Questions of curiosity for converts to Catholicism

[Tommy999]

Hello all,
This question is addressed to those who converted to Catholicism, especially those who used to belong to one of the Protestant faith traditions, although any convert is welcome to reply.

Questions:
Has your life changed in any significant way(s) since converting to Catholicism? if so, please elaborate

**Has your faith been enhanced? If so, please provide an example or two **

**Have you been blessed materially or in some other way since converting to Catholicism or have you encountered more struggles, or are things about the same as they have always been? **

Thanks to those of you who choose to reply. I am curious if there were any major changes in your life or lifestyle since you “Crossed the Tiber” and if there were, do you attribute them to your decision to convert or were they unrelated?

For instance, if you are doing better financially and/or in your health or family life, do you attribute those blessings to be from God for you becoming Catholic? Conversely, if you have seen more struggles and/or challenges in your life since becoming Catholic, do you think this is God’s way of testing your newfound faith or do you believe it is Satan attacking you for your decision, or are these things unrelated altogether to your decision to convert to Catholicism?

 

[Lenten_ashes]

Greetings, Tommy.

I’d say no life is still the same. Same bills, same problems as before.

I’d say this is rather relative, subjective as people convert to LDS and claim great miracles and what not.

My personal faith is enhanced, like going from a Standard definition TV to a clearer HDTV. My prayer life is much more abundant now. I’m praying daily, reading/reflecting the mass readings every day…trying to live a pious life everyday. I’m in church every Sunday, sometimes during the week as well for adoration. As a protestant I had serious lapses in faith and was backslidden at times. I never stopped believing but I did start to feel like Church itself just lacked importance. Why go to Church when I can listen to it on TV sort of thing.

I’d say the biggest difference I see is with the blessed Mother. And that is so ironic since she was my biggest obstacle in converting to the faith. I’ve always known that Jesus loves us and loves to surprise us with great answers to prayer. But what I am seeing now is that asking for her prayers is a good thing. Her praying for us seems to hold more weight than Joe Blow from Idaho praying for us. If you have a particular church friend whom you ask for prayers because the Lord seems to move in that person, then you know what I am talking about. James 5:16. Mary is a enemy of Satan and great warrior for the Lord and the Church. Genesis 3:15

Thanks for the question.

Pax

 

[Jon_S_1]

Hello all,
This question is addressed to those who converted to Catholicism, especially those who used to belong to one of the Protestant faith traditions, although any convert is welcome to reply.

Questions:
Has your life changed in any significant way(s) since converting to Catholicism? if so, please elaborate

**Has your faith been enhanced? If so, please provide an example or two **

**Have you been blessed materially or in some other way since converting to Catholicism or have you encountered more struggles, or are things about the same as they have always been? **

Thanks to those of you who choose to reply. I am curious if there were any major changes in your life or lifestyle since you “Crossed the Tiber” and if there were, do you attribute them to your decision to convert or were they unrelated?

For instance, if you are doing better financially and/or in your health or family life, do you attribute those blessings to be from God for you becoming Catholic? Conversely, if you have seen more struggles and/or challenges in your life since becoming Catholic, do you think this is God’s way of testing your newfound faith or do you believe it is Satan attacking you for your decision, or are these things unrelated altogether to your decision to convert to Catholicism?

Hey Tommy,

Former Evangelical here,

1). Yes my life has changed. I have a much greater prayer life, I have less struggles with purity issues and my relationship with my ex wife has greatly improved. I attribute this to Gods grace in converting my life to him. When I became Catholic it was a big commitment. Christianity became part of who I was instead of an accessory in my life.

1. my faith has been enhanced. I have learned a ton and I feel closer to God. I have great peace of mind knowing that the church’s authority and 2000 year tradition is there to help guide me in my faith journey.

3). Beware the prosperity gospel heresy. Things are about the same in this regard. Whether we are poor or rich or healthy or sick is not reflective of God s pleasure with us or displeasure. Suffering is part of the human experience. After all did not Christ himself suffer? Does that mean God was displeased with himself?

 

[Church_Militant]

Hello all,
This question is addressed to those who converted to Catholicism, especially those who used to belong to one of the Protestant faith traditions, although any convert is welcome to reply.

Questions:

Has your life changed in any significant way(s) since converting to Catholicism? if so, please elaborateAbsolutely! I am a “revert” raised in the church from birth diverted for about 35 years and came home about 12+ years ago.

I am many times a better man than I was before in part because I had fallen away from Christianity because of things that happened to me in n-C congregations.

I am much more attentive and caring with my wife and sons and my love for God, the Bible, and the church is far greater than ever before. See My Testimony

Has your faith been enhanced? If so, please provide an example or two

If by this you mean do I trust God more with every aspect of my life then certainly. I have many challenges in my life but I face each day knowing that He loves me and paid a horrific price for me which I can never deserve. But that mercy and lovingkindness motivates me to share my Catholic faith with anyone who will listen.

Have you been blessed materially or in some other way since converting to Catholicism or have you encountered more struggles, or are things about the same as they have always been?

