Questions for former Protestants

[joyfulseraph]

After you became a catholic, what did you lose? what did you gain?

Did you wait until you fully understood catholicism to convert? or did you jump into it right away?

Did/do you miss anything from your former denomination?

Did/do you feel settled? did you feel at peace with your decision?

Did your family and/or friends understand?

What was the main thing that ultimately lead you to convert?

Thanks.

 

[Inman]

After you became a catholic, what did you lose? what did you gain?

I didn’t lose much. I wasn’t really a good protestant or christian to begin with. As for what I gained, it is so much I don’t know where to start. The sacrements, the real presence, grace provided by the sacrements, the complete faith given to the apostles by Jesus . . .

Did you wait until you fully understood catholicism to convert? or did you jump into it right away?

I was quite hard headed. It took about about 16 years from the first time I stepped foot in a catholic church until I was ultimately confirmed.

I am not sure I fully understand it know. Essentially I had wanted to convert for a long time, but felt I couldn’t. I prayed about it for years. The Lord answered my prayers though in showing me I was wrong about the issues holding me back.

Did/do you miss anything from your former denomination?

Sunday school classes. Catholics should really adpot this. It would strengthen the faith of adults and allow for more fellowship outside of mass. Depsite attending mass regulary for about a year, other than people I met during RCIA or knew before I converted, I really don’t know anyone at our church.

I really don’t get why the church doesn’t adpot this tool for teaching the faith.

Did/do you feel settled? did you feel at peace with your decision?

Absolutely. It is not always easy living the faith, but I never doubt my decision.

Did your family and/or friends understand?

I am not sure. No one is visibily upset or difficult about it, but I doubt they really understand. Otherwise, they would be converting too. None of my family would come to the confirmation.

What was the main thing that ultimately lead you to convert?

Appreciating of my own sinfulness and reading the gospels, specifically the part where Jesus gave the apostles–human beings–the ability to forgive sin. I reasoned if any human being could have that power, then its not that big of a stretch to assume the power could be passed on for future ages. I also thought Jesus wouldn’t have given the apostles that power if it weren’t important and necessary.

 

[water]

Inman, thanks for your post. In my current parish, we have Sunday school for kids and highschool students.

My formal parish which did not have a church building for itself and was lack of people, we didn’t have Sunday school. Besides, we didn’t even have our own pastor. He had to come to us once a week from out of town.

 

[AngelRose81]

After you became a catholic, what did you lose? what did you gain?

I lost the feeling of wanting more out of life and I gained a whole new perspective and a feeling of being finally home.

Did you wait until you fully understood catholicism to convert? or did you jump into it right away?

**I looked into the Church seriously for about a year before I began RCIA. I truly felt called to look into the Church when JPII died and I bought several books and a Catholic Bible and I just knew that was where I was supposed to be. Now I can’t get enough of being Catholic. **

Did/do you miss anything from your former denomination?

**The only thing I miss are singing some of the old hymns out of the old hymnals but I still sing them to myself. **

Did/do you feel settled? did you feel at peace with your decision?

Yes, I feel very at peace. Of course, I have moments when Satan tries to pull me away from the Church but I think lots of people have that experience at one time or another.

Did your family and/or friends understand?

My father (who is a minister) was upset at first because I didn’t tell him but he is fine now. He even comes to Mass sometiems!

What was the main thing that ultimately lead you to convert?

I wasn’t getting a lot out of my old church and I felt like I was forced to be a member. I have NEVER felt forced to do anything in the Catholic Church. I feel so at peace, so loved, and so close to God in His Church. I never want to be anywhere else.

Thanks.

Hope those answers help!

 

[mylo]

After you became a catholic, what did you lose? what did you gain?

I lost feeling like I had no bearings or groundings, lots of confusion about things in general. I gained a worldwide family, the Sacraments, Jesus Christ in the Real Presence, His mother, Saints, and 2000 years of history (to name a few)
*
Did you wait until you fully understood catholicism to convert? or did you jump into it right away?*

I studied Catholicism for four years before signing up for RCIA - I wanted to be sure of what I was converting into and that I understood it as best I can.

Did/do you miss anything from your former denomination?

Not particularly. I stopped practicing Lutheranism when I was in my mid to late teens - I remember hearing so much about how God loves us but couldn’t relate that to my experiences as a picked-on, introverted high schooler. I was of the mentality “if He loves me so much, why does He allow this to happen?”

Did/do you feel settled? did you feel at peace with your decision?

