For converts from Protestantism

[CompSciGuy]

Hi

I grew up Protestant and converted to Catholicism while in college. I was wondering, for those who converted from a Protestant background, do you ever miss the way things were before conversion. The vast majority of my friends are from places like the Baptist Student Ministry on campus, and from various non-denominational and Bible churches. I still go to the BSM to teach English and stuff but a lot of friends are kind of sad that I just stopped going to those churches and started going to St. Mary’s all of the sudden, and it’s kind of difficult to talk about it because I think it seems weird to them. Not that I would ever leave the Church because I know it is the ultimate fulfillment of the Christian faith and it’s the only place I’ve ever really felt really spiritually steadfast (I used to waver a lot between belief and unbelief). And I think if I did I would miss the CC way more. But even now, when I am in mass and hear one of the more contemporary P&W songs, I get a sort of nostalgia, and think about all the Bible studies, and the pastors I used to love listening to.

 

[starsmurf]

I also converted to the Catholic Church from a Protestant one while I was at university.

There are times that I miss some of the hymns we would sing and some of the services were beautiful. I particularly liked the Easter Sunday dawn service, which involved walking through some dark woods before coming out into a beautiful grassy slope with a pond, and the first pink tinges in the Eastern sky. It seemed such a part of Easter to me.

I think it is natural to miss these things. Look at the Catholics who grew up when the Mass was in Latin, many of them miss the old Mass. I don’t think it is a sign that you are losing your faith or anything like that, it is just a normal part of being human. If the worst comes to the worst, I just offer it up to God as a sacrifice I’m making for Him.

I think you should try to get more involved in your Catholic church or any Catholic student organisations they may have and reduce the time you spend at the BSM. I found that really helpful when I converted. It will help you make more Catholic friends and deepen your faith at the same time. I totally understand why you are still involved with the BSM, but it would be wise to move away from that, to allow yourself time to adapt to the changes that becoming a Catholic involve. While missing the familiar things is natural, it is best for now if you don’t put yourself in the way of temptation. It would be too easy to go and listen to a preacher you used to like and hear something that attacks your Catholic faith. Or one of your friends could be influence by a preacher to try and “save” you from the Catholic Church, that happened to me and I had to sit through a two hour prayer meeting, at which they constantly attacked the Church and even tried to lay hands on me to “exorcise” the “demon” that was influencing me.

Getting more involved in the Catholic side of things will give you a whole new aspect of your faith. If there is a student Catholic Society, then join if you haven’t already done so. Go to the retreats, BBQs, whatever that the society or St Mary’s organise, so that you become as much a part of your Catholic community as you were of the Baptist one.

I will pray for you in this. God bless!

 

[john81]

Hi

I grew up Protestant and converted to Catholicism while in college. I was wondering, for those who converted from a Protestant background, do you ever miss the way things were before conversion. The vast majority of my friends are from places like the Baptist Student Ministry on campus, and from various non-denominational and Bible churches. I still go to the BSM to teach English and stuff but a lot of friends are kind of sad that I just stopped going to those churches and started going to St. Mary’s all of the sudden, and it’s kind of difficult to talk about it because I think it seems weird to them. Not that I would ever leave the Church because I know it is the ultimate fulfillment of the Christian faith and it’s the only place I’ve ever really felt really spiritually steadfast (I used to waver a lot between belief and unbelief). And I think if I did I would miss the CC way more. But even now, when I am in mass and hear one of the more contemporary P&W songs, I get a sort of nostalgia, and think about all the Bible studies, and the pastors I used to love listening to.

My wife converted from Protestantism and I can honestly say that she does not miss it at all anymore. It seems the reasons you mention are all emotional reasons. It also seems that your intellect is telling you that the Catholic Church is the true Church, but your emotions (as I said) are making it confusing.

One thing about the Catholic faith is that there is a reverence and the Real Presence that is not in any Protestant Church. We live our Catholic Faith for the life we hope to attain, not for the emotional “highs”(though they can be gifts from God to keep us encouaged).

