In Helping Faith

[LennyUSA]

Hi,
I am seeking faith. I have alwais thought that there was a God of some sort. But now i feel as if i might be drawn to the Catholic Church. My question is how do I know this is the right church. And also are there any tips in how to keep faith. Any saints that are the best for people wanting to convert? Thanx!!

 

[Edward_H]

Hi,
I am seeking faith. I have alwais thought that there was a God of some sort. But now i feel as if i might be drawn to the Catholic Church. My question is how do I know this is the right church. And also are there any tips in how to keep faith. Any saints that are the best for people wanting to convert? Thanx!!

I am not good with these types of questions.

You must use all the means that God gave you to seek Him and to know Him, and where you fall short, you ask God for the missing link. You ask for Faith. Faith is an infused virtue, you don’t build it. God will give you the faith to know Him after you exhaust your means to know Him.

In a sense, you need to be willing to give up even your desire to know with certainty.

In the Bible, the man says “I do believe, help my unbelief”.

Make this your constant prayer for several weeks. And let us know how you fairing then.

To keep a close relationship with God, I recommend the following approach which I was taught. I posted it here recently:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=7556401#post7556401

I was taught to remember “telephone poles”. Imagine a set of telephone poles. The poles represent your approaches to God. They can be at variable distances. Some people “live” their faith with 2 approaches to God. Mass at Christmas and Easter. For others their poles are Sunday to Sunday.

What happens to the wire spanning the distance between poles if they are spaced far apart? It sags proportionate with the distance between the poles. It sags and it adds great tension…and it becomes less and less able to withstand pressure and additional stress.

So our job is to “put up poles” throughout our day and our week. Some ideas for “poles” include: a morning offering, prayers at all meals, a period of fixed mental prayer during the day, scriptural reading, maybe some prayer at noon (set your watch)…the Angelus is beautiful prayer to pray at noon - there are many Catholics who do this…so you are praying with those in your time zone). Maybe a decade or the whole Rosary. A quick exam at night, etc.

These “poles” help maintain your presence of God, and by virtue of that help you maintain a recollected state.

Does this make sense?

Don’t force all your approaches to God in one crazy 'Holy Hour", but instead spread God throughout your day in a more natural way.

 

[JaredR]

Hello Lenny. I am a convert to the Church. I was actually confirmed last year.

Faith was difficult in the beginning, before I was sure I wanted to become Catholic. Fortunately that has not been the case since then, and the more I learn about the Catholic Faith, the more I am certain of its divine origins. When you really start to think like a Catholic, the whole world makes sense like it never did before. You will wonder how people get along without the Church.

I did start with philosophical proofs, but honestly what kept me going sometimes was just reading about the miracles of the Catholic Faith. Jesus chastised the crowds for basing their faith in signs and wonders (Jn 4:48), but for one who already believes in the person of Jesus Christ, miracles can be a consolation and confirmation of belief. I like to read about Padre St. Pio’s stigmata and miraculous abilities, the miracle of the sun at Fatima, the blood of Saint Januarius, the events surrounding St. Joan of Arc, etc. You might even read The Rite, which is popular right now because of the movie. The anecdotal evidence of multiple priests confirms for us the reality of preternatural evil (and at the same time the power of Christ and His Church!).

If it’s scriptural proofs you’re looking for, www.scripturecatholic.com is an excellent resource, as is any book by Dr. Scott Hahn.

And of course, faith is primarily in the person of Jesus Christ! Slowly and meditatively reading the Gospels to truly get to know that unique historical character known as the Man of Galilee is an essential aid to your search for the truth, for He is Himself the Truth. I believe He will lead you to His Church, His Body, and give you confidence in its divine origins.

 

[fhansen]

Hi,
I am seeking faith. I have alwais thought that there was a God of some sort. But now i feel as if i might be drawn to the Catholic Church. My question is how do I know this is the right church. And also are there any tips in how to keep faith. Any saints that are the best for people wanting to convert? Thanx!!

Virtually every movement I made in my walk of faith began with a “hunch”. Until we are sure we *can’t *be sure, simple as that sounds. But we’re being led, and almost every time those hunches turned out to be true. Even with our faith as a guide we’re still proceeding in a pretty dimly lit tunnel, groping our way along to the light, expected to keep on growing in faith. And it comes-as long as we keep seeking. I was surprised to find myself back to the CC-I was anti-Catholic at one time. But if everything went according to my agenda I probably wouldn’t move at all. Thank God He’s smarter than us-and He gives us those hunches… Anyway, now I love and cherish the Church.

 

[yinekka]

Edward, great analogy, thank you.

 

[yinekka]

Hi Lenny . I see from your profile that you are still at school and so I would recommend for you some books written for High Schoolers although older people can benefit from them also; I know I did.

The books are the Prove It! series by Amy Welborn and include Prove It God, Prove it Jesus, *Prove it Church *and Prove it Prayer. Once you have read *Prove It God *you might like to read *Mere Christianity *by CS Lewis. This book is for adults but it might be ok for you too.

As other people have advised prayer is the best way to get to know God. Just talk to Him as you would talk to someone you love and respect knowing that God loves you too. We can’t get to know someone if we don’t talk to them. You might think that you are talking to yourself but if you are silent sometimes in your prayer you will be aware of the presence of God. When you have faith, a free gift from God which He will give you if you are open to Him, you might then like to investigate the Catholic Church which is the Church founded by Jesus Christ. *Prove it Church *would be a good introduction. *Catholicism For Dummies *might be good too. Don’t be put off by the word “Dummies”; the book is part of the “For Dummies” series.

All the best Lenny I will keep you in my prayers and if you have any questions the people here will be happy to try and answer them for you.

 

[LennyUSA]

Thank you all so much!

I do pray all the time. Using the sign of the Cross just makes it better to me. I pray to the Mother of God so much becasue i have heard if you go in with the Mother you will never leave the church. I watch a Catholic Network on TV all the time now. I am not for sure yet by no means but i feel I am walking on the right path. Many Catholics I talk to do not have many answers for me so that’s why I am glad i found this site becasue there are alot of people here who know their religion. I feel I am changing with God. Even my Political views are gradually changing! I am not happy yet but i understand it all takes time. I just keep praying and keep praying. I like the Catholic Mass on TV right now becasue it’s the most I am getting untill i can get a way to the Church but when I follow along in the prayers it feels like I am there. That I am apart of a mass of people.

Thankyou everybody!