Catholic Weddings

agapecarrie

You might have mentioned it before, but I'm just curious what your background is? With respect to theology education I mean. I ask because you're always so super knowledgeable about everything that gets asked here.
image
Baby Birthday Ticker
Baby #2: Surprise BFP 9.19.12, EDD 5.24.13, natural m/c 10.19.13 at 9w

Re: agapecarrie

  • agapecarrieagapecarrie member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I had the usual basic in grade school, came to know Jesus in college campus ministry at an awakening retreat. Became a Catholic youth minister in a very protestant area and had tons of kids asking me the textbook apologetic questions. ...so I studied on my own, then went to a lifeteen training conference for youth ministers. Had some good basics on liturgy and catholic authority there. That's where I started my love for the liturgy. I went to Lifeteen advanced training certificate which had great professors from Steubenville, including Jeff Cavins.

    I then became a music director at a church and studied the church documents, and also heard Christopher West speak multiple times, so I started going to the Theo of the body institute. TOB is connected to the liturgy in so many ways.Also played for bigger events connected to the diocese and with the seminary, so those are always pretty straight and I learned a lot from those experiences.

    So, its some official education, and some self-study (always from reliable sources). I would never knowingly say anything against church teaching, and if I were giving opinion, I would say it was that. (I know you weren't challenging me, I just thought I'd throw that out there).

    When you start digging and learning how it all makes sense, you want to know more...and grow to love the law and the church because she cares for souls.
  • clearheavensclearheavens member
    First Anniversary Name Dropper 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_agapecarrie?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:a0d9a9ad-e17b-4b18-a309-562fbf4cfa4bPost:48441956-0fd7-449b-b8ad-1ed07a10f39d">Re: agapecarrie</a>:
    [QUOTE]So, its some official education, and some self-study (always from reliable sources). I would never knowingly say anything against church teaching, and if I were giving opinion, I would say it was that. (I know you weren't challenging me, I just thought I'd throw that out there). When you start digging and learning how it all makes sense, you want to know more...and grow to love the law and the church because she cares for souls.
    Posted by agapecarrie[/QUOTE]

    <div>That's awesome, agapecarrie.  My experience is similar to yours.</div><div>
    </div><div>No official Catholic education, either.  It also started for me with basic apologetics as a teen.  Most Catholics start out loving the church they grew up in but not accepting all of the teachings mostly due to a lack of understanding.  That was me.  Apologetics equipped me with the skills to understand and defend my faith.  Then I went to conferences, seminars, and Theology of the Body.  Like you, self-study before bedtime was where I got most of my knowledge.  I have a bookshelf of the best references in Church Teaching.  As I kept reading, I kept wanting to know more, especially as I got motivated to take care of my soul and the soul of others who want to know and emulate God's love as I do.  So agapecarrie, I'm glad to have you on this board!</div><div>
    </div><div>I have a long way to go but I think one day I would like to be a Couples to Couples League teacher and a RCIA teacher.</div>
    Follow Me on Pinterest

    BabyFruit Ticker
  • edited December 2011
    Agapecarrie - and clearheavens - would you care to recommend some reading for me? I'm a cradle Catholic but my adult study is seriously lacking. I had the basics as a child but haven't studied anything since Confirmation.

    I would love to do some self-study since most the church programs are difficult for me to attend at this point with work/grad school. So any books/authors/etc. that you could recommend would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks!
    Lilypie Second Birthday tickers
  • ring_popring_pop member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Smile Good for you both!
    image
    Baby Birthday Ticker
    Baby #2: Surprise BFP 9.19.12, EDD 5.24.13, natural m/c 10.19.13 at 9w
  • agapecarrieagapecarrie member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    It kind of depends on what subject matter, however I think TOB stuff helps put all the puzzle pieces together.

    These two are very easy reading:
    Theo of the body for beginners by Christopher West
    Good news about sex and marriage by Christopher west

    You can get some quick CD's for free at www.Catholicity.com

    https://secure.catholicity.com/cds/

    The book I started on which is kind of heavy reading on apologetics was "Born Fundamentalist, born again Catholic" by Karl Keating. The first half is very textbook like, but the second half are chapters by topic that include most regular arguments: Mary, Saints, Eucharist, Papacy, etc.

    Rome sweet home by Scott Hahn.

    I will also suggest this, although it might seem like a crazy suggestion, but the TOB institute week long head and heart class is the best week of my life. The whole experience was incredible, and it put the whole faith on a map and gave me a compass. Before TOB, I saw lots of interelated facts, but after TOB, I see its purpose and union. It may seem expensive (you get room and board at a retreat center, all meals, and a graduate level class which you can take for credit if you want), so it's not really with what you are getting.   www.tobinstitute.org

    Here's some basic scriptural references for Catholic beliefs:
    http://www.catholic.com/library/pillar.asp
  • edited December 2011
    ****butting in****

    agapecarie: that is awesome about your knowledge and background. My H and I are involved with the Lifeteen program at our church, I guess we should ask the youth minister about some training.

