A strong pull towards Catholicism?

[Angelina5]

Hello everyone!!

I am currently transitioning out of Mormonism after being a member for over 10 years.
I was raised Catholic but joined the LDS faith when I was 19. I was convinced that the LDS church was God’s true Church on the Earth until this past December when I came upon informations that totally, irremediably discredited the LDS church.
I started experiencing a very strong yearning for Christ upon my exit of the Mormon Church. I have felt closer to Him for the past few months than I ever have when I was Mormon (I actually never felt a closeness to my Savior when I was LDS).
In my search for objective and absolute truth, I have visited various religious denominations and I have felt that they all have something missing…except the Catholic Church.
I have felt a strong pull towards the Catholic church, almost like a magnet. I have a constant desire to research the Holy Roman Catholic Church, read about it, and I have attended Mass several times.
Has anyone else experienced such a strong pull towards the Catholic faith?

 

[Catholic1954]

The Holy Spirit is calling you back to the Catholic Church. You are most welcome to call and make an appointment with a parish priest to discuss your questions and concerns about returning to the Chuch. Welcome Home! :clapping:

 

[the_phoenix]

I have felt a strong pull towards the Catholic church, almost like a magnet. I have a constant desire to research the Holy Roman Catholic Church, read about it, and I have attended Mass several times.
Has anyone else experienced such a strong pull towards the Catholic faith?

Along with Mass, you might want to also visit a Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel.

 

[JNdoum]

I sensed this truth as well when I first converted. May God be with you!

 

[George_Stegmeir]

Hello everyone!!

I am currently transitioning out of Mormonism after being a member for over 10 years.
I was raised Catholic but joined the LDS faith when I was 19. I was convinced that the LDS church was God’s true Church on the Earth until this past December when I came upon informations that totally, irremediably discredited the LDS church.
I started experiencing a very strong yearning for Christ upon my exit of the Mormon Church. I have felt closer to Him for the past few months than I ever have when I was Mormon (I actually never felt a closeness to my Savior when I was LDS).
In my search for objective and absolute truth, I have visited various religious denominations and I have felt that they all have something missing…except the Catholic Church.
I have felt a strong pull towards the Catholic church, almost like a magnet. I have a constant desire to research the Holy Roman Catholic Church, read about it, and I have attended Mass several times.
Has anyone else experienced such a strong pull towards the Catholic faith?

Yes, I was away from the Church for over 50 years, when I was called back on the edge of my death bed!

 

[St_Francis]

Hello everyone!!

I am currently transitioning out of Mormonism after being a member for over 10 years.
I was raised Catholic but joined the LDS faith when I was 19. I was convinced that the LDS church was God’s true Church on the Earth until this past December when I came upon informations that totally, irremediably discredited the LDS church.
I started experiencing a very strong yearning for Christ upon my exit of the Mormon Church. I have felt closer to Him for the past few months than I ever have when I was Mormon (I actually never felt a closeness to my Savior when I was LDS).
In my search for objective and absolute truth, I have visited various religious denominations and I have felt that they all have something missing…except the Catholic Church.
I have felt a strong pull towards the Catholic church, almost like a magnet. I have a constant desire to research the Holy Roman Catholic Church, read about it, and I have attended Mass several times.
Has anyone else experienced such a strong pull towards the Catholic faith?

I too was raised Catholic when I was very young, and then my mother left the Church. But there were times along my long journey back that I felt a pull. I remember at one point I said I would be either Catholic or Orthodox Jewish. Another time, I tried to go to Confession, but the priest said I didn’t understand the sacrament, and to come back when I understood it better.

I do hope that you will persevere–I should have gone back when the priest was not so busy just before Mass to ask him what he meant and how I could find out more (before one could look everything up online). It was several years before I finally did learn more about the sacraments, and finally came back home.

I don’t know if this book would help you, but it is the story of a Protestant theologian who started reading about Catholicism and ended up converting, and his wife. Very easy to read, and great explanations of the Faith! Home Sweet Rome by Scott Hahn. You might be able to get it at the library, through interlibrary loan if they don’t have it themselves.

And you can certainly find out a lot here Welcome!

 

[Bklynguy]

Hello everyone!!

I am currently transitioning out of Mormonism after being a member for over 10 years.
I was raised Catholic but joined the LDS faith when I was 19. I was convinced that the LDS church was God’s true Church on the Earth until this past December when I came upon informations that totally, irremediably discredited the LDS church.
I started experiencing a very strong yearning for Christ upon my exit of the Mormon Church. I have felt closer to Him for the past few months than I ever have when I was Mormon (I actually never felt a closeness to my Savior when I was LDS).
In my search for objective and absolute truth, I have visited various religious denominations and I have felt that they all have something missing…except the Catholic Church.
I have felt a strong pull towards the Catholic church, almost like a magnet. I have a constant desire to research the Holy Roman Catholic Church, read about it, and I have attended Mass several times.
Has anyone else experienced such a strong pull towards the Catholic faith?

Yes. I was a lapsed Catholic for several years. A couple of times, before I returned, I would go to Mass on a major holiday and would feel a strong emotional pull (sometimes being almost moved to tears on a couple of occasions).

