I'm seriously considering converting, and looking for some advice

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Emily_Cecilia

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Okay, I will try to keep this as short and to the point as possible - please bear with me!

I’m currently a member of a fairly liturgical Protestant church. We used to have services that compared quite a bit to the Episcopal or Catholic services, but we have since fallen toward a more ‘contemporary’ style (at the sacrifice of some important traditions, in my opinion).

Now - I’ve been interested in the Catholic faith for quite a few years - I think the thing that started to lead me here was when I read the passage that mentioned the last supper and the bread and body. I didn’t (and still don’t) understand why that passage is taken symbolically, rather than literally, so a little research began pointing me in this direction.

Anyway, I’m getting off topic - I’m sorry! What I am here for is some general guidance. I’ve been to Mass a few times, and recently to the Stations of the Cross, and I’m intrigued. I plan on attending Mass more frequently very soon (I am about to start my first job, which requires me to work Sundays, so I plan on going Saturday evenings).

In the mean time, I’m in the process of getting my hands on a copy of the Bible and the Catechism - are there any good resources you would recommend for learning more about the faith? I know I need to talk to a Priest to truly learn more, but I am facing some opposition from my parents, so I would like to learn a little more before I make the decision to jump in.

Thank you so much for sticking with me through this long-winded post! I truly appreciate your time and help!
 
Those are two great resources!! Also look up the works of authors like Scott Hahn, Jimmy Akin, and Marcus Grodi.
 
Hello! Try this website:

usccb.org/

It is the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. It has a LOT of information you may find helpful! Good luck on your journey! You are in our prayers! God Bless!
 
Emily_Cecilia said:
I’ve been to Mass a few times, and recently to the Stations of the Cross, and I’m intrigued.
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If you want to see something really neat and beautiful, go to mass on Saturday night!

I find that RSV and NAB are both great translations. 👍
 
As a convert from the Presbyterian Church, I can sympathize with your journey. I researched my way into the Catholic Church. You may find some opposition to joining the Church, be kind and careful in what you say. Always remember, we are being led by a God that knows the journey and the outcome, trust in Him.

Now, on to your questions. Scott Hahn was a big influence on my journey, he writes from a convert’s perspective. The Journey Home, on EWTN, has a wide variety of conversion stories. I am sure you could find one from your denomination. You can find many resources online, such as the Baltimore Catechism and the Early Church Fathers.

I love the RSV-CE2, it is my daily Bible. I would also recommend a NAB, because most Catholic literature references it, sometimes verses are numbered differently than in my RSV. I would also recommend the Ignatius Study Bible, it’s rather large and bulky, but worth every penny.

God Bless you on your journey and may you always find peace in His presence.
 
Emily_Cecilia said:
I was thinking the RSV.
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A great resource is New Advent (turtlegirl beat me too it! 😃 ) The front page is a bunch of Catholic news and issues with commentary. It also contains the entire older version of the Catholic encyclopedia, Thomas Aquinas’ Summa, writings of the Early Church Fathers and a bunch of other stuff.

One thing that helped me is the podcast of EWTN’s Open Line. Each weekday is a different flavor and different host answering ALL kinds of questions.

As far as Bibles go I have all those mentioned as well as the Douay-Rheims (brand new nice version bought last week :D, which is favored by traditional Catholics.

Im fairly new to Catholicism as well. I haven’t been baptized yet. Im coming out of Mormonism. Welcome to CAF and the big wide world of Catholicism! 🙂

Charles
 
Crusading_Canuk said:
Some good resources would be

-Real Catholic TV
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Be aware Emily, that while some enjoy Real Catholic TV, it is not embaced universally by Catholics as a reliable source of doctrinal or spiritual information. I will be honest and state that I find it somewhat abrasive and not at all charitable.

Please decide for yourself.

-Tim-
 
Emily, congratulations on taking the steps to get to know the Catholic Church more fully. Your search will not go unrewarded. All of the posts above offer excellent resources, and I would encourage you to check out each one.

I would like to tell you that you are already using one of the best resources on the planet; Catholic.Com. I listen faithfully to the podcasts each day on my way to and from work, after praying my Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet.

One author I really enjoy is George Weigel. He is very insightful, and has helped me immensely on my own journey. I would recommend all of his books, but to start:

“The Truth of Catholicism; Inside the Essential Teachings and Controversies of the Church Today”
“Letters to a Young Catholic”
“The Courage to be Catholic”

God Bless you in your journey! I will remember you in name in my daily praryers!
 
If you can listen to Catholic radio, there are a number of great shows on. If you have sirius radio, it is channel 129 and 130. God bless you!
 
The East Vigil Mass is longer than usual and in the parishes I’ve been to, is generally at a different time, so if you want to go, check the times for this upcoming Saturday (if you will have started yoir job by then).

