I Need Advice

carcon · #1 Jun 12, '12, 1:38 pm

I have been a Catholic for three years. I made a friend in my RCIA class, but recently I am not happy about the direction she is going in. She is interested in sensationalism, like bleeding statues, visionaries, feelings, and ALL KINDS OF WEIRD stuff that labels itself as Catholicism on the internet.

The friend is an ex-Seventh Day Adventist. She constantly talks about how we are in the "End Times." I have read the book of Revelation in the Holy Bible and the Catechism and don't see that at all.

She says that she prays and that God speaks directly and immediately to her in her thoughts -- like in a conversation. Yesterday she said that God told her that "I don't get it" when it comes to the End Times. As far as I know, God hasn't lost my number and would gift me with this information if I needed to hear it.

Her day consists of a long litany of little "miracles." I think that she is being a Lone Ranger in her interpretation of sacred scripture and is very whimsical in her experiences with God.

I don't know how to explain this to her. Should I just start from today and be very honest about my feelings? Or should I sit down with her and address the whole issue? I don't want to hurt her.

Wouldn't the Church be preparing us for the End Times, if we were into that period of the Bible?

Also, she has all kinds of "crusaides" where she wants to spread the Truth. I don't feel that burden. I pray for my nonCatholic family and try to care for them as best I can. I try to walk what I talk. Isn't that what I am supposed to do?

Any advice? Thanks for letting me vent!

aicirt · #2 Jun 12, '12, 2:38 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by carcon

I have been a Catholic for three years. I made a friend in my RCIA class, but recently I am not happy about the direction she is going in. She is interested in sensationalism, like bleeding statues, visionaries, feelings, and ALL KINDS OF WEIRD stuff that labels itself as Catholicism on the internet.

The friend is an ex-Seventh Day Adventist. She constantly talks about how we are in the "End Times." I have read the book of Revelation in the Holy Bible and the Catechism and don't see that at all.

She says that she prays and that God speaks directly and immediately to her in her thoughts -- like in a conversation. Yesterday she said that God told her that "I don't get it" when it comes to the End Times. As far as I know, God hasn't lost my number and would gift me with this information if I needed to hear it.

Her day consists of a long litany of little "miracles." I think that she is being a Lone Ranger in her interpretation of sacred scripture and is very whimsical in her experiences with God.

I don't know how to explain this to her. Should I just start from today and be very honest about my feelings? Or should I sit down with her and address the whole issue? I don't want to hurt her.

Wouldn't the Church be preparing us for the End Times, if we were into that period of the Bible?

Also, she has all kinds of "crusaides" where she wants to spread the Truth. I don't feel that burden. I pray for my nonCatholic family and try to care for them as best I can. I try to walk what I talk. Isn't that what I am supposed to do?

Any advice? Thanks for letting me vent!

I'm thinking that this might be a subject that your RCIA instructor should address for the benefit of the whole class.

There are those that are approved by the Church and those that are not approved plus others awaiting approval. There's a show on Lourdes by EWTN that goes into detail of how miracles are judged to be miracles.

This is a part of our beliefs and it is certainly intriguing but things should be explained to her and to the others thinking about converting.

Julia Mae · #3 Jun 12, '12, 2:43 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by aicirt

I'm thinking that this might be a subject that your RCIA instructor should address for the benefit of the whole class. .

It was three years ago.

A lot of people get caught up. She sounds a touch unstable. Or in need a of vigorous outdoor exercise.

Volunteer for some different things at the parish and make news friends.

carcon · #4 Jun 12, '12, 2:43 pm

Thank you for your response. We both finished RCIA two years ago. I believe in all of the Church-approved miracles and think that they are amazing. My friend, though, finds all this unapproved stuff and passes it off as the Gospel truth. I think that she should be more careful and exercise a little bit of healthy scepticism.

This has been building up in me for some time now.

Thanks for your input.

carcon

carcon · #5 Jun 12, '12, 2:45 pm

Julia,

Maybe she is a little unstable. Good advice.

Thank you.

TheRealJuliane · #6 Jun 12, '12, 2:46 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by carcon

Thank you for your response. We both finished RCIA two years ago. I believe in all of the Church-approved miracles and think that they are amazing. My friend, though, finds all this unapproved stuff and passes it off as the Gospel truth. I think that she should be more careful and exercise a little bit of healthy scepticism.

This has been building up in me for some time now.

Thanks for your input.

carcon

I think the Catholic Church actually attracts some people who are ... shall we say, as Julia Mae nicely put it ... unstable. The miracles, the statues, the rituals...there are some people who live in the realm of supernatural all the time anyway...

I'd start making some new friends. And, I would contact the RCIA director and let him/her know that this happened and could they somehow discourage it in RCIA?

**Trishie** · #7 Jun 12, '12, 2:47 pm

I think this scripture speaks to this issue:

“The time is sure to come when, far from being content with sound teaching, people will be avid for the latest novelty and collect themselves a whole series of teachers according to their own tastes; and instead of listening to the truth, they will turn to myths.” [2 Timothy 3:3-5]

agnes therese · #8 Jun 12, '12, 2:48 pm

I think you could gently remind her, when she brings these up, that they have not been approved by the Church. It probably won't change her mind right now, but you might plant the seed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by carcon

Thank you for your response. We both finished RCIA two years ago. I believe in all of the Church-approved miracles and think that they are amazing. My friend, though, finds all this unapproved stuff and passes it off as the Gospel truth. I think that she should be more careful and exercise a little bit of healthy scepticism.

