God doesn't want me to be Catholic?

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Hope7

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Please help me if you can.

A little background: I’m a Christian, who grew up Presbyterian, and now attends a nondenominational church (denominations have never been very important in our family). That being said, I’ve been researching Catholicism for the past two years. My research has had its ups and downs for sure, but overall I’ve really been drawn to the Catholic faith, and especially for the past couple months I’ve been consistently feeling that eager-heart sensation to “cross the Tiber”. It’s like I actually experience a hunger for the faith, if that makes sense? The logic, the history, the beauty…its all been coming together for me. I want to be Catholic.

Wouldn’t God want me to be too?

I would think so, but during this whole journey I feel like there have been blaring signs that He doesn’t. The most recent example was from the other night; I was providing childcare at my church during an event, and I met this wonderful lady. We began talking, and eventually my interest in Catholicism came up, to which she responded, “Oh, when we lived in Africa I used to be Catholic! I left when I was your age!”

I know people leave Catholicism for various reasons, so I asked her what her’s was. She answered, “I prayed one night to God, ‘God, I want You. That’s all. If I’m on the wrong path to knowing You, just make it clear to me.’ Then God gave me a dream; I was listening to my class sing a song for Mary at school, when all of a sudden a ball of bright light came down from the ceiling. It broke all of the speakers where the music was playing. I fell to my face, but then a voice told me to ‘Look & see’. When I looked up, I saw the back of a glorious man in a white robe, walking away with lions all around Him. After He left some girls wanted to resume singing, but everyone else flipped out and starting screaming, ‘No, no! It’s bad (the Mary music)! Can’t you see it was bad?’” So that’s a big reason she left.

This story has really been troubling me…Therefore I’m going to organize a couple questions I have, and if anyone can support me in my discernment, I’d be super grateful.
  1. If Catholicism is true, why would God send/allow this lovely, seemingly spirit-filled lady have such a dream? (And how could she still be so lovely after leaving?)
  2. If Catholicism is true, why would God confuse me by giving me experiences like this?
  3. In all my research, have I become like a Pharisee who has studied theological, head-knowledge things, but has really been filled with pride enough to miss Jesus?
  4. Is it possible for God to will some to be Catholic and others not to be?
  5. Where do I go from here? (Do I trust my gut and then ignore all the Catholic questions which will undoubtedly plague me, or do I go against these “signs” and become Catholic? What path is there to live for God whole-heatedly again?
Like I said, I’d really appreciate any support you guys can offer. I am so devastated and emotionally/spiritually spent after falling in love w Catholicism only to have the rug taken out form under me. Maybe its good! Maybe God wants to get my attention…I don’t know. Anyways, thanks for reading this whole thing!
 
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People put an inordinate amount of meaning and subjective feelings into dreams and “signs”. You are assuming God is sending these “signs” and that God is the root of this dream. Our own imaginations are quite capable of creating all sorts of fantastical scenarios that we attribute to God.

I think feelings can be very misleading. And God is not micromanaging your life like that.

So in short, God isn’t sending your friend dreams to leave the Church. He isn’t sending you signs in every person you encounter.
 
Hope7 said:
  • If Catholicism is true, why would God send/allow this lovely, seemingly spirit-filled lady have such a dream? (And how could she still be so lovely after leaving?)
  • If Catholicism is true, why would God confuse me by giving me experiences like this?
  • In all my research, have I become like a Pharisee who has studied theological, head-knowledge things, but has really been filled with pride enough to miss Jesus?
  • Is it possible for God to will some to be Catholic and others not to be?
  • Where do I go from here? (Do I trust my gut and then ignore all the Catholic questions which will undoubtedly plague me, or do I go against these “signs” and become Catholic? What path is there to live for God whole-heatedly again?
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  1. God didn’t put this woman in your way, you put yourself in that situation.
  2. God is not the God of Confusion. The lord of confusion is the devil.
  3. If you’re filled with pride, fight against it by putting into practice the opposing Virtue.
  4. No, God became Man and dwelt among us, Jesus Himself went through that conception, birth, life and death on a cross in order to show everyone the Way, establishing His only Church promising the gates of Hell wouldn’t prevail against it. Why would He go through that if He didn’t want everyone to join?
  5. RCIA. And find people, like Scott Hahn, who converted from your faith background of Presbyterianism, listen to their talks, continue asking questions to Catholic Apologists. And most importantly pray!
 
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If what the Catholic Church teaches is true and it really is the One Church founded by Christ then wouldn’t the devil do anything in his power to keep people away and pull faithful Catholics out of the faith?

