Most Catholics I know were baptized within their first few years of their life. (I believe the term is pedobatism). It's probably safe to say that these people were Catholics even before they knew what was going on. Honestly, I don't know the history behind this Roman Catholic practice, but I'm sure that I can easily find out. My point is: My parents had me baptized in the Catholic Church; I had done the same with my children; and I hope my children will follow suit.
This practice introduces us to God-- but ONLY introduces us to Him. The rest is up to you.
Think of your best friend. Can you pinpoint the exact time when you realized that this person is your best friend? There are a few that can say "Yes, it was that time when I slipped on the banana peel, which sent my entire lunch tray up into the air and all my food landed on the ground. Out of nowhere, he helped me clean up the mess and offered to share his lunch with me." I, for one, can't remember when my friend turned into my best friend. It was more of a gradual thing-- meet for the first time, then playground teammates, then more hanging out, then more trust, then live through a few life experiences, then a little more trust, and so on...
It is our choice to continue from that initial meeting and build a stronger relationship with that person.
As far back as I can remember, my first knowing (and constant) encounter with God was in grade school. I was fortunate enough to have loving parents that enrolled me into St. Anthony School- Honolulu, and in my years there, I remember learning how to do the sign of the cross, recite prayers, the routines and dialogue of Mass, and all the goodies that come with being in a Catholic school.
Yes, I learned how to pray. Yes, I learned what to do and say during mass. I learned the right way to treat my peers and I learned how to become a good citizen. The 10 Commandments, the who's who of the bible, all that stuff-- easy.
But before I ramble on and on, let me explain what it means to be a "2nd Pew Catholic."
A 2nd pew catholic is someone that is eager to learn more about their Catholic faith. So eager that sitting somewhere in the back rows is just not enough to fuel their passion.
"But if you're so eager to learn, why not sit in the front row?" The answer is fairly simple. Remember reciting a poem, singing a song, or dancing a routine with your classmates for a school performance? It was necessary for it to be done in unison... so we practiced, and practiced, and practiced until we had everything memorized. When it was showtime, what did we all do? We looked at the person next to us just to make sure that we were dancing the correct step, singing the correct lyrics, saying the correct lines. Even though we knew what to do, we still had a bit of hesitation and needed an example to follow.
And because we are all continually learning more about our faith, it is best to have a vantage point which allows us to view the ones around us. Our end goal is to be the example.
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