Calling all converts

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Almost_convert

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I am a lifelong Protestant on my way into the Catholic Church. I will begin RCIA classes in the fall to join the church next Easter. I am curious - if you are also a convert to the faith, what was the thing that most convinced you and drew you to Catholicism?
 
My husband is still going to the course, i was born Catholic but not my husband. When i started to pray the rosary, he joined me on its own. He didn’t have that call yet to convert but he wanted to go back to Church (protestant). I never wanted to go to his church because to me it would be a betrayal of God and our blessed Mother. I told him to do as he wished and i wouldn’t go there. Short story, he started to do research, he understood also from Mary’s message that the true Church was the Catholic and one ways of the devil to destroy it was to split it. Protestant was created only because a King wanted to be able to divorce. Catholic church is spiritual and it cannot be judge by the action of men.

I originally stop believing in the Catholic church but it was Mother Mary that guided me back to it. She is truly full of grace and she guides her children to do as Jesus said.

Padre Pio’s pio quote:

“Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.”

“Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God’s heart. You must speak to Jesus not only with your lips, but with your heart. In fact on certain occasions you should only speak to Him with your heart.”
**
“Do you not see the Madonna always beside the tabernacle?”**

"The longer the trial to which God subjects you, the greater the goodness in comforting you during the time of the trial and in the exaltation after the combat. "

"Keep close to the Catholic Church at all times, for the Church alone can give you true peace, since she alone possesses Jesus, the true Prince of Peace, in the Blessed Sacrament."

“Fear not because God is with you.”

“Prayer is the oxygen of the soul.”

"Who can assure us that we will be alive tomorrow? Let us listen to the voice of our conscience, to the voice of the royal prophet: “Today, if you hear God’s voice, harden not your heart.” Let us not put off from one moment to another (what we should do) because the (next moment) is not yet ours. "

“Oh, how precious time is! Blessed are those who know how to make good use of it. Oh, if only all could understand how precious time is, undoubtedly everyone would do his best to spend it in a praiseworthy manner!”

“The life of a Christian is nothing but a perpetual struggle against self; there is no flowering of the soul to the beauty of its perfection except at the price of pain.”
 
I was raised as a Baptist. One thing that disturbed me is that we were taught that basically anyone who didn’t believe exactly as we did wasn’t saved…that especially included Catholics. I couldn’t understand why God would not take care of people who were loyal to him, yet through no fault of their own were not part of our denomination. I don’t even know if that is the official position of that church, but it is what I was taught as a child. Then their reading of the Bible was very literal…and I didn’t think that made a lot of sense either. Needless to say, both of those issues got satisfactorily resolved when started attending RCIA. It occurred after a long hiatus of basically ignoring God and being a heathen. That made it much easier for me to actually walk into a Catholic church as the thought would not have ever occurred to me before.

Having said all that, I think the biggest thing is when I came to understand and truly believe that our Lord is actually present – body, blood, soul, and divinity — in the Eucharist. It was over 3 years from when I started going to mass (which always gave me great peace) to when I entered the church. I had started to spend a lot of time in our adoration chapel and got to the point where I wanted nothing more in this life than to receive him.
 
I am a fellow RCIA Student as well, hopefully to be confirmed and everything Easter 2014. I was grown up as a non-denominational child. My parents were always supportive of any religion I would choose. At first I decided myself as a Protestant, being brought up in such a Protestant life anyways. My life changed however, when I was switched to a Catholic high-school. I was quite excited, and the more I learned about the Catholic faith, the more I was drawn to it. I loved the beauty of the sacraments, and I just felt that I was truly lead to the real Truth, and the full Truth. I strongly came to believe on my own the teachings of the Church and have now happily joined RCIA and am equally happy with my parent’s continuing support in my choice.

Ever since becoming Catholic, I’ve been feeling much closer to God, and my relationship with Him growing. Despite fighting sins terribly in the past, I’ve started turning towards the Cross and prayer and the Rosary. Also ever since becoming Catholic, I’ve noticed my prayer life growing significantly. I must say that my choice in becoming Catholic has probably been my most thankful, and graceful decision in my life(:

And welcome to the faith! Anything else you want to discuss; I’ll be more than happy to talk! (: Welcome home~

~ Mel
 
I haven’t converted, but I was considering it. I haven’t made up my mind yet one way or another.
 
The Holy Spirit convinced me! I was raised by atheists, never went to church, never read the Bible or any religious material. For some reason (hmmmm?) I was always drawn to religion or at least I was curious about it. I was what was called a Seeker.

