…Now that you have gone through all of the topics (hopefully), we will be using the catechism of the Catholic Church, tradition, and some common sense, for this unofficial guide to rebooting your Catholicism:
Step 1: Find a Catholic Church Near You + Watch a Mass on TV / Internet
Use the Catholic Mass Times site to find Catholic Churches near you. You may have to try several to find one that fits you and your family best. If you first want to try out watching a Mass on the Internet or on TV first, you can try out the Heart of the Nation site, or perhaps get the free EWTN streaming app, which has televised Mass often.
Step 2: Obtain a Prayer Book + Try Praying Again
Find a Catholic prayer book that you might have around the house, browse used bookstores, or find one like this on Amazon. You can find all of the Catholic prayers online, but it is important to have a portable book that you get comfortable with. Also, read our topic on Prayer + Prayers carefully to get ideas on how why, and when to pray.
Step 3: Attend a Mass, But No Eucharist + Sign Up for Daily Readings
This is important: if you are baptized, and received first communion, but haven’t been at Mass in a long time, you have to go to confession first before you receive the Eucharist again. If you already did this, don’t fret, you didn’t know. Spend a little time going through our topic on the Mass to get familiar with all of the goings on. The Mass is not a chore at all. Once you start to really understand the meaning of everything during the Mass, it will become the favorite part of your week.
You can also sign up to get the daily Liturgical readings as an email. This is a wonderful habit and a great way to start each day. Try one of these: Catholic Daily Reflections or Word on Fire Daily Gospel Reflections.
Step 4: Go To Confession
If you want a refresher on how to give a good confession, that linked video will help. If you haven’t memorized some of the important Catholic prayers yet, you should get out your prayer book as you will need to say the Act of Contrition, and also some other prayers after. (if you print out the Act of Contrition, the priest surely won’t mind)
Step 5: Go To Mass + Eucharist + Get to Know Your Priest!
Now that you have read up on the Mass, and made a confession, attend a Mass and receive the Eucharist. Try to start a discussion with the priest after Mass. If you can’t, look on the church website and you should be able to find his email address and get in touch.
Step 6: Get a Catholic Calendar
Get yourself an old-fashioned wall calendar for the Catholic Liturgical year, Saints days, days of obligation, etc. will be on this Calendar. Get into the habit of searching YouTube for short videos on each Saint as their feast day comes up. Or, get a book on the Saints and read up on them on their feasts days. Following the Liturgical year, especially during Lent/Easter and Advent creates a wonderful structure to the year as a Catholic.
Step 7: Begin Catholic Studies
“Catholic Studies” can be as simple as looking at our reading suggestions at the end of each of the topics, or reviewing our 10 Books Every Catholic Should Own and just start reading. If you use streaming services, get the Word on Fire and/or Formed (Augustine Institute) apps. They have both free and paid content. If you want to take the next step, join the Word on Fire Institute, and start taking online courses, or try Catholic Productions for amazing educational videos. Finally, check out your church’s website as they might have regular classes on Bible study and other areas of study for adults.
Step 8: Start Saying the Rosary Regularly
We said it in our topic on the Rosary, but it is extremely common for people, once they start praying the rosary, that they want to pray it more. It is not only a mind, heart, and soul-centering prayer, but also a powerful tool for relieving anxiety and the worries of the world. It simply puts you in order.
Step 9: Get Involved With at Least One Club or Charity Through Your Church
Being a member of a Catholic parish should never just be about fulfilling your obligations of worship. Everything about being a Catholic is about community and going on mission with members of the community. Your church surely has community programs, and you should find those that suit your strengths, and then make time to get involved. Don’t just be a bare-minimum Catholic, that is not what this is all about.
Step 10: Find a Charity That Aligns with Catholic Teachings and Give Without Telling Anyone
This one comes right from Christ Himself, and there should be no need to quote scripture here. Jesus talks often about giving without thinking, and without seeking credit. It is just important to research your charities well. There are many that say one thing but operate in a different manner.
End of Catholic Worship Topics
Synopsis
If you are a lapsed “cradle” Catholic, you are not alone. The Church has simply not done a good enough job the last few generations of educating us about our faith. But we also have to take responsibility as well. The Catholic faith is a wondrous relationship to a person and was created by God Himself. If you believe Jesus was God, there is really only one choice-make Him the center of your life by practicing the Catholic faith.
Suggested Reading
“Returning Home to Your Catholic Faith: An Invitation” by Sally Mews
“Return” by Brandon Vogt
“Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith” by Bishop Robert Barron
Top Image
Nicolas Poussin, a French artist, painted Extreme Unction (also known as “Final Anointing”) between 1638 and 1640 as one of seven works illustrating the sacraments of the Catholic Church (1594–1665).
The painting, which depicts a dying man being anointed with oil in accordance with early Roman church tradition, was ordered in Rome by renowned collector Cassiano dal Pozzo.