Thank you, its rare because my church bailed out on me in the 60s and left us high and dry.
Just a couple things on Protestant vs Catholic. Main stumbling block for protestants are the roll of Mary in salvation (something Bobby Prevost is trying to defuse). Leo just got done stripping her of the title co redemtrix (part of his move to protesantism). Logically the title makes sense. For one, like us, she was given a free will. Gabriel did not tell her she HAD to be the mother of the savior, she was asked. She could of said no. Then we would all be damned. The church has also determined she was born free from original sin (I am waiting for Leo to trash that next). But that too makes sense. Yes you can argue that “Christ dined with sinners” Very true but we are talking about his conception in the womb. If Mary did posses original sin that would mean Christ was conceived in sin. Impossible.
In regards to Confession, another stumbling block for protestants, that is actually based on scripture. Scola scriptura says the bible alone will save. Only problem with that was when Christ died he did not just leave a pile of books he left the priesthood, the first priests, the apostles. At the last supper he told them “Whatever sins you shall forgive shall be forgiven and whos ever sins you shall retained shall be retained them’. In short he instituted the sacrament of confession. For that matter holy orders too when he gave the power to the apostles.
Ya ya I know cut out the middle man, go to God directly. Most of my Novus Ordo friends take that stand. If people are comfortable with that, like Emeril Lagasse used to say “You aint hurting my feelings”. Most of my Novus Ordo Catholic friends never go to confession using that as the grounds. As for me I am a safety engineer. I wear both a belt and suspenders. I am not taking any chances. For me its frequent confession.
Go in peace now the Catechism Lesson is over.