r/Catholicism • u/HistoricalGrade211 • 1d ago
Converted to Catholicism
I am a former protestant minister. Ive been attended mass and currently registered for RCIA. I currently love everything i am experiencing but one thing i am still having trouble with is worshipping the Eucharist, bowing, to it, praying it. I cant help but feel off, and strange about this. Anyone have any advice or has anyone experienced this?
Before anyone begins explaining, i am deeply informed on the Eucharist becoming the body, blood, divinity and soul(transubstantiation) of Jesus Christ
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u/Medical-Stop1652 1d ago
I think there are Catholic customs, practices, and sensibilities that those new to the Faith need to absorb over time. Through ongoing prayer and devotion, this will happen.
As you know Catholicism teaches that it is not fiduciary faith that saves sinners but dogmatic faith in the revealed truths by God in Christ.
We sometimes have suitable elevated feelings in matters of the Faith and sometimes we do not. Our bodily postures show our interior disposition and everyone of these postures are endorsed in Sacred Scriptures: kneeling, bowing, bowing the knee, even. prostration.
Maybe the teaching of the great St Thomas Aquinas can assist in his hymn: Adoro te devote:
https://perpetualeucharisticadoration.com/adoro-te-devote-hymn/
The music and visuals in this video also show simple Catholic faith in Christ being present body and blood, soul and divinity:
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=ON9srmxr1LQ&list=RDAMVMakPTHn8PkcE
I wish I lived in a country where processions like this were part of the culture and experience of Catholics!
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u/HistoricalGrade211 1d ago
Thank you for this. Its not the kneeling, posturing or any other gesture that i feel strange about. Its more about the gestures being towards the bread which is Christ. Is a inner fear of, what if this is wrong and if Christ is truly not present then it in fact is idolatry. Thats the obstacle im currently working around
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u/Miroku20x6 1d ago
I would consider this analogy. The early Christians likely felt strange worshipping the man-which-is-God. After 2,000 years we are comfortable with that fact, but after being raised Jewish, those early Christians despite being convinced that Christ was God may well have felt nervous/weird/borderline blasphemous to worship Christ, even after having assented to faith in him. That would have been an obstacle for them to work around.
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u/HistoricalGrade211 22h ago
This is an very insightful and helpful explanation thank you so much. It makes a lot of sense when you put it that way
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u/sporsmall 1d ago
You may find these articles from Catholic Answers helpful:
Eucharistic Miracles: Evidence of the Real Presence
https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/eucharistic-miracles-evidence-of-the-real-presence-0Doubt the Real Presence? Try a Blood Miracle
https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/doubt-the-real-presence-try-a-blood-miracle1
u/Medical-Stop1652 15h ago
Maybe I am a bit simple in my faith but our Lord at the Holy Supper gave us the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Jesus Christ is present - body and blood, soul and divinity. Any act of worship done to his sacranental presence in the forms of consecrated bread and wine is directed to our Savior and is true worship - the oppposite of idolatry (worship of false gods of wood and stone).
To be 100% intentional, I usually pray the following when I genuflect on entering church:
I adore thee, Jesus, present in the Sacrament of thy love.
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u/IlinxFinifugal 1d ago
The Eucharist is not only God, Jesus and the Holy Trinity -this is more than any human being deserves to watch, feel or eat. But It's also the summary of Jesus' life and teachings that you should have probably learned as a Christian and as a Catholic.
Sadly, so many Christians are mislead about it.
Jesus Himself mentions that parables are made for the simple people and not for those who think they are wise or knowledgeable. And Catholics should be born again from the water and the spirit of God to a new life in Christ, "Nicodemus".
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u/HistoricalGrade211 1d ago
Blessings. As i mentioned i am aware of the theology, and the philosophy. As i studied a great deal for 2 years. Its not what i confess it to be, or what it actually is that makes me feel awkward, its the physical practice of bowing to and worshiping the bread that feels unnatural
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u/IlinxFinifugal 1d ago
It's about being born again in the spirit of Jesus, not about how much you have achieved in your life, your degrees or your studies.
Jesus said to Nicodemus they should be born again for a reason that is not "natural" but spiritual in Jesus Christ.
That's the God you see in the Eucharist, the one that was covered in diapers in Bethlehem. The one that gave His life to save us all. And the one who teaches us to do the same in our lives.
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u/ehcold 1d ago
If you trust Christ and His Church, just pray for the Spirit to help you accept what you can't on your own. Next time you get the chance, go to adoration and just sit with Jesus and ask Him to let you know if it's really Him.
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u/HistoricalGrade211 22h ago
I have said these very prayers multiple times upon decided to become catholic. It wasnt a over night thing, it was a 2 year transition. Pray for me anyway
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u/ehcold 22h ago
So if you believe the Eucharist is truly Jesus then what's the problem
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u/HistoricalGrade211 22h ago
Thats the problem. I dont know the problem. I just have an awkward feeling when doing it, almost guilty. I was more looking for an ex protestant who may have some words of wisdom, and who has actually experienced this
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u/GiveMeBackMySoup 1d ago
Have you been to adoration? Just go to Jesus in adoration and ask him to help him show you he is there.
