Can we have a positive thread about Catholicism?

[PadgettsDream]

There is currently a thread running where there is a lot of criticism of the Catholic Church which is in many cases fair enough and it needs to be discussed but that thread in my opinion often strays into outright anti-Catholic sentiment and even bigotry against Catholics and Catholicism in general.

So I wonder if anyone would like a space to talk about the positives of the Church? I myself was raised Catholic, went to a convent School and it was wonderful really. I did not have any bad experiences and the Church has always been a source of strength and comfort for me. It doesn't dominate my life, I'm not brainwashed by it but its been an important foundation for me and I am thankful for it. In my own family history the Church stepped in and helped when nobody else would.

Any other positive stories?

Yes, it is a bit. The other thread was very upsetting and I had hoped that this would be a space where people could just share things. Perhaps we could amend the title to the Catholic faith so that it would be a bit clearer. I understand why people have issues with the church, I really do. I just don't think this thread should be used for that.

No, the other thread was surely for that. With spades.

Anyone recommend a good store for Catholic books and bits and bobs? I liked Veritas in Dublin but obviously I don't live there anymore. I got a beautiful set of rosary beads made by a woman in Glasgow - a green stone, agate I think.

I'll admit I'm a bit haphazard with Mass on Sunday - I much prefer weekdays

I hid the other thread, because if posters wanted to rant then let them, no amount of explaining would change their minds. Unfortunately this thread became a target too, I'm sorry OscarAmmonite that you felt you needed to explain yourself to someone who clearly didn't want to understand and decided to come on to cause upset. Enjoy your trip.

I hope I didn't upset anyone else. It just floods out of me, I think because I wasn't listened to at the time - except the retreat facilitators who were lovely. I was an isolated child in my family - I can see why I was picked by a predator.

Please don't apologise or think you've upset anyone. If you want to talk about it, that's fine.

We'll listen to you.

I'm actually pagan and wiccan as an adult but I went to an all girls school run by nuns even though I'm not catholic and on a few field trips with nuns. My home life was not happy but my life with the nuns were some of the happiest times I've ever known. They were always kind to me.
I was baptised C of E and mass is almost certainly more invigorating then the C of E services at which I felt absolutely nothing and to be honest are incredibly boring. I kept thinking this church was only created so that Henry 8th could get a divorce and rebuild his wealth by ransacking the monasteries. It isn't really a healthy start to a religion.

That's very kind of you Maireas - I feel as if I'm among friends 💐

I've largely put it behind me. When you get to your 50s lots of things have happened to you!

You are among friends, @OscarsAmmonite2 - well, most of us! Think about why the OP started this thread, and all the positives that have been posted. If you are gaining strength from your faith and your new created family, then those are huge massive rays of sunshine in any darkness ☀️

I often think of Imbolc around St Brigid's Day!

I remember a few field trips with nuns too. My school was beside the sea so the were lots of nuns in rockpools teaching marine biology.

I've come across a few Twitter accounts that I'm enjoying twitter.com/EileanIdhe?t=cJdarYdHRLMICSbgGSrDUA&s=09

Particularly like the compline tweets

St Paul's bookshops are pretty good. There's o e in Liverpool and some oth the cathedrals have them.

I am a lapsed catholic. I like the sense of identity and despite the services being longer and more formal I think the congregation tends to be less stuffy than anglican.

Agree with the sense of calm.

@Gettingbysomehow I kept thinking this church was only created so that Henry 8th could get a divorce and rebuild his wealth by ransacking the monasteries.

You'd be correct.
It was a political move, not a religious one and Church of the time was just collateral damage.

What I don't agree with is that the UK sovereigns have retained the title "Defender of the Faith".
That is no longer applicable.
The title was first conferred by Pope Leo X on Henry VIII (Oct. 11, 1521) as a reward for the king's pamphlet Assertio septem sacramentorum adversus Martinum Lutherum (“Declaration of the Seven Sacraments Against Martin Luther”), written against Luther.

IMO it is no longer applicable and should be removed, but that's another discussion.......🤔

Congratulations to your friend 💗
I was baptised and confirmed into the Catholic Church at the Easter vigil a few years ago. I agree it is so beautiful and emotional, a wonderful thing to experience.
We also had our marriage convalidated just before this to make it sacramental.
I hope your friend is enjoying her faith journey too 😊

I love that we have the obligation to go to Church, so many people view going to Church on a Sunday as just something that they do if they have no other plans, but we should be, putting going to Mass first. I love that it's the same Mass where ever you go, so if you can't get to your usual place you're not going to miss out.

Yes and you can pretty much follow along even if the Mass isn't in English.

I seem to be a creature of habit in terms of seating in the church - I always sit in the same place.

I remember bringing young ds to our local Presbyterian church for a Christmas service once. He was much impressed by the soft seats and asked if we could go there instead in future 😂

Does anyone have a home altar or a small nook where they can say a few prayers? I have a water font near our door which is nearly always dry as I've had difficulty getting holy water but I was thinking of having a little area in my office - I'm going to get some medieval/early modern religious art postcards today at an art gallery.

I find the responses to people who ask about how you reconcile the faith with abuse ans suffering frankly unchristian. They are snarky eg ‘hope that helps’, people are told to read the thread as it’s been covered, when it hasn’t been covered. It’s just shut down. Others have been told this isn’t the thread for this, it’s a positive thread. The comment ‘because it’s bath water not baby’ is particularly minimising. These rude and minimising attempts to close down genuine questions about horrible behaviour from your church, that has wrecked many peoples lives, really concerns me. I’m glad I’m not part of such an institution.

They weren't genuine questions, just repeated attempts to derail the thread. There is another thread where people can discuss this to their heart's content. As I've mentioned before I've been sexually abused myself and find the constant barrage of questions triggering.

@padgettsdream would you consider asking MN to amend the title of this thread to reference the Catholic Faith?

I just want to say that I am grateful for this thread. I hadn’t really realised about the rhythm of the Church Year - was it St Brigid day mentioned?

Obviously I know the bigger Feasts - Easter etc - but I hadn’t thought about the scale and depth of Feast Days in the whole year. That said - our Priest has been talking about the history of Saints on their Feast Days during the week.

I would like it if the thread kept going - I do find - in real life - that there’s a common understanding amongst Catholic women. I am not ignoring men, but I do tend to talk to other women socially.

I think we can learn from each other. I’m intrigued about the sense of Peace that’s been mentioned so much. That’s really quite mystical.

Ages ago (on the thread), I did mention I have cancer. It’s a rare one and not curable, and likely will kill me (hopefully later than sooner). But obviously at these times, if we are inclined at all, we come back to and are sustained by, our Faith.

I’m not being negative, just honest. I do love the sense of calm togetherness on this thread.

xx

Morning, @RedRosesPinkLilies . I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis, and hope that you find strength and peace. You make an important point about the community of women. I think that's what helped me when I was younger, going to a convent school - it was a female community of strength and support. Finding peace can be elusive, I hope that we can all find it. 🌹