I do feel settled. I know this is where God wants me, this is my Home in Him. I try not to rely too much on feelings because my feelings can be quite fickle and stuff; but yes, I do feel at peace with converting. Much like I can’t imagine being married to someone other than my husband, I can’t imagine being anywhere else but Home.

Did your family and/or friends understand?

No. I was so terrified of telling my family that I actually wrote a letter to certain people and told them of my decision that way. I was raised in a very anti-Catholic home. I lost a ton of friends over it in college and some family relations are so strained because I converted. Some members feel that I’ve joined the devil’s church and are out to ‘save’ me - it hurts immensely but I cannot turn away from my Home.

Some members of my family are making progress at least accepting that I am Catholic. Other members of my family are incredibly supportive of my Catholicism.
*
What was the main thing that ultimately lead you to convert?*

I knew that God existed and I knew that if I asked Him to lead me home, He would. It was the hardest thing to just let go and let Him lead me, especially since it meant coming to terms with the anti-Catholicism that I was exposed to growing up. I had to take each thing about Catholicism that I had believed growing up, research it, and learn (much to my shock) that it was NOT what Catholicism taught or anything like that. I was quite mad in my early conversion years, I felt betrayed and lied to and just loathed in anger. Now I don’t feel angry, just sad that so many … lies are propagated and people refuse to look at what the Church teaches, even if they don’t want to convert.

If there was a single thing that lead me to convert, it was probably a tie between the Real Presence and Confession. I had carried a LOT of baggage around that would not leave me, regardless of what I did. My first Confession was probably the best thing I’ve ever done. I cried my whole way through it but once it was over, I never felt “burdened” by my sins. It truly is amazing. :’-)

---

God bless you dear! I hope those help you.

 

[mercygate]

After you became a catholic, what did you lose? what did you gain?

Did you wait until you fully understood catholicism to convert? or did you jump into it right away?

I understood “everything” but was skeptical about the necessity of accepting the later dogmas with the same degree of faith required for articles of the Creed.

Did/do you miss anything from your former denomination?

Yes. The “catholic” culture. I was a High Church Anglican. The liturgy and the music were divine.

Did/do you feel settled? did you feel at peace with your decision?

The PEACE is indescribable. Settled? I’ll never “settle” for the guitars and bongo drums. But I have found my way. I have a good spiritual director and a regular confessor. I am a vowed member of the Confraternity of Penitents . . . so yes: I’m “settled.” Sort of.

Did your family and/or friends understand?

The ones who would not have understood are dead. The living ones who would not understand were not in a position that required disclosure. But then, I was old.

What was the main thing that ultimately lead you to convert?

Thanks.

The consistency of doctrine and history; the unbroken tradition. The fact that the Church gave us the Bible. How much more to you want?

 

[BennyBoy89]

After you became a catholic, what did you lose? what did you gain?

I lost the sense of “something missing” in my concept of God and His relationship to humanity. I gained the fulfilment of my desire: the Eucharist.

Did you wait until you fully understood catholicism to convert? or did you jump into it right away?

I sort of jumped into “trying out this Catholic thing,” but along the way I began to understand it.

Did/do you miss anything from your former denomination?

Not at all. Evangelical protestantism is headed for disaster.

Did/do you feel settled? did you feel at peace with your decision?

Things aren’t always easy, but yes I have peace.

Did your family and/or friends understand?

My Lutheran aunt has been pretty supportive throughout, otherwise no my family has not understood.

What was the main thing that ultimately lead you to convert?
Many things along the way, but reading The Lamb’s Supper by Scott Hahn cemented by decision. If the Church was correct in the canon of Scripture, the interpretation of Revelation, and the Eucharist, then how could it be wrong on everything else?

 

[strngrnrth]

After you became a catholic, what did you lose? what did you gain?
I lost a lot of friends and some structure to my schedule. I gained more peace, more good reading, new, wonderful friends, more truth, new activities, more free time as well (so far).
Did you wait until you fully understood catholicism to convert? or did you jump into it right away?
I researched the decision for a while. Then I jumped in when I believed I had enough to go on. It took a while.
Did/do you miss anything from your former denomination?
Some of the songs, some friends, and activities like street evangelism, but that was really defunct when I left anyway.
Did/do you feel settled? did you feel at peace with your decision?
Yes. Sometimes it seems weird I was ever anything but Catholic.
Did your family and/or friends understand?
Some are psyched, some are sad and worried. Some don’t care either way.
What was the main thing that ultimately lead you to convert?
Many things. One of which was a wave of emotion while I was researching the evidence and logic of different forms of Christianity, and CA played a big part in that process. It’s hard to describe what I was feeling, many things at once, but I felt suddenly that “going Catholic” was a good and obvious thing to do. But I didn’t want to be hasty regardless of how I felt or what I saw on some website or another, so I read books, talked to a priest and a Catholic friend, and dug into everything I could find, questioned things before and during RCIA and was finally sure I was doing this somewhere at least a couple of months into RCIA.
Thanks.

