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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
RCIA	vanessa	Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Question: Hi, I have been participating in RCIA. The priest mentioned that Catholicism is the one true religion founded by God....well I was baptised catholic, and not sure if I want to remain catholic or teach my children this. I never believed in praying to catholic saints, and now because of my past involvement in santeria, catholic saints images feast days, and even the rituals can be triggers. I don't want to confuse my children. Can one be catholic without believing in praying for lost souls, having no faith in catholic saints? What is the need for sending children to first communion prep or confirmation?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), CCL, LTh, DD, LNDC Dear Vanessa: You need to talk to your pastor about this. I understand that praying to Saints, which is God's idea, not ours, can be a trigger due to your background, but I implore you to not put your fears and trepidations upon your children. That is not fair to them and it will harm them. The belief in the Communion of the Saints is required to be Catholic. One, however, does not have to pray to the Saints if they do not want to. To exclude an entire group of our family like this, which is what you are suggesting, will deprive you of many graces, but it is not required to pray to Saints as a personal devotion. (When attending Mass, however, prayers are made to the Saints as part of the liturgy.) What is the need to sending children to first communion prep or confirmation? So that they can fully participate and receive the joys and graces of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Church. Doing this brings them into the fullness of the sacramental life with God. Nothing is more important. It is about their salvation, their immortal souls. To deprive them of this is to place them in danger of losing their souls. Jesus said to not forbid the little children to come to Him: (Matthew 19:14)... but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." The doubts that you have are too profound to deal with in this forum. I advise that you study carefully the teachings of the Church about the Saints and talk with your Pastor. Also, here is a bunch of articles on the Catholic teaching on the Saints. We will be praying for you. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

RCIA

vanessa

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Question:

Hi, I have been participating in RCIA. The priest mentioned that Catholicism is the one true religion founded by God....well I was baptised catholic, and not sure if I want to remain catholic or teach my children this. I never believed in praying to catholic saints, and now because of my past involvement in santeria, catholic saints images feast days, and even the rituals can be triggers. I don't want to confuse my children. Can one be catholic without believing in praying for lost souls, having no faith in catholic saints? What is the need for sending children to first communion prep or confirmation?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), CCL, LTh, DD, LNDC

Dear Vanessa:

You need to talk to your pastor about this. I understand that praying to Saints, which is God's idea, not ours, can be a trigger due to your background, but I implore you to not put your fears and trepidations upon your children. That is not fair to them and it will harm them.

The belief in the Communion of the Saints is required to be Catholic. One, however, does not have to pray to the Saints if they do not want to. To exclude an entire group of our family like this, which is what you are suggesting, will deprive you of many graces, but it is not required to pray to Saints as a personal devotion. (When attending Mass, however, prayers are made to the Saints as part of the liturgy.)

What is the need to sending children to first communion prep or confirmation? So that they can fully participate and receive the joys and graces of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Church. Doing this brings them into the fullness of the sacramental life with God. Nothing is more important. It is about their salvation, their immortal souls. To deprive them of this is to place them in danger of losing their souls. Jesus said to not forbid the little children to come to Him:

(Matthew 19:14)... but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."

The doubts that you have are too profound to deal with in this forum. I advise that you study carefully the teachings of the Church about the Saints and talk with your Pastor. Also, here is a bunch of articles on the Catholic teaching on the Saints.

We will be praying for you.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum