T
THutch04
Guest
Hello all, I have been lurking on this forum for quite awhile, and have finally decided to become Catholic. I am attending RCIA at my college, and will be Confirmed on April 23rd.
I was Baptized and Confirmed in the Episcopal church. I had gone through Sunday School and had the basic teachings of Christianity. However, for many reasons, I decided to leave the Episcopal church because I realized I could not associate myself with a church that had very little order and unity (that’s the sad reality of my diocese). I had considered becoming Catholic, as my beliefs have always been Catholic rather than Protestant (ironically enough, the “priest” that instilled these beliefs in me was a woman). However, I decided that it was too much of a change, and I didn’t know that I could make that kind of a decision at that point in time. So, I decided to become a Continuing Anglican.
I have been happy with the Anglican parish I have been attending. I love the liturgy, the reverence, and definitely the small, community feeling. However, I still had this feeling that God was calling me to become Catholic. It was actually while watching Pope John Paul II’s funeral on CNN that I decided I needed to become Catholic.
I didn’t think the decision would be nearly as difficult as it was. I already agreed with and understood the Catholic teachings on many things, including Confession, the Eucharist, the Saints, Marian devotions, Purgatory, ect. I was very intimidated though about the size of most Catholic parishes (seeing 60 people in a church is big to me), and the lack of reverence that I have seen in many parishes is very disheartening…I actually had a Catholic not understand the teaching of the Eucharist, and say that nobody believes in the Real Presence, and it isn’t really the Body of Christ. However, I realized that a few people did not represent the Church as a whole, and personal preferences for size are things that I can adapt to. However, there was still the issue of papal infallibility, the only real doctrinal issue that I had problems with.
Being an Anglican, I had always been taught the Branch Theory, that we, along with the Orthodox, Old Catholics, Catholics, and Oriental Orthodox were a part of the True Church of Christ. However, after prayer it didn’t take me too long to realize I disagreed with that very strongly, and that I felt there needed to be a pope. Once I realized what I believed, I knew I had to become Catholic.
Deciding to leave Anglicanism has been one of the hardest decisions of my life. I am leaving the church that I have grown up with, especially the beautiful liturgy that I love. I always believed I was receiving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ in the Eucharist at my Anglican church, I know the Catholic Church disagrees with me, and I know why. However, it will still be after much prayer and contemplation that I decide I have never received it.
I love Anglicanism, I will continually pray for reunion with Rome, but I know that I cannot stay there. The Catholic Church is home, and I am so happy to finally come home.
~Tara
I was Baptized and Confirmed in the Episcopal church. I had gone through Sunday School and had the basic teachings of Christianity. However, for many reasons, I decided to leave the Episcopal church because I realized I could not associate myself with a church that had very little order and unity (that’s the sad reality of my diocese). I had considered becoming Catholic, as my beliefs have always been Catholic rather than Protestant (ironically enough, the “priest” that instilled these beliefs in me was a woman). However, I decided that it was too much of a change, and I didn’t know that I could make that kind of a decision at that point in time. So, I decided to become a Continuing Anglican.
I have been happy with the Anglican parish I have been attending. I love the liturgy, the reverence, and definitely the small, community feeling. However, I still had this feeling that God was calling me to become Catholic. It was actually while watching Pope John Paul II’s funeral on CNN that I decided I needed to become Catholic.
I didn’t think the decision would be nearly as difficult as it was. I already agreed with and understood the Catholic teachings on many things, including Confession, the Eucharist, the Saints, Marian devotions, Purgatory, ect. I was very intimidated though about the size of most Catholic parishes (seeing 60 people in a church is big to me), and the lack of reverence that I have seen in many parishes is very disheartening…I actually had a Catholic not understand the teaching of the Eucharist, and say that nobody believes in the Real Presence, and it isn’t really the Body of Christ. However, I realized that a few people did not represent the Church as a whole, and personal preferences for size are things that I can adapt to. However, there was still the issue of papal infallibility, the only real doctrinal issue that I had problems with.
Being an Anglican, I had always been taught the Branch Theory, that we, along with the Orthodox, Old Catholics, Catholics, and Oriental Orthodox were a part of the True Church of Christ. However, after prayer it didn’t take me too long to realize I disagreed with that very strongly, and that I felt there needed to be a pope. Once I realized what I believed, I knew I had to become Catholic.
Deciding to leave Anglicanism has been one of the hardest decisions of my life. I am leaving the church that I have grown up with, especially the beautiful liturgy that I love. I always believed I was receiving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ in the Eucharist at my Anglican church, I know the Catholic Church disagrees with me, and I know why. However, it will still be after much prayer and contemplation that I decide I have never received it.
I love Anglicanism, I will continually pray for reunion with Rome, but I know that I cannot stay there. The Catholic Church is home, and I am so happy to finally come home.
~Tara
