Disproving the Catholic faith (PLEASE READ)

[guanophore]

This has serious implications in my life. I have many people to answer to that I’ve help’d lead away from the Catholic church.I have friends and family to answer to.

Welcome home, jamison. Most likely when you led others away from the Catholic Church you did so in sincerity and ignorance. Pray for all of them, that they may discover what you have.

Because of your research and your fire, you will be able to reach a lot more, and probably many lapsed Catholics as well, so God will bring much fruit in your life. I hope that you can have the fast track to the Sacraments.

 

[Felicity_in_TX]

Jamison,

Welcome home! I’m a recent convert myself (Easter 2008). I was raised in a profoundly anti-Catholic Southern Baptist church, and always felt this intense “pull” towards the Catholic Church, even when I was very young. Catholicism was a forbidden topic in my home, so I never had an opporunity to learn anything about it when I was a child. When I went to college, I started attending Mass and doing research on the Catholic faith. I read just about every apologetics book out there, met with Priests and Deacons, and questioned my Catholic friends and their parents about anything and everything. For me, I was doing all the research to prove that Catholicism was true because I knew for certain that I was meant to be Catholic, but I wanted to be be prepared to defend my choice to my protestant friends and family. Finally, after 7 years(!!) of waiting and studying I got up the courage to begin RCIA.

I tell you all this because I sense that you’re daunted by the prospect of nearly a year of classes that seem too “basic” and not being able to receive the Eucharist for such a long time. I sort of felt the same way because I’d been attending Mass for so long and had studied so much that I didn’t think that I’d get anything out of RCIA. I spoke with the Adult Faith Formation Director at the Parish I attended, and tried to convince her to get the Pastor to kind of “rush me through” the initiation sacraments (just Confirmation and Communion as I was Baptised as a child) rather than making me go through the entire RCIA process. She convinced me to try RCIA for a few weeks and see what I thought. I will eternally be grateful to her for this suggestion. I learned so much more about what it truly means to live as a Catholic during my 9 months in RCIA than I ever did from reading books. The books just gave me head knowledge, RCIA gave me a wonderful community of strong Catholics to look to for guidance and instruction. The bond I formed with my Sponsor (who was “randomly” assigned to me) has been incredible. And the joy of going through the entire experience with 42 other people is indescribable. In the 9 months of classes, the Candidates and Catechumens formed this amazing community amongst ourselves. That bond has carried on since the Easter Vigil; most of us attend Mass together each Sunday, and many of us have gone together and taken the time we had devoted to RCIA and given it to various ministries in the parish. I’ve found that it keeps me strong, so to speak, to know that when I go to Mass or different ministry events I’m going to be there with my “classmates”. Several of us are even planning on working on the RCIA team next year! Personally, I know that I will be involved with RCIA for the rest of my life. I can’t wait to work to support others through the same wonderful experience that I had myself.

Also, waiting to receive the Eucharist was tough. It’s funny, I’d been waiting for so many years and never felt that I was missing that much until the year that I started RCIA. But as the year went on, my hunger for it became stronger and stronger. So much so that I would actually weep during Mass when everyone else was receiving. But it was totally worth it because now, I receive nearly everyday. And every single time that I do I realize what a profound blessing and special event it is and I am filled with such joy and peace and thankfulness. It’s impossible to really explain, but I hope that you’ll understand what I mean.

Anyway, this became a rather long-winded description of my passion for RCIA, and I didn’t intend that. What I wanted to do was to encourage you to go into RCIA knowing that even for a knowledgeable Christian, there is much that can be gained by the experience. I wish you all the best!

God bless!!

 

[Stephen_C]

Jamison,
Bless you on your journey! Have you heard of the Coming home Network?
Here is the url to their forum chnetwork.org/forums You might be interested in checking it out.

Felicity in TX,
Thank you for sharing your journey with us. God bless

 

[MickyR]

Thank you very much for the kind advice. I should have better idea after today of what is going on. I actually thought Opus Dei was a RCIA program.

You mentioned that your priest seemed to want to put you in contact with Opus Dei. Reasons to consider this option would be:

1. I couldn’t guarantee whether you’d get a faithful RCIA course in your parish. You certainly would not in my local parish. On the the otherhand you might!
2. all Opus Dei priests have doctorates, individually he’d be able to induct you at your level. You may find a general RCIA too simple if you’ve been seriously studying for years.
3. the Opus Dei individual course would presumably start immediately. I had first approached my parish priest who nonchalantly told me he’d have an RCIA course starting in the Fall!

Anyway, it was one of the best things I ever did. The other thing I’d recommend for you right now is a bit of total immersion; if it’s possible go away for 2-3 days on a retreat. I spent some time at a Carmelite monastery within days of my first approach to a priest. I found this immensely formative and I’d say this would be especially suitable for you as you sound isolated from any Catholic contacts.

