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GraceSofia
Guest
Angelina,
You might find these conversion stories interesting and inspiring:
Mormon Convert Thomas Smith
Mormon Convert Richard Sherlock
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You might find these conversion stories interesting and inspiring:
Mormon Convert Thomas Smith
Mormon Convert Richard Sherlock
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nevadairenaeus
Guest
I like how Chesterton compares it to a love affair. To others it may seem incomprehensible what we see in the Catholic Church or why we love her. All they can see are the numerous failings and problems of the Church. What we see, presently obscured perhaps by earthly vestments, is the immaculate Bride of Christ, shining with the glory of God. The rest of world can’t understand why we would want to be part of a church made up of so many flawed individuals. What we see is the Marriage Feast of the Lamb, where even sinners as broken and needy as ourselves can find a place at the table of God’s grace.Yes, it is like that. Great quote.
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Angelina5
Guest
To be boldly honest, I had no interest whatsoever in the Catholic Church during my ten year Mormon Church attendance. Even when I discovered that the Mormon churh was not the true Church of Christ, I would have NEVER guessed that I would have any remote association with the Catholic church ever again. But I can’t deny that pull and I so GLAD that God has brought me home without searching for years for His church. It was only a matter of a few months between my Mormon “unconversion” and this wonderful pull to my Catholic Church.
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in_servitude
Guest
Maybe this will not apply to you, but in my own life, when some kind of grace hits me real hard, I have learned to ask my daughter, “What have you been praying for as it relates to me and my life?” There is usually a very strong connection between my experience and her prayers.
Is it possible you have a person in your family/extended family that has been praying for your conversion for the past 10 years? When I look at your wonderful story that you have posted here, that is the sense that I get.
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Angelina5
Guest
I LOVE that!!! It was definitely sudden and strong. But I don’t have anybody in my family who is Christian, let alone Catholic. And my closest friends are Mormon. However, my deceased great grand-parents were Catholic, and they raised me until I was 12.
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komeeks18
Guest
I also have a strong pull towards Catholicism. I was raised Protestant, but my family and I hardly ever attend church anymore. Since then, I’ve done a lot of research on Catholicism, and really feel God is leading me there. I hope one day I can join the Catholic Church! I encourage you to pray, and ask God to help you through this transition. He has certainly been helping me! I will be praying for you! God bless!
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GraceSofia
Guest
And they probably prayed a lot for you when they were alive on earth, and may still be praying for you.
Catholics believe in the communion of saints.Why do Catholics pray to Saints?
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GWright
Guest
Yes!
I was raised Catholic and went to Church till I was 16, in a family group. I never resented it, but neither did I feel any huge connection at that time.
I was essentially practicing Catholicism glibly without thought. I attribute this (in retrospect) to being poorly Catechised. For example, my main memories of Catholic aspects of my Catholic primary school, (ages 4/5 - 11/12) are:
- a short prayer at the end of the every day
- weekly school assemblies with hymns
- once starring as an inn keeper in the nativity play
- at least one year, building an altar for Mary during the month of may, complete with statue of the Virgin and many daffodils, and the class singing “May is the month of Mary”.
- going through the sacraments (rather glibly, I think) in class groups at the church across the road
We didn’t really discuss our faith at home either, I can remember singing carols/hymns once or twice at Christmas, we always had a manger scene with the Christmas tree and I remember painting boiled eggs at Easter once also. (The eggs are boiled, the kids then paint them fancy colours/designs etc, and then roll them down hills - its supposed to be the stone rolling away from Jesus’ tomb. I recall a Dog ran off with one of my painted boiled eggs - we were still at the top of the hill and so could not intervene lol).
As a teenager I became bored of it and I even remember bristling and thinking it odd/strange/wrong, when I learned my mum gave the church money via direct debit (automatic monthly payment). This was even though I was quite a “conservative” (!) teenager, in that I studied reasonably hard, wasn’t much interested in girls at the time (ugh) and I wasn’t out misbehaving / fighting / drinking or anything.
I started working on Saturday and Sundays when I was 16 - McDonalds, which was the one place I swore I would never work, (though it turned out really great and was a marvellous education in so many ways - at 34, I still miss it).