 

[RWMorris]

After you became a catholic, what did you lose? what did you gain?
I lost nothing. I gained everything.
Did you wait until you fully understood catholicism to convert? or did you jump into it right away?
Well, we went to RCIA but it was basically a waste of time because as a theology major with Catholic University I was better-equipped to teach the class than the person who taught it was. I pretty much knew the Catechism backwards and forwards at that point.
Did/do you miss anything from your former denomination?
I do miss the Book of Common Prayer a little…it is so beautifully written.
Did/do you feel settled? did you feel at peace with your decision?
I have peace which passes all understanding now! Praise God for the truth!
Did your family and/or friends understand?
Not really…but since I had undergone a grisly nervous breakdown, they were not at all confrontational about the issue and have even come to Mass when I play (I am an organist/pianist for our parish).
What was the main thing that ultimately lead you to convert?
**The realization that there was One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church and that I wasn’t part of the greatest thing on earth! I knew I had to convert and nothing was going to keep me from it. I was very determined; and also very blessed, because my DH decided to come on the journey with me, thank God. **
Thanks.

 

[KarenElissa]

After you became a catholic, what did you lose? what did you gain?
Lose, nothing I can think of. Gain, the Eucharist! The other Sacraments, unity, the pope…

Did you wait until you fully understood catholicism to convert? or did you jump into it right away?
I don’t fully understand it now, but I can’t imagine I ever will. I started going to Mass and seriously thinking about converting about 6 months before I did, but as I look back, I can see plenty of things leading me in this direction for awhile.

Did/do you miss anything from your former denomination?
About the only thing I miss is the people at my old church and being active there. I went from being REALLY involved and knowing a lot of people to knowing practically no one. I’m sure eventually it will be better, but for now I just have to be patient.

Did/do you feel settled? did you feel at peace with your decision?
Other than trying to wait patiently to be more involved, yes. Every time I walk into church I am more and more thankful to be there.

Did your family and/or friends understand?
Understand? Not really, they were however supportive. Coming from the more liberal side, most people just said go wherever. My parents aren’t Christians, so they didn’t have much to say.

What was the main thing that ultimately lead you to convert?
For me, the biggest thing was the continuity of the Church, it is same since the beginning. Also, looking back, I firmly believe that Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament was drawing my to himself.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

After you became a catholic, what did you lose? what did you gain?

I lost family unity and gained Family unity.

I also gained the Eucharist!!!

• Sacred Tradition . And the truth of the doctrines of Christianity, etc.

Did you wait until you fully understood catholicism to convert? or did you jump into it right away?

I learned a lot first.

Did/do you miss anything from your former denomination?

No. Well . . . perhaps more people were seeking personal experiences with God and deeper intimacy with him. Though I have met some wonderful Catholics that do that also.

Did/do you feel settled? did you feel at peace with your decision?

I am overjoyed at this change!

Did your family and/or friends understand?

No.

What was the main thing that ultimately lead you to convert?

The personal guidance of the Holy Spirit. Hearing God’s voice telling me Catholicism was the truth. That was the main thing. There were a lot of other influences too, some of which were very big, but hearing God’s voice was the single biggest by far.

 

[brycelaliberte]

After you became a catholic, what did you lose? what did you gain?

When I become Catholic, I will gain everything important. I’ve lost nothing, as of yet, except some ‘friends.’

Did you wait until you fully understood catholicism to convert? or did you jump into it right away?

Once I understood everything I had had an issue with, I jumped in.

Did/do you miss anything from your former denomination?

Not having to argue every little thing. Before I was fine believing something, even if it was different (such as purgatory) but now I’m becoming Catholic, every little thing is a ‘false teaching.’

Did/do you feel settled? did you feel at peace with your decision?

I haven’t been more at peace in my entire life.

Did your family and/or friends understand?

Family has a little ways to go.

What was the main thing that ultimately lead you to convert?

When I was talking to my good friend about Mary, and he said “Have you ever heard of the idea that Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant?” Then everything just clicked.

Thanks.

No problem.

 

[jmcrae]

After you became a catholic, what did you lose? what did you gain?