Spend some time before the Blessed Sacrament. God Bless.

 

[MySoph]

Has anyone else experienced such a strong pull towards the Catholic faith?

Yes, Angelina, I have! I was raised Catholic, went to 12 yrs of Catholic school, but fell away because I was just too darned lazy to go to Mass every Sunday and I didn’t understand the importance of it. I had nothing against the Church. In fact, I had fond memories of it.

I went 20 years only going to Mass at Christmas with my parents. Then, Pope John Paul II died. That was the start of my return journey. While I was watching his funeral, I knew I loved him. I always respected him, but this was different. It was the pull.

Then I went to some Protestant churches and got involved with a nice group of Protestants. Funny thing was I kept telling everyone I was Catholic. It was like I was Dorothy in Oz, saying “There’s no place like home.” I had to tell everyone I wasn’t like them. I was Catholic. It was the pull.

Then I realized the Protestand life wasn’t enough, and so I committed to going back to my old parish, and I knew I was home. I discovered EWTN and Catholic radio. I learned things I never knew before. I still have the pull, and I’m glad for it.

 

[JRKH]

Hello everyone!!

I am currently transitioning out of Mormonism after being a member for over 10 years.
I was raised Catholic but joined the LDS faith when I was 19. I was convinced that the LDS church was God’s true Church on the Earth until this past December when I came upon informations that totally, irremediably discredited the LDS church.
I started experiencing a very strong yearning for Christ upon my exit of the Mormon Church. I have felt closer to Him for the past few months than I ever have when I was Mormon (I actually never felt a closeness to my Savior when I was LDS).
In my search for objective and absolute truth, I have visited various religious denominations and I have felt that they all have something missing…except the Catholic Church.
I have felt a strong pull towards the Catholic church, almost like a magnet. I have a constant desire to research the Holy Roman Catholic Church, read about it, and I have attended Mass several times.
Has anyone else experienced such a strong pull towards the Catholic faith?

YES - I did some years ago now…Since you say you were raised Catholic (as I was) I think I can safely say that it is the Eucharist that is calling you back. The Eucharist is THE main thing that other faiths are missing.

Of course, you are not an “Ex-catholic” and returning to the Church may be as easy as returning to the Sacraments by going to confession first (assuming you had received communion and confirmation as a child). Check with the pastor to see if there are any impediments besides a good confession.

I found CAF shortly after that and have found nearly all my questions answered quite satisfactorily.

Good Luck on your journey.

Peace
James

 

[rfournier103]

After coming home from work on a 3-11 shift at a Boston hospital, I watched a show on Discovery or History about the Vatican and it’s architecture. Very fascinating to say the least.

When they talked about St. Peter’s tomb, and the 2000 year old “resident” of the tomb; the Bible, the life of Jesus, and my Catholic faith became VERY REAL for me. I was raised a Catholic, but that show, and the Relics added a measure of legitimacy other denominations lack. Never wavered since. That was MY pull.

If anyone knows what this program was, please let me know. I watched it back in 1997 or 1998, and would LOVE to see it again!

 

[Angelina5]

Wow THANK YOU all for your feedback and support!!! All my friends are LDS and my entire family is in France so I truly appreciate the support!!

 

[JRKH]

Wow THANK YOU all for your feedback and support!!! All my friends are LDS and my entire family is in France so I truly appreciate the support!!

This can be one of the problems with coming home…It often times means leaving friends behind who just don’t understand.

We’ll do our best to support you though.

God Bless

Peace
James

 

[nevadairenaeus]

Hi Angelina5,

I am an exmormon myself. I left the LDS church a few years ago and was just baptized Catholic at this year’s Easter Vigil. I definitely understand the strong pull to Catholicism!

It’s the pull of truth, of beauty, and of goodness. It’s the Holy Spirit that will not leave us alone until we are brought home to our Lord. It has not been an easy journey home - my family remains LDS - but I cannot imagine my life now without the Mass, the Eucharist, and the whole rich heritage of the Catholic Church. This quote by the great convert to Catholicism G.K. Chesterton sums up the conversion experience for me:

“It is impossible to be just to the Catholic Church. The moment men cease to pull against it they feel a tug towards it. The moment they cease to shout it down they begin to listen to it with pleasure. The moment they try to be fair to it they begin to be fond of it. But when that affection has passed a certain point it begins to take on the tragic and menacing grandeur of a great love affair.”

 

[GraceSofia]

This quote by the great convert to Catholicism G.K. Chesterton sums up the conversion experience for me:

“It is impossible to be just to the Catholic Church. The moment men cease to pull against it they feel a tug towards it. The moment they cease to shout it down they begin to listen to it with pleasure. The moment they try to be fair to it they begin to be fond of it. But when that affection has passed a certain point it begins to take on the tragic and menacing grandeur of a great love affair.”

Yes, it is like that. Great quote.

