Have you explored other religions?

[Publisher]

I have tried Buddhist meditation but I seemed unsuited to it. I felt more at home with Christian contemplative prayer. I believe now that Eastern religions have a lot of truth and insight but I felt Christianity was more ‘natural’ somehow and still respected the mystery of the Absolute as much as any Asian religion. It also made more sense at it spoke from a Western cultural background and language.

I don’t think any religion, including Christianity, fully captures the divine essence - as Aquinas remarked, God’s essence will always remain unknown to us in this life. It would be better if religious people respected the mystery of the divine more and the mystery of each person created in the divine image, rather than bickering and point-scoring over who is better.

Friend, you speak my mind.

 

[The_GreyPilgrim]

Early experiences with Protestantism: “Bible Baptists”, Pentecostals, Evangelical Fundamentalism, and “Non-denominationalism”. In these experiences I saw abuses of the Bible such as selective interpretation & ignoring other obvious passages to “fit” a theological theory. I saw confusion among what passages really meant. Confusion over what is “literal” and what is merely “metaphorical” or merely “symbolic”.

This eventually led me to atheism.

Upon my coming back to theism I examined Bhuddism and Hinduism but their notions of truth seemed absurd.

Islam I never gave a chance to. Historically speaking its claims to me seem spurious.

That left me with Judaism and Christianity. Since the evidence to me seemed to show that Christianity is the fulfillment of Judaism I was left with Christianity again.

My wife was Catholic but I had never had any prior contact with the Church. I had studied history and the evidence showed that it seemed this Church was the ancient Church of Christianity and that the Orthodox and Protestants branched off from this one Church.

I saw in the Orthodox a faith that indeed seemed ancient. But for whatever reason I didn’t take it any further.

My wife was rasied Catholic and my daughters were baptized into the Church while I was still an atheist. I was impressed with the Church and the Mass. I never had attended a prayer service as a Protestant where the people were actually involved in the worship.

It took another three years before I made the decision and joined the All Saints Parish RCIA. I was at my oldest daughter’s First Reconciliation meeting and I heard Fr. Chris, after reading the passage of the Prodigal Son from Luke, give a talk on God’s infinite mercy for those who seek Him. It was as if God was telling me it was time.

 

[tqualey]

Hi, Bhughesiii,

Glad I got most of it straight. Now, maybe there are some others on the list that would be as interested as I am as why you appear to be leaving the Catholic Church.

5.) You now have resloved some issues in your life, plan to marry (again) and are going to some church that does not require confirmation, but you are going to do it anyway …
Yes, even though confirmation is not required to get married at this church, I deeply feel a pull to complete my sacraments by getting confirmed. I am joining a men’s bible study group to fulfill my requirements to receive confirmation as required by this church. I have come back to the church, attended confession and did what the priest asked of me. I do plan to marry again to a wonderful woman that I have met and we want a full mass so what ever requirements I have to accomplish I will but all this time because I want to not because I am forced to.

6.) And, you want to be accepted for who you are.
Yes, I do not want to be judged for my past mistakes or for my faith. Especially with my friends, some of them are non-believers or going down a similar path I once went down (i.e. paganism, wicca). I used to fear that they would look down on me for being a beiliever and that they will be skeptical (which at first they probably will be) about my return to the church given my past of being in a relationship with God, then falling, then making my way back… etc, etc…

I hope this clears some of it up. Feel free to PM with me if you have more questions.

Your 5th and 6th points are of concern. You seem to have indicated that you believe the Catholic Chruch is the True Church (or, am I mistaken here?) and yet you are being baptized in another church and apparently plan to be married in this church (I am guessing as to that from what you said).

I am not in the ‘judgment business’ - that is for God. I can, however, tell you that leaving the Church you thnk is the True Church for another is a serious sin. And, since you did not mention that you had your first marriage annuled, I am guessing that this marriage would be a further complication to an already complicated life.

Since you are on CAF of your own free will - no one forced you to post… I am guessing that you want some feedback on what you wrote. Well, the feedback from me is that I think you are making at least two serious mistakes - and, before you go through with them, it would be best to call a ‘time out’ in your day and look at them as though you were going to ACT like the Catholic you claim to be. You see, it is your listing of your faith - contrasted with your stated future actions that is out of balance. Practicing Catholics do not do the thngs you claim you will be doing - joinging another church and RE-marrying with the first marriage (an assumption on my part) still being valid.

Maybe during this ‘time out’ we all could pray for the intervention of the Holy Spirit to enlighten your heart and strengthen your Faith in God’s Church - and, that would be the Catholic Church.

God bless

 

[Cinette]

Hi, FaithG,

If you don’t mind me putting in a thought or two … But, the most important item will be that after looking at your schedule … please take time to eat, sleep and smell a rose every now and then. Your schedule looks like taking care of basic physiologic needs is optional! And, dating, too… ! This December, my wife and I will have been married for 40 years… so, of all the things on your list - get that one right…because it is the longest commitment you will ever find!

Now, on to some serious work…

Let me cut to the conclusion before getting involved in a lot of detail. Both questions: the nature of the Holy Spirit and the nature of Hell - are mysteries! While the former is profoundly more mysterious than the latter… an intimate knowledge of both is beyond human reasoning. So, anyone who says, “I understand God…or, I understand Hell” is mistaken, lying, delusional or truly insane! While we have some limited understandings - we are best advised to realize our limitations up front and then move forward using the teachings of the Catholic Church as our guide.

This one is a bit easier - Satan, the Fallen Angels, Hell - are all creations of God - (at one point none of them existed - and after God’s Divine Action - they came into being) they are limited (as opposed to God being infinite). But, even with this… we still can not really get our human understanding to wrap around these spiritual realities.

Since Heaven is the Beatific Vision - seeing and adoring our Creator… Hell is just the opposite - being separated from the Love of God (because we chose such separation with our free wills) for all eternity. This is the most profound pain of Hell. The picture we have of eternal fire, the worm that dies not, where there is the weeping and gnashing of teeth are all from Christ telling us that this is the place to avoid. And we can not imagine all eternity - much less the loss of God for all eternity - we can imagine being burned.

So, while many of us think of the Devil as some guy wearing red tights, having a goatee and a tail with a funny looking point - this is strictly human imagination. And because this is somewhat comic (oh, I forgot the pitchfork…) the Devils gets a free pass at us - because who could be afraid of such a silly looking figure. Admittedly, some artists have tried to depict the Devil and Hell as really bad - and, these are closer to the truth … but, just another form of metaphor and therefore bound to fall short of the goal. Here are some links that may be helpful:

newadvent.org/cathen/07207a.htm

catholic.com/library/Hell_There_Is.asp

catholic.com/thisrock/1998/9809chap.asp

I hope this helps.

God bless

Excellent post Tom - backed up with references! Thank you!

I often reflect on God and Eternal Life and I realise more and more that there has got to be something beyond our dreams awaiting us in the here after. For God to go through all the trouble of becoming man and to suffer for us. Jesus went to a lot of pain and suffering for our sake. When we contemplate creation and all its wonders and we do not know half the wonders here on earth…can you imagine what it is like on the other side. Yes, there are many mysteries about our Christian Faith.

One big problem today is power - small and big and huge. Power can and does corrupt and people in our secular world do believe in their own power - they are like little gods and do not give a thought to God himself. It is so sad.

:byzsoc:*

 

[CB_Catholic]

Hi, Bhughesiii,

Glad I got most of it straight. Now, maybe there are some others on the list that would be as interested as I am as why you appear to be leaving the Catholic Church.

Your 5th and 6th points are of concern. You seem to have indicated that you believe the Catholic Chruch is the True Church (or, am I mistaken here?) and yet you are being baptized in another church and apparently plan to be married in this church (I am guessing as to that from what you said).

I am not in the ‘judgment business’ - that is for God. I can, however, tell you that leaving the Church you thnk is the True Church for another is a serious sin. And, since you did not mention that you had your first marriage annuled, I am guessing that this marriage would be a further complication to an already complicated life.

Since you are on CAF of your own free will - no one forced you to post… I am guessing that you want some feedback on what you wrote. Well, the feedback from me is that I think you are making at least two serious mistakes - and, before you go through with them, it would be best to call a ‘time out’ in your day and look at them as though you were going to ACT like the Catholic you claim to be. You see, it is your listing of your faith - contrasted with your stated future actions that is out of balance. Practicing Catholics do not do the thngs you claim you will be doing - joinging another church and RE-marrying with the first marriage (an assumption on my part) still being valid.

Maybe during this ‘time out’ we all could pray for the intervention of the Holy Spirit to enlighten your heart and strengthen your Faith in God’s Church - and, that would be the Catholic Church.

God bless

I have been folowing this thread and I don’t get the impression he is leaving at all–quite the opposite, he is returning. By “church” he is talking about a Catholic church. His parish is not requiring he be confirmed to marry, but he is wanting to be confirmed. He stated he wanted a full Nuptuial Mass. As for the annullment, he stated he had to wait to get married, which gave me the impression things are in the process (although I am not sure of that). I think a re-reading of his posts might clear things up. I think the confusion lies in his use of the word “church”. It sounds like just any church, but if you read what was written, he talks about going to Mass in this church and other things Catholic.

My impression is that this gentleman was born Catholic, only received Baptism and Eucharist, has come back to the Church and wants to get marrried again in the Church. Confirmation is not required in the church he is presently attending (the parish), but he wants to be Confirmed anyway, and is preparing for it. He also is in the process of being able to be married in the Church, although at what stage that is I am not sure of, and wants a full Nuptial Mass when he does so. I hope the poster will verify this. And I’d like to add “Welcome Home”!

 

[bhughesiii]

Ok there is more confusion, I am not leaving the Catholic Church, I am coming back to it and getting married in it. The other church I spoke of was a church my ex-wife and I attended. I was re-baptized there but it was not something I did for me it was done because it is what my ex-wife wanted for me and something I thought I was supposed to do. It was more of a symbolism of washing away my past sins, but was not baptized into that particular faith. I always remained, as far as religion goes, Catholic, my ex just refused to go to Catholic Mass and I went with her to a church she was into. We left that church around the time that her and I had our falling out with my sin against her. i do not need an annulment since my last marriage was outside of the church and with out dispensation. I merely need a lack of form which will be done this weekend. My marriage to my now fiancee isn’t for another 2 years.

Hi, Bhughesiii,

Glad I got most of it straight. Now, maybe there are some others on the list that would be as interested as I am as why you appear to be leaving the Catholic Church.

Your 5th and 6th points are of concern. You seem to have indicated that you believe the Catholic Chruch is the True Church (or, am I mistaken here?) and yet you are being baptized in another church and apparently plan to be married in this church (I am guessing as to that from what you said).

I am not in the ‘judgment business’ - that is for God. I can, however, tell you that leaving the Church you thnk is the True Church for another is a serious sin. And, since you did not mention that you had your first marriage annuled, I am guessing that this marriage would be a further complication to an already complicated life.

Since you are on CAF of your own free will - no one forced you to post… I am guessing that you want some feedback on what you wrote. Well, the feedback from me is that I think you are making at least two serious mistakes - and, before you go through with them, it would be best to call a ‘time out’ in your day and look at them as though you were going to ACT like the Catholic you claim to be. You see, it is your listing of your faith - contrasted with your stated future actions that is out of balance. Practicing Catholics do not do the thngs you claim you will be doing - joinging another church and RE-marrying with the first marriage (an assumption on my part) still being valid.

Maybe during this ‘time out’ we all could pray for the intervention of the Holy Spirit to enlighten your heart and strengthen your Faith in God’s Church - and, that would be the Catholic Church.

God bless

 

[bhughesiii]

I have been folowing this thread and I don’t get the impression he is leaving at all–quite the opposite, he is returning. By “church” he is talking about a Catholic church. His parish is not requiring he be confirmed to marry, but he is wanting to be confirmed. He stated he wanted a full Nuptuial Mass. As for the annullment, he stated he had to wait to get married, which gave me the impression things are in the process (although I am not sure of that). I think a re-reading of his posts might clear things up. I think the confusion lies in his use of the word “church”. It sounds like just any church, but if you read what was written, he talks about going to Mass in this church and other things Catholic.

My impression is that this gentleman was born Catholic, only received Baptism and Eucharist, has come back to the Church and wants to get marrried again in the Church. Confirmation is not required in the church he is presently attending (the parish), but he wants to be Confirmed anyway, and is preparing for it. He also is in the process of being able to be married in the Church, although at what stage that is I am not sure of, and wants a full Nuptial Mass when he does so. I hope the poster will verify this. And I’d like to add “Welcome Home”!

You nailed it! I need a Lack of Form for getting married outside of the church with out proper form the last time, that will be done this weekend. My wedding to my fiancee is still 2 years off… And yes I want to be Confirmed even though it is not required.

 

[Cinette]

You nailed it! I need a Lack of Form for getting married outside of the church with out proper form the last time, that will be done this weekend. My wedding to my fiancee is still 2 years off… And yes I want to be Confirmed even though it is not required.

*Ouch bhughesiii!!! You are putting off sex for two years! You have GOT to be Anglosaxon!!!

Cinette*

 

[Julia1996]

*Ouch bhughesiii!!! You are putting off sex for two years! You have GOT to be Anglosaxon!!!

Cinette*

I hope I am not sounding stupid by asking this. What does being Anglosaxon have to do with abstinence? And what is so hard about putting off sex for 2 years? It doesn’t really seem like such a long time.

 

[tqualey]

Hi, Bhughesiii,

It is very difficult to type this post … wearing a paper bag over my head to hide the embarrassment… uch:

Glad you straightened me out … and welcome to a dynamic Catholic list … Best wishes on your up-coming marriage … it will be 40 years for my wife and I this December.

God bless

Ok there is more confusion, I am not leaving the Catholic Church, I am coming back to it and getting married in it. The other church I spoke of was a church my ex-wife and I attended. I was re-baptized there but it was not something I did for me it was done because it is what my ex-wife wanted for me and something I thought I was supposed to do. It was more of a symbolism of washing away my past sins, but was not baptized into that particular faith. I always remained, as far as religion goes, Catholic, my ex just refused to go to Catholic Mass and I went with her to a church she was into. We left that church around the time that her and I had our falling out with my sin against her. i do not need an annulment since my last marriage was outside of the church and with out dispensation. I merely need a lack of form which will be done this weekend. My marriage to my now fiancee isn’t for another 2 years.

 

[Cinette]

I hope I am not sounding stupid by asking this. What does being Anglosaxon have to do with abstinence? And what is so hard about putting off sex for 2 years? It doesn’t really seem like such a long time.

*If you were Latin you would understand!

Cinette*

 

[tqualey]

Hi, Julia1996,

For what it’s worth, I didn’t understand Cinetee’s answer either … and, I am Anglosaxon!

But, on a more focused item… during your exploration of the Catholic Faith, let me recommend you look at one of the most dedicated mothers of all time…and, we celebrate her feast day today … St. Monica.

This most persevering saint did not have an easy life - and in many ways, she offers an excellent example to all of us who want to follow Christ in a home life that is far from tranquil. Here is a link you may enjoy: newadvent.org/cathen/10482a.htm

God bless

Here is a link you may find of interst. newadvent.org/cathen/10482a.htm

I hope I am not sounding stupid by asking this. What does being Anglosaxon have to do with abstinence? And what is so hard about putting off sex for 2 years? It doesn’t really seem like such a long time.

 

[Cinette]

Hi, Julia1996,

For what it’s worth, I didn’t understand Cinetee’s answer either … and, I am Anglosaxon!

But, on a more focused item… during your exploration of the Catholic Faith, let me recommend you look at one of the most dedicated mothers of all time…and, we celebrate her feast day today … St. Monica.

This most persevering saint did not have an easy life - and in many ways, she offers an excellent example to all of us who want to follow Christ in a home life that is far from tranquil. Here is a link you may enjoy: newadvent.org/cathen/10482a.htm

God bless

Here is a link you may find of interst. newadvent.org/cathen/10482a.htm

*Now I have egg all over my face!!! I didn’t notice that it was little Julia who asked the question! Sorry sweetheart - you are quite right - for someone like you and your age it is one thing. Gosh! I was talking to someone who is about to embark on a second marriage.

Cinette:blush:*

 

[bhughesiii]

Hi, Bhughesiii,

It is very difficult to type this post … wearing a paper bag over my head to hide the embarrassment… uch:

Glad you straightened me out … and welcome to a dynamic Catholic list … Best wishes on your up-coming marriage … it will be 40 years for my wife and I this December.

God bless

Eh, don’t be embarrassed. I can understand that my first post may have been hard to follow. Like I mentioned I had less than 5 minutes to write it. Congrats on 40 years! I can only hope to be so lucky with round 2

 

[ufamtobie]

I was raised Catholic. I suffered a spiritual crisis from-of al the ridiculous things!-thinking Mass is boring. I never left the faith, but I came close.

I still think Mass is boring, but I now understand the tremendous significance and importance of it. No longer would it be a reason to leave the faith!

 

[Disciple96]

Hi all! I am just curious if anyone here were from a different religious background than Catholic, or have explored other faiths. Just…well, I am always the curious cat, aren’t I?

I have to admit, I was raised Catholic then moved away from it. I was a Lutheran for awhile but I missed the “glitz and glamor” as my dad calls it, of the Catholic Church. I tried to get into Wiccan but realised it was too complicated and expensive. So now I am drifting, and I supposeI wonder what other people have experienced.

Oh, goody, I get to list the byways and alleyways of my 40 years of wandering. One of my favorite pastimes.

Raised Methodist by parents who also introduced me to Ouija boards, Kreskin’s ESP, Silva Mind Control, paranormal studies, etc. (To be fair, it was really Dad who was into this stuff, not my Mother.) I had questions about everything, especially Christianity, got few answers, kept searching for truth, and that set me on a long and winding path.

In college (a brief excursion), I looked into philosophy and psychology–which seemed much more promising before I took the class. What a waste those classes were. Learned much more on my own. Oy.

Looked into Unitarianism, blah. Went to Unity Church for a while. Crystals and angels and prosperity, oh my. Um…Seriously?

Got into studying the Tarot, which led to alchemy and astrology and Kaballah and the Golden Dawn. Not Wicca. Never Wicca. I was “serious”. Yeah, well…

Then came the Eastern religion, Vedanta and yoga philosophy phase. Oh, yes. And Theosophy. Anthroposophy. Alice Bailey. Good grief.

Then I got into Buddhism. Was a Buddhist, correction, Tibetan Buddhist, for years. Yes, indeedy, Tibetan Buddhist. Not Tibetan, never been to Tibet, but I was a Tibetan Buddhist. Imagine my surprise (and dismay!) when I read that the Dalai Lama is a Marxist. He said it himself. “Still I am a Marxist.” Shocking. Disturbing.

In 1994 I discovered the Catholic Church and began studying it merely as one more religion to add to my rather long list. I was looking into Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses (to understand some friends’ backgrounds) and Judaism at about the same time. Took a Catechism class when the new one came out in 1995. Was working at a Catholic book store. Read and listened to lots of Scott Hahn. Read lots of saints, spiritual writers, prayed the Divine Office, studied the Bible, prayed the Rosary (the Blessed Mother solved a problem for me before I had finished asking her and I bought my first Rosary forthwith!), and fell head over heels in love with the Church. And was received into full communion with Holy Mother Church in 1996.

And I’m still in love with the Church, with the Blessed Mother, and with her Divine Son, Christ, our Lord.

Peace be with you and may our Lord bless you abundantly on your own journey!

 

[CB_Catholic]

Oh, goody, I get to list the byways and alleyways of my 40 years of wandering. One of my favorite pastimes.

Raised Methodist by parents who also introduced me to Ouija boards, Kreskin’s ESP, Silva Mind Control, paranormal studies, etc. (To be fair, it was really Dad who was into this stuff, not my Mother.) I had questions about everything, especially Christianity, got few answers, kept searching for truth, and that set me on a long and winding path.

In college (a brief excursion), I looked into philosophy and psychology–which seemed much more promising before I took the class. What a waste those classes were. Learned much more on my own. Oy.

Looked into Unitarianism, blah. Went to Unity Church for a while. Crystals and angels and prosperity, oh my. Um…Seriously?

Got into studying the Tarot, which led to alchemy and astrology and Kaballah and the Golden Dawn. Not Wicca. Never Wicca. I was “serious”. Yeah, well…

Then came the Eastern religion, Vedanta and yoga philosophy phase. Oh, yes. And Theosophy. Anthroposophy. Alice Bailey. Good grief.

Then I got into Buddhism. Was a Buddhist, correction, Tibetan Buddhist, for years. Yes, indeedy, Tibetan Buddhist. Not Tibetan, never been to Tibet, but I was a Tibetan Buddhist. Imagine my surprise (and dismay!) when I read that the Dalai Lama is a Marxist. He said it himself. “Still I am a Marxist.” Shocking. Disturbing.

In 1994 I discovered the Catholic Church and began studying it merely as one more religion to add to my rather long list. I was looking into Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses (to understand some friends’ backgrounds) and Judaism at about the same time. Took a Catechism class when the new one came out in 1995. Was working at a Catholic book store. Read and listened to lots of Scott Hahn. Read lots of saints, spiritual writers, prayed the Divine Office, studied the Bible, prayed the Rosary (the Blessed Mother solved a problem for me before I had finished asking her and I bought my first Rosary forthwith!), and fell head over heels in love with the Church. And was received into full communion with Holy Mother Church in 1996.

And I’m still in love with the Church, with the Blessed Mother, and with her Divine Son, Christ, our Lord.

Peace be with you and may our Lord bless you abundantly on your own journey!

I don’t know how you kept it all straight!
But don’t you think there’s something significant about “wandering” for 40 years–like Israel did? I find that rather interesting.

 

[tqualey]

Hi, Disciple96,

I got dizzy ready about your journey… Clongratulations on the success of getting your journey on the right road!

God bless

Oh, goody, I get to list the byways and alleyways of my 40 years of wandering. One of my favorite pastimes.

Raised Methodist by parents who also introduced me to Ouija boards, Kreskin’s ESP, Silva Mind Control, paranormal studies, etc. (To be fair, it was really Dad who was into this stuff, not my Mother.) I had questions about everything, especially Christianity, got few answers, kept searching for truth, and that set me on a long and winding path.

In college (a brief excursion), I looked into philosophy and psychology–which seemed much more promising before I took the class. What a waste those classes were. Learned much more on my own. Oy.

Looked into Unitarianism, blah. Went to Unity Church for a while. Crystals and angels and prosperity, oh my. Um…Seriously?

Got into studying the Tarot, which led to alchemy and astrology and Kaballah and the Golden Dawn. Not Wicca. Never Wicca. I was “serious”. Yeah, well…

Then came the Eastern religion, Vedanta and yoga philosophy phase. Oh, yes. And Theosophy. Anthroposophy. Alice Bailey. Good grief.

Then I got into Buddhism. Was a Buddhist, correction, Tibetan Buddhist, for years. Yes, indeedy, Tibetan Buddhist. Not Tibetan, never been to Tibet, but I was a Tibetan Buddhist. Imagine my surprise (and dismay!) when I read that the Dalai Lama is a Marxist. He said it himself. “Still I am a Marxist.” Shocking. Disturbing.

In 1994 I discovered the Catholic Church and began studying it merely as one more religion to add to my rather long list. I was looking into Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses (to understand some friends’ backgrounds) and Judaism at about the same time. Took a Catechism class when the new one came out in 1995. Was working at a Catholic book store. Read and listened to lots of Scott Hahn. Read lots of saints, spiritual writers, prayed the Divine Office, studied the Bible, prayed the Rosary (the Blessed Mother solved a problem for me before I had finished asking her and I bought my first Rosary forthwith!), and fell head over heels in love with the Church. And was received into full communion with Holy Mother Church in 1996.

And I’m still in love with the Church, with the Blessed Mother, and with her Divine Son, Christ, our Lord.

Peace be with you and may our Lord bless you abundantly on your own journey!

 

[Disciple96]

I don’t know how you kept it all straight!
But don’t you think there’s something significant about “wandering” for 40 years–like Israel did? I find that rather interesting.

Darlin’, I didn’t even give y’all the full, unedited, unexpurgated, uncensored, unbelievable version. Ha!

And yes, the 40 years symbolism was not lost on me. I noted it at the time with much delight. I learn almost everything the hard way. And I have a particular fondness for deserts. I wandered briefly from the Church (despair can overtake one if one is stubborn and dense like I am) for a year or so and wandered into a desert monastery out West. Bought an inexpensive wooden rosary, a Catechism, a Bible and answered the call to come home once again. I returned formally to my Mother the Church a few days later. Went to confession and the liturgy. On the Feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary. Four years earlier I had had an intense conversion experience. On the exact same feast day. The problem that had driven me to despair dropped away from me after I returned from the desert.

God is good and I want only to be a faithful daughter of the Church for the rest of my life. I never thought when I was younger that I would ever say such a thing. Now I can’t imagine any other way of life. I love being a Catholic. Absolutely love it.

 

[Disciple96]

Hi, Disciple96,

I got dizzy ready about your journey… Clongratulations on the success of getting your journey on the right road!

God bless

I’ll bet you didn’t get any dizzier than I did when I was wandering around through the maze of nonsense I was lost in. Oy ve, makes me blush to think of all the things I did and how sophisticated I thought I was. Oh, my, but I was intensely seriously seeking. Always. Ever since I was a little kid. Just never thought to look in the one place where I could have found the answer. Seems so silly now. Ah, well… Peace!