This has been building up in me for some time now.

Thanks for your input.

carcon

SMHW · #9 Jun 12, '12, 2:50 pm

Well, first off, the Church teaches us that we have been in the "last times" since Jesus ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit. So in that sense, if the second coming of Christ ends up being tomorrow, the last three years will be no more the last days than the last 1500 years.

Yes, there are Catholic approved messages that the Blessed Mother has delivered to saints and modern visionaries. Some of these seem to suggest that the (very) last days could be as in the lifetimes of those who are currently alive. But Catholics are not obliged to believe such private revelations, even if they were received by canonized saints.

Perhaps your friend is still very much under the influence of her Seventh Day Adventist background. Perhaps she is experiencing a new Catholic honeymoon by latching on to teachings that are similar to what she heard as a non-Catholic. She is free to be a crusader for what she believes ...so long as it is approved by the Church. But she should not be trying to tell you that you are a bad Catholic if you don't wish to get involved with optional practices. (I'm not saying she's calling you a bad Catholic but when people fall in love with a cause they often think there is something wrong with people who feel differently.)

If your friend is being a pest about her beliefs then you may need to distance yourself from her. But I suggest that you continue your own study of the Catholic faith, including learning about what the Church teaches about the last days.

carcon · #10 Jun 12, '12, 3:01 pm

Wow! all of you have given some very much needed practical advice. She really is chasing after every flashy doctrine that blows by. I am going to distance myself. It is getting to be very irritating. For awhile I was thinking that I was the one who was wrong because I didn't "FEEL" all of her "waves of glory." But as I attended the mass more and read the Bible and the Catechism, I began to experience a deep contentment and knowing that our faith is not based on feelings. It is based on our beliefs, our baptism, etc. I love being in the Presence of the Eucharist. I love the mass!!!

Dorothy · #11 Jun 12, '12, 3:27 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by carcon

I have been a Catholic for three years. I made a friend in my RCIA class, but recently I am not happy about the direction she is going in. She is interested in sensationalism, like bleeding statues, visionaries, feelings, and ALL KINDS OF WEIRD stuff that labels itself as Catholicism on the internet.

The friend is an ex-Seventh Day Adventist. She constantly talks about how we are in the "End Times." I have read the book of Revelation in the Holy Bible and the Catechism and don't see that at all.

She says that she prays and that God speaks directly and immediately to her in her thoughts -- like in a conversation. Yesterday she said that God told her that "I don't get it" when it comes to the End Times. As far as I know, God hasn't lost my number and would gift me with this information if I needed to hear it.

Her day consists of a long litany of little "miracles." I think that she is being a Lone Ranger in her interpretation of sacred scripture and is very whimsical in her experiences with God.

I don't know how to explain this to her. Should I just start from today and be very honest about my feelings? Or should I sit down with her and address the whole issue? I don't want to hurt her.

Wouldn't the Church be preparing us for the End Times, if we were into that period of the Bible?

Also, she has all kinds of "crusaides" where she wants to spread the Truth. I don't feel that burden. I pray for my nonCatholic family and try to care for them as best I can. I try to walk what I talk. Isn't that what I am supposed to do?

Any advice? Thanks for letting me vent!

She is off on a tangent focusing on curiosities instead of her sanctification. She needs prayers. You are correct in focusing on the Eucharist and Mass.

It's okay to get inspired by something, but to do nothing but talk about it, spread it around, and claim that the Lord is speaking to her personally is a red flag.

InspiritCarol · #12 Jun 12, '12, 3:31 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trishie

I think this scripture speaks to this issue:

“The time is sure to come when, far from being content with sound teaching, people will be avid for the latest novelty and collect themselves a whole series of teachers according to their own tastes; and instead of listening to the truth, they will turn to myths.” [2 Timothy 3:3-5]

Ooo. Thanks Trishie. I could have used this one as I was interacting with similar people today. They were on about the Mayan calendar and how Nostradamus was "never wrong" because they had heard it on a "documentary".

Gorillaman · #13 Jun 12, '12, 4:29 pm

Your getting alot of good advice here. I love how practical it is...but I just have to ask...should this person really distance themselves from this freind of theirs?...I'm not saying you shouldnt, but usually whenever stuff like this pops up I figure this is a away to test ones metal, and help this friend who is freaking out...anyone else?

annspazz · #14 Jun 12, '12, 4:49 pm

Try reading (or suggest she reads); "The Rapture Trap" by Paul Thigpen...this should show her exactly where the Catholic Church is on all this stuff.

aicirt · #15 Jun 12, '12, 4:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gorillaman

Your getting alot of good advice here. I love how practical it is...but I just have to ask...should this person really distance themselves from this freind of theirs?...I'm not saying you shouldnt, but usually whenever stuff like this pops up I figure this is a away to test ones metal, and help this friend who is freaking out...anyone else?

I think a priest needs to talk to the friend especially if this area of Catholicism wasn't addressed when they were in RCIA. The appariations etc. are very intriguing and one can easily become enraptured with them. I'd probably suggest to my friend that both of us should go talk to the priest and ask his opinion on some of these things of interest to her.