My favorite respirce to recommend for beginners is Scott Hahn’s Home Sweet Rome, which clarified for me the differences between Catholicism and Protestantism, in a very easy-to-read way 🙂

My other favorite resources are the Baltimore Catechisms and Radio Reploes, both of which can be found online–pm me if you want links (hard for me to link as I use an iPod).

And if you have an iPod or device which takes apps…

iPieta: this has so much on it that it pays for itself and the device! Everything from the Bible (Douay Rheims, Haydock Commentaries, and Latin) Early Church Fathers and Papal/Council documents, spiritual reading by several saints, The Summa and the Catena Aurea (the Summa is arguments for and against various propositions which explains Catholic teachings; and the CA has writings from the ECFs aligned with the NT).

I love being Catholoc, and it is so great when others are interested 🙂 Welcome to CAF, and hopefully to the Church!
 
The only advice I can offer is this: pray and listen.

I was a fallen Catholic, and one day about five years ago, as I was passing a church, I felt an urge to go in. I haven’t left! 🙂
 
Emily_Cecilia said:
In the mean time, I’m in the process of getting my hands on a copy of the Bible and the Catechism - are there any good resources you would recommend for learning more about the faith? I know I need to talk to a Priest to truly learn more, but I am facing some opposition from my parents, so I would like to learn a little more before I make the decision to jump in.
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I have enjoyed the Compendium (sort of a “cliff notes” version of the Catechism), but you can also find the Catechism of the Catholic Church very inexpensively (I think mine cost less than a dollar on Amazon, plus shipping). I have also enjoyed the Handbook of Catholic Apologetics by Kreeft/Tacelli. If you are interested in Protestant-to-Catholic conversion stories, there are two books compiled by Patrick Madrid: Surprised By Truth 1 and 2. They contain testimonies of people who came from many different denominations, with many different reasons for choosing Catholicism. In my RCIA class, the NAB bible was recommended, but I have heard that the RSV is very good as well.
 
I was in your shoes several years ago and will finally enter the Church next week at the Easter Vigil. It is simply the most amazing feeling in the world.

When I was first introduced to Catholicism, I turned to books, reading anything and everything Catholic that I could get my hands on. As a former Baptist, the works of fellow fundamentalist converts like Scott Hahn and Steven K. Ray were extremely beneficial. Though C.S. Lewis never converted from Anglicanism, he was perhaps the greatest influence on my conversion. From there, I turned to G.K. Chesterton, who has been like my unofficial patron saint ever since. Studying the lives of saints such as Francis of Assisi also helps. For history, Alan Schreck’s “The Compact History of the Catholic Church” is a good one…

I wish you the very best and will remember you in my prayers. Though you may face more opposition as time passes, remember that you will never be alone. Pray for guidance and always trust in Jesus to lead you.
 
Emily,

This is such wonderful news! May God bless you as you set off onto the road to Rome. The road is winding, not always smooth, long, and may be full of obstacles. But it also has beautiful scenery, many gas stations along the way to help you refuel… and it has the best, most grand and most eternally rewarding destination you could ever imagine, the holy Catholic Church. Buckle up!

I am a recent convert myself, so this is all still very fresh to me.

Other members have made some great suggestions. Scott Hahn helped me immensly.
Another author that helped me nail down the basics was Patrick Madrid. He wrote a couple apologetics books entitled “where is that in scripture” and “why is that in tradition”. These books give you scriptual evidence as to why the teachings of the Catholic Church are the truth. They certainly helped me to understand the biggies like devotion to Mary, Purgatory, infant baptism, venerating the saints, etc.

Those are more modern sources, but getting back to the ancients is where I truly discovered the heartbeat of Catholic teaching. I would encourage you to read some of the church fathers.

Books are important, internet articles can really help, EWTN radio is a wonderful resource…but none of these will really help you sink your roots in as deep as they need to be without prayer. Pray about everything! Confused about some doctrine? Ask the Holy Ghost for enlightenment. Worried about displeasing God by making the wrong decision? meditate on Our Lords life, death and ressurection to remind yourself of his tender and sacraficial mercy towards you. Feeling lost and scared as all of your currently held beliefs become like shifting sand? Run to God the Father, and receive that strong, Fatherly embrace. Prayer is so important.

I don’t know where you stand with the Blessed Virgin Mary. I know it was hard for me to seek her help at first because I didn’t know if it was right. Everything I learned from Protestant teaching screamed NO at me. But Emily, let me tell you, she has been one, if not the biggest key in my conversion process. Before I even knew if praying to Mary (asking for her intercession) was sound or not, I prayed my first Rosary. It was the best choice I ever made. Praying the Rosary has been one of the sweetest, most precious things in my life since then. I would encourage you to pray it, at least once. If you are not sure how, let me know and I will tell you.

I will be praying for you, and would love to offer you any help you may need that I am able to give. PM me if you would like. 🙂

Peace be to you,
Jen
 
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