CONVERTS, do you have a moment?

[Nabooru]

And I’m sure no one is asking this, but why did I to to an Anglican church instead of returning to the Lutheran one. Well, I just can’t buy Luther anymore. He wanted books removed from the New Testament because they didn’t agree with his views (especially Hebrews and James), which strangely I wasn’t told in my entire Lutheran upbringing. He also had a very, very low opinion of Jews and women, but to me to simple say a portion of God’s Word should be cut out to comply with a man’s whim is questionable at the least.

 

[GoldenSunflower]

Nabooru, Yes, I had the same reaction when I first heard that the Protestant bible was not the same as the Catholic Bible. I was only about 20 at the time, and it was enough to make me doubt the entire Reformation itself… What do you mean, the Catholic’s have more books in the Bible than the Protestants do - hasn’t the Bible been around for almost 2,000 years? Who’s taking books out of it at THIS stage of the game!!

Looking back on it, it makes me wonder why I didn’t go see what the Catholic’s were keeping that the Protestants had gotten rid of… but I guess I had my blinders very solidly glued in place… but I did not like the idea at all that over a thousand years after the Bible has been around, suddenly someone is taking stuff out and that is supposed to be okay.

I also really adored John Paul II for some reason, even though at times on my trip I was not at all interested in Christianity - for me, he was somehow ‘above everything’… someone to listen to, no matter who you were. Funny, as soon as I started RCIA, I started asking him to help me learn about Mary, and the Church, and how to pray the Pater Noster… and I tend to ask him all kinds of things. He is very good at telling me ‘Do not be afraid…’ or ‘go anyway, Christ is with you…’ and because of that I end up doing all kinds of things I normally would not be doing…I’ve been reading things on this forum all these months, but finally posting on here - that is one of ‘his things’!

I know it is him, because I always think of and refer to Jesus as ‘Jesus’… and even in RCIA and at church they usually always refer to Jesus as ‘the Lord’… so when I hear that voice in my head that is referring to ‘Christ’ in that accent and tone… yeah, I know who is ‘bugging’ me… and I usually get around to doing what he says.

 

[jlhargus]

I think you were being called all along, just like you said. I really want to see that movie now. HOpe I can find it online.

The title is “The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima.” It will probably be at your library if they have movies on tape or DVD.

 

[CleverUserName]

Yes. This is what I’ve come to realise, too. It is also why he works so hard to bring our priests down.

I love this thread, by the way. I am always online at the wrong time to really converse with people, but just want to say thanks for starting it and thank you to all who share.

I’m really enjoying it, too!

 

[CleverUserName]

I was drawn towards Catholicism without me even realizing it.

As a teenager, I was fascinated by the J.R.R. Tolkien’s work. I devoured all his books, his biographies, his articles and anything about him. I was immensely intrigued by how he got inspired to write LotR. Then I came across a book which compiled his 10 years correspondence while writing LotR in which one of the letters said, “…LotR is essentially a roman catholic work…” I was quite stunned because I used to be quite hateful towards the Church for putting Galileo, my childhood hero, under house arrest for refusing to recant his astronomical work.

So I started reading about the Church, about Augustine, Thomas Aquinas as such and pretty things developed from there.

Wow! I did not know that about LOTR!

 

[CleverUserName]

Tolkien also drew me to the Church when I was in the Assemblies of God and thought Catholicism evil for “deceiving” people. The spirituality of LotR really got to me, as well. That and the ordered life he presented so starkly against what is truly evil.

Have you read anything about what really happened with Galileo? Catholic Answers has some information about that you might find helpful/interesting.

@ GoldenSunflower: What a sweet little Grotto. I’m sure St. Bernadette and Our Lady are pleased by your efforts and your devotion. Our Lady of Lourdes was instrumental in bringing me into the Church. I have a statue of her in my living room with a white bead with golden tone crucifix sent from Lourdes for her rosary. I am so grateful to Our Lady for gently reconciling me into her Son’s Church. It’s as if she spoke the words of Proverbs to me:

Prov.9
[1] Wisdom has built her house,
she has set up her seven pillars.
[2] She has slaughtered her beasts, she has mixed her wine,
she has also set her table.
[3] She has sent out her maids to call
from the highest places in the town,
[4] “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
To him who is without sense she says,
[5] “Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
[6] Leave simpleness, and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”

That was beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

 

[CleverUserName]

I think that perhaps it may be easier for people who have never had that “hellish” experience to diminish the need for salvation through Christ. I can’t speak for the fate of others with certainty, but I can say that being in that place is very dangerous. Maybe that explains why the convert is often more eager to proselytize than the cradle Christians - we’ve seen the consequences, albeit only a very small taste of it - which should only emphasize how bad it really is. I wouldn’t want to risk someone else making the same mistakes I did.

