Catholic Converts: What was the last straw that made you left the Protestant Churches?

[richardwy]

Also, the fragmentation of all the denominations. I just felt that if God were going to set up his church on this earth, He would also keep it from breaking up into little pieces.

Wow!

 

[qui_est_ce]

This discussion came along at such a perfect time, as today I was able to speak of these truths to my parents, who are Evangelical. I didn’t present it as a Catholic idea, but as a Biblical one. They were speechless and unable to argue with the simplicity and obvious Scriptural and Christian truth of suffering as a means of becoming Christlike, of being made into His image, and being the road to changing us and those around us.

I said that instead of “rebuking” our sufferings or running away from them or pretending they don’t exist, we are to be proactive as Christ was, and pick up our crosses, embracing them, knowing that the end is glorious.

Quote them:

Colossians 1:24
24
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church,

Scott Hahn says this verse started his journey into the Church. He says the “lacking” is what struck him, because most Protestants say the Christ’s death on the cross completes our salvation for us. Hence, Sola Fides.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Sounds kind of harsh. How would you feel if the priest consecrated the host and everyone got up and walked out. Just a thought.

BrewMax,

When the priest says the words of consecration, he says, “This is my Body,” not “Protestans are living in darkness.” Catholics don’t rely on Protestantism for their beliefs. I have seen Baptist websites that use what they think Catholicism teaches in error, to substantiate what they believe in. Such as, “unlike Catholics who re-crucify Christ at every mass, we believe blah, blah…” or “Unlike Catholics who think they can work their way into Heaven, blah, blah.” Then they cherry pick verses out of context to support why Catholics are going to Hell, and they are saved.

 

[richardwy]

And so I started reading.

And reading.

Very similar. The reading part.

I forsook God for 25 years. Saw Nuns praying the Rosary on TV. Told the truth to myself about what I was hearing and seeing and purposed to visit a priest.

Priest says “the Holy Spirit” drew you here. Blew me away.

Now to the reading part.

Read everything in Britannica I could find on Christianity, history of, monasticism, the Church, you name it.

Read Augustine’s “Confessions.”

Read “Life in Christ” a mini-catechism that our RCIA used with pencil in hand.

Bought the 2nd ed of the Catechism (during RCIA). Began reading carefully with pencil in hand.

In hindsight, I so glad there wasn’t anyone saying “oh, they don’t mean that,” or “that’s not what that means.” I’ve 2 bachelors and a masters and used to teach college English.

Also, I had grown so weary of “joe in the pew,” any pew, saying what is what.

During RCIA, I read an encyclical or apostolic letter Pope John Paul II wrote on the Eucharist. Wow. I could not believe what I was reading. It seemed almost too good to be true. Yet it is true.

My 1st Mass. Wow!

When the priest held aloft the book of the Gospel, I almost became undone.

Over life’s way, I had grown sick of fad and innovation while seeing me and the world around me grow ever darker, sicker, and evil.

If I had my way, every parish would have a reading/discussion group on the Catechism.

 

[TeresaElizabeth]

As with others, so many issues were bound up in my decision to leave the Protestant worship community in which I was raised: historicity of the Church, apostolic succession (how could I be certain, without authority from Christ, that one isolated interpretation of scripture was more true than a hundred gazillion others?), etc.

But the last straw came when I couldn’t help but believe in and adore our Lord in the Eucharist. How could I even consider abandoning His sacred Gift?

 

[KarenElissa]

One of the big things for me was the history. The Catholic Church has been around for 2000 years, and while there have been some ups and downs, they have worked through it all and are still going strong. That has to say something.

The other kind of deciding factor was the pope. I figured if I believed that the Pope is the successor of Peter, then what choice did I have but to align myself with him? Even if I didn’t totally “get” everything, if he is God’s man, then that is where I go. And if the Pope isn’t the successor of Peter, then there really wasn’t any reason to be Catholic.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Read everything in Britannica I could find on Christianity, history of, monasticism, the Church, you name it.

