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princessleah
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| Joined: | Tue Mar 27th, 2007 |
| Location: | Adelaide, Australia |
| Posts: | 19 |
| First Name: | Leah | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Adelaide to Rome, I'd say I'm at about Naples!! |
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Posted: Wed Apr 4th, 2007 12:48 am |
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I couldnt find anywhere else to post this question.
As someone who went to a Pentecostal church for 6 years or more, 'worship' formed a HUGE part of my faith. I was always listening to 'praise and worship' CDs instead of top 40 stuff, and several times a week I would put on one of these CDs and pray for over an hour, and worship by myself, etc. This was one of the primary ways I 'connected' with God, and it was one of my major coping emthods when life got tough - I'd just pray and worship.
The Catholic Church my friend has been taking me to is very traditional, so no one there even understands what i mean by 'pentecostal style' worship.
Since Ive started exploring the Catholic faith a few people have given me the impression that although God 'accepts' this kind of worship, its not 'pleasing' to him, its not the way he 'wants' to be worshipped.
I guess I want to know if its 'wrong' to be worshipping this way, because I still feel like I connect with God when I do, its one of the only ways I know how to connect with God at the moment. I guess I cant see how something intended to honour and glorify God could be 'displeasing' or even less pleasing than another style of worship.
The other thing I think about is this: If that style of worship is not the 'real' way to worship God, does that mean all the times Ive felt like I 'connected' with God, were all fake?
I guess I need some sound direction on this issue! Are there any ex-pentecostals on here that have felt like this to??!!
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Darlene
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 868 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian, trusting His love and forgiveness |
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Posted: Wed Apr 4th, 2007 01:15 am |
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Hi Princess,
I am currently a Protestant on a journey toward the Catholic faith. I do understand what you mean by "Pentecostal" worship. I asked the priest in the parish that I have been attending about this very thing a few months ago. I told him that I am used to showing more expression in worship than Catholics show in theirs. He said that "that was ok" and that showing expression in worshipping by raising our hands is acceptable to God. Basically, I came away with the sense that the Catholic church is not so restrictive that one cannot be expressive in their worship. One factor may also be that there are Charismatic Catholics in this parish and another one close to it. They are much more expressive in their worship than "traditional" Catholics.
As far as the way you worship at home, I think that even for many Catholics, that may be different at home as opposed to at church. The desire and need to express oneself to God can manifest itself differently from person to person. Some cultures are just by nature, more outwardly expressive than others. The important thing in our worship is that our hearts are directed toward God, and that we are in awe of Who He is and what He has done and what He can do. Our God is an awesome God!
Welcome to our forum. Feel free to drop in anytime. 
Love in Christ Jesus,
Darlene
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. II Corinthians 13:14
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5314 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Wed Apr 4th, 2007 09:48 am |
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princessleah wrote: The Catholic Church my friend has been taking me to is very traditional, so no one there even understands what i mean by 'pentecostal style' worship.
Catholics use the term "Charismatic" rather than "Pentacostal" but they mean the same thing.
I can't speak for Australia, but every diocese in the United States (as far as I know) has an office for Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Call the chancery (diocesan office building) and ask to speak to someone from that office, and ask them where prayer services and Charismatic masses are held. Your 'pentacostal-style' worship will be welcomed.
Your diocese can be reached at 08 8210 8108. The web site is http://www.adelaide.catholic.org.au/ and their email address is cathcomm@adelaide.catholic.org.au. I couldn't find any direct references to Catholic Charismatic Renewal but that's not unusual.
There is room in the Catholic Church for all valid forms of expression. We have a Catholic Charismatic Covenant Community in my parish, and I have been to many of their services. Also, our current bishop is the former head of the National Charismatic Renewal office for the U.S. Conference of Bishops. The Charismatic movement is alive and well in the Catholic Church, even though you won't see it expressed at most Sunday masses.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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graceknowledgement
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Posted: Tue Jul 17th, 2007 04:42 pm |
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Darlene wrote: The important thing in our worship is that our hearts are directed toward God, and that we are in awe of Who He is and what He has done and what He can do.
CajunRick wrote: There is room in the Catholic Church for all valid forms of expression.
Rick, do you agree with Darlene's assessment of worship? I'd like some clarification because of my personal background on this, too. Another question: What ARE valid forms of expression during Mass? Also, are there formal gatherings (not solo, but in a group) outside of the Mass that are considered "worship"?
