Cradle or Converted???

[Jeanette_L]

Cradle, but never really started trying to live my faith out until this past year, during Lent. I started praying the rosary daily and asked God to change me. He did!

We can be thankful He doesn’t turn down our requests like these, huh? And once He gets the ball rolling!

 

[mommyof4]

I feel that lately God has been answering a lot of my prayers for me. I have had so many questions that he has answered very quickly, and I have been asking for emotional and spiritual healing, and he has graciously been granting me that, too.

I’ve discovered that He has a sense of humor, too. A few weeks ago, I asked God to give me one of the humblest jobs he could give me that would help His church. Well, a few hours later I got a phone call to help clean the church on the next Saturday morning. I said “of course.” When I showed up on Saturday morning to help clean, guess what my job was? Clean the bathrooms! I couldn’t help but thank God for answering my prayer for a humble job!

 

[Genesis315]

Cradle Catholic here . Here’s my story:

St. Pius V, speaking about the results of St. Dominic spreading devotion to the Rosary said:

“Christ’s faithful, inflamed by these prayers, began immediately to be changed into new men. The darkness of heresy began to be dispelled, and the light of the Catholic Faith to be revealed.”

These couple sentences perfectly describe my personal experience. Before, I figured I was a decent Catholic. I went to Mass on Sundays and stayed away from what I figured were the major sins. On the other hand, I did have plenty of grave sins, although I didn’t really acknowledge them. I also never went to Confession–I could just confess to God I figured. My belief in the Real Presence was shaky at best and my understanding of it was worse. I also really had no clue what we believed in general as Catholics, let alone why. For example, I thought the Immaculate Conception referred to Jesus and things like purgatory, the Assumption, Tradition, infallibility, the meaning of the Mass etc., etc. were not even on my radar screen. All in all, I just saw the Catholic Church as just another denomination and religion as a personal preference.

Then a friend of mine was started up a little group at her college to pray the Rosary daily and she asked if I wanted to pray it with them in spirit (since I was in another state). So I decided to give it a shot. Coincidentally, the women’s group at my parish had been handing out free Rosaries and how-to pamphlets the week before and I had picked one up.

Not long after I began praying it daily, my sins began to become quite apparent to me. I also felt this great need to get to confession. I finally got up the nerve and I went (I had not gone in probably ten years–since I was a kid). It was an amazing experience. After that, I began to develop a real aversion to vice. When I did sin, I knew it and I felt real contrition.

I also began to develop this hunger to learn about the faith. I stumbled across some apologetics articles and it hit me that, hey, there might actually being something more here than I thought. From there I was spurred on to read as much as I could from the Scriptures, Fathers, Popes, Councils, Doctors, Saints–everybody. I couldn’t get enough–and the strange thing was, everything seemed to make perfect sense. The Catholic faith was no longer some abstract idea or personal devotion–it was crystal clear reality. Jesus wasn’t probably real–He was and is real–He is really present in the Blessed Sacrament. I saw Him through the eyes of His mother. My relationship with Jesus went from something abstract and distant, to that of the beloved disciple resting his head on Jesus’ chest. I feel I have been growing in His grace ever since.

Through the Rosary I truly was inflamed and became a new man as the light and spendor of the Catholic faith was revealed http://www3.christianforums.com/images/smilies/saint.gif

 

[Lonely_Angel]

I’m a Cradle Catholic. I still love being a part of this religion! I used to get bored in church when I was younger and stuff like that, and I sometimes have my doubts since I’m going into Confirmation, but lately, things aren’t so boring and I take more pride in being Catholic.

 

[tequilamac]

I know what you mean - it always makes me really nervous when someone tells me that I “know more” than cradle Catholics just because I’m a convert. (I took a nine month class and did some reading - they’ve been at this since they were born. That verse about the flattering lips leading to pride and downfall sneaks to mind, here.)

My friend was baptized in the Catholic Church when she was six hours old (we are the same age) and trust me, she knows her stuff - she knows and always will know more than I ever will, because for me, it’s mostly head knowledge, but for her, it’s heart-knowledge. She may not be able to cite chapter and verse of the Scriptures, but she’s got a better grasp of their meaning than I ever will.

Okay you paved the way- I don’t have to duck for cover. My husband and I are both cradle catholics. But I know it all and he knows nothing except to bring the checkbook on Sunday.

 

[Eden]

To make a long story short, I’m a cradle Catholic.

 

[AlegreFe]

I’m a Cradle Catholic. I still love being a part of this religion! I used to get bored in church when I was younger and stuff like that, and I sometimes have my doubts since I’m going into Confirmation, but lately, things aren’t so boring and I take more pride in being Catholic.

If you are still somewhat bored (I know you said not so boring anymore) then you should get a hold of an audio CD by Father Larry Richards. It’s free (with a donation, $1 or $2 is enough if you don’t have more) from the Mary Foundation. Fr Larry explains the meaning of the whole Mass. :yup: You will never be bored again.

The Mass Explained, by Fr. Larry Richards
The best explanation on the Mass ever recorded, featuring
the True Presence in the Eucharist, the amazing Untold
History of the Mass, and a nuts-and-bolts “Walk-Through”
of the Parts of the Mass. Whether you attend Mass regularly
or not, your sacramental life will be enriched immeasurably.
A powerful, proven tool for parish education programs, from
First Communion prep to RCIA and beyond.

Father Larry has his own website too! If the little video doesn’t start in a few seconds just scroll down and click play to see and hear Father Larry. It’s beautiful. Send it to all your friends in your Email list and have them send it out to all their friends, and so on.

Here is something on the web that I found on The Mass Explained.
It’s a lot to read but perhaps you can save it in your favorites or print it out for later reading.

 

[Lonely_Angel]

My mom has that!!! Guess I should listen to it sometime, huh? XD

 

[AlegreFe]

My mom has that!!! Guess I should listen to it sometime, huh? XD

Wow! This is not a coincidence that I mentioned that particular CD to you! There are no coincidences. So yes, take a listen to that CD. :yup:

Fr Larry is informative and what I like is that he presents you with scripture passages that support the Mass. Fr Larry is also pretty funny.

And while you’re at it, see if your mom has Fr Larry’s Confession CD also. Those two should actually go together.

Peace and God bless.