Due to this I stopped going to Church with the family. I remember feeling quite smug at having a legitimate excuse not to go. And that was that. I never missed it, and never thought about it for many years.
Things were much the same at Secondary school (11/12 - 17/18) in that were didn’t really “get into” the faith. Rather, in ‘Religious Education’, we did things like write mock letters to imaginary gay friends, to reassure them we would not abandon them over their sexuality. We were supposed to debate the morality of nuclear weapons one year, which interested me, (at the time i was quite the warmongering British nationalist neo-con lol), but it never happened in the end.
During all this time, I still prayed though, which is odd, looking back. I still said a short prayer every night and at times when I was worried or sad - eg if someone was sick / dead, or if I had an exam or whatever. The nightly short prayer actually started out as a form of obstinance, to spite a (very clever indeed) monk who - when we visited his community - brazenly “bet” our entire primary school class that we couldn’t each say one Our Father every night.
Strangely, I didn’t really think of this as hypocritical, it didn’t really occur to me, in all honesty. I think in my late teens and most of my 20s, I was very much caught up in new experiences and freedoms - university, girls (finally!), legal drinking (hooray!), getting my drivers license, travelling etc - and I didn’t think too hard about God.
It was only during my mid 20s, that I started occasionally thinking about God and Catholicism. On and off. Sometimes with large gaps in between. Even though I wasn’t really part of it, I found that I cared about the Catholic Church and had always believed in God. I resented the bad press the Church got (and gets) and started to look into things more deeply, to see how their arguments really stacked up (like a form of late onset self-catechis).
I started to think about where I was going in life, what life was really all about, (the fun but meaningless late nights out partying, etc, having naturally lost their gloss/novelty by this point) and how we should live our lives. As my thoughts began to look toward marriage and (hopefully) family, I wondered what I really understood by these things, why they were important and what (or rather Who) is at the very center of them.
This pondering went on for years, and eventually grew into a constant thought process, or desire, which I now understand as a longing for God. At about 28, I realised that I should go back to Catholicism. As luck would have it, I lived (still do, though different gaff), less than 5 minutes walk from a Jesuit Church, one of the finest buildings in all Scottish Christendom and with excellent clergy and a magnificent gregorian choir. I had never set foot in the place before, but it was immediately “home”.
6 years later, I have never looked back! It was a gradual process, one or two years of occasional attendance- a further discernment, maybe. But now I would never miss mass.
I like to think this “longing” was the Holy Spirit gradually trying to prod me in the right direction. One of the clergy also proposed this, the 1st time I ever went back to confession, following my return. I am so glad I am back and could never imagine being away from the faith again.
Looking back, I can that God was always present in my life, but I was just looking elsewhere as a goofy youth. I am very grateful He had the patience to wait so long for my attention to settle upon what is really important!
Hope things work out well for you, Angelina5!
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SilverCamellia
Guest
I have felt the same kind of pull many times in my life since I was 17/ 18 (27 now). At 17-ish I decided, after reading some of the Catechism, that Catholicism wasn’t for me. Then this past March I finally admitted to myself that yes, there was a God and that yes I did believe in Him (I have been having arguments with myself for years over is there/ isn’t there a God). Then I set myself to seeking out a (Protestant) denomination. None really seemed to suit me. But the comments on a Protestant forum about Roman Catholics got me curious about why they disliked RC so much. So I joined this forum to find out. After after a bit of reading … I have realised I have come home I am still reading and finding out more … and I am going to join the RCIA class in September. I advise you to pray the rosary too … I find it really helps me grow closer to Jesus and Mary
I am still reading and finding out more … and I am going to join the RCIA class in September. I advise you to pray the rosary too … I find it really helps me grow closer to Jesus and Mary
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Alex27
Guest
hey i decided to post this here because i thought it seemed relevant. i am an up coming senior in high school and i have been wanting to become a catholic for a long time, nearly a four year journey leading up to this point. I feel this is the church the Lord is calling me to and in my heart i feel like im already catholic.i have brought up my beliefs in the past and it caused big arguments because my family is southern baptist and have been misinformed about the church. i let things cool off for a long time and barely talked about my beliefs to my family (i am lucky to say my friends are very supportive thanks to God ). After a series of events me and mom have actually became close for the first time in a long time (ive never really been that close to anyone in my family before now) so i felt that i should tell her about me deciding that i am going to be catholic. she handled it a lot better then first time though i can tell she is still sad.
