I am a convert to Catholicism after 47 years of evangelical Protestantism.
I don’t believe that Christians should rely on “feelings” to guide their faith. We need to rely on facts, not our feelings.
Feelings are changeable. Our hormones, the weather, lack of sleep, certain foods, the circumstances of life (e.g., landing or losing a job, having a fight with our spouse, watching our children do something amazing or something naughty)–all of these can influence our feelings.
If we rely on feelings to guide our faith, we will find that our faith is strong one minute and weak the next minute. We will be “up and down” Christians, tossed around in our mind and soul by up and down feelings. We will believe one day, and not believe the next day.
One of the things I learned in the evangelical Protestant churches is that feelings can be and often ARE “manufactured” by music, lighting, decor, etc. We need to be careful as Catholics not to try to “manufacture” feelings in ourselves. I worry when I hear Catholics say that a certain church building “feels” more reverent, or that a certain Mass “felt” reverent and holy. I worry that they are basing their faith on their own “feelings,” and that if these feelings should change (due to being in a different church building, or hearing different music), that their faith will suffer.
I especially worry when I hear Catholics say that they could “feel” the presence of God in their church. That’s what Protestants say all the time–“I could feel God’s presence!” So are the Protestants wrong? How can someone say that? Isn’t that coming close to denying God’s reality in someone else?
You see, feelings are NOT a reliable measure of God’s presence. Often God is closest when we cannot “feel” Him at all.
When my husband and I started attending Mass, I didn’t “feel” the Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. But I recognized Him.
After all, I had known and trusted Jesus as my Savior since I was seven years old. For forty years, I had prayed to Him, worshipped Him, sought His aid in times of problems, praised Him for all the good things He does, and above all else, trusted Him to guide me to green pastures, still waters, and eventually to heaven. I KNEW Jesus.
And so it was natural to recognize Him when I saw Him in the Blessed Sacrament. It wasn’t a feeling. It was simple recognition–“Oh, there’s Jesus! Wow! He’s here!”
I had no idea that the Catholics teach “True Presence” as a doctrine. I just knew that the piece of bread that the priest was holding up was Jesus. I recognized Him, just like we would recognize a favorite movie star at the airport.
Remember the Bible verse–“If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself.” I recognized Him when the priest lifted Him up. Jesus kept His promise–He drew me to Himself.
Jesus said it, I believe it. It has nothing to do with feelings. I believe what Jesus says. He speaks the truth, and I believe it, whether I feel it or not.
Now that I am Catholic, I don’t “feel” much of anything around the True Presence of the Lord Jesus. I know that He is present, and I am aware of certain basic good manners that I should display when I am in the Presence of the Lord of the Universe.
I do not believe in obsessive concern over good manners in the Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. e.g., I don’t believe Jesus is upset if someone enters His presence wearing a pair of blue jeans. I don’t believe Jesus gets mad if an elderly person talks too loudly about their latest health crisis. I don’t believe Jesus is offended if I greet someone and ask about some aspect of their lives (e.g., "How’s the new job?). I don’t believe that Jesus is insulted if we play a drum or a guitar or sing music other than Gregorian chant. I don’t believe we need to remain utterly silent and prostrate before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
I enjoy gazing at Him and thinking about Him. I love going to our perpectual adoration chapel and adoring the Lord Jesus. Again, most of the time, I feel very little. I’m just aware of His True Presence.
As for going to other churches–I do occasionally go to Protestant churches because I attend various concerts in our city that are held in churches, or I attend a service to hear my mother-in-law sing in her church choir, or I am asked to play piano at one of these churches (usually a paid gig).
I am aware that Jesus is not Present in the Eucharist in these churches. But I know that He is still present, because He is present everywhere, and He is present in the hearts of Christians. Again, I’m not relying on my “feelings” in Protestant churches. I’m relying on facts–Jesus’ omniscience is a fact. So I don’t feel “let down” or “lonely” in a Protestant church because I know for a fact that Jesus is everywhere. I also know for a fact that He is not Present in the Bread and Wine in a Protestant church.
