Being Drawn to Catholicism, help

[VIR2010]

Hi, My name is Benjamin. I am 23. I was raised protestant and became a born again believer in Christ and Baptized. I have always been an avid believer in God. I even went to a Baptist Bible College, but I got to be honest with you something is missing. I feel void of something. I know God is watching over me, but for some reason I feel have no fellowship with him, I know God is there, but some times I care less if I have a relationship with him. I know right and wrong, but I feel like my life is a big blur with no direction. Like I said before I went to Bible College and Preached against Catholics and pretty much said they are going to hell, but when I looked at Scriptures, there was no real way to prove what I was saying, a matter a fact I felt that I was contradicting myself. I have tried and tried to search for truth, now I have come to a major decision in my life…should I convert to Catholicism, If you knew me two years ago you would think I drank a little too much wine to be saying something such as that. But every time I tell myself I want to convert, I get excited and a warm feeling comes over me, something I never felt as a Protestant believer. How do I become catholic? because I feel in my heart I am ready.

 

[the_phoenix]

Welcome, VIR2010!

I’m a cradle Catholic rather than a convert … A convert whose been where you are will soon come along and be able to give you more detailed answers about contacting a priest in your local Catholic Church and signing up for RCIA. These are both very good first steps!

I’m praying for you now with a prayer from today’s Liturgy of the Hours:

Stay with us, Lord Jesus, for dusk is falling.
Accompany us on our road, revive our hearts, take pity on us and fill us with hope,
so that with our brethren we may recognise you in the Scriptures and in the breaking of bread.
[We make our prayer] through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Amen.

 

[Barbkw]

Welcome Benjamin

The short answer is RCIA - the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.

The Inquiry classes begin in late Summer and then they continue on for those interested in converting (Cathecumens) and full acceptance & incorporation into the Church is at the Saturday evening Easter Vigil Mass.

The classes are weekly, normally two hours in length. In my area, we meet on Tuesday evening with occassional participation at Mass on Sunday mornings.

You might contact a local Catholic Church in your area.

If you have Cable or Dish, you might tune into EWTN to watch various programs they have available.

They also have EWTN youtube with various programs you can watch there.

Marcus Grodi’s program titled, “The Journey Home” would be very helpful for you. His programs are available on the EWTN youtube channel.

youtube.com/user/EWTN#p/u/105/UI8RZ5LasjQ

chnetwork.org/ or deepinscripture.com/archives.htm

Fr. Barron (Word on Fire) also has a website that is very educational about the basics of the Church.

See also for more history on the rite:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rite_of_Christian_Initiation_of_Adults

newadvent.org/cathen/03430b.htm

 

[FidesSpesCarita]

Hi, My name is Benjamin. I am 23. I was raised protestant and became a born again believer in Christ and Baptized. I have always been an avid believer in God. I even went to a Baptist Bible College, but I got to be honest with you something is missing. I feel void of something. I know God is watching over me, but for some reason I feel have no fellowship with him, I know God is there, but some times I care less if I have a relationship with him. I know right and wrong, but I feel like my life is a big blur with no direction. Like I said before I went to Bible College and Preached against Catholics and pretty much said they are going to hell, but when I looked at Scriptures, there was no real way to prove what I was saying, a matter a fact I felt that I was contradicting myself. I have tried and tried to search for truth, now I have come to a major decision in my life…should I convert to Catholicism, If you knew me two years ago you would think I drank a little too much wine to be saying something such as that. But every time I tell myself I want to convert, I get excited and a warm feeling comes over me, something I never felt as a Protestant believer. How do I become catholic? because I feel in my heart I am ready.

Well, I am a convert and I can say that I had MANY of the same experiences. I spent a LOT of time in college trying to convert my Catholic friends to Christ. I thank God now that they were steadfast in their faith, because their faith helped to convince me. I also had a similar “warm” feeling. I despised the Church for a long time. When my hatred began to dissipate I finally attended my first mass sometime in 2005 (august maybe?) and the only way to describe how I felt was that I finally came home. It was just the most comfortable feeling I have ever had and it has waxed and waned during my conversion and now as a Catholic, but it has never gone away.