Excellent point!

I feel a sort of desperation in that regard. You might be spot on about why.

 

[CleverUserName]

And I’m sure no one is asking this, but why did I to to an Anglican church instead of returning to the Lutheran one. Well, I just can’t buy Luther anymore. He wanted books removed from the New Testament because they didn’t agree with his views (especially Hebrews and James), which strangely I wasn’t told in my entire Lutheran upbringing. He also had a very, very low opinion of Jews and women, but to me to simple say a portion of God’s Word should be cut out to comply with a man’s whim is questionable at the least.

Actually I did wonder about this, but didn’t want to pry.

I remember when I found out the story about Luther editing the Bible. I was so shocked. I felt incredibly ripped off! I was like what? I’m only reading a partial Bible??

 

[CleverUserName]

The title is “The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima.” It will probably be at your library if they have movies on tape or DVD.

Thank you!

I found it online

ovguide.com/the-miracle-of-our-lady-of-fatima-9202a8c04000641f8000000000692159

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

Wow! I did not know that about LOTR!

Tolkien was a very devout man. He went to mass every day. It is interesting to discover Catholic stuff in the story. The special bread that Hobbits eat, that all the evil characters have degenerated from being initially good, etc. He didn’t intend to write an allegory but I guess he couldn’t just write his faith out of the novel, it is all over the place in subtle ways. I know quite a few atheists who are huge fans of LotR, who have no clue about Catholicism in it, and who claim to hate the church.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

And I’m sure no one is asking this, but why did I to to an Anglican church instead of returning to the Lutheran one. Well, I just can’t buy Luther anymore. He wanted books removed from the New Testament because they didn’t agree with his views (especially Hebrews and James), which strangely I wasn’t told in my entire Lutheran upbringing. He also had a very, very low opinion of Jews and women, but to me to simple say a portion of God’s Word should be cut out to comply with a man’s whim is questionable at the least.

I don’t want to be cheeky, but you know about the history and foundations of anglicanism, right? Man-made religion again, with a pretty horrible story behind it. I hope you look into the CC and take a little swim to our side. I promise, it is the best place to be.

Your dream sounds truly horrifying. Most converts/reverts I know have had a wonderful experience of God calling us home, gently, lovingly, patiently. But a friend of mine was convinced because of something that happened when she went to adoration with a group of friends. She said her heart was pierced and she knew she would end up in hell unless she changed her ways. That was enough for her to get back to living her faith with zeal.

 

[catholickat4]

You might enjoy reading the “Surprised by Truth” books, which are collections of convert stories. I’m sure you will find many such moments in them. Last I looked years ago there were three volumes.

Yes, I LOVED the Surprised by Truth books. I have given them (and Rome Sweet Home) as gifts many times.
And the show on EWTN “The Journey Home” is soooooooooooo great for all the same reasons. AND the host of The Journey Home, Marcus Grodi, has two novels about a pastor who convert and they are fabulous too.
For all the same “lightbulb moment” reasons.

 

[Nabooru]

I don’t want to be cheeky, but you know about the history and foundations of anglicanism, right? Man-made religion again, with a pretty horrible story behind it. I hope you look into the CC and take a little swim to our side. I promise, it is the best place to be.

Your dream sounds truly horrifying. Most converts/reverts I know have had a wonderful experience of God calling us home, gently, lovingly, patiently. But a friend of mine was convinced because of something that happened when she went to adoration with a group of friends. She said her heart was pierced and she knew she would end up in hell unless she changed her ways. That was enough for her to get back to living her faith with zeal.

Well, I think God calls people in different ways because I’d the individual needs of the person. If a person needs God’s love in their life, God sends them that. If a fool needs a firm slap upside the head, He sends them that!

Seriously, if God had sent me some pleasant message about His love, I would’ve interpreted it as proof of the Pure Love of the Brahman and All-That-Is in a particular manifestation. I would have missed the point entirely. So God had to send me a warning of where all my spiritual equalism was going.

 

[mlz]

I had been praying and studying the faith on my own. I still didn’t think I was ready to make the jump until I walked into a church for Adoration. I knew from the moment I walked in that I was home.

AMEN, that was very Intrumental for me too!

 

[Daizies]

If a fool needs a firm slap upside the head, He sends them that!

