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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]NP. I’m an atheist who was raised extremely Catholic, including Catholic schools, who went to college and finally got the confidence to publicly express the atheism I’d believed in since I was about nine or ten. I didn’t go to Mass for years. I did baptize my kids using my mom’s church, but that was more of a gift to my mom than anything.

But then I moved my kids to Catholic school after a disastrous public school experience. The school and community was incredibly welcoming to my kid and the family. The familiar academic and behavioral rigor was so welcome. I had this strong sense of homecoming. My kids embraced it, even though I’d raised them atheist.

I don’t go to Mass regularly, but I do go periodically now. And I really feel a sense of peace after. I have not gone to Confession, but I do take the Eucharist. I suspect that as I age, I will go more.

I don’t know what to do about the actual belief in God part. I remember questioning the existence of God as a very young child. I didn’t even have the words to understand it, but once I learned the term “atheist,” it resonated. I cannot make myself believe in God. But, I feel peace and connection to my community and family when I go to Mass, and for now that is enough.

All of this is to say that if you are feeling pulled to the Church, there might be a reason and it’s okay to embrace that. Go to different churches and attend Mass and see how it resonates. You don’t have to be all in immediately. [/quote]

If you don’t believe in God, and do not go to confession, you shouldn’t be going to communion.  Any priest will tell you that.  It’s good that you are going to mass and leaving your heart open (and for this I applaud you), but receiving communion as a current non-believer is a mortal sin.[/quote]

Well, I don’t believe in mortal sins either, so luckily that isn’t a problem. [/quote]

Haha yeah - exactly....[/quote]

When the Holy Spirit brings PP closer to reuniting with the Church, PP can go to Confession and confess receiving Eucharist while not being in a state of grace. I had gone to Confession ONE time as an adult (2015) before recognizing truly what an amazing Sacrament it is. I went in 2021, then 2023, then 4x since Advent. You start to hunger to be closer to God. The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum of saints. I am praying for you PP! Giving your children the gift of faith is magnificent and really hard. My husband does not practice so I pray for him too. Being the recipient of these prayers from a relative showed me we all get there in our own time. (My favorite saint btw is St. Monica, St. Augustine's long suffering mom)[/quote]

I’m the atheist PP you are talking about, and thank you for this. This is kind act on your part. Maybe one day the peace I feel going to Mass will turn into something further and I will go to Confession. Or maybe not. In any event, I can see why people get something profound out of it.

I like St. Monica too, interestingly. [/quote]

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