Regards

Micky

 

[MickyR]

And the joy of going through the entire experience with 42 other people is indescribable…Anyway, this became a rather long-winded description of my passion for RCIA, and I didn’t intend that. What I wanted to do was to encourage you to go into RCIA knowing that even for a knowledgeable Christian, there is much that can be gained by the experience. I wish you all the best!

God bless!!

Wow, Felicity 42 new people in your parish. I think my parish RCIA was preparing 1 person for Easter 2008. Things sound like they are happening in your part of the world!

 

[franjos]

Well, I would also like to share to everyone what happened to me last year. Perhaps, you may realize how important praying to the Blessed Mother (and Her Rosary) is to me.

I was born and lived in a province since childhood, but after getting a job in Manila, Philippines (9 years ago), I started living a sinful life. If I had died earlier, I would surely have plunged into the burning sulfur of hell without any doubt or question.

I sinned and sinned, and didn’t even bother to pray, stayed away from God, forgot God, worked myself to death, focused on my career, increased my knowledge by going to a graduate school and increased my wealth and worldy possessions.

However, our Lord God had mercy on my soul and started calling me back, thru the Blessed Mother Mary:

1st Call: Two years ago, my college friend died. He was my classmate, same age as mine (32), with the same promising career as a chemical engineer. He and his career is gone now, at a very young age. I was shocked and felt fear. What if it was I who died?

Effect : I only felt fear, but did nothing to repent.

2nd Call: Last year, I received an email from my college friend that our dearest and most intelligent professor died at the age of 40+. He and his intelligence is gone now, also at a very young age.

Effect : My fear increased, but did not repent.

3rd Call: In August of last year, my very rich boss suddenly died of cancer at the age of 49. Her money and enormous wealth did not save her.

Effect : This time I was really struck hard, started to pray a little and started reflecting on my life, but did not repent.

4th Call: Last year again, I was bed ridden for a week due to kidney problem. The pain I had, felt like I was gonna die. I started praying hard to God, to forgive me for my transgressions. But after few weeks of being healed, I went back to my sinful life.

5th and Final Call: One week after celebrating the 75th birthday of my mother last year, she became very ill. She was brought to the hospital and was struggling between life and death. The hospital bills have drained all my savings, and left me with loans. After two months of struggle, and with no more resources to fight for her life, she died before Christmas, and so we had the most sorrowful Christmas ever.

This recent events moved me to change my life. It made me realize many things:

1. First, our life is very short, and death which seems to be far away is really approaching to each one of us.
2. Second, What is professional career for, if God takes away my life right now.
3. Third, Worldy intelligence will be blotted out once the Lord God called us back.
4. Fourth, Money and Wealth cannot save us from death, once the Lord has retrieved the life He gave us.
5. Fifth, not to invoke the Lord God to anger, for His hands are mighty and powerful.
6. Lastly, that I should be thankful to the Lord and the Blessed Mother in bringing me back to grace.

But, the temptation is very strong. It seems like a magnet pulling me down. And the Wretched One does not want me to lead a better life. So, I realized going back to grace is a gift from Heaven. But remaining in grace is another hard thing to accomplish.

So what I did is I prayed the 15 mysteries of the Holy Rosary everyday. I told the Blessed Mother sincerely that I will pray Her 15 mysteries everyday, in return for the favor of protecting me and not abandoning me especially in times of trouble. And she did, now I am completely changed. The Blessed Mother showered bountiful graces upon me which I do not deserve. And everytime I look back at my past, I felt sorrow for having mislead my life for so long and for having hurt God with my sins.

Here are the some of the graces that I received from the Blessed Mother thru the Holy Rosary:

1. I began to fear, love and trust God above all things;
2. I was enlightened about all the doctrines of the Catholic faith (Immaculate Conception, Holy Eucharist, Sacraments, etc.) and fully understood them, that I can defend them.
3. God showed me how low I am and how great He is.
4. I felt sorrow for all the sins I committed in my life
5. I began to choose God’s side, that come what may, I know I am for God alone, if He is willing to receive me.
6. My sinful and lustful desires began to fade away.
7. I began to live in peace with my co-workers, family and neighbors.
8. And many more which would flood this thread.

The spiritual battle is still ON and the temptations are still lurking around. But I guess it will never end while I am still alive. But the most important thing is I have the Blessed Mother by my side now thru the Holy Rosary. I also have Jesus by my side, thru the Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy Chaplet (which gives me so much peace) and the Holy Eucharist (which is the food of my soul).

And we have all the angels and saints by our side who desires as much to save our souls.

Now, these are the reasons why I am praying the Rosary, and why I am urging others to do so also.