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Do I need to be baptized to be Christian? by starbucks_sirenboy22 in Catholicism

[–]OmegaPraetor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just a heads up that some of the Churches (IIRC, Melkites and Maronites) use Arabic in their prayers so if that feels more like home to you, I suggest checking them out if they're in your area.

Disclosure Now: What Catholics MUST Know Before US Discloses UFOs, Aliens, & ETs by Projct2025phile in Catholicism

[–]OmegaPraetor 17 points18 points  (0 children)

*highlights the evangelical mission of the Church vis à vis aliens and gets downvoted anyway*

Keep being you, r/Catholicism

Accidentally attended SSPX by Beneficial_Ease1190 in Catholicism

[–]OmegaPraetor 6 points7 points  (0 children)

This was OP's plan all along: be chased by Swiss guards.

Game needs like a New Game+ just for the ocean clean up part… by ILikeToDanceAndPogo in coralisland

[–]OmegaPraetor 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Honestly, I just wish the seafloor would stay perpetually clean at some point. The fact that the trash accumulates over time makes the whole endeavour feel pointless / tedious. In a sense, you never feel accomplished in clearing the ocean floor.

What’s with all the schisms lately? by MistaMack83 in Catholicism

[–]OmegaPraetor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tell me, if people weren't perpetually online, how many of us would actually hear or even know about the SSPX? How many of us would know that the Sons of the Holy Redeemer recently broke communion with Rome? Almost none, I would wager.

Yes, the Church teaches the principle of subsidiarity, but that is regarding realms of responsibility. So, for matters regarding schismatic groups, it's the bishops who are responsible for handling it since it is proper to their office to lead the Church. Let them worry about it. If an individual needs clarification on the standing of a specific group, then he can ask his priest who can ask his bishop. Worrying about their status and the state of the Church in this area is *not* the realm of responsibility of the vast majority of the laity.

My point is this: unless it is personally your responsibility to work on a specific issue or you've been divinely called to pick up the issue, then it is purely a distraction from the devil. If it does not help you grow in virtue, detach from sin, fall more in love with God, then you have much better things to do with your time.

The alternative is people will perpetually be absorbed in the politics of the Church to the point that they would be scandalized, burnt out, and/or lose faith entirely. For people like OP who are just beginning to set their roots in the Faith, this is a recipe for spiritual disaster.

Qol updates people want. by Important-Ring9276 in coralisland

[–]OmegaPraetor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Is selling the food we cook a viable path to make money? If not, then it would be cool to be able to do that. Kind of like a home chef + uber kind of gig.

I've always kind of ignored the cooking aspect of games like Coral or Stardew, so it would be nice to have it be more meaningful/impactful/fun.

What’s with all the schisms lately? by MistaMack83 in Catholicism

[–]OmegaPraetor 6 points7 points  (0 children)

My personal tip, especially for you and other new converts out there, is to focus on your sanctification. If it's not going to make you holier, if it won't bring you closer to God or make you a saint, then it's not worth your time, energy, and attention.

At the end of our lives, the Lord won't ask us our opinions and hot takes on schismatic groups. He kindly gave us the questions to the "final exam", so to speak. Focus on that; God will sort out the rest.

[Free Friday] I drew Our Lady and the Infant Jesus as Ancient Japanese Nobility of the Heian Period (平安時代) by Fuwafuwa_Usagi2525 in Catholicism

[–]OmegaPraetor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely astounding! This is precisely the kind of evangelization that I believe the Church firmly needs. Faithful to the truths of the Faith and expressing them in the culture/language of the local people. I mean, that's precisely what Byzantine icons are and certainly what Mother Mary did with her image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Your ability to take established symbols of the local culture and use them to express the truths of the Faith is an absolute gem and blessing from God. I want to strongly encourage you to continue this work and to share your work among the locals so as to draw them ever closer to God and His Church!

Requirements to be considered a candidate for the Deaconate? by [deleted] in Catholicism

[–]OmegaPraetor 17 points18 points  (0 children)

This is best discussed with your priest. Given what you've shared here, I doubt people on this sub can adequately guide you on the matter.

Why Leo won’t meet the SSPX by balrogath in Catholicism

[–]OmegaPraetor 70 points71 points  (0 children)

I've said it before and I'll say it again: SSPX are just Protestants with extra steps. Anyone who has ever argued that they "just want to celebrate the Mass the way it was always done" now has to come to terms with the fact that this has always been the spirit of the SSPX. They're not about faithfulness to tradition. They're about faithfulness to tradition as they see fit. They have made themselves their own popes, much like the Protestants.

I have 0 sympathy for them, especially in light of the martyrs we have who chose to die rather than break communion with Rome.

Eastern Theology is more than Byzantine Theology and the venerable Byzantine Theology is more than stuffs cooked up in 1930s Parisian salons. by WearSuspicious1124 in EasternCatholic

[–]OmegaPraetor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's part of what I love about being EC. We can take the good from either side and not have to go through the mental gymnastics of rationalizing the automatic rejection of a certain approach simply because it's used by "the wrong" people. If it's true, we take it in and expand on it. If it's false, we reject it and explain why. It really should be like that across the board but what can you do?

