In my last post I told why I wasn’t Catholic by giving five things I think they are doing wrong. However, there are some things they do that I think is very good and protestant denominations would do well to follow their example. There are three things I like that I found by talking to friends who came out of the Catholic faith. I’m sure I could find more if I were more familiar with Catholic practices.

I am told that in their Sunday Mass, Catholics will three times read various passages from the Bible. Over the course of about three years, they will have read through the entire Bible. The priest will then have the option of choosing one of those three passages to build his sermon around. He also has the freedom to choose another section. I feel this is wonderful and protestants should also do this. We should place scripture reading as much a part of worship as we do prayer and singing. Even congregations where the preacher’s sermons are Bible centered could do well to have more scripture reading as part of the service.

 The next thing is their attitude toward what they call the Eucharist, and what we call the Lord’s Supper or Communion. If you ask today’s Catholic if they really believe that the priest transforms the bread and wine into the literal body and blood of Christ, almost all would say no. But by having that tradition they hold the ceremony as well as the bread and wine with a great deal of respect and sacredness, for they treat it as if it were the literal body and blood of Christ. We should emulate that respect. My fellowship is one of the few that like the Catholics have the Lord’s Supper every Sunday, but I think we often fail in giving it the reverence it deserves. We seem to rush through it, and we fear people will get bored, so we sing during it. We need to realize that when taking Communion, we are taking Christ into our hearts, our bodies, our minds, and our souls. There is nothing wrong with silent, prayerful contemplation while doing this. And through such contemplation we can gain a higher reverence in its meaning.

The last thing I really like is their concept of the Confessional. Don’t get me wrong, I despise the way that many of them have turned it into a magic trick that has to be done to have forgiveness. But the concept I adore. We are called to confess our sins to one another, but our fear of being judged can prevent it. With the confessional booth you gain a certain anonymity and a promise of confidentiality that is more inducive to confession. It would be good for us to train people in the ministry of confession, teaching them to accept confession without judgement, and the promise of absolute confidentiality. What is told in confession is mentioned to no one, not even a spouse, nor is it written it in a journal or diary. And the confessor pledges that he would accept prison and torture rather than betray what is said in confession, even if a criminal act is confessed. Such promises could make true confession possible.

#Catholics