You are here:
- Home
- Religion/Spirituality
- Christianity - Catholicism
- Catholics
- Catholicism vs. Seventh Day Adventism
Catholics/Catholicism vs. Seventh Day Adventism
Advertisement
Question
I am currently dating a devout Catholic. He and I can't seem to see eye to eye on things because of the things I have grown up believing in the Adventist Church. Our morals and general beliefs are exactly the same but i just can't seem to understand all of the little details of your religion. ex: "Queen Mary", purgatory, etc.
I am thinking about joining the Catholic Church can you please help me understand what your religion is all about?
Hi, Lisa:
Thanks for the question, and I wish you the very best in continuing to look at and study the Catholic Faith in particular.
Since your question is pretty general, it is hard to give a lot of precise answers right here and now. I would recommend that you check out the site www.catholic.com
As to your specific questions:
1. Queen Mary: in the Hebrew tradition, the queen is the mother of the king, not his wife, as is the common European tradition. As Christ reigns in kingly dignity, so His Mother has a special dignity as queen. She has a special relationship to her Son as Mother, and she is a powerful intecessor for us before Christ her Son. She is the perfection of God's work of Salvation in a human creature.
2. Purgatory: since nothing impure can enter Heaven, God has a special process of cleansing and purification after death for the human soul redeemed in Christ. The work of God's Grace in the human soul actually causes and makes true holiness, the soul living in union with God; but almost nobody dies in PERFECT uniformity with God's will, or in PERFECT absolute communion with the Creator. Look at St. Paul's First letter to the Corinthians Chapter 3 where the Apostle describes the salvation of one who has laid up works in Christ in this life. After death he will have these all subject to God's judgment, and that which is impure will be burned away and purified - but the soul will escape and be saved "as through fire." After death, the soul is not living a mortal life in "this world"; but if he has impurities that must be cleansed away, then he cannot yet be in Heaven; but, he must be "somewhere" - this place is called Purgatory, or a place (state) of purification.
Fr. Timothy Johnson
Related Articles
Answers by Expert:
Fr. Timothy Johnson
Expertise
A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience
I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.
Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.