 

[CaptCrunch73]

The Holy Spirit is calling you back to the Catholic Church. You are most welcome to call and make an appointment with a parish priest to discuss your questions and concerns about returning to the Chuch. Welcome Home! :clapping:

I was raised Catholic, quit, then returned slowly after detouring thru a number of different Protestant churches. I agree with Catholic 1954 you’re being called back. The same thing happened to me… Welcome home!

 

[manualman]

NO LDS exerperience, but perhaps something similar.

I was raised catholic and evangelized well and cathechized, well, fairly well considering it was the 70’s… When I went off to college, I could find ZERO faithful catholics my age and the local Newman Center was a rats nest of heterodoxy (bad enough for an 18 year old to smell it).

I hung out with some zealous evangelical protestants (most of which were ex-catholics) for 5 years with little catholic (name removed by moderator)ut other than Sunday mass (real parish not the ‘voodoo’ place) and my own reading. I loved those people and could clearly see Christ present in their hearts and lives the way I WASN’T experiencing him (not to say He wasn’t there) in the people I attended mass with. But on the few occassions I went to their ‘church’ and they passed around the basket of crackers and tray of grape juice cups, I sensed the profoundly real absence. It kept me at home in the Church. It took a while, but I did find that catholic community support I needed. You will too. Just be sure to value Christ more than any merely human feelings of community and acceptance. That will come in time if you are faithful. Hang in there!

 

[in_servitude]

I am most impressed when a someone exists the LDS church because so much is on the line for them. As you probably know, the LDS church says that everyone goes to Heaven - everyone single human - except people like you that reject the church. That, to me, would be something that would make me pause for a long time. I’d have to be very certain of a move like that.

I rejoice with your conversion. Congrats!

As for myself - I married my wonderful Catholic wife, but stayed Protestant out of a power struggle. I stayed Protestant (but attended Mass). I did a most excellent job of attacking my wife’s faith. As I look back at that, I am horrified. yuck.

Anyway, I received not-so-subtle clues (physical sensations while at Mass) that eventually caused me to rethink my position. Now, I’m the one trying to repair the damage I’ve done. Thankfully, it’s working.

Summary - pulled toward the Catholic Church? Yes. A very strong yes.

 

[MirandaRiver]

I have felt a strong pull towards the Catholic church, almost like a magnet. I have a constant desire to research the Holy Roman Catholic Church, read about it, and I have attended Mass several times.
Has anyone else experienced such a strong pull towards the Catholic faith?

Hi there Angelina.
Whilst not of a Christian faith, I actually went to a RC school as a child and on certain days we had to go to Mass. I always looked fondly at those times although I had no real idea what the hell was going on (other than sometimes we had to sit on the itchy seats).

And although I am of a completely different spiritual path, I have been undergoing this very very strong pull to the Church, and I wouldnt dream of going to anything other than a Catholic church. I have been to several Masses now, visited a Church open in the day for silent prayer and even went to the priest for a blessing during communion. I read and listen to as many podcasts as I can, and can only want to learn and know and understand more.
I struggle with understanding this process, for I have not fallen out of love with my own beliefs, just that I have this pull and I cant describe how or why or what the result will be.

But I just at the moment will let it ride and see what falls.
Although if I do think about it I get very confused. lol.

 

[nevadairenaeus]

Hi there Angelina.
Whilst not of a Christian faith, I actually went to a RC school as a child and on certain days we had to go to Mass. I always looked fondly at those times although I had no real idea what the hell was going on (other than sometimes we had to sit on the itchy seats).

And although I am of a completely different spiritual path, I have been undergoing this very very strong pull to the Church, and I wouldnt dream of going to anything other than a Catholic church. I have been to several Masses now, visited a Church open in the day for silent prayer and even went to the priest for a blessing during communion. I read and listen to as many podcasts as I can, and can only want to learn and know and understand more.
I struggle with understanding this process, for I have not fallen out of love with my own beliefs, just that I have this pull and I cant describe how or why or what the result will be.

But I just at the moment will let it ride and see what falls.
Although if I do think about it I get very confused. lol.

Its fascinating to see the Church attract people of such diverse backgrounds: Protestant, Mormon, pagan, atheist, Muslim, Buddhist, etc. It really seems that in spite of all the scandal and problems in the Catholic Church, the Spirit is causing new life to spring up. Maybe Pope John Paul II was right after all.

 

[MySoph]

Its fascinating to see the Church attract people of such diverse backgrounds: Protestant, Mormon, pagan, atheist, Muslim, Buddhist, etc. It really seems that in spite of all the scandal and problems in the Catholic Church, the Spirit is causing new life to spring up. Maybe Pope John Paul II was right after all.

I completely agree on all counts. I love to see what the former Protestants bring to the Church. They often have an infectious enthusiasm. I only mention the Protestants because that’s who I’ve personally been around. I’m sure people of all different backgrounds bring something rich and wonderful to the Church, too.

On a side note … I was telling a non-denom coworker about how all Catholics on any given day are reading the same scripture passages from our Daily Missals in the Mass and privately at home. She was floored to hear this. She thought the unity was incredible. I told her that’s what St. Paul was telling us … be of one mind…and that’s what the Catholic Church strives to do. I hope a seed waas planted in her.