Convert/Reverts - Who Inspired You?

[Eichelbaum]

Lots of people, the most ironic of which is probably Reformed apologist James White, or even Matt Slick.

I would also include Fr. Mitch Pacwa, Tim Staples, and the priest who ran our RCIA program.

 

[Magdalen2013]

Convert here, a former seeker on many paths ending with Tibetan Buddhism. Then Mary began appearing in my life in many varied ways…and after several months of this I sat down with one of my mother’s statues (she collects Madonnas) and mentally asked her what she wanted, and opened my mind – the impression I received was “pray the Rosary.”

It was the beginning of Lent, so I resolved to pray the Rosary every day. Then Pope Benedict retired, and the morning the new Pope was chosen my mother asked me, “What name would you like him to choose?” and I said, “I’d want him to break precedent and choose ‘Francis’?” And he did.

I continued praying the Rosary, and finally placed another matter before Mary that I needed help with – and the answer I received was, “Join the Church.”

Both my mother and I entered the Church on the Easter Vigil in 2014.

 

[saellis]

I am glad you are going back to Mass! I will pray that the Lord continues to help you grow in your faith.

Thank you. I could use all the prayers I can get.

 

[njlisa]

I grew up Baptist, but from my earliest days, I had a fascination with the Catholic Church. I left the Baptist Church in my late teens. I spent several years studying various religions. I decided that the Catholic Church was the way to go. I started going to Mass in my 20s (not taking Communion, of course). When I moved away from Oklahoma to the East Coast, I worked up my courage and started attending RCIA. That was 26 years ago. I’ve had my ups and downs. But I could never be anything but Catholic. I have no idea why that happened. But that’s my story.

 

[misspriss]

I grew up Baptist, but from my earliest days, I had a fascination with the Catholic Church. I left the Baptist Church in my late teens. I spent several years studying various religions. I decided that the Catholic Church was the way to go. I started going to Mass in my 20s (not taking Communion, of course). When I moved away from Oklahoma to the East Coast, I worked up my courage and started attending RCIA. That was 26 years ago. I’ve had my ups and downs. But I could never be anything but Catholic. I have no idea why that happened. But that’s my story.

The first half of your post almost describes me perfectly, I too grew up Baptist, southern (but with hints of fundamentalism). I had actually not known anything about the Catholic church though, except bad things. It was a cult/whore of babylon/etc… I left the Baptist church in my late teens, spent several years studying other religions and/or none, I spent most of the time claiming to be a theistic agnostic or something of that nature. I always believed in God, but I had doubts about religions. I dabbled in islam and baha’i, searching. In my early 20s I discovered these forums while researching NFP devices. That got me started searching and I never stopped. I started attending daily mass first (not receiving communion, of course!) and then started RCIA the next year I could.

I have found a fullness of truth that I never had in my faith as a Baptist. I hope I can say in 20+ years that I could not imagine being anything else. I know that I will be Catholic, but its hard to imagine…I have had daydreams of my children being married in a Catholic wedding at my church (they are toddlers!).

 

[PelagiathePenit]

I cared more about God after I was dismissed from university. So many questions. Then I started attending a Protestant Christian college group. A girl there thought catholicism was a cult. She challenged me. She asked me questions about my faith I could not answer. How can I follow a religion I know little about. Currently another one of my friends is challenging me with my faith with many questions and strong opinions against the Catholic church

 

[Della]

I cared more about God after I was dismissed from university. So many questions. Then I started attending a Protestant Christian college group. A girl there thought catholicism was a cult. She challenged me. She asked me questions about my faith I could not answer. How can I follow a religion I know little about. Currently another one of my friends is challenging me with my faith with many questions and strong opinions against the Catholic church

Not to take the thread off topic, but when confronted with questions you can’t answer it’s fine to ask questions of reliable sources (especially here on CAF). However, don’t let others bully you into questioning your faith. Why are they so interested in destroying your beliefs? is the question you need to ask yourself. Besides this, while it’s great to dig deeper into your Catholic faith, you need not be an apologist or have all the answers–no one person has all the answers to all the questions anti-Catholics throw up in our faces. All you need be prepared to do is this:

1Pet.3b[15] Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.

Note that we are to be prepared to defend “the hope that is in” us, not every doctrine or practice of the Church. IOW, know why you love God and trust in him as a Catholic. And be patient with those who attack your faith for as Jesus declared from the cross: “They know not what they do” when they try to destroy your faith.

 

[mommyof4]

Mostly, it was the folks on these forums. I was searching for a way back, and wow, the questions I asked, the threads I lurked on, and the compassionate yet frank answers I received on these forums brought me back. Never think that you don’t influence anyone with your posts, and I would just remind everyone that if someone comes on here asking questions, to respond truthfully, but in love!

 

[PelagiathePenit]

Not to take the thread off topic, but when confronted with questions you can’t answer it’s fine to ask questions of reliable sources (especially here on CAF). However, don’t let others bully you into questioning your faith. Why are they so interested in destroying your beliefs? is the question you need to ask yourself. Besides this, while it’s great to dig deeper into your Catholic faith, you need not be an apologist or have all the answers–no one person has all the answers to all the questions anti-Catholics throw up in our faces. All you need be prepared to do is this:

1Pet.3b[15] Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.

Note that we are to be prepared to defend “the hope that is in” us, not every doctrine or practice of the Church. IOW, know why you love God and trust in him as a Catholic. And be patient with those who attack your faith for as Jesus declared from the cross: “They know not what they do” when they try to destroy your faith.

Ok thanks. I do not know if they are my real friends or if they even really respect me now that I think of it.

 

[Della]

Ok thanks. I do not know if they are my real friends or if they even really respect me now that I think of it.

You’re welcome. Yes, true friends don’t try to rob someone of their faith, but encourage the faith they have. There’s a big difference between sharing what one believes and coercing others into accepting it. People who do the second are certainly not friends. Indeed, when they see they aren’t going to get you out of the Church they will no longer care to talk to you. No one here who has shared his conversion/reversion story has said that anyone bullied them into the faith. That’s not how the Holy Spirit works.