Dreams and signs seem highly suspect to me regardless of the subject matter. Not everything is a sign from God and I’d venture to say you feeling a call to explore the Catholic Church is just as likely if not more so a sign. I experienced similar concerns and “signs” during my own conversion but I chose to continue looking into Catholicism and let the evidence take me where it would. I’d encourage you to do the same. Follow the evidence and if you find that the Church is wrong then you’ve got your answer but if it’s not and the Church’s teaching line up then how can you stay away?
 
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I know you’re seeking so you need to see for yourself what the truth is… so try this:

Open your Bible, look at Genesis 3:15.

Who crushes the head of the serpent? (Hint: Mount Calvary literally means “mountain of the skull.”)

Look up “enmity” in the dictionary.

Find out who the woman is. (Hint: Eve was not at enmity with the serpent at any point. She cooperated with the serpent.)

Look again at the verse. Is there any difference between the two enmities?

After doing that I think you will understand why the issue is ALWAYS Mary… and why it has to be.

P.S. here is a question. Why would God permit the whole Church to fall into supposed Mary worship for 1200+ years? (edit: link to correct post)
 
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First off it is satan who hates Mary and it would be he who so strongly objects to the “Mary music” in that dream.

Secondly, it was only a dream and not a private revelation.

Thirdly, satan can imitate an angel of light ie a good angel - he does so to deceive people into following him. 2 Corinthians 11 #14 " … for Satan himself transformeth himself into an angel of light."

The Devil Comes Cloaked as an Angel of Light By William A. Barry, SJ

Discernment of Spirits

Replies to your questions-
  1. Catholicism is true. For the same reason anything happens in this world - either part of Gods’ Active Will or His Permissive Will. It was up to the lady to discern and test whether this dream was from God or from satan.
  2. God permits everyone free will. We are to discern what is true and right from trustworthy sources. Study the facts - otherwise you will end up being susceptible to every new ‘revelation’ that comes along and you will be blown hither and thither if you base your decisions on dreams alone etc.
  3. I don’t think so. Searching and obtaining knowledge in order to understand and then make a prudent decision is wise, you are searching for Jesus. If this obtainment of knowledge was just for itself, then that would be like a Pharisee as you put it. Please know that the more you ‘chase’ God they more He ‘chases you’!
  4. No, otherwise why would Jesus command his disciples (and consequently all Catholics) to go forth and make disciples of all nations? Matthew 28:19-20
  5. I would not think these are signs God is sending you. Otherwise why did you make a thread here? It seems to me you are doubting these alleged signs are truly from God, because apart from this lady, the past two years you have been studying the Catholic Faith. That seems to be the Holy Spirit/God leading you where He wants you to be!!
 
First of all, I would say to you that you need to stop trying be sharp enough. Don’t worry about researching/studying enough. It won’t save you. Natural reasoning alone doesn’t lead someone to Christ. If it did, we would expect the most intelligent people in the world to be followers of Christ, but we don’t find that very often. Many smart people are haters of God. It takes a work of the Holy Spirit to save us from spiritual darkness. A genuine conversion is a miracle in every sense of the word.

Just pray about it and the Lord will give you direction. 😀
 
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I don’t think it was either G-d or Satan who “gave” that dream to this lady. It was probably her own doubts about being Catholic, as well as her imagination, and who knows what else. Other people, I am sure, have doubts about being Protestant (Presbyterian, perhaps) and have dreams about it, and so on with other religions. And people leave other religions and convert or lose faith altogether; this does not apply only to Catholicism. Finally, I wouldn’t put so much stock in the dreams of this woman because, first, they are dreams, and second, they are the dreams of someone else, not even your own. Therefore I would advise you to continue to discern whether Catholicism is the faith you wish to convert to, especially since you say yourself that you “experience a hunger for the faith” and you “want to be Catholic.” Go by your feelings, not another person’s.
 
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ca...es-of-church-fathers/st-cyprian-bishop-martyr
Saint Cyprian has a wealth of wise writings if one is seriously thinking ( praying) about committing ones life to Christ in the church he founded. It is the bread of life that is a necessary desire for your heart, for your life that pulls one to Christ in his great gift of the holy Eucharist. Also the sacraments given to us by Christ. Praying for you. Just like Adam and Eve, the evil one can try to get the seed away from you before it hits the good and fertile earth. Mary is not God but Jesus gave her to us at the foot of the cross. She is full of grace and the chosen one to be the mother of the word incarnate. Would Christ want anyone not to get to know his mother when he gave her to us during his suffering and death…at the foot of the cross? 🙏
 
Hope7 said:
  • If Catholicism is true, why would God send/allow this lovely, seemingly spirit-filled lady have such a dream? (And how could she still be so lovely after leaving?)
  • If Catholicism is true, why would God confuse me by giving me experiences like this?
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Because these sorts of “dreams” don’t come from God but from the devil.