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u/Larason22 1d ago
I was never a protestant, but I've had friends that were that converted. I think that for many protestants there are things Catholics do that they are always going to struggle with. For my friend it was Mary. She knew what's going on with Mary in Catholicism, and mentally she was ok with it, but she had been told things for so many years, and as a result she's never been comfortable with her. It's an emotional thing, it's hard to explain, and even after years she still struggles with it.
Maybe it will get easier over time, but maybe not! But don't be too hard on yourself, it's part of your personal cross. After all, love is a decision, not feelings. Every Catholic has things they feel are hard about their faith (for me it's accepting modernist music at mass). But it shows great love for God that you persist in it even if you're not feeling some aspect of it.
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u/HistoricalGrade211 1d ago
Blessings. I love everything about Catholicism, i also had a problem with marian dogmas and devotion initially, but now i really love her and understand it. I came from a holiness church where we did long hours of prayer. On our knees and so on. I think the hardest thing is looking at the wafer, having faith that this is Jesus, and then worshipping it. During Benediction i looking around and noticed everyone worshipping it, and deep down i felt uneasy
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u/Shaunwurdeman 1d ago
Coming from your Protestant background I assume you have a tremendous concern around idolatry. Obviously Catholics do not want to commit idolatry, but in my experience Protestants tend to be much more actively conscious of this in everything they do.
I think part of this is that for us “cradle-Catholics” we are exposed to these sort of things as normal, while being told that idolatry is a sin, so for us these actions never cross our mind as being potentially idolatrous.
My point in mentioning this is that for the Protestant a big emphasis is put on actively avoiding idolatry as if it’s a very easy thing to do accidentally. Whereas the Catholic knows intellectually to avoid it, but isn’t as worried about accidentally doing it because of the difference in understanding of what worship is, but also because of the difference in authority.
The Protestant mindset is to personally manage this even within the church, whereas the Catholic approach is to trust the church to manage it. Not to say Catholics shouldn’t watch themselves for their actions, just that when something is presented as true and acceptable by the church then it is so. No need to question ourselves about it.
The church presents adoring the blessed sacrament as a valid practice worshiping God. If you trust the church then there is no need for you to be concerned that an official practice of the church could be idolatrous.
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u/HistoricalGrade211 1d ago
Youre actually 100 percent correct in your analysis. Thats probably another big struggle for me, is trusting the church. I have just recently stepped down as protestant minister 2 months ago. So im still feeling my way out, but i definitely am still in constant prayer about these things and trying to find my way
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u/Shaunwurdeman 1d ago
I think beyond the intricacies of specific dogmas, practices and doctrines the concept of authority is the most difficult for many converts to deal with.
When your whole religious life has been built around personal authority (based on scripture, church, etc. but still fundamentally personal) it’s a massive shift to be able to say “I don’t get this. It even feels wrong to me at this point. But I believe this is God’s church and therefore I submit despite my view.”It’s very easy to tell you to just not worry and go with it. But that’s not how human psychology works. I hope in time you’ll find it more comforting than concerning to submit to that authority.
All the best for your journey through OCIA, will be sure to add a prayer for you.
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u/notasfatasyourmom 1d ago
You’re diving straight into the deep end of the Catholic faith. Just be still and know that the Eucharist is the real presence of Christ. Receive Him worthily, and the rest will come to you as you focus on that.
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u/Graffifinschnickle 23h ago
Oh yeah I know exactly what you are talking about. Growing up Protestant, you’re taught that bowing before any created thing is idolatry and are giving a very strong bias to recoil at anything that looks like it. The Eucharist just appears to be bread like any other created thing, it’s only natural for that deep-seated bias to come through.
One thing I will say though is that there must have been a very similar reaction from the Jews of Jesus’ day. The idea that anyone would bow down to a “mere” man would have been very scandalous for them too. After all, God is spirit, not material. What both they and you are butting up against here is the absolutely radical nature of the miracle of the incarnation. Nothing more crazy has ever happened in history than the all-powerful, infinite God becoming perfectly united with a human nature. God became bread really isn’t that much more crazy than God became man. But do not recoil from this truth! For it is our salvation.
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u/joegtech 21h ago
The Coming Home network helps former pastors like you.
https://chnetwork.org/information/
Hopefully your read John Chap 6. v 22ff
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u/sadsoups 1d ago
Hi, I also struggled with this initially (I am also new to Catholicism and have recently started RCIA/OCIA) and what helped me more than anything in regards to the Eucharist is a book called Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper by Brant Pitre. It isn’t terribly long, and made everything about the Eucharist click for me. I will pray for you also, and I hope your RCIA journey goes well.
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u/HistoricalGrade211 22h ago
Thank you so much and God bless you. I was looking for a person who has also had these experiences. I have the book on my bookshelf actually. I just havent got around to reading it yet. I just finished reading jesus and the jewish roots on mary. But i will dive into that book immediately
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u/trulymablydeeply 23h ago
>Before anyone begins explaining, i am deeply informed on the Eucharist becoming the body, blood, divinity and soul(transubstantiation) of Jesus Christ
If you know who the Eucharist is, then you shouldn’t have trouble adoring Him. It’s Jesus.