I lost my relationships with my family and friends. I lost my sense of place in the community. I gained the Sacraments and a closer relationship with Jesus Christ in my prayer life. I gained a fuller understanding of myself, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and also through the stripping off of my relationships - I could no longer identify myself as “the daughter of” or “the wife of” - I had to forge a new identity based on my own accomplishments and my own personality. When I go to Mass, I go alone - I stand in no one’s shadow, for better or for worse.

Did you wait until you fully understood catholicism to convert? or did you jump into it right away?

I started attending Mass in the fall of 1983. I started RCIA in 1985, and took 15 years to try to understand the teachings, and then I said to heck with it, and converted anyway in the winter/spring of 2001, after Dominus Iesus came out, and after coming to the realization that the Catholic Church is the one that Jesus founded, even though I still didn’t fully understand it, yet.

Did/do you miss anything from your former denomination?

Yes. I miss the people. I thought of them as family members. I miss going to Church camp with those particular people, and I miss the coffee hour after service.

Did/do you feel settled? did you feel at peace with your decision?

Yes, it was the right decision to make.

Did your family and/or friends understand?

No. They respect my decision, and they respect that I have to do what I think God is calling me to do, but they don’t understand.

What was the main thing that ultimately lead you to convert?

Four words: One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

When I was talking to my good friend about Mary, and he said “Have you ever heard of the idea that Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant?” Then everything just clicked.

That’s just wonderful . I love the Marian typology in the ark. It’s glorious. Even the Assumption is there (Psalm 132:7-8)! It’s amazing.

I also have recently been kicked by the wonder of the parallels between Aaron and Peter, which affirm the papacy!

 

[Augustine]

As a cradle Catholic, I have to say that I tip my hat at you. You sacrificed friends and family, familiarity and habits, all for the sake of Truth. You fought tooth and nail with what the Church proposes to us to believe and in the process you’ve met Jesus. These are just awesome witnesses to the Holy Spirit in you!

You bring fresh water to its very fountain. Welcome home!

May God the Father always shine His face upon y’all.

 

[strngrnrth]

As a cradle Catholic, I have to say that I tip my hat at you. You sacrificed friends and family, familiarity and habits, all for the sake of Truth. You fought tooth and nail with what the Church proposes to us to believe and in the process you’ve met Jesus. These are just awesome witnesses to the Holy Spirit in you!

You bring fresh water to its very fountain. Welcome home!

May God the Father always shine His face upon y’all.

Thank you!

 

[surfinpure]

After you became a catholic, what did you lose? what did you gain?

Did you wait until you fully understood catholicism to convert? or did you jump into it right away?

Did/do you miss anything from your former denomination?

Did/do you feel settled? did you feel at peace with your decision?

Did your family and/or friends understand?

What was the main thing that ultimately lead you to convert?

Thanks.

Wow – that’s a lot of questions! So I’ll be brief…

1. I lost the “assurance” of heaven and the license to let my own ill-informed conscience make sticky moral decisions for me. I gained confidence in one priceless infallible teaching authority whom I could trust to direct me truly in matters of faith and morals.
2. I neither fully understood (remember - we have Mysteries!) nor jumped in without consideration. It was a journey.
3. I missed (and still do) the fellowship we all had in each other’s homes. I’m trying to get the same sort of thing started now in our parish with our Family Life Apostolate.
4. I felt more than settled; I felt like I had finally come home!!! :extrahappy:
5. My Catholic family understood completely, of course. My Protestant friends probably did not, though nobody ever asked any questions. I wish they would.
6. Church authority was what led my husband and me to convert and is what has kept us faithful these four years since. We are 100% convinced that only the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church has the authority to interpret Scripture and to teach God’s truth. What a tremendous comfort!

 

[ladylinguist]

]After you became a catholic, what did you lose? what did you gain?
I lost the casual, social atmosphere of my non-denom church and the modern worship music that I had always come to assume were the marks of spiritually alive churches.
I gained the Truth, the Eucharist, and an understanding of the beauty that comes from solemn, structured liturgy.

Did you wait until you fully understood catholicism to convert? or did you jump into it right away?
I studied Catholicism for about two years before I joined RCIA. Essentially I joined RCIA after I had already been convinced of the truth of Catholicism and was ready to enter into the Church. As to how fully I understand Catholicism, I doubt I shall ever fully understand it while I am on this earth. There’s simply too much depth and knowledge to be had to gain in one lifetime.

