Need a little help or guidance

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First off, I am a Southern Baptist I am currently attending school to become a preacher. But there is a problem, i have always felt a tug toward the Catholic faith and attended Mass off and on over the years. I always kept it at arms length and never ventured to close. Thus, I was presented with problems of research at my university and the fact is I find the Catholic faith to be the “true” church. This presents so many issues in my life that i cannot even explain. My wife will never become Catholic, my family will largely turn from me (They are ex-Catholics that run a an anti-Catholic facebook page) and my schooling will be a giant waste(This is the least important issue). I truly feel stuck, I do not want to tear my family a part, but I want to serve God and worship Him in the way that is laid out and commanded in the Bible.

Any advice, I know prayer (believe i am). I have reached out to my local Parish and am talking with the Deacon. I am not a whim type person and this is a big deal… So I guess i am looking for advice or simple guidance. I am writing these massive papers and I am trying to stay true to how and what I believe, but it diverges so much from the Baptist now i am uncomfortable. I am rambling. now.
 
You should read the Scott Hahn book Rome Sweet Rome, if you haven’t already.

I think that you cannot deny the call to convert. It would not be your truth if you did. Your schooling is not wasted, it is what opened your eyes in a way, to the truth.

You have to accept that your wife may not ever follow your path, and she needs to respect your journey. If you both do that, you can work things out. Lead by example and she may one day see the light as you are now doing.

Welcome!
 
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I would recommend you visit a catholic shrine, where are you based?

Have a look at Lourdes, Fatima, San Giovanni Rotondo, there are so many.

have you tried praying the rosary?
 
I appreciate the responses. I will not spring it on them, my wife knows I attend mass on the weekend and she continues on at the local SBC church. We rotate the kids weekend to weekend, she does not want to attend but there is not argument about the kids going. The last few months I have gone strictly to my local parish and have not been back to my local SBC church. So to be fair to my wife she is okay with it, just a bit confused I believe… She has seen this coming slowly over the years.

The issues my family have are based around Marian devotion and the role of the Pope and the church. They think Rome is where the anti-Christ may come out of. It is a hard discussion with them because they have become so harden in their belief it amazes me. I have defended the Catholic faith when debating my sister, i have talked about believing in the real presence and many other doctrines. I have slowly approached certain topics, it just because heated if it turns to quick.

I have watched Dr Hahn many times, along with Peter Kreeft helped me clear a lot of hurdles. I will have to read Rome sweet Rome… I could use a good read like a Dr Hahn to cut more through the confusion on home to talk to family.
 
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I am in Tennessee, I actually am hour away from the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament. I am an avid EWTN watcher.
 
good responses so far. try to make your family a priority first, as in, your wife and kids.

since your wife does not object to you going, that’s a good sign. take the kids to mass with you, enrole them in catechism classes, maybe they can receive their sacraments as well, if that is feasible.

as for the rest of yoru family, there’ not a whole lot you can do. Have polite discussions when it is possible but leave it up to the holy spirit. Depends how close you are with normally as well.

Ultimately, you have found the truth though, and that is something that cannot be ignored. Your conversion is between you and the lord and no one should be trying to get in the way of that
 
I will, I have watched him in the past. I can identify with a lot of his story.
 
I was Baptist until two years ago. Yes, it was difficult to tell my family and they are not happy about it. My 84 year old mother begged that I be anything but Catholic. But once you know the truth, you have to follow. As mentioned earlier, contact Marcus Grodi at the Coming Home Network. They have staff that will work with you and guide you in all areas - including career. As for your wife and family, that’s hard. Keep praying as will we. My adult son and daughter saw the changes in me and are very happy for me. Perhaps she, too, will see the changes. Right now, she is probably seeing someone who is conflicted. Leave books around the house - maybe she’ll be curious when you’re not around 🙂
 
She knows I’m conflicted,.She also knows that this has been in the background for years. But she see’s me at ease these last few months. I come home happy from Mass, and the kids are engaged in the Liturgy. I get to explain (little I know) about what we are apart of and witnessing. . My daughter loves the kneelers to pray, what a concept for her !

