I have seen a vast congregation of worshipers at Christian Services and am amazed to see so much commitment.I have only seen this on the christian cnhannel on TV. Can someone tell me why the Cathlic services don't have this? I am a Catholic and humbly and totally commited to Our Lord.

-- Ramanie Weerasinghe (lilanw@yahoo.com), March 03, 2004

Answers

Have you ever seen a gathering of Protestants comparable to the Holy Masses celebrated by the Holy Father on his trips around the world? Hundreds of thousands of people in attendance, all expressing their commitment to Our Lord and Savior and to the Church He founded for all men.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), March 03, 2004.

Ramanie,
Tune back in in 3 years and find out how many are still fully committed. A bright candle burns bright, but only for a short time. Much of the evangelical movement is based on only the conversion of the individual, not on Christian formation. We Catholics are in this for the long haul, and it doesn't look very glamorous. An idea if you want to see visible commitment: visit a monestary or a nunnary and you will see visible commitment.

Hang around here, and you will read of commitment as well :)

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), March 03, 2004.

Hi Ramanie,

How do you define commitment? I'm not sure you can define commitment by the numbers you see. The numbers could be based on entertainment value of the worship service.

I do have to say though, that I have met non-Catholic Christians that I would define as being more committed to their faith than some Catholics I know. But that is based on what I know from them sharing their faith. I think the true measuerement of commitment would be how one lives their life in accordance with the Gospel and shows love toward one another.

If most Catholics really believed in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, I think every Mass in every Catholic church would be packed to the roof. It's ironic that our faith has something so powerful and special, yet many take it for granted.

-- Andy (aszmere@earthlink.net), March 03, 2004.

You may want to consider the "gospel" message these purported worshippers are receiving. Most of what you see on T.V. is "Word of Faith" teachers who promise health and properity to those who will support their "ministry."

I attended a Word of Faith Church for many years. Believe me, the gospel message they hand out is anything but biblical. They are never told that they will have to "pick up their cross," that they must "die to their selves," etc. False gospel ...? You betcha.

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), March 03, 2004.

TV is full of hype. Same for religious programing. THey usally have an 800 # running across the bottom of the screen. I'm sure the passion displayed pulls in more cash than quiet devotion would. I have memories of Robert Tilton on the floor, crawling around on prayer requests from sick desperate followers. He spoke in tongues while encouraging viewers to send in money for miracles. It may have looked to many as committed and truely Gods work. Not to me.

I don't mean to sound so cynical, I know there are good charasmatic Catholics congregations. You may want to find one of those groups. For me, it would be very uncomfortable. I sometime think the "peace be with you's" get a little out of hand. I even keep my hands folded during the "Our Father" as opposed to open. I guess I'm old fashioned. Its helpful to find what moves you. It can be found in Catholicism, you just have to look.

-- Jim Furst (furst@flash.net), March 03, 2004.

Hi My Dear friends in Christ, Thank you so much for your views. I appreciate all of it and it has helped me to understand something that puzzled me. May God Bless you, Ramanie.

-- Ramanie Weerasinghe (lilanw@yahoo.com), March 04, 2004.

Greetings Ramanie: Does one rejoice when a child is born? Does one jump up and down when, a great hope has come to pass? Does one shout when their team is winning. In a land of religion, God is portrayed as a somber and mundane. This is not the true God of joy, and praise, read Psalms 145.

Read of the blind man Jesus healed, who ran into the synagauge of the dry and religious and see how he rejoiced for the healing JESUS DID! Read how they reacted, rather then rejoice with him, they condemed him, and so does religion condem Gods children today. To say,(those who worship God, with all thier hearts and sing and dance, glorifying His name) is not of God, that God is to be reveranced in silance, and in a traditional manner, is to deny, why God has us on earth. God does not want us to stand up and sit down, as men have us, if we want to shout we shout, sing we sing, as Gods Holy Spirit moves! OH LORD YOU PUT A NEW SONG IN MY HEART!

-- ITS OK TO GET EXCITED FOR JESUS (truthisfreedom316@yahoo.com), March 16, 2004.