My parents being atheists were fine with a Unitarian Church so I started there and it was so devoid of warmth that I never felt at home there. My grandmother was a Methodist so I gave that a try. I liked the Methodist church because of their outreach to the poor and troubled souls so I stayed there a while. I took a four year Spiritual Direction course at a local Episcopal Cathedral and learned a lot about different religions. I remembered though that the most impressive speakers were Catholics. Then I went to a healing retreat and met a Catholic convert, the daughter of a Lutheran minister…married to a Buddhist. I found her a complete curiousity. I didn’t know you could convert to Catholicism! I thought you had to be born or marry one! Anne told me about RCIA and becoming Catholic. Later that spring I had a “road to Damascus moment” when I learned my Methodist church strongly supported abortion:eek: I guess I didn’t realize it, and it wasn’t discussed much but during the March for Life some (female) Methodists spoke AGAINST the pro lifers and defended Roe v Wade. I had become very strongly prolife and left the church that day knowing I couldn’t go back. I was driving home and was suddenly struck with the thought that the Catholic Church was where I belonged. It was truly out of nowhere. I realize now that little seeds had been planted, Catholics I had met and who had a positive impact on my life. But to suddenly get that thought planted into my head was a big thunderbolt out of the sky.

Anyway as soon as I got home I Googled “How do I become a Catholic.” I contacted my local Parish and signed up that fall, never looked back. Now I am ON the RCIA team 🙂

So congratulations on your journey and you will fall more in love with the Church with every passing year.

Lisa

PS a year later I ran into Anne and said I’d become a Catholic. She smiled and said “Of course. I knew you would!”
 
Almost_convert said:
I am a lifelong Protestant on my way into the Catholic Church. I will begin RCIA classes in the fall to join the church next Easter. I am curious - if you are also a convert to the faith, what was the thing that most convinced you and drew you to Catholicism?
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the Eucharist being the body and blood, soul and divinity of Christ.
The consistant pro-life teaching coupled with the consistant anti-artificial contraception.
Authority of the Pope and the magisterium.
 
Almost_convert said:
I am a lifelong Protestant on my way into the Catholic Church. I will begin RCIA classes in the fall to join the church next Easter. I am curious - if you are also a convert to the faith, what was the thing that most convinced you and drew you to Catholicism?
Click to expand...
I am a convert and still cannot answer that question, some two decades later. I was not a religious person and decided one day, out of the blue, to go to RCIA classes. The Holy Spirit moved me in that direction, is all I can figure. No reason to do it, otherwise.

That said, I have never regretted the decision.
 
jc4751 said:
I am a convert and still cannot answer that question, some two decades later. I was not a religious person and decided one day, out of the blue, to go to RCIA classes. The Holy Spirit moved me in that direction, is all I can figure. No reason to do it, otherwise.

That said, I have never regretted the decision.
Click to expand...
I believve you…same for me!
Lisa
 
Wisdom of Solomon

Chapter 2 really hit me hard. As did other parallels and quoted/paraphrases of it in the New Testament. Realizing the apostles did use this as scripture and we protestants did not.

It started a multi year search, that then led to a multi year attempt to join which, Lord willing, will finish at the easter vigil.

For example Wisdom 13:1-10,14:22-31 -vs- Romans 1:18-31
 
I felt that, with so many differing stances, protestant denominations couldn’t all be right. I started a 4 month, full time study to reinforce my ideas, surprise! This led me to the Catholic Church. It started as a “Damascus Road” experience with John chapter 6, something I had read before. Everything just made more sense from the Catholic explanation.

These forums are priceless for Q & A.

Welcome to the Journey home!
 
I was raised LDS, but I left when I read the Book Of Mormon and realized it was a lie.

Out of all the religions I investigated, the Catholic church was most in line with what I felt was the message of Jesus in the New Testament. I also realized that God wouldn’t allow his church to be corrupted or destroyed, so the Catholic church must be the right one. Even now, when the world pulls me away from the church I still feel the Holy Spirit pull me back.
 
Ultimately, it comes down to four things, the RCC teaches the whole truth; practicing Catholics are conscious of God’s presence in their lives and the world; the RCC doesn’t waver in its positions; unifying my family’s faith life.

Admittedly, I started RCIA for “social reasons”. Some people will tell you that too many people convert for social reasons and that they really don’t believe, but the fact is that everyone has a different starting point when it comes to entering the church. So, I try not to judge people’s reasons for converting.

My husband and a good friend of mine are also converts. So, the idea of converting wasn’t unusual. I just wasn’t sure if converting was really what what I wanted to do. My husband and my dad made sure point out that I didn’t have to convert when we got married. My dad even pointed out that his best friend’s wife never converted, but raised the kids Catholic. It was hard not to miss the point. I don’t have to convert - ever.

However, It’s one thing to be a divided house before you have kids, but another when you have kids.

The practical reality was that if I was going to do church and I wanted my husband to go w/me - we would attend a Catholic church or a Lutheran church. I really didn’t see the point of trying the Lutherans only, later, to figure out that they still weren’t teaching the whole truth either. So, I wanted to find out if I could really go along w/Catholicism once and for all. If I couldn’t, then I could still shop around. The fact that I loathe the idea, even more than I did a few months ago, tells me that I’m really where I should be.

