Hi Allisyn,
Thanks for your question.
Let me reply by addressing several
issues in your e-mail:
In many Protestant denominations,
unity is something that is worked
toward, along the lines of Christ's
priestly prayer for unity in John 21:15-17. This is good. Many Protestant
denominations disagree among themselves. Probably the only thing they agree on is that Jesus did not establish One, Visible Church that stands to this day, (the Catholic Church).
Your husband not being able to receive
Holy Communion: Faith and Holy Communion.
Because the Catholic Church is
One in (doctrines|teachings),
unity is not something we have
to strive toward; unity is something
that is required up front. We
are a Family of Divine Faith in
Jesus, not of individual faiths.
Not only on one or two issues
but on all the teachings Jesus
wants us
to believe in.
I don't understand
why he feels judged by a Church
seeing he is a Protestant and not a visible member
of the Church. If he truly believes what we believe about the Eucharist and Holy Communion then the Spirit is probably
calling him into the Church.
That said, very few Catholics, who went through RCIA, were ever taught that:
When we receive the Eucharist every Sunday we are publicly proclaiming that we are in a Common Union with the Teachings of the Catholic Church.
I was certainly never taught this but it is true, and . . . those that are not in a Common Union and still receiving Communion will have to answer for their actions based on what they knew and did not know at the time.
- If he disagrees with the Church's teachings, how can he be in a Common Union with the Church?
<He can't!>
- That said, are there teachings that we find hard to accept or understand?
Sure! but as long as we accept them while trying to understand the Teaching, this is fine!
He is correct that we do not recognize
other Protestant communions, except
the Greek Orthodox and others who broke with the Church before the Reformation.
Because
one of the sad outcomes of the
Reformation was that King Henry VIII changed the rites for Holy
Orders (actually it was Thomas Cranmer). This is the sacrament
in the Catholic Church that makes
priests, priests. Because the
rite of priests in other Protestant
denominations is non-sacrificial and therefore invalid, a Protestant
minister can try to consecrate
the Eucharist as much as he wants,
but to no avail. It remains a
wafer in substance as well as
in appearance.
RE: Helping your husband.
One blessing is that you have
a Christian husband.
Because your husband is a Bible
Christian, one thing both of you
should agree on, is a daily period of
prayer together, for the good
of your marital relationship and
your family. If he is open to
saying the Rosary, I would recommend
this.
Remind him, Catholics
don't worship Our Blessed
Mother. We only
honor those God honors.
Yes, the Rosary was given to us by Mary but overall the Rosary is about the Scriptural events that happened in the lives of Jesus,
Mary, Joseph and other people that surrounded their holy lives; lives dedicated
to our salvation!
For you personally, make sure that
even if you and your husband can't
pray on a regular basis you:
- pray daily and
- stay close to the sacraments,
esp. regular Confession, daily
Mass, the Rosary and Adoration.
RE: His negative stereotypes about
the Church.
I once heard either a revert or convert
to the Church say the three main
reasons why non-Catholics don't understand
the Church are:
- ignorance
- personal bias, and
- bad examples
I can't read your husband's heart
but he is going to have to ponder
whether he has fallen into any of
these three areas. Let me address
each:
- Ignorance — He
can eliminate this if he wants.
Just tell him to consider buying a cheap copy of the Catechism of the Catholic
Church.
- Personal bias — only
personal prayer can help this. With
time hopefully he will be able
to be received in the Church and
go to Confession.
- Bad examples — This
is a problem within our Church,
but I would share with him,
"Don't leave Peter because
of Judas behavior!"
On his journey:
Good sources would include the writings of:
- St. Ignatius of Antioch
- St. Clement of Rome
- St. Cyprian of Carthage
- Tertullian
- Origen
- St. Polycarp
- St. Irenæus
- St. Pacian of Barcelona
- St. Augustine
- St. Jerome and many, many more that I have not listed here.
A FREE source you could use that have many of these writings can be found on New Advent website. Try these solid resources too:
If he doesn't buy or believe in Catholic sources, fine.
Tell
him to go to any local library and look up the same
quotes there :
) !
Hope this helps; if you need more,
just reply.
I will pray for your family and please
tell your husband to visit our site
and ask
more questions if he wants.
Mike
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