Here’s a great email from a reader about her experience with Catholic formation. I would welcome other comments!
My own religious education was divided between pre and post Vatican
II. I’m 51, and from grades 1 through 8, I went to a Catholic school. We were taught from the Baltimore Catechism and had Bible classes too. We went to Mass every day but Wednesday, and that day we had Rosary and Benediction (I LOVE Benediction). That gave me a love for the transcensdant beauty of the Mass that I will carry with me forever.
Yes, the Baltimore Catechism is rote learning, but it did give me a solid background, and if the teaching style hadn’t changed, I probably would have gone on to study theology more deeply in high school.
But the Catholic high school closed, and I went on to CCD classes. In the fervor of Vatican II, the teachers tossed all the curiculum out the window. All I can remember of that time, are strumming guitars, and “Jesus Loves You” week after week. (have you ever heard what we called the “Cannibal Hymn” – the chorus is:)
Eat His Body
Drink His Blood
And we’ll sing a song of love
Alleu, Alleu, Alleu, Alleluia
I was too polite to say what was on my mind, “Well, of course I know Jesus loves me, when are we going to learn something?” So there was a waste of four good years.
Thank goodness, that I am a curious person by nature, and I love to read. So I got books by Catholic writers, and taught myself.
When our parish began an RCIA program, I was asked to participate, but the materials we were given to work with were long on feelings, and short on substance, very much in the vein of my high school years. I tried to inject some substance, but got tired of rowing against the tide. The priest who was our pastor then, had the horrid habit of referring to The Matthean author, the Lucan author and the Pauline author etc. and the DRE was really touchy-feely. Most of the sessions ended up as mini-Oprah shows or sessions of the Jesus Seminar. When I told of the love and gratitude I felt toward the church, some of the “facilitators” seemed to think I was odd for not being filled with anger.
I had to quit because of work pressures, but maybe someday I will go back and try it again. The Catholic Church, its rituals, history, and everything abouy it fills me with a sense of wonder and awe. Maybe someday, I can convey my own love of the Church to those who are exploring it.