I would suggest attending a traditional mass if you can find one. You will see that there is a true love and reverence for God during Mass without all the fancy songs and sermons.

God bless and good luck on your continued journey!!

 

[SteveVH]

Hi

I grew up Protestant and converted to Catholicism while in college. I was wondering, for those who converted from a Protestant background, do you ever miss the way things were before conversion. The vast majority of my friends are from places like the Baptist Student Ministry on campus, and from various non-denominational and Bible churches. I still go to the BSM to teach English and stuff but a lot of friends are kind of sad that I just stopped going to those churches and started going to St. Mary’s all of the sudden, and it’s kind of difficult to talk about it because I think it seems weird to them. Not that I would ever leave the Church because I know it is the ultimate fulfillment of the Christian faith and it’s the only place I’ve ever really felt really spiritually steadfast (I used to waver a lot between belief and unbelief). And I think if I did I would miss the CC way more. But even now, when I am in mass and hear one of the more contemporary P&W songs, I get a sort of nostalgia, and think about all the Bible studies, and the pastors I used to love listening to.

You should come to my parish. We do Praise and Worship music often, especially at our youth Mass. I am a music minister in our Church and know what you’re talking about. Those old 1800’s hymns can get pretty tiresome especially when they are done over and over and over again by a tone deaf choir. There are some great contemporary Catholic artists out there who are writing incredible music right now but I love a lot of the Protestant P&W music as well, especially when put in a Catholic context. When one sings “This is the air I breathe; Your holy presence living in me” it has an even greater impact from the Catholic sense, especially right after communion.

 

[mamamimi]

Hi Compsciguy,

I know where you are coming from, only in reverse. I was a cradle Catholic from birth to age 29. What I love about protestantism (I am a member of an Assembly of God church) is the surety I find in the truth of God’s word. When I was a Catholic, I yearned to know more, be sure of not only my salvation, but also of the source of everything I believed. Despite 12 years of Catholic education, no one could give me chapter and verse about “why things are done the way they are” in the Catholic Church. I was told that tradition was usually the basis for much of the worship and doctrine.

I love the deeper sense of participation and the meaningfulness of protestant worship. What I find so amazing is that despite the fact that I haven’t been a Catholic for 33 years, if I go to mass with family members, absolutely nothing has changed and I can still recite the prayers verbatim. Prayer for me now is absolutely an expression of my faith in God and worshipping Him comes straight from my own heart and soul.

I hope you can find peace in Him regarding your walk.

 

[SteveVH]

Hi Compsciguy,

I know where you are coming from, only in reverse. I was a cradle Catholic from birth to age 29. What I love about protestantism (I am a member of an Assembly of God church) is the surety I find in the truth of God’s word. When I was a Catholic, I yearned to know more, be sure of not only my salvation, but also of the source of everything I believed. Despite 12 years of Catholic education, no one could give me chapter and verse about “why things are done the way they are” in the Catholic Church. I was told that tradition was usually the basis for much of the worship and doctrine.

I love the deeper sense of participation and the meaningfulness of protestant worship. What I find so amazing is that despite the fact that I haven’t been a Catholic for 33 years, if I go to mass with family members, absolutely nothing has changed and I can still recite the prayers verbatim. Prayer for me now is absolutely an expression of my faith in God and worshipping Him comes straight from my own heart and soul.

I hope you can find peace in Him regarding your walk.

And how do you feel about the fact that you can no longer receive Christ in the Eucharist or any of the other sacraments? Also, do you not believe that Catholic prayer is an expression of faith in God and that worshipping Him comes straight from our own hearts and souls?