That was so me

 

[dailey]

Mine is a kinda long story…looking back, it seems the Holy Spirit has been working on me for quite a while. I was a very active member of an evangelical congregation for quite a while…and all the while, having quite a negative attitude about Catholicism. About 4 yrs ago,after much, much growth in our church, I became restless…something just didn’t feel right. We still attended,but withdrew from so much involvement (no more committees/boards, Sunday school, social activities)…we visited a couple other, more traditional churches, but returned to our old one…resigned to the fact that God wanted us there, but still didn’t feel quite right.

Then in 2009 BOTH of our daughters became engaged to Catholic guys!! Wow!..so I had to deal with that. Looking at it now, God was getting my feet wet…the first wedding had very little Catholic influence. That son-in-law’s family has fallen away a little, so they did not care too much. but the wedding was held in an old Catholic Church in the country that had been closed a few yrs earlier…so I had to deal with the satues and such…kind of uncomfortable to me, as my attitude was still the same about Catholics…it was like voo-doo to me. So 6 months later (!!!) our second daughter married in to a very devout Catholic family…and not only was the wedding at a huge Catholic Church, a deacon was going to be part of the ceremony!..and boy was I uncomfortable with it all…it was an intense struggle for me …but it all went well.

You probably can guess what happens next in my story…Grandbabies!! Yup, and one of them was going to be baptized in the Catholic Church…Nora was born in January and the baptism was to be in May…I was DREADING it!..but was trying to just give it to God and trust that it was going to be ok…but I really never waivered on the negativity towards the Church…and I could not believe that my grandaughter was going to be Catholic!!! Ok then this Easter Sunday we had some time after church before a family dinner so I was flipping through the TV channels and stopped on ‘The song of Bernedette’…and watched…and I am not kidding you, it was like a switch went of in my head! I cannot explain it. In the 2 hrs or so while I watched, my heart changed…I had to know more about this Faith! And all of a sudden I did not dread the upcoming baptism!..I was looking forward to it!..when we returned home that evening, I found Catholic Answers…and was up until after 1 am reading. And have been studying and reading since then. Even though we know that it will be tough at times…my wife and I are seriously thinking of RCIA this fall. Looking back at it all, I really think that God was preparing me over the last 4 yrs or so…

Sorry for the length of this…Blessings to you.

Love, love, love your story!

 

[Sillara]

I was raised in a devoutly Protestant household. My father is a Protestant missionary. But my parents were always extremely pro-life, and many of the magazines and what-not around our house were Catholic. Tolkien and Chesterton were staples of my childhood library.

I kept feeling this “pull” toward the Church, and, strangely, considering I had not yet converted, actually considered a religious vocation in college. When I married, my husband was a Protestant, too, of a slightly different “brand”.

The biggest stumbling-block for me was probably a misunderstanding of indulgences. (Typical Protestant, you know.) But when JPII died, I watched the funeral. And we were at Mass within the month. My husband at first said, “You convert if you like, and you may take the children, too. I will go with you to Mass, but I don’t want to convert.”

After the first Mass we attended, he wanted to convert, too.

That was in 2005. Since we became Catholic, we didn’t contracept anymore. So that was also three children ago.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

Well, I think God calls people in different ways because I’d the individual needs of the person. If a person needs God’s love in their life, God sends them that. If a fool needs a firm slap upside the head, He sends them that!

Seriously, if God had sent me some pleasant message about His love, I would’ve interpreted it as proof of the Pure Love of the Brahman and All-That-Is in a particular manifestation. I would have missed the point entirely. So God had to send me a warning of where all my spiritual equalism was going.

Makes sense. I guess He knows what He is doing. Nowdays I am more capable of handling harsh truths and not running away, so on occasion I get a bit of a nudge that wakes me from sleepy self-righteousness. Back then when I read *Quo Vadis *for the first time I needed the love of my Father.

 

[Miriam1947]

I was in RCIA and undecided about converting. In fact they passed out a questionnaire asking about our thoughts about converting.

That same weekend I went to Sunday Mass. That was it. This was truly worship of God.

At the next meeting I signed up as a convert.

This is the same person who put off going to RCIA for a year because if I only knew one thing about being Catholic, it was that I would have to go to Mass every Sunday and I didn’t know if I wanted to give God a whole hour a week.

I thank God every single day that he led me to the Catholic Church.

 

[CleverUserName]

Yes, I LOVED the Surprised by Truth books. I have given them (and Rome Sweet Home) as gifts many times.
And the show on EWTN “The Journey Home” is soooooooooooo great for all the same reasons. AND the host of The Journey Home, Marcus Grodi, has two novels about a pastor who convert and they are fabulous too.
For all the same “lightbulb moment” reasons.

Writing note to self…"suprised…by…truth…