Anyways on to my question im wondering on how to ask to go to mass some this summer. ive never been to an actual mass before (ive watched some on ewtn but im not counting that) and really want to go. im worried this is going to start a war though my dad is the type to get extremley angry about stuff like this (not violent but you know what i mean) and even though i got my mom semi on my side now i dont want her dragged into this. ill be 18 in less than a year so i know these issuses are going to resurface again but i dont know what the best way to handle it is
i need help lol i am very stubborn but im shy at the same time (yes im weird like that) and want to find a way that we can all be happy
). After a series of events me and mom have actually became close for the first time in a long time (ive never really been that close to anyone in my family before now) so i felt that i should tell her about me deciding that i am going to be catholic. she handled it a lot better then first time though i can tell she is still sad.Anyways on to my question im wondering on how to ask to go to mass some this summer. ive never been to an actual mass before (ive watched some on ewtn but im not counting that) and really want to go. im worried this is going to start a war though my dad is the type to get extremley angry about stuff like this (not violent but you know what i mean) and even though i got my mom semi on my side now i dont want her dragged into this. ill be 18 in less than a year so i know these issuses are going to resurface again but i dont know what the best way to handle it is
i need help lol i am very stubborn but im shy at the same time (yes im weird like that) and want to find a way that we can all be happy
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fred_conty
Guest
Congratulations George, near misses don’t count.
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GraceSofia
Guest
Alex,Anyways on to my question im wondering on how to ask to go to mass some this summer. ive never been to an actual mass before (ive watched some on ewtn but im not counting that) and really want to go. im worried this is going to start a war though my dad is the type to get extremley angry about stuff like this (not violent but you know what i mean) and even though i got my mom semi on my side now i dont want her dragged into this. ill be 18 in less than a year so i know these issuses are going to resurface again but i dont know what the best way to handle it is
Will you be leaving home after you graduate high school? Going off for college, by any chance?
Because rather than start a (possible) war in the home, maybe you could wait a year.
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GraceSofia
Guest
Bravo! I commend you for having the intellectual curiosity and openess to seek the truth.
Glad to hear this! It’s a journey, a beautiful journey, coming home. Yes, the Rosary is amazing how it works in your heart, isn’t it?After after a bit of reading … I have realised I have come home
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SilverCamellia
Guest
You could look at the situation this way: you’ve been waiting for four years now, so why not make it five, and wait until you’re 18?Anyways on to my question im wondering on how to ask to go to mass some this summer. ive never been to an actual mass before (ive watched some on ewtn but im not counting that) and really want to go. im worried this is going to start a war though my dad is the type to get extremley angry about stuff like this (not violent but you know what i mean) and even though i got my mom semi on my side now i dont want her dragged into this. ill be 18 in less than a year so i know these issuses are going to resurface again but i dont know what the best way to handle it is
But then, even when you turn 18, your dad is not likely to say, “It’s ok son, do whatever you please now,” and not mind when you become Catholic. Does your dad actually know that is what you want, or haven’t you approached him at all about it? I understand his behaviour: mine reacts the same to things
Although you want to keep your mother out of it, I think she would be a better negotiator than you for you going to church (assuming he respects her). Parents find it much easier to ignore their children’s wishes but tend to listen more to what somebody of their own generation says. So you could ask her to approach him about the idea of you going to Mass, and she could ask him to think about it.
Alternatively, you could contact your parish priest, explain the situation, and see what he says about it. He may wish to talk to your parents (this may or may not cause a big argument, I don’t know). Assuming they recognised his authority, he could make a good impression on them.
Pray about your situation, and see if you get any more suggestions …
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Alex27
Guest
no i dont think ill be able to move out for a while but i see your point (the college i want to go to is local) maybe they would be less offended if i waited until i could drive and just took myself. ive put off getting my license for too long anyways. maybe if they catch me doing it instead of me confronting them about it they"ll feel less like im abandoning them :grouphug:…:ehh:…
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SilverCamellia
Guest
Thank you!!!Bravo! I commend you for having the intellectual curiosity and openess to seek the truth.
Thanks be to God Yes. I do like the rosary. It relaxes me, and brings me closer to Jesus and to Mary. Why, the first time I began saying the rosary, I didn’t even understand all the veneration behind Mary. Just that first time of praying the rosary, I felt closer to her, and I have believed in her ever since. Now I pray the rosary every day (night-time before I go to sleep usually), and I intend to keep doing so. I don’t do it because of the Fifteen Promises or whatever: I do it because I like doing it. I said the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the first time this past Friday using the rosary, and I liked that too …:yup:Glad to hear this! It’s a journey, a beautiful journey, coming home. Yes, the Rosary is amazing how it works in your heart, isn’t it?
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Alex27
Guest
You have a very good point SilverCamellia my parents are not just going to accept itYou could look at the situation this way: you’ve been waiting for four years now, so why not make it five, and wait until you’re 18?
But then, even when you turn 18, your dad is not likely to say, “It’s ok son, do whatever you please now,” and not mind when you become Catholic. Does your dad actually know that is what you want, or haven’t you approached him at all about it? I understand his behaviour: mine reacts the same to things
Although you want to keep your mother out of it, I think she would be a better negotiator than you for you going to church (assuming he respects her). Parents find it much easier to ignore their children’s wishes but tend to listen more to what somebody of their own generation says. So you could ask her to approach him about the idea of you going to Mass, and she could ask him to think about it.
Alternatively, you could contact your parish priest, explain the situation, and see what he says about it. He may wish to talk to your parents (this may or may not cause a big argument, I don’t know). Assuming they recognised his authority, he could make a good impression on them.
Pray about your situation, and see if you get any more suggestions …
i think i would be better off just saving up and moving out earlier then planned. the priest idea is a good idea but i dont think they would respect his authority and just find it insulting. it gives me an idea though maybe if i have my catholic friend around more something will rub off 
thankyou!!!
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SilverCamellia
Guest
I think they are going to be even less pleased about Catholicism if it seems to encourage you to (what they would see as) sneak around behind their backs. Remember ‘Honour your mother and father’? This is not as easy as it sounds, and I too have practised devious behaviour around my own fatherno i dont think ill be able to move out for a while but i see your point (the college i want to go to is local) maybe they would be less offended if i waited until i could drive and just took myself. ive put off getting my license for too long anyways. maybe if they catch me doing it instead of me confronting them about it they"ll feel less like im abandoning them :grouphug:…:ehh:…
but not about religion. It obviously doesn’t give a good impression.Depending on what your dad is like, maybe you could just make it as a statement: ‘I want to find out about Catholicism, and so I’d like to go to Mass’. Maybe you could go to the Saturday Mass and then go to the Sunday service in your Baptist church? And you do know you won’t be able to receive Communion at the RC church, right?
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Alex27
Guest
I didnt mean sneak out of the house to go i meant just start going without bringing it up but i see what you mean they would just see that as being defiant since i still live them. i think i am going to ask my mom about the saturday service though it starts at five and doesnt interfere with the services at our church. yeah i know about Communion i have to become a member of the church and go to my first confession before i can receive it.I think they are going to be even less pleased about Catholicism if it seems to encourage you to (what they would see as) sneak around behind their backs. Remember ‘Honour your mother and father’? This is not as easy as it sounds, and I too have practised devious behaviour around my own father
Depending on what your dad is like, maybe you could just make it as a statement: ‘I want to find out about Catholicism, and so I’d like to go to Mass’. Maybe you could go to the Saturday Mass and then go to the Sunday service in your Baptist church? And you do know you won’t be able to receive Communion at the RC church, right?
thankyou for all your help you’ve probably kept me from doing something stupid
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SilverCamellia
Guest
lol you’re welcome
Hoe your talk with your mother goes well.
Hoe your talk with your mother goes well.
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