I will contact the coming home network…
 
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Yes, know that the family may be difficult.

But think of the early Christians. Jesus indeed gives us words of encouragement in how we are to feel to our family in relation to Him. Think of the man who turned to look to his family.

It can be harsh, but have faith that you are not alone. Many saints, human like you and I, have gone through MUCH worse. There’s nothing to fear. If God is with you, who is against you?
 
They are great. They will keep in contact with you, too. It’s all personal,
no canned responses.
 
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goirish said:
I have watched Dr Hahn many times, along with Peter Kreeft helped me clear a lot of hurdles. I will have to read Rome sweet Rome… I could use a good read like a Dr Hahn to cut more through the confusion on home to talk to family.
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Cradle Catholic here with no Protestant background. Probably can’t help you much. Just want to affirm you that Dr Hann’s Rome Sweet Home is a good read even for me. It is more on the emotional part that’s probably compelling in the book, narrating his journey from a Prebysterian minster to Catholicism. The difficult journey through family and friends rejection may be something that you can identify with.

Ultimately perhaps ‘the truth will set you free’ can be your strength in your own your journey.

God bless.
 
Something happens when we start to study Theology or read Church history… You are not the only one who has found the Catholic Church that way.

Dr Scott Hahn has a really good book about Mary “Hail holy Queen” and read the book “The Lamb’s supper”. EWTNs programmes Journey Home, Called to Communion (Dr David Anders is a convert and like you studied Theology) and most of the other programmes are good. www.catholic.com is a good website to start searching for answers to your and everybody else’s questions.

I started World War 3 in my family some 25 years ago when I began to take faith seriously and I honestly thought it would be World War 4 when I was about to be received into the Catholic Church. Jesus Christ paraphrased: “I am going to Jerusalem to be killed. Would you like to join me?”. I have been Catholic now for almost 4 years and my parents have calmed down when they see that I am happy. In the end, that is all that parents want for their children - that they are happy.

Continue meeting with the deacon in your parish. Write down questions and concerns (yours and others) and bring them with you to your next meeting. I started to keep a “Spiritual journal” where I wrote all of my thoughts and how God is present or not present in my life, struggles, joys etc. Put in prayers or pictures that move you and write your comments.

All that I have studied and all kinds of jobs, have in the end never been wasted. When I studied or worked sometimes I couldn’t see why I did what I did but after some time or even years I could see that it was to prepare me for something new that I was to face. Sometimes life is scary like when we are standing in front of five closed doors not knowing which to open and go through. The first four could be looked and the last one is the one we should enter but we wont know until we try to open the last door.
 
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goirish said:
Any advice, I know prayer (believe i am). I have reached out to my local Parish and am talking with the Deacon.
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I would encourage you to reach out to the Coming Home Network. It is specifically former protestant clergy. They have been where you are.
 
In addition to Scott Hahn and other authors that have been suggested, I would suggest checking out Steve Ray’s books Crossing the Tiber and Upon this Rock. Steve grew up Southern Baptist, and has said that Crossing the Tiber began as a letter to his father explaining why he was converting to Catholicism.
 
Attended Mass yesterday, it was an excellent service.

The Deacon gave me information and RCIA schedule. I have so many questions, since my wife won’t be entering in I don’t know what that will look like. I don’t quite understand nullity when discussing the church.

I want to thank everyone for there kind response and advice. I will keep everyone updated.
 
Nullity has to do with someone´s marriage when they have been married, divorced and then “married again”. The first marriage has to be looked into and if it is still a valid marriage in the eyes of the Church then the “second” is not OK. It’s got to do with how the Catholic Church sees marriage as lasting until the natural death of one of the spouses, receiving children, loving, honouring and being faithful to your spouse in sickness and in health. Entering into marriage with free will. Divorce doesn’t exist in the Catholic Church but if one of the “requirements” for marriage is missing then the marriage could be declared “null” as in not existed in the first place.

You will learn more about this in RCIA.
 
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