Through the RCIA classes, we are always reminded that we don’t have to go through with conversion. We can wait. We can decide not to do it. We can quit at any time.

The thing is that I don’t want to quit. I love the church. If I didn’t, then I definitely wouldn’t be converting because it is a big deal.

For me, it’s just the next logical step in my faith walk. For others, they can place whatever judgment on it that they want. It’s not their faith walk. It’s mine and, ultimately, I’ll be answering to God for my actions. It is what it is.
 
I cannot explain it, other than to say it was the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I was raised in a very anti-God, anti-religious home that was also a very unstable and unhappy home for a child to be raised in. I don’t know how it came to be, because no one in my life spoke of God, but I have always believed and felt His presence. He helped me survive.

As a young adult I set out to find my Church home. I had always felt an overwhelming draw to the Catholic Church, a feeling that that is where I belonged, that it was home. But at the time I was in university and very liberal thinking, so I searched for a church more in line with my way of thinking. They never satisfied or felt right no matter how much I wanted them to. I knew that my only choice was the Catholic Church, so I signed up for RCIA and was received into the Church 10 years ago this Easter.

It was not an intellectual choice for me, it was a heart choice. The only church I have ever truly encountered Jesus in is the Catholic Church. It is home and truly satisfies my soul.

I will pray for your journey home.
 
It wasn’t any one particular thing for me but what got me started was I tried to prove to myself that the early Church wasn’t Catholic. Bit by bit I discovered it was.😊😊 It is important to me for my faith to be logical that the church I belonged to needed to have evolved from something before it. I have had Evangelical former friends inform me that it didn’t matter if the early Church was Catholic or not. 🤷
 
I started looking into the Catholic Church when I started looking for a new protestant church because of moving. I was very frustrated that within so many churches, there were so many disagreements on God’s Word. That got me thinking of the history of the Catholic Church and I started studying. From there everything else is just falling into place.
 
Melanae said:
I am a fellow RCIA Student as well, hopefully to be confirmed and everything Easter 2014. I was grown up as a non-denominational child. My parents were always supportive of any religion I would choose. At first I decided myself as a Protestant, being brought up in such a Protestant life anyways. My life changed however, when I was switched to a Catholic high-school. I was quite excited, and the more I learned about the Catholic faith, the more I was drawn to it. I loved the beauty of the sacraments, and I just felt that I was truly lead to the real Truth, and the full Truth. I strongly came to believe on my own the teachings of the Church and have now happily joined RCIA and am equally happy with my parent’s continuing support in my choice.

Ever since becoming Catholic, I’ve been feeling much closer to God, and my relationship with Him growing. Despite fighting sins terribly in the past, I’ve started turning towards the Cross and prayer and the Rosary. Also ever since becoming Catholic, I’ve noticed my prayer life growing significantly. I must say that my choice in becoming Catholic has probably been my most thankful, and graceful decision in my life(:

And welcome to the faith! Anything else you want to discuss; I’ll be more than happy to talk! (: Welcome home~

~ Mel
Click to expand...
 
For me, I’m a convert too… but it was a young adult parrish group that I found while living in Southern Mexico=Guadaljara and after that was a retreat I went on with them in the parrish-this was back in 2004.

And also the Sacraments as well as Adoration and the Mass and Mary-the Rosary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

as far as websites go-Lifeteen.com has really helped me a lot-even though I’m in my 30’s. and lighthouse catholic CD’s and s spanish prayer group too.
 
The tipping point for me was marrying a Roman Catholic…although it wasn’t immediate. I grew up Anglican and left that along with my parents in my early 20s to the Charismatic Episcopal Church (NOT part of ECUSA) and my father was ordained priest there. Because I was a preacher’s kid (even though he was ordained when I was adult), it was not a snap decision by any means. It was probably a 4 year discernment for me, including RCIA. In fact I’d decided for sure I wanted to even before I started RCIA and now I’m nearing the end of the church’s process. My Dad knew I was thinking about it and unfortunately I had decided I would but didn’t get a chance to tell him as I was waiting to tell him in person and he died suddenly last spring. My Mom is coming around to supporting me, if at least to my face. I do know that the seed of this started maybe 10 years ago, long long before I was dating my husband (although we had met at the point, but hated each other).
 
When I read the early Church Fathers-- not what people said they said, but read their own words, I was very surprised at how much it looked like the Catholic Church.

Also, if Protestantism is true, it means we don’t need the Church to tell us how to interpret the Bible, that each individual has the last word, I think you can look around at Protestantism and see where that’s gotten us.

And I had to look at what exactly we were “protesting”? Corruption in the church? It will always be with us. That we are justified by faith alone? Clearly, we are justified by faith, but there are too many places in the Bible that show that are works, while they don’t save us, certainly don’t count for nothing.
 
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