The way you become Catholic is to go to a Catholic Church, talk to the priest, and begin RCIA.

RCIA is the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. It does NOT mean that you MUST convert, it is primarily a place to learn about the faith and eventually to assist you in entrance into the Church. I would also tell you to go to a bookstore, Catholic or otherwise since Borders/B&N have them too, and buy a Catechism of the Catholic Church. Read through that and it will answer MOST of your questions. Any other questions you can probably find answers on this site, but I would recommend finding a good priest in your area (someone on here should be able to guide you with that) and discuss any issues you feel are in question with that priest. You could also get “Rome sweet home” by Scott Hahn (or anything else written by him) and read through that.

FSC

 

[Kirk_O]

I am so happy for you, for you are truly being drawn by the Father.

I do want to warn you about one thing. Once you start going to your local Church don’t expect a big welcome committee. Not saying this in a negative way but that is not how the Catholic Church works. If you are coming from a Protestant background you are used to them trowing the red carpet out to visitors, they do this out of love but also out of lack of knowledge what church is supposed to be about. See most Protestant churches are all about community, the Catholic Church is about Jesus. When we go to Mass it is all about Him not about us mingling or getting to know each other. It may sound harsh or even cold but the reality is when we go to Mass we are in the presence of God Himself and He deserves all of attention and devotion. :getholy:

 

[Joe_5859]

Welcome to CAF!

Praise God! I would recommend as the first most basic step to simply look up the phone number for the local Catholic parish, call them up and ask to talk to a priest. That’s what he’s there for. He should be able to guide you and help you with all subsequent steps.

If you’re looking for online resources to get you a bit more acclimated, in addition to the wonderful resources already mentioned, I would recommend CatholicsComeHome.org. One section of their website is geared specifically towards those such as yourself (i.e., non-Catholics).

And, of course, right here on CAF [Catholic Answers Forums] is a good place to go for some online fellowship and information. Just don’t let the more colorful personalities scare you away.

 

[tuscany]

Hi VR2010,
A big welcome to you!

I am a cradle Catholic, so this has always been a part of who I am. I don’t really know the calling you are feeling, but I do have a few suggestions.

Have you ever gone into a Catholic Church, and just sat down? If so, how did you feel?
You might also go to a Mass. Just sit towards the back, and watch what is going on, and how you feel being there. If you are being called, it will no longer feel like you are living at a distant relative’s house, it will feel like your finally at home with your mom and dad, You will feel an inner peace. You will just know.

If all that seems to fall into place, then I would contact your nearest Catholic Church, like has already been suggested, and look into starting R.C.I.A…

I think you are doing a good job in listening to the longing in your soul. I think maybe your soul is looking to be at one with God in the house His son built. Have a wonderful journey, and you will be absolutely blown away that first time you are at one with Jesus at Communion. Peace to you.

 

[EnglishTeacher]

I was in a similar place a couple of years ago, so I know where you’re coming from. I started reading everything about the Catholic faith that I could get my hands on. Here are a few of my favorites that I would recommend (you can find any of them on Amazon):

1. Catholic Christianity by Peter Kreeft
2. Catholicism for Dummies by Fr. John Trigilio
3. A Biblical Defense of Catholicism by Dave Armstrong
4. Catholicism and Fundamentalism by Karl Keating

Just keep reading and praying, and ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. As the others have said, try to find a good parish and ask them about RCIA, as well.

 

[VIR2010]

Hi VR2010,
A big welcome to you!

I am a cradle Catholic, so this has always been a part of who I am. I don’t really know the calling you are feeling, but I do have a few suggestions.

Have you ever gone into a Catholic Church, and just sat down? If so, how did you feel?
You might also go to a Mass. Just sit towards the back, and watch what is going on, and how you feel being there. If you are being called, it will no longer feel like you are living at a distant relative’s house, it will feel like your finally at home with your mom and dad, You will feel an inner peace. You will just know.