I think we are better off now than before, but the real blessings are our sons and grandsons and the fellowship of a terrific pastor and parish

Thanks to those of you who choose to reply. I am curious if there were any major changes in your life or lifestyle since you “Crossed the Tiber” and if there were, do you attribute them to your decision to convert or were they unrelated?

All my behavior now is influenced by my Catholic faith. I am consecrated to be as much like Jesus as I can with the help of the Holy Spirit.

For instance, if you are doing better financially and/or in your health or family life, do you attribute those blessings to be from God for you becoming Catholic? Conversely, if you have seen more struggles and/or challenges in your life since becoming Catholic, do you think this is God’s way of testing your newfound faith or do you believe it is Satan attacking you for your decision, or are these things unrelated altogether to your decision to convert to Catholicism?

I personally do not hold to any of the “prosperity gospel” errors. Christ himself tells us that in the world we will have tribulations so when things are great I give praise to God and if things go sideways, I give praise to God. You have to realize that we Catholics are very connected to the early church and I know from history that they suffered far worse than I have and yet many gave up their lives for their faith. How can I do less? Stuff happens and unless a demon pops up to carry it out then I see it as just life and keep focused on my Lord and my God on that crucifix knowing that I will never suffer anything like He did for me.

 

[Tablefor9]

Hello all,
This question is addressed to those who converted to Catholicism, especially those who used to belong to one of the Protestant faith traditions, although any convert is welcome to reply.

Questions:
Has your life changed in any significant way(s) since converting to Catholicism? if so, please elaborate

Yes. Convert/Revert from Assemblies of God fellowship where my husband and younger children still attend. Our oldest son will be confirmed Catholic May 22. Our family is coming home one by one, it seems. I love going to Church more (whether for adoration or Mass, or just to sit with Jesus in the Tabernacle), have a greater desire to serve others, have a deeper prayer life, and a longing for personal holiness.

**Has your faith been enhanced? If so, please provide an example or two **

Yes. We still have struggles just like everyone else, but when I actually came back to the Church we were in a very dark place in our marriage and I was hanging off a precipice in my faith…I needed God to show up. It was the Year of Faith, and He did welcome me home. Times were rockier in my marriage after my conversion, my husband was hurt and angry. But our Lord has this amazing way of bringing beauty from ashes. I now can believe that my almost 20 yr marriage will live on, and that my children will all find their way home to the Church, too. Our family has learned to focus on the commonality, and honor each other. That’s miracle enough, and it helps us to face trials with grace and (hopefully) dignity.

 

[Tommy999]

Greetings, Tommy.

I’d say no life is still the same. Same bills, same problems as before.

I’d say this is rather relative, subjective as people convert to LDS and claim great miracles and what not.

My personal faith is enhanced, like going from a Standard definition TV to a clearer HDTV. My prayer life is much more abundant now. I’m praying daily, reading/reflecting the mass readings every day…trying to live a pious life everyday. I’m in church every Sunday, sometimes during the week as well for adoration. As a protestant I had serious lapses in faith and was backslidden at times. I never stopped believing but I did start to feel like Church itself just lacked importance. Why go to Church when I can listen to it on TV sort of thing.

I’d say the biggest difference I see is with the blessed Mother. And that is so ironic since she was my biggest obstacle in converting to the faith. I’ve always known that Jesus loves us and loves to surprise us with great answers to prayer. But what I am seeing now is that asking for her prayers is a good thing. Her praying for us seems to hold more weight than Joe Blow from Idaho praying for us. If you have a particular church friend whom you ask for prayers because the Lord seems to move in that person, then you know what I am talking about. James 5:16. Mary is a enemy of Satan and great warrior for the Lord and the Church. Genesis 3:15

Thanks for the question.

Pax

Thanks for sharing, Lenten_ashes. I really like your analogies about the HDTV and “Joe Blow from Idaho”. I wonder if he is related to Joe Blow from Kokomo? .

Also, the Mary aspect is quite interesting to me. I’d be interested in hearing more about the transformation in your life from Mary as an obstacle to your conversion to being a strong ally now who enhances your faith.

 

[Tommy999]

Hey Tommy,

Former Evangelical here,

1). Yes my life has changed. I have a much greater prayer life, I have less struggles with purity issues and my relationship with my ex wife has greatly improved. I attribute this to Gods grace in converting my life to him. When I became Catholic it was a big commitment. Christianity became part of who I was instead of an accessory in my life.

1. my faith has been enhanced. I have learned a ton and I feel closer to God. I have great peace of mind knowing that the church’s authority and 2000 year tradition is there to help guide me in my faith journey.

3). Beware the prosperity gospel heresy. Things are about the same in this regard. Whether we are poor or rich or healthy or sick is not reflective of God s pleasure with us or displeasure. Suffering is part of the human experience. After all did not Christ himself suffer? Does that mean God was displeased with himself?

Thanks, Jon S. Could you possibly elaborate a little more of #1, especially the last sentence?

Regarding #3, I am not an adherent to the prosperity gospel. I don’t believe that God wants all of His people to be rich and He definitely doesn’t want us to be materialistic, although I believe that God has promised in His Word to meet our basic needs.

