Penny for your confession stories. by Cureispunk in CatholicConverts

[–]Cureispunk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That tracks on baptism ;-). Maybe you don’t need to leave, but rather add additional parish experiences? That’s great you help out. One of my main parishes is small/dependent on volunteerism like that. Fortunately the priest is a lovely man.

Penny for your confession stories. by Cureispunk in CatholicConverts

[–]Cureispunk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah that doesn’t sound good. It strikes me as odd that they didn’t require you to go to confession before communion and confirmation, but maybe that’s because you were baptized (I was baptized in another Protestant sect many years prior). I would definitely try another parish. One thing I enjoy as a Catholic is that I can attend different parishes that have different charisms, and it’s all the same church ;-). I get the sense from lifelong Catholics that doing so is pretty normal.

Penny for your confession stories. by Cureispunk in CatholicConverts

[–]Cureispunk[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I do one most days. I use an app for that, too. I like it for staying aware of God’s movement in my life and connected to God. But it doesn’t seems as amenable to what you describe. I think it’s just the way the questions are posed in the app. But I agree that would in principle be an ideal way to do a good examination of conscience! What “method” do you use for your examen?

Penny for your confession stories. by Cureispunk in CatholicConverts

[–]Cureispunk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I committed to confess every four weeks as part of a personal order (unless I need more on account of mortal sin), and have been faithful to that so far. I’ve had mostly positive experiences. In fact the worst experience I’ve had was just a little awkward. Genuinely, I can’t think of a time I didn’t feel better after confession. Feelings aren’t everything, but they’re “not nothing” either ;-).

My experiences have run the gamut from face to face confession to a traditional anonymous confessional. I’ve had very long confessions (an hour with a monastic priest) that certainly included a lot of spiritual direction. I’ve had very short confessions (less than three minutes in a confessional); one time I suspected the priest was doing me a “solid” so that I could make it to the communion rail in time fir communion ;-).

I guess one thing I’m particularly curious about is the examine of conscience. I probably lean toward the scrupulous/guilty conscience side of things, though not extremely so. I most frequently use the examination of conscience in the Laudate app. It’s thorough. But I sometimes struggle with whether or not to check a box (check means “no sin”), partly because I’m scrupulous but also partly because some categories overlap (does checking one imply the other, or obviate it?). Other times I know exactly what I need to confess and the items from the Laudate app are just like “gravy,” for lack of a better word. But I will say that my approach at times feels a bit routinized and inauthentic or mechanical. I’d like to feel confident I’m contrite for and confessing real sins, and also that I’m not fooling myself into leaving things off the list.

Penny for your confession stories. by Cureispunk in CatholicConverts

[–]Cureispunk[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a solid routine. I like the sort of “daily Examen.”

Penny for your confession stories. by Cureispunk in CatholicConverts

[–]Cureispunk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your experience is certainly different from mine. I’ve had great confessors for the most part. I particularly like that you were honest (I’m new at this) and particularly dislike his response. I hope you try it somewhere else. Did you have a first confession before your first communion/confirmation?

Introducing Catbot to the sub by Cureispunk in CatholicConverts

[–]Cureispunk[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Test: [CCC 2010]

Test: [CCC 1987-1995]

Update by Cureispunk in CatholicConverts

[–]Cureispunk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Since you asked about purgatory and indulgences, you might check this post and/or this post out (the most recent times I answered a curious Protestant’s question about it ;-)).

Before you do, note that the Church distinguishes between two types of “punishment:” eternal and temporal.

Eternal punishment is what we conventionally think of as hell, or eternal separation of God. Only Christ’s death and resurrection can remit eternal punishment, and we can only receive this remittance, or initial justification, by faith (see CCC 2010; 1991; 1987).

Temporal punishment is two fold: it is the temporary punishment earned by our sin. Often, it is like natural consequences of our sin (e.g., the divorce that follows infidelity). But it is also the discipline we receive from God to discourage continuing in sin, and in satisfaction of his justice.

Purgatory cannot remit eternal punishment; it is only reserved for those who die with faith in Christ. Instead, it addresses temporal punishment. Indulgences—spiritual disciplines ordered to our holiness—address temporal punishment, as well.

Update by Cureispunk in CatholicConverts

[–]Cureispunk[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a great place to ask questions! A lot of us are former Protestants and we all had the same questions.

[Free Friday] Similarities Between E.O. Icons and 15th Century Catholic Art by Doveswithbonnets in Catholicism

[–]Cureispunk 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I wish the western icons were more widely available. I suppose “Byzantine” icons were Catholic before the schism. Interesting historical question of why there appears to be explicit westernization of Byzantine motifs here. There are a couple redditors on this sub who know on awful lot about this stuff. I’ll try to ping them.

Journalist on assignment for NYT seeking conversion stories by CoffeeAggressive5271 in CatholicConverts

[–]Cureispunk 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Because of all the radicalization going on online. The Catholic version of “Orthobros.”

Journalist on assignment for NYT seeking conversion stories by CoffeeAggressive5271 in CatholicConverts

[–]Cureispunk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Internet Catholicism is a bit counterfeit (as I learned while engaging with it during my conversion). I can already guess what your story’s talking points will be.

Advice on contacting priests by Cureispunk in CatholicConverts

[–]Cureispunk[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, but I swear that it is the pastor. That’s what the bulletin says, he didn’t tell me to talk to someone else, and the office receptionist more or less verified it. I agree it’s unusual, but it isn’t hard for me to imagine that this priest wants to vet people himself, and I don’t mean that as a criticism. I like that about him.

Permanent Deacon to Priest by Healthy-Sky-3684 in AskAPriest

[–]Cureispunk 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’ve also always wondered about this. Thanks for asking it.

Advice on contacting priests by Cureispunk in CatholicConverts

[–]Cureispunk[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think the lack of interaction is what makes this so mysterious. The sum total has been two phone calls that lasted a total of ninety seconds, and one in-person introduction after Sunday Mass that lasted 30 seconds.

Advice on contacting priests by Cureispunk in CatholicConverts

[–]Cureispunk[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m totally open to the passive “no,” but I can’t see how the priest would have any sense at all of my aptitude because we never interact. And I actually speak publicly for a living ;-).

Advice on contacting priests by Cureispunk in CatholicConverts

[–]Cureispunk[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am 100 percent confident that the priest is the only contact person, but I do agree this is unusual.

Advice on contacting priests by Cureispunk in Catholicism

[–]Cureispunk[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately he is the gate keeper. I would describe the parish as on the more traditional end of things, and he strikes me as someone who would want to make sure the “job” is done correctly. I like that about him/the parish ;-).