How to Learn the Catholic Religion
The Catholic religion, more commonly referred to as Catholicism, is a religion with a vast history and a strong core of beliefs. Those new to the Catholic Mass or Catholicism in general may be confused about Catholic practices, such as prayer and worship. There's no reason for you go it alone if you want to learn more about Catholicism. There are numerous text, audio and even in-person resources that you can use to give you a better understanding of the Catholic faith.
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Instructions
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Attend Catholic Mass every Sunday and every other Holy Day of Obligation. For starters, this is required for all Catholics. Attending Catholic Mass each week will also help you learn the basics of the mass, such as when the readings take place, when you should stand, sit and kneel and specific prayers and songs.
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Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Catechism is a book that summarizes and explains the teachings and beliefs of the Catholic Church. Topics such as the life, death and resurrection of Christ, baptism and Holy Communion are discussed in The Catechism. The Catechism can be purchased in most major book stores and can also found in libraries. You also have the option of reading The Catechism on the official website of the Vatican (see Resources below).
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Visit Catholic Online (see Resources below). Catholic Online is a great resource for individuals hoping to learn more about the Catholic religion. You can find information about Saints, novenas and other prayers, feasts and also search for specific Bible verses on this website.
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Listen to talks by Father Larry Richards, a priest and a well-known speaker and retreat leader. He is both captivating and knowledgeable and a great resource for both beginners as well as those who have been a part of the Catholic Church for many years. "The Truth," "The Mass Explained" and "Confession" are three talks that are very useful for a person wanting to learn more about Catholicism and Christianity in general.
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Take part in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, also referred to as RCIA. This is actually the process in which you become a member of the Catholic Church. Through this process, you will learn the basics of both Christianity and Catholicism. These classes take part on Sundays at a Catholic Church. To learn more about RCIA, speak with your priest or the director of the RCIA program at your church.
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Tips & Warnings
Speak to the priest at your local Catholic church about your desire to learn about Catholicism. He will be more than happy to meet with you and discuss the basics of the Catholic faith. He may also inform you about some classes different from RCIA that will allow you to learn more about Catholicism.
Don't neglect reading the Bible when trying to learn about Catholicism. Too often, people will try so hard to learn about the Catholic faith that they forget Catholicism is based upon Christianity. Make yourself familiar with the Gospels, especially, as you attempt to learn more about Catholicism.