Thanks,
Peter
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BodRod
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 2nd, 2006 |
| Location: | Apple Valley, California USA |
| Posts: | 827 |
| First Name: | Cliff | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Raised an SDA, then Generic Christian, finally at home with ... |
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Posted: Tue Jul 17th, 2007 08:08 pm |
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I think any kind of sincere worship effort is acceptable to God. Also, I figure St. Mary knows I am not the brightest light on the tree so if I still must still read a couple of the parts of the Rosary , rather than saying them, I think she will understand.
BTW, Bill Gaither and group ride along with me in the truck right next to the singing nuns, the brother's chanting, et al.
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Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5314 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Tue Jul 17th, 2007 09:50 pm |
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graceknowledgement wrote: Darlene wrote: The important thing in our worship is that our hearts are directed toward God, and that we are in awe of Who He is and what He has done and what He can do.
CajunRick wrote: There is room in the Catholic Church for all valid forms of expression.
Rick, do you agree with Darlene's assessment of worship?
Basically, yes, I find her assessment acceptable. I think a sense of awe is important. We cannot comprehend the power of God or the love God holds for us, but until we begin to understand God's awesomeness, we cannot begin to appreciate the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Of course we will never fully understand, but we can make tiny baby steps in that direction. I am of course considering only Catholic forms of worship. Those who are not fully united to the Catholic Church may worship in other manners, but for Catholics our adoration is directed toward God through the Eucharist.
I'd like some clarification because of my personal background on this, too. Another question: What ARE valid forms of expression during Mass?
What is worship to me might not be worship to you, and vice versa. I know people who routinely pray in tongues, and while I would not question for a moment their sincerity, if I did it it would be a caricature. I would not be sincere. I have heard and seen people offer worship with their voices, their musical instruments, and their dance. I know a young man who studied at Julliard and has played at Carnegie Hall, who loves to play trumpet fanfares at the elevation of the Eucharist. This is worship to him as he announces the presence of the Savior with the gifts God gave him. He is sincere and focused on adoring God through his talents, and like the fable of the Little Drummer Boy at Christmas, I believe he is worshiping Jesus/God our Savior.
Also, are there formal gatherings (not solo, but in a group) outside of the Mass that are considered "worship"?
We worship God alone, especially in the Eucharist, so Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction would qualify as worship. Everything else outside of mass that I can think of at the moment would be "prayer" rather than "worship" in my opinion.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Tina in Ashburn
Member
| Joined: | Mon May 21st, 2007 |
| Location: | Ashburn, Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 281 |
| First Name: | Tina | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Roman Catholic, Ukranian Catholic, presently practicing as Roman Latin ... |
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Posted: Wed Jul 18th, 2007 09:52 am |
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Leah, Your question is very good and one with which I struggle. You have noticed a difference in styles of prayer. The structure of prayer appears to be related to how structured is the denomination and its depth of theology.
Does the logic of "salvation in the Catholic Church" apply here too? Meaning, when we hear and understand the authority of the Church, then we must comply and become part of the Church, submitting ourselves to its rules. If we are ignorant of Jesus and His Church, we must still do the best we can.
If we are praying to the best of our ability, this pleases God. If however we are aware of the rules of worship and we still choose to do what pleases us, we err.
Is there a difference between worship and personal prayer?
Does God tell us how to communicate with Him? Does God tell us how to pray? If He does, then should we strive toward what He wants rather than what we find personally satisfying?
These same questions apply to our poor state of music at Mass. There are rules. But few seem to care to discover them, preferring self-expression as the only objective over what God has told us through the writings of the Church.
In spite of some generalizations for brevity's sake, does this make sense to anybody?
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Tina
Arlington Diocese
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Credo Catholic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1359 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Jul 20th, 2007 11:22 pm |
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Tina in Ashburn wrote: Is there a difference between worship and personal prayer?
This is a good question, in response to PrincessLeah. I have pondered what the difference is between praying to God and praying to the saints. I know that in praying to a saint I am asking them to pray to God for me, but is there more of a difference? In church during Adoration we are sitting there praying or reading or meditating and no one is speaking or moving around and it is powerful worship. I would say that when PrincessLeah was in prayer and her intention was praise and worship and she felt a connection to God then who could say it wasn't real? Who would want to question it? That is her personal prayer life with God. In mass, we worship as a community and it's not just an individual thing.
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