12-18T05:06:27.646-08:002009-12-18T05:06:27.646-08:00Anon,
I'm glad you are studying the Catholic ...Anon,<br /><br />I'm glad you are studying the Catholic faith and wanting to follow that. It is wonderful that you are praying the Rosary, and Mother Mary will help you. <br /><br />I, too, am a convert, having been raised Southern Baptist. Scott Hahn & Mark Shea, as the above poster mentioned, are good authors. I might also suggest David Currie's Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic. All of those resources will help in answering those around you, and may give you more confidence in that. I know it can be hard at first. It helps to assure your family that you have studied this in depth and prayed about it, so they know it isn't a whim.<br /><br />Finally, I suggest speaking with a priest, as he will able to tell you what else you need to do to officially enter the Church. I will say a prayer for you, too. :-)<br /><br />God bless.<br />SusanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-65946580695117022842009-12-13T15:38:44.128-08:002009-12-13T15:38:44.128-08:00@Anonymous,
conversion into the Catholic Church i...@Anonymous,<br /><br />conversion into the Catholic Church is a bit more involved than your current spiritual exercises (which I suggest you keep up, by the way). <br /><br />Obviously I don't know what all you've learned about Holy Mother Church. But you're going to be explaining things to Evangelicals. <a href="http://www.mark-shea.com" rel="nofollow">Mark Shea</a> and <a href="http://www.scotthahn.com/" rel="nofollow">Scott Hahn</a> both excel in this department. <i>Catholicism for Dummies</i> is a thorough and accurate introduction to the Faith, written for the person who knows nothing about it. <a href="http://www.fisheaters.com/" rel="nofollow">Fish Eaters</a> is an excellent source for explaining the whys and wherefores of Catholic culture and behavior.<br /><br />Entering the Church will require you to receive the Sacraments of Baptism (unless you already have), Communion, and Confirmation. You will be required to take classes, and you will probably be lumped in with non-Christians in the Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) classes.<br /><br />Whatever else, please, <i>please, <b>PLEASE</b></i> do not let me (or anything else) discourage you! Catholicism is not for wimps, but God's grace will be sufficient for you, no matter what trials and burdens come your way. The sooner you enter the Church, the better equipped you will be to reach the real goal of this life: sainthood.Arkanabar T'verrick Ilarsadinhttp://arkanabar.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-80001926671704449912009-12-13T06:29:45.881-08:002009-12-13T06:29:45.881-08:00Thanks for the recipe, Claudia. I was looking for...Thanks for the recipe, Claudia. I was looking for a cookie recipe that would be fun to do with my kids. I'll give this one a try.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-71323086626494629792009-12-12T11:17:16.095-08:002009-12-12T11:17:16.095-08:00Dear Sister,
It would be very kind if you could l...Dear Sister,<br /><br />It would be very kind if you could let your readers know about the latest issue of our journal 'CHRISTVS REGNAT' (http://catholicheritage.blogspot.com/2009/12/christvs-regnat-december-2009.html) and about our blog (http://catholicheritage.blogspot.com) to which you're very welcome to link/follow/add to your blogroll.<br /><br />Pray for me!<br /><br />God bless you!<br /><br />St. Conleth's Catholic Heritage AssociationConvenorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17939527929709019039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-35285100506300209022009-12-11T16:45:32.172-08:002009-12-11T16:45:32.172-08:00Brown Sugar Drop Cookies
1 egg
1 cup brown sugar...Brown Sugar Drop Cookies<br /><br />1 egg<br /><br />1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed<br /><br />1 tsp. vanilla<br /><br />1/2 cup flour<br /><br />1/4 tsp. baking soda<br /><br />1/4 tsp. salt<br /><br />1 1/2 cup walnuts, ground medium fine<br /><br />Beat egg at high speed until is thick and creamy. Add sugar and vanilla until smooth. Stir in flour, salt and soda. Then mix in the walnuts. Drop by teaspoon full on greased cookie sheet.<br /><br />Bake at 350 for ten minutes. Makes about 2 dozen. Remove and cool on cookie sheet then ice.<br /><br />ICING<br /><br />1 cup powered sugar<br /><br />2 tbsp. milk<br /><br />1 tsp vanilla<br /><br />add a few drops food coloring if you like (I use green and red)<br /><br />THERE IS NO BUTTER, MARGARINE OR OTHER FAT IN THIS RECIPE.<br /><br />They taste really good.Claudiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02714440790407126206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-80655464981310731672009-12-11T08:25:26.887-08:002009-12-11T08:25:26.887-08:00Sister, great post. thanks for all your wonderful...Sister, great post. thanks for all your wonderful words of wisdom.Gardeniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01425036479074701700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-53002970018821956962009-12-11T07:11:50.131-08:002009-12-11T07:11:50.131-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30512717.post-54234428795611071832009-12-10T22:21:45.702-08:002009-12-10T22:21:45.702-08:00Sister,
I am a teenager who currently lives wit...Sister,<br /><br /> I am a teenager who currently lives with my parents. I can't drive yet (soon, though). My parents are both Baptists but I did a little searching a while back, and decided it wasn't for me. I have never been very religious, though, we rarely attend church and I get nervous whenever we talk about God. I don't know why, I love to talk about Him to other people. I'm sorry if this is a bit long, but I have been practicing the Catholic faith secretly since February of this year. I pray the Rosary every night (though I fell asleep in it last night!), I study the faith and believe it entirely. God has led me here. But I have done it well, in secret. For all of these months I haven't even dropped the slightest hint to my parents and I have kept the faith entirely secret. I delete my history when I go to your website and other Catholic websites. I don't know why, I guess I'm scared of being treated differently. They don't know how much I have studied and they will probably think I just rushed into this. I guess I am a bit of a coward. Some of my Catholic friends from the net urge me to talk to them, but I just don't have the guts. Do you have any advice?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com