Ok, here is the story. I have seriously, in the past few weeks or so, becoming interested to lean more and more about the Catholic Church, to see what its all about, its history, practices etc. Its, idk, I have become drawn to Catholicism in such a away that I cannot just ignore. The past two weeks I have been reading up about Catholic doctrine and history and its almost like some kind of addiction, I find myself more motivated to look up and examine facts about the “early church” and such, and its all so fascinating…Maybe its a phase? Maybe it’s the enlightening hand of God trying to show me what is right? I dont know. All I know is if God is trying to tell me something, I am listening
Just to start, I am Protestant, I was “raised” Protestant (thus far im still being “raised”)
That being said, I could admit that it used to be I didnt care much for Catholicism, I used to be this big supporter of Martin Luther and his “Justification by Faith”; when i first read of that in history class I looked him almost like a pseudo God (dont worry, we Protestants dont worship Luther i think most at our church dont even know who he is .little joke…very little).
Anyway. ummm I have been reading and study. a LOT all about the saints, about the Vatican II and why many catholics today are disenchanted by it, about liturgy, vestiments, and how the protestant churches (save for episcopalisn, tho they’re not exactly protestant)gave 2000 years of traditionaion up and for what? to stray from cathedrals and worship in football stadiums? Not to get political but they also support an unjust war, judge others, and they dont even like immigration, ive just, i have a lot of experience with these people, and they ALL regard guns as a birthright. And Im actually referring to more to evangelical christians rather than the mainline protestant church i go to which is not bad at all. but it still lacks when compared to more elaborate masses., having communion very sunday, etc.
The Point Is,all the reading I have done lately. all the new information I have on Catholicism, I am becoming more and more convinced that the Catholic Church is the church in which The Lord Jesus Christ established upon the rock of Peter — “You are Peter and Upon This Rock I will Build My Church, and the Gates of Hell will have no power over it.”
I have also been reading about Protestant history, and the more splits I see, about this, that and the other thing, the more I realise that we protestants worship and believe the way we do just because some man said so.
That being said, I have decided I want to be a Catholic. I am torn between Roman Catholicim and Anglicanism at the moment (thats a different story) but as of now, I no longer believe in Protestant theology or its liturgy lacking simplicity. The church that I a, currently a (baptised) member im of requires almost no preparation for being received into the church. And im guessing many of them dont evem know where their own denomination came from.
And the funny thnig is, I have been Praying the Hail Mary now, followed by the Our Father and Glory Be, each night. I make the sign of the cross before i leave home, Im not even Catholic, still dont know if i’ll ever be and yet doing that has brought more peace to me in prayer than I had known in while. I have become a Catholic-At-Heart. And I supposed that is the first step.
Now, what (if any) approach should I take from here? Go and talk about RCIA? Keep in mind im still a kid, not a LITTLE kid lol but a teen. My parents havent taken us to church in months now, and my mom’s family is strongly protestant and my dad’s parents are moderate, maybe nominal (i shouldnt say because i dont know them that well) catholics. My dad is anti-Catholic, not to the extend to where he thinks Catholics are unsaved, but he is not going to like it if i tell him. My grandfather is a Deacon of a Baptist church and has given me a lot of money so I could go on Baptist sponsored mission trips so I KNOW he won’t take it well. My Mother tho not a catholic is a little more catholic minded, she has pictures of the Virgin Mary in our house, (you would think we were catholics if you visited us) and the last supper painting with crucifix hanging from it and such.
And then I don’t want to tell my girlfriend because she is going to think that im trying to convert for her because she is catholic.
Please give me any and all good advice you can. Plus I know a few weeks of contemplation is a very short time. Any and all advice would be helpful…thank you
Sincerely
A Catholic-At-Heart