If all that seems to fall into place, then I would contact your nearest Catholic Church, like has already been suggested, and look into starting R.C.I.A…

I think you are doing a good job in listening to the longing in your soul. I think maybe your soul is looking to be at one with God in the house His son built. Have a wonderful journey, and you will be absolutely blown away that first time you are at one with Jesus at Communion. Peace to you.

Thanks for everyones feedback. And yes I have went to a catholic mass, it was actually pretty amazing. I actually went about a year ago, and I broke into tears. I also went into the chapel and prayed as well. I was ignorent when it came to this part, I did take communion, I did not know I wasn’t supposed too, I am sure God will forgive me, and to be honest with you, I sort of felt like “I wasn’t supposed to” even without knowing. But yes, I did send an email to the parish down the road inquiring about becoming catholic and I am excited to see what is in store.

 

[OneAugustKnight]

Thanks for everyones feedback. And yes I have went to a catholic mass, it was actually pretty amazing. I actually went about a year ago, and I broke into tears. I also went into the chapel and prayed as well. I was ignorent when it came to this part, I did take communion, I did not know I wasn’t supposed too, I am sure God will forgive me, and to be honest with you, I sort of felt like “I wasn’t supposed to” even without knowing. But yes, I did send an email to the parish down the road inquiring about becoming catholic and I am excited to see what is in store.

That’s okay, I did the same thing the first time I attended Mass. We all make mistakes. Congratulations!

 

[fhansen]

Hi, My name is Benjamin. I am 23. I was raised protestant and became a born again believer in Christ and Baptized. I have always been an avid believer in God. I even went to a Baptist Bible College, but I got to be honest with you something is missing. I feel void of something. I know God is watching over me, but for some reason I feel have no fellowship with him, I know God is there, but some times I care less if I have a relationship with him. I know right and wrong, but I feel like my life is a big blur with no direction. Like I said before I went to Bible College and Preached against Catholics and pretty much said they are going to hell, but when I looked at Scriptures, there was no real way to prove what I was saying, a matter a fact I felt that I was contradicting myself. I have tried and tried to search for truth, now I have come to a major decision in my life…should I convert to Catholicism, If you knew me two years ago you would think I drank a little too much wine to be saying something such as that. But every time I tell myself I want to convert, I get excited and a warm feeling comes over me, something I never felt as a Protestant believer. How do I become catholic? because I feel in my heart I am ready.

Study. Study the Catechism, ECFs, church history, councilliar decrees/documents, theologies, etc. And pray that God would give you understanding. That’s what brought me back to the CC, and I was quite anti-Catholic for many years.

 

[LongJohnSilver]

Welcome home, Benjamin!

I am a convert and I can relate to most of what you are saying. Becoming Catholic was the best thing I ever did in my life. It still makes me full of joy to think about it, even after almost three years since my conversion.

A book that helped me a lot is Catholicism for Dummies. It’s not cheap, but a very good and extensive outline of the Church’s teachings and Catholic practices.

 

[joandarc2008]

Welcome home! I am a convert. I was raised in the Protestant Church. You should start RCIA in the Fall. In the meantime try meeting with the priest at the local Church - he may set you up with someone who will be willing to teach you or maybe allow you to sit in on some classes. The thing that you were missing is the intimate experience we get with the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Until you share that it is difficult to truly understand. God bless you and welcome.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Hi, My name is Benjamin. I am 23. I was raised protestant and became a born again believer in Christ and Baptized. I have always been an avid believer in God. I even went to a Baptist Bible College, but I got to be honest with you something is missing. I feel void of something. I know God is watching over me, but for some reason I feel have no fellowship with him, I know God is there, but some times I care less if I have a relationship with him. I know right and wrong, but I feel like my life is a big blur with no direction. Like I said before I went to Bible College and Preached against Catholics and pretty much said they are going to hell, but when I looked at Scriptures, there was no real way to prove what I was saying, a matter a fact I felt that I was contradicting myself. I have tried and tried to search for truth, now I have come to a major decision in my life…should I convert to Catholicism, If you knew me two years ago you would think I drank a little too much wine to be saying something such as that. But every time I tell myself I want to convert, I get excited and a warm feeling comes over me, something I never felt as a Protestant believer. How do I become catholic? because I feel in my heart I am ready.