Unfortunately, people are misled and led astray. And they don’t automatically turn into evil ugly looking monsters with terrible lives after they go astray.
meltzerboy2 said:
I don’t think it was either G-d or Satan who “gave” that dream to this lady. It was probably her own doubts about being Catholic, as well as her imagination,
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Giving in to your doubts and imagination is essentially falling victim to the Devil. He just operated in the form of your doubt and your imagination.
Doubt about God ultimately comes from Satan. It is a weapon of his.
 
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It is good that you are seeking the truth. Keep studying about it if you like and just trust God to lead you where He wills. Make sure to also cultivate your relationship with him and to pray. I think if you try your best to find the truth(even if you happened to end up in a church that does not contain the fullness of the truth) and to please God, God will be happy. Trust in God
 
Agree the importance of study is vital and vital to be counseled by a person trained, a priest or religious on what books to read or web sites to use. Catholic answers has a wealth of info. The truth is not relative----God doesn’t lead someone to "please Him "away from the fullness of truth. How many times in the Gospel does Christ exhort us to give up all for him? There are many converts to Catholicism who gave up everything to enter the Catholic church. The cradle Catholics ,sometimes , are still in their baby baskets and pick and choose what they feel fits best with their lives regarding the faith. I have known Jewish people who have come full circle to become a Catholic and their families disowned them…Also when a Muslim becomes Catholic many have to flee for their lives or stay as hidden possible. God gives us the fullness of truth and total freedom to embrace it or not. Christianity is not for those who work hard to have the most comfortable life they can possibly have. Christianity is about loving God first with everything you got😀 and then loving our neighbor. Just some thoughts regarding becoming Catholic.
 
Hope7 said:
It’s like I actually experience a hunger for the faith, if that makes sense?
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It makes perfect sense. You and I are in very similar positions. The only advice I can offer is to take your time and pray, pray, pray. There’s no rush. If you are at all hesitant, just keep on with your studies and talk to many people. I have chosen not to formally become Catholic for a variety of reasons, but my heart is with this branch of the faith and I love attending Mass. Blessings to you. 🙂
 
God never confuses anyone.
It is the devil who tries confuse us.
Pray and the answers will come to you. The devil hates prayers to God.
 
The Bible cautions against indiscriminately heeding all dreams:
If a prophet arises among you, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder which he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or to that dreamer of dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 13:1-3)

For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words. . . . For when dreams increase, empty words grow many: but do you fear God. (Ecclesiastes 5:3,7)

For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream, for it is a lie which they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, says the Lord. (Jeremiah 29:8-9)

A man of no understanding has vain and false hopes,
and dreams give wings to fools.
As one who catches at a shadow and pursues the wind,
so is he who gives heed to dreams.
The vision of dreams is this against that,
the likeness of a face confronting a face.
From an unclean thing what will be made clean?
And from something false what will be true?
Divinations and omens and dreams are folly,
and like a woman in travail the mind has fancies.
Unless they are sent from the Most High as a visitation,
do not give your mind to them.
For dreams have deceived many,
and those who put their hope in them have failed.
Without such deceptions the law will be fulfilled,
and wisdom is made perfect in truthful lips. (Sirach 34:1-8)
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Those are not necessarily signs. God was not trying to confuse you. God cannot force someone to be Catholic. Some people do not understand the Catholic church or left and can still be very lovely people. My mom left the church and is still a good person. I used to be in your shoes, a few years ago I wanted to become Catholic. I decided to become Catholic and it was the best thing I ever did. I highly recommend going into RCIA. You don’t have to make a decision quite yet, but you will be able to ask questions. Feel free to message me if you want to talk about anything. God bless you!
 
Hope7 said:
If Catholicism is true, why would God confuse me by giving me experiences like this?
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God did not give you this experience, your friend told her of her own personal thoughts. God would never ask someone to sin, telling someone to abandon the Church would be just that.

We are to use the reason God gave us. Do not rely on feelings, they will lead you all sorts of crazy places.

God desires all to come to His Church.

Make the decision and take the first step.
 
RCIA classes will be beginning in September. There’s no commitment to join the Catholic Church if you attend, and it’s a good way to learn about the faith while you discern if you want to join. I encourage you to speak to a priest at a local parish to inquire about RCIA.
 
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