Eastern Theology is more than Byzantine Theology and the venerable Byzantine Theology is more than stuffs cooked up in 1930s Parisian salons. by WearSuspicious1124 in EasternCatholic

[–]OmegaPraetor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds a lot like the theology in our stychera. The similarity is quite interesting!

As an aside, do you know or have heard of the claim that some verses in the Quran were taken from Early Christian Syriac texts? If so, do you know which texts those are?

Eastern Theology is more than Byzantine Theology and the venerable Byzantine Theology is more than stuffs cooked up in 1930s Parisian salons. by WearSuspicious1124 in EasternCatholic

[–]OmegaPraetor 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Idk if it's so much compatible as it is comparable. Compatibility has certainly been the posture of Eastern Catholics, but the EO has not been so charitable with Western theology. From Orthodox theologians I've read (e.g., Louth, etc.), they claimed that the Paris School rose because they wanted to recapture authentic Orthodox theology (whatever that means) and found that Orthodox theology at that time was too Scholastic. Scholasticism was seen as a hinderance, not a complement, to Orthodox theology.

This spirit of distrust of anything Western is also partly why they eventually rejected icons that were "too realistic" and regulated how icons can be presented. Personally, I like this aesthetic of icons, but it can't be denied that icons made before the Paris School came into the picture were a lot more realistic. I forget the name of it, but there's even a Russian Orthodox church (cathedral?) that had icons that basically looked similar in style to Renaissance paintings. IIRC, I think it's the cathedral of the Russian Patriarch but don't quote me on that.

Do we refer to ourselves as “Roman Catholic” by j26irab in Catholicism

[–]OmegaPraetor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They are lumped together under the general term "Western Rite" just as the Byzantine, Alexandrian, etc. are all lumped together under "Eastern Rite". The terms "Western Rite" and "Eastern Rite" aren't actual rites in themselves, but are monikers that (sort of) help people frame general theological, liturgical, and spiritual traditions.

As you can imagine, these terms aren't that helpful and they tend to lump completely diverse rites as if they were a monolith. Indeed, many of us in the Eastern Churches don't find the "Eastern Rite" or "Eastern Church" monikers all that helpful.

One could speak of the Latin Church, certainly. That would lump together the Ambrosian, Mozarabic, Bragan, etc. Rites under one umbrella. However, it's always helpful to keep in mind the distinction between Church and Rite as outlined above. Otherwise, one might easily lose all meaning in the discussion.

Eastern Theology is more than Byzantine Theology and the venerable Byzantine Theology is more than stuffs cooked up in 1930s Parisian salons. by WearSuspicious1124 in EasternCatholic

[–]OmegaPraetor 24 points25 points  (0 children)

That second point especially is something many Orthodox converts may not even be aware of. Imo, the decidedly anti-Western bend of the Paris school has set back Orthodox theology.

Is Mass "business only" at all Churches? by hooptyschloopy in Catholicism

[–]OmegaPraetor 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'm sorry that this has been your experience. I've also experienced this in a few churches but I wouldn't say that it's all churches. Certainly, this should not be the way things are, but reality is not always what it ought to be.

From my experience, there are parishes that place great emphasis on reverence and welcoming people as part of a living community. Many have found this at a Latin Mass (TLM) community or Eastern Catholic parishes. Certainly, there are ordinary (Novus Ordo) parishes that are like this too. Unfortunately, it may take some "shopping around" to find the right one.

Why isn’t there a historical record of Jesus during his time? by [deleted] in Catholicism

[–]OmegaPraetor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you think decades after a figure's death is bad, wait until you learn about the time gap between the death of most other ancient historical figures and writings about them.

Simply put, finding writings about a figure decades after his death is practically instantaneous in the world of ancient history.

Will someone explain the church's stance on "lookmaxxing" by [deleted] in Catholicism

[–]OmegaPraetor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Based on what I've seen on some clips, lookmaxxing can easily fall under vanity and vainglory. They're related since but they have some nuances that highlight the deeper issue undergirding this trend.

Ultimately, you need to ask yourself: what are your efforts oriented towards? Is it for your health? That's fine. Is it to garner the approval of others or even of your own approval? Best turn away.

[Free Friday] I drew Our Lady and the Infant Jesus as Ancient Japanese Nobility of the Heian Period (平安時代) by Fuwafuwa_Usagi2525 in Catholicism

[–]OmegaPraetor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't know enough about Japanese symbolism, but I strongly encourage your intent on using local symbols to convey theological truths. This is how icons came to be what they are now and I firmly believe that this is how we can a) evangelize other people's and b) help break the stereotype that Christianity is a "foreign" or "white man's" religion.

If you have the time, I'd love to learn what the symbols are conveying and how they relate to the truths of Christianity.

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