I was Protestant, although I was never very anti-Catholic, possibly because I didn’t really become fully Christian till I was 28 and my first Protestant pastor got on quite well with Catholics. His comment to me was “Protestants tell a lot of lies about Catholics and the Catholic Church”. You yourself are a case in point - how much of what you were taught and said about Catholics and the Catholic Church was true? If it wasn’t true, it was false and therefore a lie.

This is probably not the place to say it, but I personally think the boot is on the other foot - I don’t think Protestants get into heaven. Sounds strange, but I don’t think God is as accepting of the divided body of His Son as we are, or the extreme violence and political power plays which accompanied the Reformation. I think they’re in the upper, almost heavenly part of Purgatory, and wills stay there until the church reunify. That’s my opinion anyway, and I have spiritual, personal reasons for thinking that way.

To become Cathollic, all you need to do is complete an RCIA course via your local Catholic Church, and then accept induction into the Catholic Church. Your baptism is already recognised as it is trinitiarian.

If you want a more solid grounding first, then attend a Catholic church without taking communion, and maybe get to know a few young Catholics, and talk to them. I do think you need to meet a few young Catholics first who are strongly grounded in their faith, and who practice what they preach.

And by the way, you’ll face some rejection from your former Baptist mates if you do convert. But that is part of the price of sticking up for the truth.

 

[FaustinaClare]

Hello!!!

You most definitely should look into the Catholic Church, speaking as a former Baptist and Catholic hater myself!

RCIA should usually last a year, depending on when you start and you will attend weekly classes that go over everything about the Church and what She teaches! The class will help erase any concerns about the practices of the Church.

I thought all Catholics were going to hell myself and most of my old friends probably thought I lost my mind when I made the switch. I can only explain it as a gift from the Holy Spirit b/c I made a very drastic change in a short period of time. I realized that the Catholic Church was the TRUE Church and I have NEVER been happier or felt more at home. I have been slowly but surely growing in my faith ever since.

I have tons of books I could reccommend if you like to read, however, if you don’t have time and you like listening to podcasts

got to itunes and look up Dr. James Dobbins.

He has an apologetics course at his parish for new and old Catholics that explain what we believe and why! He has helped me understand TREMENDOUSLY and if you have questions he will answer your emails.

If you don’t have itunes you can just google his name and go directly to the website.

This is a wonderful experience and I sincerely pray you take the first step!

If you have any questions please feel free to PM me. I’ve only been Catholic for a couple of years so I remember my RCIA experience very vividly.

 

[baltobetsy]

VIR2010, it’s so exciting to hear of your desire to learn more about the Church!

An earlier poster mentioned this book in passing, but I want to highlight Rome Sweet Home, by Scott Hahn. You might see a lot of yourself in this story. Scott Hahn also went to Bible college and seminary and was very much anti-Catholic. He started reading Catholic sources in order to find the errors and “bury” the Church once and for all, but, to his horror, he discovered the Church was right. He has written quite a number of books explaining Catholic doctrine with his Bible-scholar expertise.

May God bless you as you come closer to His Church.

Betsy

 

[InLight247]

But yes, I did send an email to the parish down the road inquiring about becoming catholic and I am excited to see what is in store.

I would suggest you to call the parish. Sometimes email can get lost. Call the church secretary and ask her the person’s phone number who is in charge of RCIA, or ask for an appointment with the pastor. This is the most direct way. God bless!

 

[Edward_H]

Benjamin,

Welcome to the site. Struggle to learn, but never struggle alone. Struggle with God, for the love of God.

Also, I note several references to “feelings” above. God can allow us to have certain feelings to draw us to Him, but sometimes the feelings cease. God doesn’t change, we may. So I am just saying realize that God wants all of you, not just your feelings. He wants your will, your intellect, your imagination, your memory.

Some Masses are emotionally moving, some aren’t so. Some are intellectually moving, some aren’t so. They all should be “exhausting” for us. We should put great effort into the Mass.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is an inexhaustible resource. Keep it close by. And the other lists of books (many you can find in nearby parishes’ libraries as loaners) above are also great.

