Y
ynotzap
Guest
A humble approach
and admired. I am 83, cradle Catholic, indoctrinated at an early age, converted to Christ at l5 years from the sins of teenagers, and a very traumatic experience. I was influenced by some holy people who dedicated their lives to help orphans, I was one. Three years in the Seminary, two years in the Diaconate program. Couldn’t make it because of a life of traumatic stress. At 23 yrs consciously practiced being a Lay Apostle before Vatican 11. very active in the Church, sacristan, lector, choir member, teacher, mass server. Leader of Charismatic prayer groups for 17 yrs, active in Cursillo for 11 yrs I am were God wants me, that is the important thing.During my life I couldn’t help but notice that even though people were recipients of the Sacraments and I knew many of them, and witnessed others, that they were not demonstrating what I thought a Christian should be doing if he was truly converted to Christ. I witnessed how ineffective Catholic education was in producing real changes in a persons life. I saw that the seed of Faith was planted, but I could not say it was on good ground. I witnessed some priests, nuns, and lay people having trouble with their faith, many of these were well educated. I did my best to bring others to Christ, but I found myself doing poorly in spite of my best efforts. For me, my conversion advanced in stages, I had to be tried in my Faith, my fidelity to Christ was tried, and by His grace I made it. At the age of apox 37, when my boys were in their teens, God enlightened me as to why my boys didn’t respond to my teaching of the Faith, which I e xpected, nor to the teachings they received in Catholic schools.
I became their savior, thinking that all I did could save them. I didn’t know I was taking Christ’s place which He reserves for Himself in each individual’s life. I had a deep encounter with Christ, and when I did, my whole attitude was changed. I could tell my children what God would expect from them, and not insisting as I had, but when I put God first, I became a prophet to my children. I didn’t have to discipline them, G od took care of that in His own way. they could disobey me, but they couldn’t deny what I relayed to them as to God’s will.for them God let me know that it is the personal encounter with Him that changes a person’s life, a conversion, from sin turning to Chriist, and continuing to co-operate with His graces. My children could not give me what they didn’t have, and I could not give it to them, only Christ could, and that is salvation. St. Paul refers to everything as “dung” compared to the knowledge of Christ. Education, receiving the Sacaments, having knowledge of dogmas does not convert, it can predispose, point the way. It is assumed that when one receives the Sacraments he has encountered Christ, and made a change in his life. Such is not necessarily the case, as exhibited by the life many lead after. We have formalized, processed, but not converted, and we can’t. We do take things for granted, and we wonder why, after all, we gave own kids a Catholic education, we showed love, and good example, why shouldn’t they change?
People need evangelization, to hear the “Good News” not all that Christ taught at first,or what the Church teaches but to know that Christ Himself is the Good News", all else comes later. The emphasis must be on our relationship with Christ, to be effective in assimilating all that comes later. A person must have a “Christ encounter” to be truly converted, once had then spiritual progress, and knowledge can advance. Since I have known this, my own Faith has blossomed, and so has my love for Christ and people.