Looking to join the Church

  • Thread starter Thread starter Torolf
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

Torolf

Guest
Hello everyone, my name is Mike. I’m just starting my journey to join the Catholic Church. So, a little back story. I was raised in a protestant home, went to church every week and did everything a good Christian was supposed to do. When I was around 19 I had a serious crisis of faith. I ended up looking into the Catholic Church in the hope that the hope that the routine would pull me back toward God. It didn’t seem to help at all but I met a priest, Fr. Tom who was different from any Christian I’d ever met. He seemed to really know God on a deep personal level.

In the end I gave up on Christianity as a whole soon after and started following Norse paganism. I was deeply involved in it for nearly six years. A couple times I started being drawn back to the faith but then I’d get angry and dive deeper into paganism. I finally came to a point just under a yeard ago where God spoke to me and I feel it was a last chance moment. I called out to him and prayed like I had never prayed before. I started going to a Nazarene church with my family but Fr. Tom and Catholicism kept nagging at the back of my mind.

Then about three months ago I was watching random stuff on YouTube and I stumbled across a video by Fr. Mike Schmitz, The Hour That Will Change Your Life, in which he explains the Eucharist. I made it through the video and immediately thought “oh crap, I think I have to become Catholic”. Since then I’ve been spending most all of my freetime researching the Eucharist and many of the other teachings of the Church. I’m convinced that the Eucharist is the real presence, body and blood of Jesus and I need it. So far everything else I’ve researched seems completely true with the Church’s teaching. I’ve started going to mass and I’m going to my first RCIA class in the morning. So, right now I’m wondering if any of you have any advice for me or books to read, perspectives on church teachings, etc. Thanks for taking the time to read all that, I know it was kind of long.
 
My faves are the Catechism, the Early Church Fathers, the diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, diary of St. Therese of Lisieux, Frequent Confession by Benedict Baur,…

The one that started it for me was Catholicism and Fundamentalism by Karl Keating.

Twelve years later I’m still SO glad I entered the Catholic Church
 
Last edited:
  1. Praise God!
  2. Watch or listen to Dr. David Anders, PhD, a convert from Presbyterianism who has an EWTN/Catholic radio show entitled “Called to Communion” in which he asks: “What’s stopping you from becoming Catholic?”
  3. “Rome Sweet Home” is a classic conversion tale written by Dr. Scott Hahn, PhD.
  4. No, you need not be a PhD to convert!
  5. Find when your local parish offers adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (Holy Eucharist). Then go and spend time in Christ’s presence. Ask Him to reveal that He is there. Then, be as patient with Him as He has been with you. When your answer comes, you will be changed.
  6. Prayers ascending!
  7. Amen!
 
I have also heard a book called Catholicism for Dummies is supposed to be very good for beginners. Please do not be offended by the title. I think it means it tries to present the Catholic faith in as simple a way as possible for the average person to understand.
Before I converted, I found a few Catholic bookstores in my area and I would spend hours browsing these stores and trying to understand what it means to be Catholic. You might be given a Catholic Bible when you start RCIA. Do not be discouraged because there is a lot to learn about the Catholic faith. It takes time for it to sink in. I studied a lot before I became Catholic and I have not stopped learning about the Catholic faith since I was received into the Catholic Church in
2008. There is a program on EWTN (if you have cable or satellite) called The Journey Home and it is a weekly show about people and their conversion stories. You might start reading about some of the popular saints and buy a book of Catholic prayers. I pray you will enjoy the RCIA classes and persevere until the spring. Praying for your journey and may God bless you during the RCIA
experience.
 
Catholic Answers has a good Bible for those entering the faith.
 
Thank you for sharing your conversion experience.
I thank God for the graces He has given you,
And ask His continuing blessings.

The catechism of the Catholic Church is online, as are many valuable Church documents.
 