Did/do you miss anything from your former denomination?
I miss the music. Yes, I admit it, I love modern worship music. I miss the small group Bible studies that my church had. Protestant churches seem to pay more attention to adult faith formation. A lot of Catholic churches have no Bible studies or small groups for adults. I think the church would be well-served by taking that hint from our Protestant brethren.

Did/do you feel settled? did you feel at peace with your decision?
I certainly do. I was afraid that the constant ritual of the Catholic Church would feel stagnant after a while, but that hasn’t been the case at all. I feel alive in the Church and in my spirituality. There’s such a depth and richness to her teachings, developed by two thousand years of faith, that you can never be bored by it. You never reach the end of things that you can learn. Even though certain friends might not understand my choice, I do not regret it. I’m home.

Did your family and/or friends understand?
I didn’t lose any friends over my conversion. Most of my friends are of the “it doesn’t matter what church you attend” mindset. My father, I think, is somewhat bothered by it even though he refuses to own up to it. He says he’s OK with it, but he often likes to bring up what he sees as corrupt acts by the church whenever we discuss it.

What was the main thing that ultimately lead you to convert?
Evidence. The intellectual arguments presented by Catholic apologetists were far superior to refutations offered by Protestants. I have a duty to follow the truth of God even if it leads where I would prefer not to go.

I started studying Catholicism after a co-worker mentioned that Catholicism held “the fullness of the Truth” and I thought that was a ridiculously arrogant statement for any church to make. I’m sure God was laughing (in a very kind, paternal way) when I was received into the Church Easter '07.

 

[Musbeus]

After you became a catholic, what did you lose? what did you gain?

*I lost the constant feeling of pain and uncertainity. I gained a spiritual home and a sense of peace. *

Did you wait until you fully understood catholicism to convert? or did you jump into it right away?

I slowly began reading more than 2 years ago but truly committed to this journey a little over a year ago.

Did/do you miss anything from your former denomination?

*I didn’t have a denomination. I barely remember attending a few Sunday school classes at several different churches as a small child. *

Did/do you feel settled? did you feel at peace with your decision?

• Yes! *

Did your family and/or friends understand?

• I am not sure if they understand or not. They do not attend with me. My family was never been involved with any religious community so it doesn’t surprise me that they more or less seem to ignore my conversion. *

What was the main thing that ultimately lead you to convert?

• After the death of my daughter in 1993, I was furious. It seem so unfair. She was only 8 weeks old and had passed away from crib death. I turned my back on what little religion that I knew. There were several rough years with more hardships. One day more than 2 years ago, I realize that God had been with me every step of the way…even on days that I was less than nice to anyone. He held my hand and wiped my tears. I truly didn’t deserve his strenght. I slowly began reading and was drawn to the Catholic faith. *

 

[gettingthere]

We aren’t actually Catholics yet, but we don’t consider ourselves protestants anymore… this is still a new thing for us, but I thought I’d answer anyway:

After you became a catholic, what did you lose? what did you gain?
I don’t really feel like I lost anything. I guess I lost confusion in my faith and gained confidence.

Did you wait until you fully understood catholicism to convert? or did you jump into it right away?
Well… kind of both. My husband and I were raised protestants and our families are very serious about church and their religions, and also pretty anti-Catholic, so we wanted to be 100% sure that it really was where God was calling us before we started jumping into it. We knew that whatever we chose to do (as far as religion/faith/spirituality goes) we wanted to be 100% into it, not wishy-washy, so first we read a lot and learned as much as we could until finally we were just like “okay, this is it, this is right and this is what we need to do”. Then we dove in head first.

Did/do you miss anything from your former denomination?
The people and the relationships we formed. It was a hard change because we had made some good friends at our old church, and since we started attending mass we feel like we don’t have any friends.

Did/do you feel settled? did you feel at peace with your decision?
Not settled yet. We still know NOBODY, and we’ve only just chosen which church we will attend (there are a LOT of parishes near us). But we both feel very at peace with our decision.

Did your family and/or friends understand?
We haven’t told my in-laws yet, but my parents were supportive even though they didn’t understand (though we haven’t told them we are actually converting, we’ll see how that goes), my best friend won’t talk to me (at least it seems that way… I don’t really know what is going on with her). Our families have been pretty anti-Catholic so we’re taking the talking to them part really slowly. We’re scared. My other friends have been really supportive though.
**
What was the main thing that ultimately lead you to convert?**
I felt that Catholic teaching was the truth, it was exactly what God wanted Christianity to be, it wasn’t changed or molded to fit people’s life choices, it has been the same forever. I feel closer to God knowing this than I have ever felt in my life.