Take as much as you can in. Find an RCIA program. Be effortful. And ask away here.

God Bless you richly in the good struggle ahead. And then, as you see in so many people above, give back to others. This is part of the Catholic culture, ending sentences and actions with the thought of “others”.

 

[curtish1947]

Hello VIR2010,

Ah the decision!

Here was mine. I studied. Then I came to the realization (by proof, but that is another experience) that not only was God Real, but as described by The Bible, The Holy Roman Catholic Church was the most in agreement of all the churches with That Bible. (The Baptist’s were the runner up. The only near runner up.)

So, when “Forsake not your regular meetings” occurred, when that became a task, I had a choice to make. I made mine. I made it by agreement with The Bible.

That’s it.

This week: It has been 10 years, now. I still struggle with perfection in that I want to be perfect. Since that is not possible, I continue with the dissapointments in that struggle. I get angry that I have to work so hard. I get angry that the decision to be sinless does not get the same results as other decisions, in that most other decisions are determined merely by the choice to do.

Had The Holy Roman Catholic Church, not set the standards of conduct, I would not be learning.

This week also:
I wondered about, other people’s attainment in God’s eyes. I wondered how am I supposed to deal with other people’s knowlege of God. The answer came this week. The yearning for the answer is longer than a week. It is months to years, possibly, as I don’t remember how long I have been wanting this answer.

The answer was found thusly: I was in a place. The Bible was there. I opened it. I read. I read of Jesus saying He is the bread of life. I read him saying unless you eat my body…
I read that again. This time I knew more. Eventually I read the passage before and after those Words Of Jesus. My answer was there.

I eventually looked where it was, that I was reading in The Bible. I had not looked before. I had just read then, as the answers I sought, in my heart were there. I read and studied. I understood. The reading was short. The study was long. The section I read was the later part of the chapter in John. The 6th chapter. I also read the 7th chapter, as that is where I started, for the start of my answers that I use now.

I found there, that God The Father is our teacher, and that no man is, for real. Human teachers are an allusion, for God The Father teaches us through human teachers sometimes, but, that does not make them our Real Teacher. I found that Jesus Himself said this. I found that God The Father tells us of the existence of Jesus, as a step in our knowlege of the totality of God. I found that no one comes to Jesus, without being led by God The Father. I then knew. I knew.

God The Father, is our main teacher. Jesus, owns us. Jesus tasks us. God The Father causes us to know Jesus, who actually at this time know Jesus is Real. Concurrently we know what Jesus has done.

I also know that God The Father, sets our learning, He is… I could go on and on. The point learned here, for me, is to let each person’s knowlege or lack of it, be controlled not by my wishes, but, by God The Father’s wishes. Thus each person is let be, who they are in their knowlege of God, by me. I only answer questions. I only say what I know. I only speak of my experiences. I only do this, when God brings a person with a question into my life.

You are that.

My decision was between God and I. The discernment (figuring out what I was being told, and by whom or Whom) was the hard part. Later, I learned, as long as I want to do His Will and strive to do His Will, His Will Happens.

You wrote: Hi, My name is Benjamin. I am 23. I was raised protestant and became a born again believer in Christ and Baptized. I have always been an avid believer in God. I even went to a Baptist Bible College, but I got to be honest with you something is missing. I feel void of something. I know God is watching over me, but for some reason I feel have no fellowship with him, I know God is there, but some times I care less if I have a relationship with him. I know right and wrong, but I feel like my life is a big blur with no direction. Like I said before I went to Bible College and Preached against Catholics and pretty much said they are going to hell, but when I looked at Scriptures, there was no real way to prove what I was saying, a matter a fact I felt that I was contradicting myself. I have tried and tried to search for truth, now I have come to a major decision in my life…should I convert to Catholicism, If you knew me two years ago you would think I drank a little too much wine to be saying something such as that. But every time I tell myself I want to convert, I get excited and a warm feeling comes over me, something I never felt as a Protestant believer. How do I become catholic? because I feel in my heart I am ready.

Bye
…Curt…

 

[lil_flower_luv]

So many good people on here to help you, Benjamin .

Please know that you are in my prayers.