That’s awesome. I used to know a Danish guy who was also very much into Asatru. I’ve been into some crazy stuff too and I kinda know what you mean about those moments where you’re really offered your choice. Stick with it man. Good for you
 
Torolf said:
Hello everyone, my name is Mike. I’m just starting my journey to join the Catholic Church. So, a little back story.

[snip for space]

Then about three months ago I was watching random stuff on YouTube and I stumbled across a video by Fr. Mike Schmitz, The Hour That Will Change Your Life, in which he explains the Eucharist.

[snip for space]

I’m convinced that the Eucharist is the real presence, body and blood of Jesus and I need it. So far everything else I’ve researched seems completely true with the Church’s teaching. I’ve started going to mass and I’m going to my first RCIA class in the morning.
Click to expand...
I’ll just add to what you’ve already found. The Mass and the Eucharist.

While this following scripture from Hebrews, doesn’t mention
• Mass
• Sunday
• Eucharist
• Mortal sin for deliberately missing Mass

Anybody can see what is being described. What they are doing when they meet, and what Day it is that they meet, and that there is disastrous consequences for that person if they deliberately fail to meet on “the Day” once they become knowledgeable of the truth. IOW it’s already a huge sin to not follow this command

Heb 10: (all emphasis mine) Heb 10:19-31 RSVCE - A Call to Persevere - Therefore, - Bible Gateway

19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 26 For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth,
• there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
• 27 but a fearful prospect of judgment,
• and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries.
28 A man who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy at the testimony of two or three witnesses.
• 29 How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of God,
• and profaned the blood of the covenant
• by which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
• 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

to be continued
 
Last edited:
Torolf said:
Hello everyone, my name is Mike. …
Click to expand...
Continued

Unpacking that
. washed with water = baptism
• deliberate Failure to meet on “the Day” = the LORD’S DAY / Sunday
• They are celebrating the Eucharist, the sacrifice for sin and the blood of the covenant is the language Jesus used while instituting the Eucharist Matthew 26:28 RSVCE - for this is my blood of the covenant, - Bible Gateway

They are celebrating the Mass
And those who deliberately fail to celebrate Mass (the Eucharist) on Sunday after being given the knowledge of truth?
◦ there no longer remains for Them a sacrifice for sin
◦ they Spurn the Son of God
◦ they outrage the spirit of grace
◦ a fearful prospect of judgement awaits them
◦ and a fury of fire will consume these adversaries
Does that sound like it’s only a suggestion to attend Mass on Sunday, or a command?
Does it sound like a venial sin to deliberately miss Mass on Sunday or a mortal sin?

One only has to look at the consequences mentioned to answer both questions… It’s a command to attend Mass on Sunday, and it’s a mortal sin to deliberatly miss mass on Sunday… unless one is sick or in some way incapable of going to mass.

Prayers ascending for you on your journey into the Church
 
Last edited:
Thank you all for the kind words, prayers and recommendations. They’re greatly appreciated.

I just got back from my first RCIA class and Mass. The class was great and already several of my main questions have been answered. They also gave me a copy of the Catechism, a Catholic Bible and several booklets by Gus Lloyd. Those should get me going for now and I’ll also look into the recommendations that have been offered here.

Mass was good and for the first time I didn’t feel completely lost. I really like the priest at this perish, his homily gave me a lot to think about.
 
steve-b thank you, that does help and clarified a few more things for me.
 
(name removed by moderator)5h

PLEASE type in his name in the search box on You Tube and watch the MANY MANY short Catholic video lessons he does weekly. They are amazing.

OK go see a priest and start from there. You will be directed on what to do to receive instruction and be then after time be accepted into the Catholic Church. PRAYING for you and PLEASE continue this wonderful journey into Our wonderful Catholic Church/Faith.
Thanks, I’ve already watched most of the videos on his channel as well as a couple of his talks from the Steubenville conference. Thank you for the prayers.

AveOTheotokos - Thank you, I’ll check it out.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top