 

[Binger]

I’m a recent convert myself, although I can’t say that I’ve personally had that problem. Looking back, I think I was Catholic all along and just didn’t know it because I always felt like the black sheep in the Protestant churches I attended. There would be a few issues that I liked about them, but other things, often more important, would always nag at me. When I finally visited my local Catholic parish, I knew right away I was home and found the fullness of the faith. Chesterton said it best I think, when he said,

“When the (Catholic) convert has once seen the world like that, with one balance of ideas and a number of other ideas that have left it and lost their balance, he does not in fact experience any of the inconveniences that he might reasonably have feared before that silent but stunning revolution. He is not worried by being told that there is something in Spiritualism or something in Christian Science. He knows there is something in everything. But he is moved by the more impressive fact that he finds everything in something.”

 

[mamamimi]

You know, it’s a funny thing but that whole idea of transubstantiation and Communion has not been an issue for me ever since my children were old enough to be baptized, etc. When we were contemplating that, I suddenly realized that if my children weren’t raised as Catholics, they wouldn’t get to “make their first Communion, wear the little veils and dresses, etc.”. And all of a sudden, the Lord burst into my thought process and told me flat out, “I’M NOT A CATHOLIC”!! What liberation I found in that…the Lord does not belong to ANY denomination, He is a sovereign being who gave us His word.

I “take” communion at our church and have a far deeper experience because I know that the spirit of the Lord lives in me 24-7. Far too much emphasis is placed on the whole process of communion and that brief moment when the host is physically in your body. It has to be a constant presence which I most definitely have. I think Catholics sometimes think they have a monopoly on God’s presence…it’s refreshing to find out He wants to be in our hearts all the time, not just at Communion.

Plus, I have learned a much deeper experience of communion. The very word implies that we are all together. And that is something we do as a group at our church. It gives us that spirit of fulfillment with each other in the Lord since we all take it together.

I’m not missing anything!

 

[Publisher]

And how do you feel about the fact that you can no longer receive Christ in the Eucharist or any of the other sacraments? Also, do you not believe that Catholic prayer is an expression of faith in God and that worshipping Him comes straight from our own hearts and souls?

Not to speak for friend mamamimi…but I doubt if she believes one is “recieving” Christ in the eucharist…or any other sacraments as they are “ordinances” and not “sacraments” as Catholic/Orthodox/Anglican/Lutheran view them…and while “published” prayers CAN be “straight from the heart and soul”…many times they are recited by rote and not from “heart” or “soul”.

 

[chief714]

To Those of you converts from a Protestant background
Maybe it’s time to involve yourself a little more deeply in your faith and in your church?

I’m a recent convert as well so to speak. I converted a little over 2 years ago from Calvary Chapel.
In all honestly, I don’t miss it at all. I think a part of that reason is the Charism I belong to. I attended a Catechesis for the NeoCatecuminal Way which is a Charism of the church and in line with the Vatican (regardless of what some might say) I’ve never walked so close to God in my life. Granted… It’s tough, because I’m a responsible of about 25 brothers & sisters in my community, but I wouldn’t change a thing.
The Eucharist is beyond charismatic and personal. The songs are sung by almost everyone at the Mass (in my parish at least). This Way in the Catholic Church has truly opened my life up to God within the fullness of His Church and leading me to many more personal encounters with God within His Church thru this Charsim.

However, this isn’t the only Charism you can become a part of. This is just the one that God has led me to. Busy yourself with the things of your Parish and not just a being a Sunday Catholic.

@CompSciguy - maybe you should look to teaching (I believe that’s what I read) in a Catholic School? Evangelize to your brothers from your past. Explain to them why. Dig into your faith and share! If you found a cave in a mountain full of enough diamonds and gold to last you 20 lifetimes would you share it? Of course! and what we have in the Catholic Faith is more valuable than that!

ok… sorry for getting off topic.