Bought the 2nd ed of the Catechism (during RCIA). Began reading carefully with pencil in hand.

Then my 1st Mass. Wow!

Over life’s way, I had grown sick of fad and innovation while seeing me and the world around me grow ever darker, sicker, and evil.

If I had my way, every parish would have a reading/discussion group on the Catechism.

Thanks for sharing. I am a cradle Catholic who never strayed from the Church. As I got older and read about the Church Fathers, more complicated Theology, and Early Church History, It sounded so darn Catholic, I couldn’t understand why all educated people weren’t flocking to the Church.

Then I remembered old immigrant grandma’s and their Rosaries. Their simple but powerful faith. They wouldn’t be able to tell you the theological reasons for the Eucharist, Confession. Etc. They trusted the priest to explain it in the homily. They heard the readings on Sundays and the daily masses. So simple. No need to reinvent the wheel, (or a new church).

Our Parish is fabulous. It is small (1,200 families) we have a great library, three fabulous priests, Parish Missions, Bible Study, Adult faith group, CD’s from Lighthouse Catholic Media, prayer group, and the most outwardly, welcoming, faithful, and prayerful parishioners you would ever meet. Our choir (which I’m in) is great, thanks to our music director who knows liturgy, and is an excellent musician in the classical sense. Our church building is one of the ugliest churches I have ever been in. It was built in the 1950’s, plain blond wood, and painted light blue with no paintings or artwork. But the Crucifix, wow, It is backlit, and glows when you drive by at night and peak in. The stained glass windows are beautiful. Our pastor restored the bells with donations in memory of his father when his father died. Now we are going to repaint it and make it beautiful again. A retired couple does all the plantings to make the grounds beautiful.

That’s faith in action.

I am so happy to be Catholic. I love my Holy Catholic Church.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Even if I didn’t totally “get” everything, if he is God’s man, then that is where I go.

Hi Karen,
Thanks for sharing. I assume you are in RCIA and will be Confirmed at Easter Vigil 2008. I will be praying for you (just said a little one). I hope your experience will be as good as mine. I love assisting in RCIA, and hope your group is as dynamic as mine. :clapping:

 

[KarenElissa]

Hi Karen,
Thanks for sharing. I assume you are in RCIA and will be Confirmed at Easter Vigil 2008. I will be praying for you (just said a little one). I hope your experience will be as good as mine. I love assisting in RCIA, and hope your group is as dynamic as mine. :clapping:

Yup, and so far it has been a good experience! A little basic, but that is where most people seem to be, and I’ve done LOTS of reading before I got to this point. But the leader is really enthusiastic and everyone has been great!

 

[qui_est_ce]

KarenElissa:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=185809

I love that thread, thanks for the link. :yup:

 

[KarenElissa]

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=185809

I love that thread, thanks for the link. :yup:

It’s great fun! And the title crazy definitely fits!

 

[qui_est_ce]

Yup, and so far it has been a good experience! A little basic, but that is where most people seem to be, and I’ve done LOTS of reading before I got to this point. But the leader is really enthusiastic and everyone has been great!

That’s kind of the downside, because many people that are in RCIA have had no faith formation at all, so you have to start at the very beginning. But you can be an apologist!

 

[KarenElissa]

That’s kind of the downside, because many people that are in RCIA have had no faith formation at all, so you have to start at the very beginning. But you can be an apologist!

Ya, it seems most people haven’t really been active in any church, or religion for that matter. Where as I’ve been REALLY active in the Protestant church I’m leaving. It is a good lesson in patience and never hurts to hear the basics again.

And it helps that we were told to read the book at our own pace. So I’m about two thirds done with it. I like to read!

 

[qui_est_ce]

Ya, it seems most people haven’t really been active in any church, or religion for that matter. Where as I’ve been REALLY active in the Protestant church I’m leaving. It is a good lesson in patience and never hurts to hear the basics again.

I will say a special prayer for you in RCIA tomorrow night.

God’s peace and joy on your journey:grouphug: