Can anyone help?

[skyward]

Hello,

This is my 1st post (other than the saying hi bit) and was wandering if anyone can help me out?

I took refuge in buddhism 5 years ago but now feel a strong ‘calling’ to the roman catholic faith. I was not christened or baptised as a child and was raised with a spiritualist mother and an anglican father, my grandmother was roman catholic and i have very fond memories of looking at here devotional paintings/artifacts but i digress. I am a father of 5 children and have a very blissful relationship with the mother of my children whom is an atheist. She has always been very understanding of my Quest for spiritual understanding but cannot identify with it personally.

I stopped my buddhist practice about a year ago and have recently felt a strong ‘pull’ toward the catholic church and its teachings, i have read the new testament front to back twice and have strongly searched through it for meaning (which i have found in abundance), now i wish to convert and become a good, practising catholic, but as you can see i have a few obstacles

Can anyone here relate to my circumstance’s? Can anyone give me some advice on ful-filling this call to the church whithout encroaching on the lives of my partner and children?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Many kind regards.

 

[VetA]

Hello,

This is my 1st post (other than the saying hi bit) and was wandering if anyone can help me out?

I took refuge in buddhism 5 years ago but now feel a strong ‘calling’ to the roman catholic faith. I was not christened or baptised as a child and was raised with a spiritualist mother and an anglican father, my grandmother was roman catholic and i have very fond memories of looking at here devotional paintings/artifacts but i digress. I am a father of 5 children and have a very blissful relationship with the mother of my children whom is an atheist. She has always been very understanding of my Quest for spiritual understanding but cannot identify with it personally.

I stopped my buddhist practice about a year ago and have recently felt a strong ‘pull’ toward the catholic church and its teachings, i have read the new testament front to back twice and have strongly searched through it for meaning (which i have found in abundance), now i wish to convert and become a good, practising catholic, but as you can see i have a few obstacles

Can anyone here relate to my circumstance’s? Can anyone give me some advice on ful-filling this call to the church whithout encroaching on the lives of my partner and children?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Many kind regards.

go to the nearest catholic parish and inquire about RCIA classes. just because you havent been baptized it does not mean you can not be in the future, its just going to take instruction… if you feel the call to the Church i am assuming you accept Jesus, right?

 

[jeff417]

The only obstacle to eternal salvation is one’s self. Humbly accept the grace of God, without which we cannot even begin to know Him, and pray. Also, your wife, who proclaims to be an athiest is on her own spiritual journey, pray for her too. You may be surprised someday…
God Bless

 

[Trishie]

Welcome; and God bless you for your sincere response to God’s Holy Spirit.

You dear soul! I don’t see many barriers there! Many of us have non-Catholic spouses, but quietly live our Catholic faith. My husband is a lapsed convert, but he is supportive of my going to Mass. It’s sad to have to go alone, but you will be in communion with millions around the world and throughout time. Hopefully your wife will be able to maintain her kindly-tolerant attitude, and please God you can proceed with the wisdom you desire.

What VetA suggested is right, and we pray that all will go well for you.

If you wish to find our more about the Catholic faith, you will find the Catechism of the Catholic Church online.

I ask God to continue leading you gently, wisely, and deeply into the faith into which you realise that He is calling you.

I will keep you in my prayers and Masses.

God’s kindest blessings to you,

Trishie

 

[anns82]

I would second the suggestion to join an RCIA class. Welcome your wife to join you, but don’t make her go of course. My husband ended up deciding to go through RCIA, and we were both impressed by the depth of the questions that came up in the classes. Assuming your wife is an atheist because her critical thinking does not direct her towards the belief in a god, the discussions that come up in RCIA allow one to further their critical thinking skills, so your wife might find them interesting. Even if she decides not to go, you can bring some interesting thoughts home to discuss with her. Sincerely wanting to know her thoughts on the subject, and considering the Church’s perspective is a way to at least fill her in on real Church teaching (many have false assumptions as to what the Church says) as well as your developing thought process.
I would encourage you to try to grow together in faith, but even if it does not seem to be the case, pray for you both to be open to the Truth, no matter what it may be. Never underestimate the power of prayer - though I admit it is not as easy as it seems it should be.

My prayers are with you and your family.

 

[Prayer_Warrior]

I agree with the other suggestions about attending an RCIA class at your local parish. There is a lot to the Catholic faith as it has been around since Jesus’ time. Here is a copy of the Nicene creed, which states most of our core beliefs. These are things that one must accept as a Catholic.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy Catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

I converted to the Catholic faith after I was married. My husband is a non-practicing Catholic and is actually a bit hostile to the Church for various reasons. If your wife is an atheist, it may be difficult at times for you. But unless she is hostile, it should be fine. Would it she object to the children coming in to the Church with you? Handing on the faith and having them baptized is the best gift you could ever give them.

Continue to pray for guidance. God will help you. We are also here to help, but remember most of us are just lay people living out the Catholic faith as best we can. Sometimes, though our intentions are good, you may receive some faulty information about Catholic teaching (it doesn’t happen too often). I recommend you buy a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church or if you can’t afford it, here is an online copy.

Remember, Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened to you”.

 

[E.E.N.S]

Hello,

This is my 1st post (other than the saying hi bit) and was wandering…

…I took refuge in buddhism 5 years ago .

Well I am glad you found refuge after all that wandering.

(I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself! )

 

[skyward]

Well I am glad you found refuge after all that wandering.
(I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself! )

lol eens, my spelling is not so good huh

Thank you for your kind responses, I will start the RCIA at St. Michael’s church this september, it is quite difficult to get an appointment to speak with the father because the church is linked with the school next door (which my children attend) so he is very busy until summer break.

 

[skyward]

go to the nearest catholic parish and inquire about RCIA classes. just because you havent been baptized it does not mean you can not be in the future, its just going to take instruction… if you feel the call to the Church i am assuming you accept Jesus, right?

Thanks veta and yes, i do accept Christ and the more i read the bible the stronger his persona becomes.

Prayer warrior, my partner (not wife) has agreed to have the children baptised.

Thanks everyone else for your kind words and thoughts.

 

[JohnCS]

Hello,

I caught the use of the word “partner” instead of wife when you used it in the original post and I am surprised that no one else made mention of it. Sadly, I always get confused about what the Church recognizes as a valid marriage, I do not know your whole situation, but I would guess that the priest will inform you that you should refrain from marital relations with your partner until the Church recognizes the union. I know that that may seem like a big sacrifice, but in the end it will all be worth it. On another note, I have wanted to get my girls (2) into a Catholic school but have never lived close enough to one. Hopefully the next time we move it will be to an area that has one! God bless and welcome home! That calling really is something amazing isn’t it? You can’t really explain it, but you definately can’t deny it, it is just something that has to be experienced! I’ll be praying for your whole situation!

John

 

[wisdomseeker]

lol eens, my spelling is not so good huh

Thank you for your kind responses, I will start the RCIA at St. Michael’s church this september, it is quite difficult to get an appointment to speak with the father because the church is linked with the school next door (which my children attend) so he is very busy until summer break.

Bless be God!

in the meanwhile you can hear these sermons. they are a blessing to the soul.

audiosancto.org/