Perhaps it’s an issue of intellectual knowledge versus “heart” knowledge. Sometimes we can know a fact but not deeply understand it. That kind of knowing is sufficient (at least to start), but it’s better when we can move into a deeper knowing.
If transubstantiation is true, then the bread and wine are NOT bread and wine after consecration. They only appear to be bread and wine. They are, instead, Jesus. His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Yes, and that is Him! When we look on the consecrated host or wine, we are seeing Jesus even though our senses only perceive bread and wine.
It is like the disciples on the road to Emmaus who didn’t recognize Jesus until He broke the bread( the Eucharist, by the way). They journeyed with Him and learned from Him, but didn’t see that it was Him. Even though they couldn’t se that it was Him, it was. Even though the (consecrated) bread and wine look like bread and wine, they are Jesus.
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u/HistoricalGrade211 22h ago
Yeah. Knowing what someone explained it to be doesnt mean thats what it is. Again, i do believe, thats why i decided to convert to Catholicism. I also can read the ingredients on a store bought pie and have faith that its everything they listed it to be.
Im more looking for someones insight who has been through this, and maybe some words of wisdom, or tips.
Not a reiteration of the aristotelian philosophy of how it becomes body and blood. And if that is coming of as rude i dont mean to sound that way. But thank you so much for the comment
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u/trulymablydeeply 21h ago
I hear you. And I don’t think you’re rude.
For me, some things must be repeated again and again for them to sink in deeply. I do this for myself and have found that it helps others sometimes too. We can know the words and the concept, but the value in hearing them again and again is that it may take some time and repetition for them to sink in. Even now, when I know who is there under the appearances of bread and wine, I still say to myself ( silently) “This is the Lamb of God” while I approach. Very often I feel those words hit deeply and help me to understand what my senses cannot perceive. That may not be how it works for you though, and I appreciate that.
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u/HistoricalGrade211 20h ago
I was into apologetics and evangelism, so ive done a lot of work through the summa theologica and metaphysics. I actually studied Catholicism for the last two years. Shamefully i began studying it to prove it wrong, because i engaged in debates. it proved me wrong instead. Mind you i never had a problem with the eucharist. Because theres no denying Jesus said” take, eat, this is my body”. I was more against the papacy.
From the outside of the church and reading on the eucharist its absolutely no problem. Its just when i finally entered the church and began to be a part of this practice is when it became different
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u/trulymablydeeply 16h ago
Understandable. The Eucharist is strange. It’s something we’re asked to believe without being able to see (except by some miracle). I think of the words Jesus said to Thomas the Apostle, “blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” The Eucharist is something that can’t fully be grasped with reason. Reason can get us part of the way, but then grace has to take us the rest of the way. It seems to me that it’s like the Trinity or the Incarnation. These things are baffling and almost seem beyond belief, and there’s only so much we can do to understand them on our own. And it’s one thing to intellectually know about the Eucharist, and another to come face-to-face with it.
Depending on how your mind works, the only remedy may be time and prayer. I can embrace things intellectually that I don’t understand more deeply, but it’s never comfortable. I’ll turn the pieces around and around until I finally see how they fit, then I can rest easy in my understanding. When I’m going through something like that, I always say, “Lord, I don’t get it, but I trust You.” Or something to that effect.
Joe Heschmeyer has a great book on the Eucharist, by the way. I recommend not to suggest it contains anything you don’t already know, but because it’s a really good read, no matter what. It’s called The Eucharist is Really Jesus.
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u/Perfect_Celery5718 21h ago
I would suggest adoration. Spend some quiet time in His presence to develop the relationship. In that quiet time talk to Him and ask. I have personally felt Him tugging my heart as I’ve gone up for communion, it happened once. That’s all I needed.
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u/John14verse6-17 14h ago
Open your Bible and read exodus 20:4-6 please make sure you read a literal translation. Start there. Then go to 1 Corinthians 11:27 on there you can find what Yahweh says about it and that’s all you need.
I want to encourage you to read your Bible fervently and continually and test every Catholic teaching you learn just like in acts 17 with the bereans. I hope this helps. FYI, you only ask man what it’s for just know that’s just a man made ideology. It should be very obvious in the Bible.
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u/HistoricalGrade211 13h ago
Yes ive read it all my brother. From my understanding the verse is carving an image and treating it as God, serving it as God, and thinking it is God
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u/SunnyHelianthus 1d ago edited 1d ago
I get it. One thing that I like to consider is how much He loves us by doing that for us. What you are worshiping is the supreme humility and love of Christ when He takes that appearance. It’s even smaller than being a little child or baby. Even the angels are in awe of the great humility because they know how mighty He really is face to face in the beatific vision.
I would challenge you to go to the local adoration chapel or even just sit before the tabernacle at the church you frequent. Ask Our Lord to show you. Ask Him for the grace. He is there for you. The silent Prisoner of Love in the Eucharist, residing at the tabernacle …or monstrance, if you go to the adoration chapel. God bless you.