Bill Bubble Guy said:
I think I'll bump this thread up. Maybe I'll meet some new church people or even get into some more cool discussions
Heya, Marty!
My mom is a Lutheran and my father is a Catholic. I was supposed to be born around Christmas (and to be named
Holly), but I was born premature November 10th of '81. I was very sickly and couldn't leave the hospital for a while, but my parents wanted me to be baptised quickly in case anything were to happen. So, since I was in a Catholic hospital, I was made a Catholic.
I hold my religion very close to my heart but, now in my later years, I do find that I share some beliefs held by Lutherans. Such as, the whole confession thing. In the Catholic religion, you're taught that you must go confess your sins routinely to a priest to be forgiven and for those sins to be wiped clean. But, I tend to side with the Lutheran belief that confessing your sins should be more personal, that through private, heartfelt prayer to the Father, confession can be far more emotional and healing.
You know, I remember when I was really young and in Catholic Sunday School. We had barely even been taught our basic prayers yet but we were taken to a Confession in the church next door. I was so nervous. All of our parents were there, and we were allowed to go sit next to our families once we were done with our Confession and then go home. Well, it's my turn to go into that little confessional and I did alright, except I was in there rambling off every little thing I did that I perceived as possibly wrong... Hitting my brother, forgetting to cover my mouth when I sneezed, not putting my gloves on when I went out last Monday, squashing a spider, not cleaning my room, not going to bed right away when I should have... You name it, I rambled it off. The priest took it all dead-pan and then told me which prayers to say and how many...
10 Our Fathers
16 Hail Marys
2 Act of Contritions
8 Apostles Creeds
What was going on in my head was crazy... First, I was terrified, because all of that for what I'd confessed? I thought I was the worst person ever. And, second, I knew the Our Father, but I was still a little warbly on the Hail Mary. As for the Act of Contrition and the Apostles Creed, at that time in my young life, I still had no idea what those even were. But, I was scared to tell the priest that. He basically rushed me out of the confessional, at that point, not even offering any solace over my misdeeds.
So, I went out to kneel at the altar in front of everyone and pray in silence to God to forgive my sins. I was practically in tears because once I said my Our Fathers and got through the Hail Marys, I was at a complete stop. Other kids in my class came and went, but I stayed up there in front of the altar. And then I got more worried than ever, because it felt like everyone else was going through their prayers quickly and leaving while I was still up there. The priest must have given then lighter sentences or else they knew all of their prayers... So, in tears, I just talked heartfeltedly to God, telling him in my own words that I was sorry like any daughter would to her father.
When I got up and turned around to make my way to my mom, brother and grandma, a lot of everyone's expression showed shock. And, when I got back to my seat, my mom asked me if I was alright and, "What the heck did you confess to the priest?" to warrant me to stay in the confessional and up at the altar for so long. LOL! It terrified me, at the time, but now my family and I laugh about it. Shortly after, we changed churches and things were a ton better.
Sorry to be so long-winded but I guess my point is that I like the Lutheran way of Confession better.
I feel sometimes that the Catholic religion wants us to be a God-fearing people. To love Him because He is our Father, but to fear Him because to make Him angry is to put our salvation on the line. But, I just don't hold with that completely. Yes, if you do something bad, it's natural to feel fear and apprehension. But, He's not just God. He's our Father and I love Him as a daughter. I pray to Him all the time, but most of the time, I speak to Him like I would anyone else in as open and expressive way. I spill my heart out to him more than I do say pre-written prayers. And, then I say good night to Him and tell Him I love Him, like I do my mom before bed. I guess, I speak to Him like a human being, rather than a God.
And, I do have questions... Like, why in the Hail Mary, does it say:
Hail Mary, mother of God... ??
Mary wasn't the mother of God. She was the mother of Jesus Christ, my and your Brother who died for us all.
So many questions, but not enough posting space, LOL.
I could write more, but I don't want to bore anyone.
Email/PM me though, if you'd care to talk more on the subject.