 

[mamamimi]

Thanks, “Publisher” because you said it just right. But one thing I want to clarify…I’m not anti-Catholic. All my family on both sides are cradle Catholics and many, many of them find fulfillment in the Catholic church. I can only speak for myself. I know that it is certainly possible to find a deeper, closer walk in Catholicism but because of the rigidity or structure of it, one has to dig a bit deeper, look a bit harder. I would never deny that Catholic prayers are not heartfelt but indeed, like the Publisher stated, because of their rote nature, it’s too easy to fly on autopilot and go to Mass on Sunday and not actually “be” there.

 

[FabiusMaximus]

Thanks, “Publisher” because you said it just right. But one thing I want to clarify…I’m not anti-Catholic. All my family on both sides are cradle Catholics and many, many of them find fulfillment in the Catholic church. I can only speak for myself. I know that it is certainly possible to find a deeper, closer walk in Catholicism but because of the rigidity or structure of it, one has to dig a bit deeper, look a bit harder. I would never deny that Catholic prayers are not heartfelt but indeed, like the Publisher stated, because of their rote nature,** it’s too easy to fly on autopilot and go to Mass on Sunday and not actually “be” there.**

I’ve found that just as easy at Assemblies of God services too. Standing and singing doesn’t make you a real participant. You can sing on autopilot. I’ve done that countless times myself. And I’ve also have pronounced countless useless prayers that were spontaneous.

 

[Publisher]

mamamimi;8179290:

Thanks, “Publisher” because you said it just right. But one thing I want to clarify…I’m not anti-Catholic. All my family on both sides are cradle Catholics and many, many of them find fulfillment in the Catholic church. I can only speak for myself. I know that it is certainly possible to find a deeper, closer walk in Catholicism but because of the rigidity or structure of it, one has to dig a bit deeper, look a bit harder. I would never deny that Catholic prayers are not heartfelt but indeed, like the Publisher stated, because of their rote nature,** it’s too easy to fly on autopilot and go to Mass on Sunday and not actually “be” there.**

I think this happens in ALL faith communities…there have been times when I struggled to sit thru meeting as I couldn’t center down and quiet my heart and mind so I could “hear” the Voice of God as He ministered to us…bottom line it takes a certain amount of disipline to worship…we must prepare our hearts and minds BEFORE we enter into the place of worship…it must be a volitional act or it will become rote.

 

[FabiusMaximus]

FabiusMaximus;8179444:

I think this happens in ALL faith communities…there have been times when I struggled to sit thru meeting as I couldn’t center down and quiet my heart and mind so I could “hear” the Voice of God as He ministered to us…bottom line it takes a certain amount of disipline to worship…we must prepare our hearts and minds BEFORE we enter into the place of worship…it must be a volitional act or it will become rote.

| agree. It just seemed to me (perhaps incorrectly?) that the implication was that Catholic Masses almost invariably lead to “going through the motions” and rote action.

 

[JonNC]

You should come to my parish. We do Praise and Worship music often, especially at our youth Mass. I am a music minister in our Church and know what you’re talking about. Those old 1800’s hymns can get pretty tiresome especially when they are done over and over and over again by a tone deaf choir. There are some great contemporary Catholic artists out there who are writing incredible music right now but I love a lot of the Protestant P&W music as well, especially when put in a Catholic context. When one sings “This is the air I breathe; Your holy presence living in me” it has an even greater impact from the Catholic sense, especially right after communion.

All those old 1800’s hymns.

Sorry, perhaps it is my age, and I have nothing against contemporary Christian music, but I love our hymnody in the Lutheran Church, even when a hymn isn’t written by a Lutheran.

And as far as those “tone deaf choirs”, when one appreciates the work and love these folks put into their participation in worship, one generally is less critical of their musical talents.

Jon

 

[wmscott]

I converted over 28 years ago and do not miss it one bit. When we go home to visit my parents we go to their services, Sunday school included, and after 2 ½ to 3 hours later I walk away feeling empty. I try to see the best in it and make the best out of it, but truly I feel empty. There is no structure, no sense of approaching the throne of God, no Sacraments, and no Eucharist. There is a lot of socializing and verse citing but it is all a little ho hum in a way. I am not trying to seem insensitive, just my feelings.

