Reddit mentions of Where is That in the Bible?

> went through a very terrible time in my life during which I did not actively seek God, and now am joining the Catholic church as an adult.

Welcome home, brother (or sister)!

>discussing the things I am grappling with (you know, praying to dead people, guardian angels, and, oh yeah, Mary)

This subreddit has answered these questions for other folks raised in Protestant traditions who struggle with the same things as you. Give it a search, and see if you can find some answers. If not, hit us up, and I'm sure many of us will be happy to explain some of the Catholic-hard-hitters. I also recommend "Where Is That In the Bible?" by Patrick Madrid: it's pocket sized and has lots of good scriptural notations. Of importance (which you may already know) is that, to Catholics, something doesn't need to be spelled out plainly in Scripture for it to be "revealed."

One thing all Christians agree on as being "revealed" in Scripture is the Trinity: one God, three Persons. Yet, this is nowhere written like that: we deduce it from statements such as "I and the Father are one." The communion of saints and the sinlessness of Mary are similarly deduced, although not spelled out plainly perfect. (That's why we have a Magesterium, after all!)

>I will be sitting in Mass and people will be rubbing their faces while we are reading the gospels. Am I supposed to do that? What does it mean?

People are using their right thumb to make a small cross over their forehead, lips, and heart. /u/you_know_what_you has given a great explanation of this already, so I won't rehash it!

>What will happen when I go up to receive the Eucharist?

Before Confirmation, you can (but don't have to) go up and receive a personal blessing from the priest in lieu of the Eucharist. (You can also use this if you can't receive for any other reason [unconfessed mortal sin, mostly].) Indicate this by crossing your arms over your shoulders as you approach the priest. He'll give you a blessing and send you on your way. Here in /r/Catholicism opinions vary about whether this is a "good" or pious practice, with many thinking that it's a "liturgical abuse," since all the participants are blessed both at the beginning and end of the Mass. If you're unable to receive, you are welcome to remain kneeling in your pew and say this prayer of Spiritual Communion.

When you are able to receive, there are three permitted ways:

1. Kneeling, on the tongue
   
2. Standing, on the tongue
   
3. Standing, in the hand
   
   As above with the whole arm-crossing-business, most of the subreddit (or at least those of us who are very active) are of the opinion that on the tongue is objectively better for a number of reasons (less room for actual abuse of Our Lord's Body, less chance to drop Him, etc). I will admit that I also hold this position, but admit that reception in the hand is permitted. If you do want to receive on the tongue as people did for at least a thousand years, simply approach Father and, kneeling or standing, open your mouth about a half-inch and stick your tongue out a little bit; just enough for Father to lay the Host on your tongue without getting his fingers damp or having to put them inside your mouth. Like this.

I cannot speak to the first question, but I'll give a try at the next.

I have heard it said that specifically because Christ, Who is fully God, was revealed as a real, specific person, He is absolutely depictable. In fact, it is a mistake not to depict Him because we will tend to forget that He has a human nature in addition to a divine nature.

Re: the bonus question, why can't it be both?

I will also say that you won't get far arguing with a Protestant be citing proof texts. The Bible is not a legal document. You can't just pick clauses out of it and say, "This means X." I have become firmly convinced that the Holy Scriptures can only be understood as a whole.

Edit to add: There is a good Catholic apologetic book called Where is That in the Bible? that gives specific texts to defend a lot of Catholic/Orthodox tradition, but again, I think that citing proof-texts is ultimately a losing battle.

Feel free to message me with any questions, I might not have all the answers, but I'll do my best!

Here is the book that I recommended above

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
SECOND EDITION
174 "For though languages differ throughout the world, the content of the Tradition is one and the same. The Churches established in Germany have no other faith or Tradition, nor do those of the Iberians, nor those of the Celts, nor those of the East, of Egypt, of Libya, nor those established at the center of the world. . ." The Church's message "is true and solid, in which one and the same way of salvation appears throughout the whole world."

• http://carm.org/roman-catholicism-bible-and-tradition
  
  
• http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac1081.asp
  
  also you may want to read why is that in tradition by Patrick Madrid
  
  
• http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1931709068/ref=redir_mdp_mobile
  
  Where is that in the Bible
  
  
• http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0879736933/ref=redir_mdp_mobile
  
  And where we got the Bible by Henry G. Graham
  
  
• ttp://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0895551373/ref=redir_mdp_mobile
  
  Shalom
  God bless

Congratulations! You're on a journey that I have been on for pretty much my entire life. I was born and raised Baptist and now my wife and I are coming into the Church on the Easter Vigil just a few days away (we are so excited I don't have the words.) I know what you are going through.

1. I'm a little late so I won't add anything here, everyone answered right on.
   
   
2. These are some books that helped me with the transition, if you have some extra money I would defiantly pick them up:
   http://www.amazon.com/Where-That-Bible-Patrick-Madrid/dp/0879736933/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1427358009&sr=8-4&keywords=patrick+madrid
   
   http://www.amazon.com/Answer-Me-This-Patrick-Madrid/dp/1931709580/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1427358009&sr=8-11&keywords=patrick+madrid
   
   http://www.amazon.com/Protestants-Dilemma-Reformations-Consequences-Catholicism/dp/1938983610/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1427358041&sr=1-1&keywords=the+protestants+dilemma

The Catechism is the big place to go, but there are two really great books for protestants I've found that focus on explaining Catholic doctrine and practice through scripture: https://www.amazon.com/Where-That-Bible-Patrick-Madrid/dp/0879736933

https://www.amazon.com/Why-That-Tradition-Patrick-Madrid/dp/1931709068/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1931709068&pd_rd_r=CQ57KXK1EEB48KBRH922&pd_rd_w=mthv1&pd_rd_wg=mOtJv&psc=1&refRID=CQ57KXK1EEB48KBRH922