    And I am definitely going to take a look at some of those books you recommended. Thanks!

    ****butting out****
  • edited December 2011
    I just remembered another good Catholic author that has some great inspirational books. His name is Matthew Kelly - I have read a few of his books. But I know he is based in the Cinncinnati area of Ohio which is pretty cool.

    I know clearheavens is in the Cincy area.
  • clearheavensclearheavens member
    First Anniversary Name Dropper 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_agapecarrie?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:a0d9a9ad-e17b-4b18-a309-562fbf4cfa4bPost:7d92a994-ac7f-442b-87ed-d33b7e91164b">Re: agapecarrie</a>:
    [QUOTE]I just remembered another good Catholic author that has some great inspirational books. His name is Matthew Kelly - I have read a few of his books. But I know he is based in the Cinncinnati area of Ohio which is pretty cool. I know clearheavens is in the Cincy area.
    Posted by MissySue20[/QUOTE]

    <div>Yeah, I am from and in Cinci right now!  Matthew Kelly is a local celebrity.  We're lucky he gives out free books to parishes.</div><div>
    </div><div>I am so glad you girls want to learn more about our faith.  The books I recommend here are going to be smooth night reading because anything heavy is going to exhaust you.  I believe a jump to a main source is going to be difficult.  For the average Catholic who may have gone through RCIA, CCD, etc. but with no theology background, this is where you should start.</div><div>
    </div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Apologetics-Father-Chacon-Burnha/dp/1930084234" target="_blank">Beginning Apologetics</a></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Did-Adam-Have-Belly-Buttons/dp/096592288X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282849699&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Did Adam Have a Belly Button?</a></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Other-Questions-Catholic-Teenagers/dp/1932645411/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282849699&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Did Jesus Have a Last Name?</a></div><div>
    </div><div>Then these are where you should upgrade after that.  These are more main sources:</div><div>
    </div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Todays-Catholic-Redemptorist-Publication/dp/0764812203/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282849787&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Handbook for Today's Catholic</a></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Compendium-Catechism-Catholic-Ratzinger-Benedict/dp/1574557203/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282849818&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Compendium of the Catholic Church</a></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Catechism-Catholic-Church-Second-U-S/dp/0385508190/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282849898&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Catechism of the Catholic Church</a></div><div>
    </div><div>Then this is where it ties a lot of theology together with a direct application to your daily life in marriage.  This is the sources for Theology of the Body:</div><div>
    </div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Theology-Body-Beginners-Christopher-West/dp/1932645349/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282850070&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Theology of the Body for Beginners</a></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Good-News-About-Sex-Marriage/dp/0867166193/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282850081&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Good News about Sex and Marriage</a></div><div>
    </div><div>Of course, you should have a Catholic Bible, a great way to learn the values of the Gospel:</div><div>
    </div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=new+american+bible&x=0&y=0&ih=18_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_1.16_165&fsc=4" target="_blank">New American Bible</a></div><div>
    </div><div>After you have exhausted these sources, you probably won't need my recommendation anymore, since you will have found some excellent ones by then to quench your thirst for understanding!</div><div>
    </div><div>For kids, I am a huge fan of Magnifikid! Magazine.  It's so good, I even read it.  Please consider this as a gift to your nieces and nephews or to your future kids!</div><div>
    </div><div><a href="http://www.magnificat.net/magnifikid/index.asp" target="_blank">Magnifikid!</a></div>
    Follow Me on Pinterest

    BabyFruit Ticker
  • edited December 2011
    Thank you both for the recomendations. Lots of great reading in my future!

    ETA - agape I don't think your suggestion is crazy. I am actually going to look into it, and hopefully me and my husband will be able to find a week to go. We're both cradle catholics, although he went to Catholic school through high school so he has a bit more 'formal' education. But IMO learning about the church, etc. is so different as an adult than as a child/teenager.
    Lilypie Second Birthday tickers
  • agapecarrieagapecarrie member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_agapecarrie?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:a0d9a9ad-e17b-4b18-a309-562fbf4cfa4bPost:5664ace3-2675-4f1d-a1a4-55d78035c29f">Re: agapecarrie</a>:
    [QUOTE]Thank you both for the recomendations. Lots of great reading in my future! ETA - agape I don't think your suggestion is crazy. I am actually going to look into it, and hopefully me and my husband will be able to find a week to go. We're both cradle catholics, although he went to Catholic school through high school so he has a bit more 'formal' education. But IMO learning about the church, etc. is so different as an adult than as a child/teenager.
    Posted by Booger+Bear[/QUOTE]

    You bet it is. People try to use the answers they got as children to answer their adult questions, and it doesn't quite measure up. I'm so glad you are considering the institute. Go when Christopher West teaches it. I promise you will be changed for life, and will never regret going. Most amazing experiences there!
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards