Am I at risk for leaving the church?

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Startingcatholic

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Alright so for context I just came into the church a week ago and am 17. I am very involved in my church, I pray in the morning and at night and am currently doing an online “retreat”. My Dad was a protestant youth minister and as I understand it doesn’t really ascribe to any “denomination”. Now onto the story I was sitting around reading about the lives of some saints and my Dad walks in. He asks what I am doing and i tell him I am reading the lives of the saints. In response he says I remind him a lot of him when he was younger in relation to my faith. Should I be worried, what should I do to keep myself from eventually leaving the church?
 
Do you KNOW that the Church is the one founded by Christ? Do you BELIEVE that Jesus is trustworthy?
 
of course I do. I’m just worried that i’ll end up like him by leaving the church.
 
Your father’s comment doesn’t strike me as him saying you might leave the faith one day, but more about your religious zeal!

To answer your question:
  1. Don’t be afraid. Nothing good comes out of seeking truth with anxiety and fear.
  2. When a question arises on Catholicism seek an answer. This forum is a good place for answers, as well as catholic.com.
  3. Pray that, regardless of the answer, you will have the courage to seek the truth.
I’ll pray for you to have peace about your future and to have courage!

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Startingcatholic said:
Should I be worried, what should I do to keep myself from eventually leaving the church?
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Perhaps your dad is hinting that your interest in Catholicism is a phase that you’re going to leave behind once the novelty wears off?

Sometimes converts dive headfirst into Catholicism and want to surround themselves 24/7 with catholic books and imagery and all the rest. This isn’t bad in and of itself, obviously, but it can set you up for a fall when the honeymoon phase inevitably ends.
 
yeah i’ve been focusing on trying to balance out a lot of the stuff over the last 2 years and getting into a daily routine.
 
Startingcatholic said:
In response he says I remind him a lot of him when he was younger in relation to my faith. Should I be worried, what should I do to keep myself from eventually leaving the church?
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like others have said, it doesn’t sound as if your father was discouraging you to continue you’re journey to God. It sounded like he was proud you are taking a serious interest in your relationship with God, by comparing what you are doing with what he did… learning the truth on your own and not just following the crowd .

Maybe as you learn more and get further on your path you and your father can have good discussions about God and the differences in being a Protestant and a Catholic.

Have faith, God has you learning about the Catholic church for a reason… its not a bad thing, I think you’re father understands.
 
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RolandThompsonGunner said:
Sometimes converts dive headfirst into Catholicism and want to surround themselves 24/7 with catholic books and imagery and all the rest. This isn’t bad in and of itself, obviously, but it can set you up for a fall when the honeymoon phase inevitably ends.
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We have this same problem in Orthodoxy with hyper-zealous converts. The initial zeal is not a bad thing, in fact, it can be God-given and grace-filled in order to help people truly change the direction of their lives, but eventually one must find balance, learn moderation and realize that living the Faith is about a lifetime of growing in holiness, repentance and love of Christ, and that we do not become Saints in a day (excepting martyrdom).
 
I pray the Anima Christi prayer:

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Christ’s side, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints and with Thy angels
Forever and ever. Amen

You will doubtless go through phases in your religious life. I became a Christian about 50 years ago, and was worried also that I might fall away. So I prayed that even if I left God, that he would not leave me. He has been faithful - once i lost my faith briefly, and I opened a door and a priest who was preaching pointed right at me and said something like “You, do not forsake what you have been taught–” It was directed right at me.
God is in this struggle with you. Just stick to him and he will see you through. I’ve gone through the Episcopal church, the Foursquare Church, a non denominational church, and finally landed in the Catholic church, only to find out I was baptized Catholic as an infant. Here I’m staying.
If you have questions, a great website is Father Spitzer’s CredibleCatholic.com.
 
Same here, the Catholic Church I had been baptised in was off my radar first jehovah witness then Church of England, then about to ‘re-baptised’ at baptist church, I am now ‘settled’ for decade, in inverted commas settled, because I won’t say it’s always plain sailing -I will pray the beautiful prayer you gave, god bless you.
 
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Leaving or not the Church depends on you. There will be times you feel tired or without motivation but ultimately nobody will force you to leave the Church if you don’t leave on your own. Try to keep close to Sacraments so you will have all the Grace you need to remain faithful. Also really try to go to Mass every Sunday. There will be times in life of loss and anger, going to Church will remind you of hope and eternity. There will be times of success and pride, going to Church will remind you of humility and gratitude.
May God bless you now and always.
 
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Remember how Jesus said, you shall know a tree by it’s fruit? As others have said, I think he’s seeing good fruit in you even at a relatively young age.

I am back in the church after many years In evangelical churches. One thing I am struck by in being back, is the depth and richness of the writings of the Saints. Here’s an example that humbles and inspires me:

My Jesus, you know that from my earliest years I have wanted to become a great saint; that is to say, I have wanted to love you with a love so great that there would be no soul who has hitherto loved you so. Diary of St Faustina, 1372.

If you and your father attend two different churches, and yet see real holiness and the fruit of that in each other, and affirm it in each other, that builds unity, and unity is very much on the heart of Jesus. John 17.
 
Are you talking about some kind of destiny or fatalism? This is parallel to fortune telling. Don’t believe it. Just because your father changed does not mean you have to. We can do what ever we want. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Prophesy the moment not the future.
 
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