S
sojo
Guest
What a lovely thread!
In my situation, the Holy Spirit had tried every which way to get me here. I admired the faith of Catholic friends as a child. Then in college, I had a strong, almost overpowering thirst for religious art, which I studied like crazy to the amusement of my friends (I was raised as a non-observant Jew).
Then I fell in love with my future husband who introduced me to the culture of Mexico, and we visited about 4 weeks a year. I dragged him into every church, large and small, in every village and city. I was obsessed. And I dragged home bushels of religious art - Saints, milagros, retablos (Mexican icons) – you name it. I was now nominally agnostic, but my apartment looked like a shrine. I still didn’t “get” what was going on, but my spiritual thirst was getting to me in a bad way. And I was beginning to get stirrings regarding the tabernacle. Friends thought I was nuts - every wall and shelf was crammed with Catholic religious art and items, but I wasn’t a Christian.
One trip to Mexico, sitting in meditation (I didn’t call it that then, but in quiet absorption) before a life-size state of Mary (in the Dolores pose), I heard an clear, interior voice, "come to me through my Son’s church). I didn’t tell my husband or anyone else. Just shocked the heck out of me.
On returning, I started to visit USA churches for the first time, mostly in San Francisco - again, small and large. And Catholic bookstores and started reading. By this time, I learned about the Real Presence and the tabernacle began an almost magnetic draw for me. I spent hours and hours in front of various tabernacles - 6 a.m. before work, lunch breaks, and after work.
Then, turmoil really kicked in – After all, I was Jewish, albeit never practicing, and this Jesus business was very hard to swallow. I finally prayed, “OK, ‘Jesus’, I’ll give you a chance, I’m opening the door of my belief just a crack, if you are who they say you are, then you need to make it very clear… none of that small still voice… none of the quiet signs… drop a billboard on my head or leave me alone.”
Well I opened that door a crack, and He kicked it in all the way. There’s no other way of describing it. It all came crashing around me - BIG prayer experiences (supernatural), suddenly understanding stuff I never could before, weeping during Mass, and powerful desire to join the Catholic Church that couldn’t be denied.
20 years later and it still feels new, miraculous, absorbing, loving… I’m simply mad about Jesus and His church and His mother and the Saints.
In my situation, the Holy Spirit had tried every which way to get me here. I admired the faith of Catholic friends as a child. Then in college, I had a strong, almost overpowering thirst for religious art, which I studied like crazy to the amusement of my friends (I was raised as a non-observant Jew).
Then I fell in love with my future husband who introduced me to the culture of Mexico, and we visited about 4 weeks a year. I dragged him into every church, large and small, in every village and city. I was obsessed. And I dragged home bushels of religious art - Saints, milagros, retablos (Mexican icons) – you name it. I was now nominally agnostic, but my apartment looked like a shrine. I still didn’t “get” what was going on, but my spiritual thirst was getting to me in a bad way. And I was beginning to get stirrings regarding the tabernacle. Friends thought I was nuts - every wall and shelf was crammed with Catholic religious art and items, but I wasn’t a Christian.
One trip to Mexico, sitting in meditation (I didn’t call it that then, but in quiet absorption) before a life-size state of Mary (in the Dolores pose), I heard an clear, interior voice, "come to me through my Son’s church). I didn’t tell my husband or anyone else. Just shocked the heck out of me.
On returning, I started to visit USA churches for the first time, mostly in San Francisco - again, small and large. And Catholic bookstores and started reading. By this time, I learned about the Real Presence and the tabernacle began an almost magnetic draw for me. I spent hours and hours in front of various tabernacles - 6 a.m. before work, lunch breaks, and after work.
Then, turmoil really kicked in – After all, I was Jewish, albeit never practicing, and this Jesus business was very hard to swallow. I finally prayed, “OK, ‘Jesus’, I’ll give you a chance, I’m opening the door of my belief just a crack, if you are who they say you are, then you need to make it very clear… none of that small still voice… none of the quiet signs… drop a billboard on my head or leave me alone.”
Well I opened that door a crack, and He kicked it in all the way. There’s no other way of describing it. It all came crashing around me - BIG prayer experiences (supernatural), suddenly understanding stuff I never could before, weeping during Mass, and powerful desire to join the Catholic Church that couldn’t be denied.
20 years later and it still feels new, miraculous, absorbing, loving… I’m simply mad about Jesus and His church and His mother and the Saints.
I dont keep in touch so really don’t KNOW for sure, but i know them… I can-and often do- imagine various scenarios… …talking about me at the dinner table… etc… (Most of my siblings are not living around “home” but some visit the parents fairly often and they talk about such things… and can be very critical/unloving… or at least were in the past…) but oh well…
If that works for ya!
/god knows…). Its not that i desire to BE someone in their eyes… not even close… If it was that, i would readily admit it…