 

[SteveVH]

Not to speak for friend mamamimi…but I doubt if she believes one is “recieving” Christ in the eucharist…or any other sacraments as they are “ordinances” and not “sacraments” as Catholic/Orthodox/Anglican/Lutheran view them…and while “published” prayers CAN be “straight from the heart and soul”…many times they are recited by rote and not from “heart” or “soul”.

So are you under the impression that Catholics only recite “published” prayers and have no capacity for spontaneous prayer? There are many forms of prayer, Publisher, the greatest prayer being the Mass itself. This is a prayer of a community of believers and so we pray the same prayers. But we have plenty of opportunity for private prayer as well.

As for receiving Christ in the Eucharist, I only asked if he missed it. Christ is truly present in the Eucharist in the Catholic Church. I realize that he could not receive Christ in the Eucharist in a Protestant church because of the lack of authority to concecrate the bread and wine.

 

[CompSciGuy]

So are you under the impression that Catholics only recite “published” prayers and have no capacity for spontaneous prayer? There are many forms of prayer, Publisher, the greatest prayer being the Mass itself. This is a prayer of a community of believers and so we pray the same prayers. But we have plenty of opportunity for private prayer as well.

As for receiving Christ in the Eucharist, I only asked if he missed it. Christ is truly present in the Eucharist in the Catholic Church. I realize that he could not receive Christ in the Eucharist in a Protestant church because of the lack of authority to concecrate the bread and wine.

I actually use spontaneous personal prayer more than any other form. I still pray the rosary like once a week, and I’d like to start the liturgy of the hours. But just natural prayer in front of the Blessed sacrament, along with reading of scripture in front of the sacrament, and prayer before the icon of our Lady of Guadalupe really is how I do most of my prayer. The adoration chapel is the one place where I can always feel at peace despite any circumstance.

 

[Publisher]

So are you under the impression that Catholics only recite “published” prayers and have no capacity for spontaneous prayer? There are many forms of prayer, Publisher, the greatest prayer being the Mass itself. This is a prayer of a community of believers and so we pray the same prayers. But we have plenty of opportunity for private prayer as well.

As for receiving Christ in the Eucharist, I only asked if he missed it. Christ is truly present in the Eucharist in the Catholic Church. I realize that he could not receive Christ in the Eucharist in a Protestant church because of the lack of authority to concecrate the bread and wine.

No friend…I simply stated that recited formal prayers CAN be by rote…NOT ARE by rote…I went on to state that ALL faith communities suffer from “by rote”…including me in my own.

That Christ is “truly present” is not a belief neither I…nor would I guess mamamimi’s…no “authority” is required to consecreate the bread…as nothing special occurs to the bread and wine…the “change” is an inward experience which the bread and wine speak to…at least according to my beliefs…and by stating my beliefs…I mean no disrespect to yours…they are yours and I honor you as a friend of Christ by practicing your religious values.

Peace to you friend

.

 

[mamamimi]

Once again, you nailed it right on the head, Publisher. The notion of transubstantiation is but one of many beliefs that are part of the Catholic belief system. I have received Communinon at several Catholic churches in the last several years at the urging of my uncle, a Catholic priest. He knew my stance with regard to my status as a non-Catholic yet he also respected the larger picture of Communion as co-union in the body of Christ.

The problem as I see it, with rote prayers is the ease with which one can simply mumble along. Even if the heart is in tune with the intent of the prayer, the fact that it is something one has said thousands of times tends to outweigh the fervor of the spirit. When I am asked to pray aloud, it does make me have to open my heart to the Lord and truly consider the request or need for which I’m praying. I have noticed that when my Catholic family is asked to pray spontaneously, they usually have difficulty and frequently resort to rote prayers. Not that God doesn’t hear those…but I do think that a big part of the benefit of prayer is the speaking your heart to God in a way that only you can do.