Following Jesus

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When I left neo-paganism/wicca I was quite taken with Our Blessed Mother, Mary. True to form, she has led me to her son, Our Lord. I want to know everything about Him I can find out. It quite literally is an obsession at this point.
I have ordered the book written by Our Pope and am reading through the New Testament.
Are there other books that people would recommend?
Thanks.
 
juliasmith said:
When I left neo-paganism/wicca I was quite taken with Our Blessed Mother, Mary. True to form, she has led me to her son, Our Lord. I want to know everything about Him I can find out. It quite literally is an obsession at this point.
I have ordered the book written by Our Pope and am reading through the New Testament.
Are there other books that people would recommend?
Thanks.
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juliasmith,
Sounds like you are being driven by the Holy Spirt like I was 5 years ago, and it hasn’t stopped. A good book to learn not only about Jesus, but the Whole Catholic faith is; Catholic and Christian by Alan Schreck, Servant Books. You need to learn about Jesus in the light of the Church, because He is the head of the Church, He established the Church. This is a good book to get you started, God Bless!
 
CalCatholic,
Thanks. I just put it on my ‘buy list’ for next week. I really appreciate your response. I am curious and hope you do not mind my asking, Did Mary’s prominence seem to lessen somewhat when the focus shifted primarily to Our Lord? Also, did you experience any sort of admonishment from other Catholics for focusing more on Jesus than on Mary?
She is still very special to me. It seemed that she was the only one to listen to me initially. But lately, Our Lord has become everything. I want to have a close relationship with Him and know that when I pray He will listen as his/our Mother did.
But, when I mention this to some Catholics they look at me like I am crazy. They even call me ‘mean’ to state that Jesus should be the primary focus and not Mary. I believe She, herself, would say that as well.
Anyway, just curious about these things. Thanks again.
 
There are many books. What a great love you have for Jesus to have such a hunger for the truth. I think praying the Gospels has been the way I have felt close to Jesus. Take your time and ask for the Holy Spirit to be with you. Are you at all interested in the Rosary? Learning the Rosary will bring you close to Jesus. Sister Faustina is a great source to read. I will pray for you but most important is Jesus is always with you. God Bless!
 
I actually love praying the rosary. With a 6 month old, I find myself praying it infrequently however. Lately I have made an effort to pray it more often though. It was the rosary that started this hunger I think. Mary leads us to Our Lord, afterall.
I will check out St Faustina. Thanks for the heads-up.
 
juliasmith said:
CalCatholic,
Thanks. I just put it on my ‘buy list’ for next week. I really appreciate your response. I am curious and hope you do not mind my asking, Did Mary’s prominence seem to lessen somewhat when the focus shifted primarily to Our Lord? Also, did you experience any sort of admonishment from other Catholics for focusing more on Jesus than on Mary?
She is still very special to me. It seemed that she was the only one to listen to me initially. But lately, Our Lord has become everything. I want to have a close relationship with Him and know that when I pray He will listen as his/our Mother did.
But, when I mention this to some Catholics they look at me like I am crazy. They even call me ‘mean’ to state that Jesus should be the primary focus and not Mary. I believe She, herself, would say that as well.
Anyway, just curious about these things. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Jesus is the focus of the Church, we honor our relationship with Mary as the Mother of our Lord and His disciple, but we must never forget that all prayers to Mary should be for her intersession to her Son and our Lord Jesus Christ. The Church doesn’t worship Mary as we do her Son, with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Any Catholics who think that you need to worship Mary instead of Jesus Christ, need to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
The book I recommended will help you with this question and others.
 
Books?! Did someone mention ‘books’?

Kolbe: Saint of the Immaculatta

and

In Garments All Red

The books are good introductions to the lives of 2 saints. Since it was the blessed virgin Mary that brought you to Jesus I think you will definately like the 1st book a lot.

May God bless you and keep you.
 
juliasmith said:
She is still very special to me. It seemed that she was the only one to listen to me initially. But lately, Our Lord has become everything. I want to have a close relationship with Him and know that when I pray He will listen as his/our Mother did.
But, when I mention this to some Catholics they look at me like I am crazy. They even call me ‘mean’ to state that Jesus should be the primary focus and not Mary. I believe She, herself, would say that as well.
Click to expand...
Haven’t shared this with lots of folk: Years ago, when I was even less knowledgeable about our Church, I questioned a lot of things Catholic, including veneration of Mary. I remember praying to her one day, asking how to properly honor her. I was surprised to get an answer: “Honor me by loving my Son.” (Thank you, Momma Mary!) So, yeah, I agree that she, herself, would say that Jesus should be the primary focus.

God bless,
Dan
 
I would like to suggest even more readings that would most likely interest you:

The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel.

These are done in an investigative style from a former atheist and investigative reporter. These books show a step by step interview process wherein Mr. Strobel confronts men of philosophy who are believers and draws out of them why they believe the way they do. Critics say it is biased because it does not interview opponents, and it may well be but it gives an indepth look at his journey and theirs. It is very well laid out.

I was in the same boat more or less as you, recently finding Christ and through him the Catholic Church. For years I felt like there was something I was waiting on. Like something was coming or something big was going to happen. I couldn’t quite place my finger on it, but then BAM! when I found my faith it seemed like a euphoria washed over me and filled that void and the anticipation I had felt.

Another strange thing. My wife and I had been married for 11 years and were trying to have children the whole time. Eight weeks after the first time I attended Church(since boot camp that is) we find out that she is approximately eight weeks pregnant.

Sorry for derailing the poster’s thread but I just want to show what God can do for you and want you to realize that he has been waiting for you the whole time.
 
I also read ‘The Case for Christ’ as I was exploring Christianity, and before I came into the Catholic Church. It is a good book for someone who is looking to believe in Christ and it is also good for the new Christian that knows very little about Him.
 
Thanks. I’ll add ‘The Case For Christ’ to my list. I am just beginning ‘Jesus of Nazareth’ now.

And Larscout, what a beautiful event. God is just absolutely mind-blowing sometimes.
 
juliasmith said:
When I left neo-paganism/wicca I was quite taken with Our Blessed Mother, Mary. True to form, she has led me to her son, Our Lord. I want to know everything about Him I can find out. It quite literally is an obsession at this point.
I have ordered the book written by Our Pope and am reading through the New Testament.
Are there other books that people would recommend?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
These books should help you learn more about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ:

The Autobiography of Saint Margaret Mary

Behold The Heart Which Has So Loved Men

Story of a Soul: Autobiography of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus

Memoirs of Sister Lucia

Divine Mercy In My Soul: Diary of Saint Faustina

The Confessions of Saint Augustine of Hippo

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Jesus of Nazareth (Pope Benedict XVI)
 
juliasmith said:
When I left neo-paganism/wicca I was quite taken with Our Blessed Mother, Mary. True to form, she has led me to her son, Our Lord. I want to know everything about Him I can find out. It quite literally is an obsession at this point.
I have ordered the book written by Our Pope and am reading through the New Testament.
Are there other books that people would recommend?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
The Bible, Catechism of the Catholic Church, and The Imitation of Christ.
 
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