I am not wealthy by any means but God has blessed me and my family with good jobs and a loving family and decent overall life. I think God tends to favor those who live according to His Word and obey His commands, kind of like the man in Proverbs 31 who was blessed with a wife who loved and followed the Lord, and by such verses as the first verse of Psalms 112, which is also my current CAF signature.

However, I had heard on Catholic radio about some folks whose lives got a lot tougher after they became Catholic, and instead of praying for God to help them through or out of their problems and suffering, my interpretation of what they said was that they were proud to join their sufferings to those of Christ, or something to that effect.

Honestly, I was a little confused by that concept and didn’t know if it is prevalent within Catholicism. It almost sounded (to me) like it was an excuse to just resign themselves to their fate rather than to buckle down and ask God for help, but perhaps I misunderstood what they were saying. If you or someone else could help clarify that for me, I would appreciate it.

 

[JustaServant]

Hello all,
This question is addressed to those who converted to Catholicism, especially those who used to belong to one of the Protestant faith traditions, although any convert is welcome to reply.

Questions:
Has your life changed in any significant way(s) since converting to Catholicism? if so, please elaborate

Great topic Tommy. I’ll answer the first question.
Since re-verting back to the Catholic Church I have found my attitudes, opinions, and behavior has changed. I used to be very negative, now I am far more optimistic. I used to be more restrictive and narrow-minded. Now I am more open-minded and compassionate. I used to be very right-wing. Now I am more open to people and opinions than I was before.
This is just my experience, other Catholics might have different experiences.

 

[Tommy999]

Absolutely! I am a “revert” raised in the church from birth diverted for about 35 years and came home about 12+ years ago.

I am many times a better man than I was before in part because I had fallen away from Christianity because of things that happened to me in n-C congregations.

I am much more attentive and caring with my wife and sons and my love for God, the Bible, and the church is far greater than ever before. See My Testimony
If by this you mean do I trust God more with every aspect of my life then certainly. I have many challenges in my life but I face each day knowing that He loves me and paid a horrific price for me which I can never deserve. But that mercy and lovingkindness motivates me to share my Catholic faith with anyone who will listen.
I think we are better off now than before, but the real blessings are our sons and grandsons and the fellowship of a terrific pastor and parish
All my behavior now is influenced by my Catholic faith. I am consecrated to be as much like Jesus as I can with the help of the Holy Spirit.
I personally do not hold to any of the “prosperity gospel” errors. Christ himself tells us that in the world we will have tribulations so when things are great I give praise to God and if things go sideways, I give praise to God. You have to realize that we Catholics are very connected to the early church and I know from history that they suffered far worse than I have and yet many gave up their lives for their faith. How can I do less? Stuff happens and unless a demon pops up to carry it out then I see it as just life and keep focused on my Lord and my God on that crucifix knowing that I will never suffer anything like He did for me.

Thanks, Church Militant. I reread your testimony just now. Very inspirational and I could tell it was honest and sincere, which I like very much in a person.

When it comes to the so-called “prosperity gospel”, I don’t believe in it, either, but believe that there are blessings that naturally flow from following the Lord and obeying His commands, although the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike, and sometimes bad things happen to Christians for no apparent reason and we must trust Him regardless of our circumstances.

For example, my wife was in a bad car accident about 10 years ago when she got T-boned by a van than ran a red light. She wound up with a steel plate in her upper back from it. It still causes her pain. Also, when I was young, my older brother, who loved the Lord very much and was attending Divinity School at a well-known university was killed in a freak car accident that was not his fault. I love him very much and still miss him all these years later and hope to see him again in heaven some day.

Along those lines, I like to follow the philosophy found in the Christian praise song by Matt Redman called ‘Blessed Be Your Name’.

youtube.com/watch?v=PnWKehsOXu8

May the Lord continue to bless your life, Church Militant.

 

[Tommy999]

Yes. Convert/Revert from Assemblies of God fellowship where my husband and younger children still attend. Our oldest son will be confirmed Catholic May 22. Our family is coming home one by one, it seems. I love going to Church more (whether for adoration or Mass, or just to sit with Jesus in the Tabernacle), have a greater desire to serve others, have a deeper prayer life, and a longing for personal holiness.

Yes. We still have struggles just like everyone else, but when I actually came back to the Church we were in a very dark place in our marriage and I was hanging off a precipice in my faith…I needed God to show up. It was the Year of Faith, and He did welcome me home. Times were rockier in my marriage after my conversion, my husband was hurt and angry. But our Lord has this amazing way of bringing beauty from ashes. I now can believe that my almost 20 yr marriage will live on, and that my children will all find their way home to the Church, too. Our family has learned to focus on the commonality, and honor each other. That’s miracle enough, and it helps us to face trials with grace and (hopefully) dignity.

May the Lord richly bless you, Tablefor9. It must be challenging to live in a “mixed marriage” of sorts. I used to be Assembly of God for several years, too. I really like your comment when you say, “**Our family has learned to focus on the commonality, and honor each other.”. **

I wish you and your family all the best, and I pray that the Lord would continue to strengthen your marriage, even though you are not both Catholic.

 

[Tommy999]

Great topic Tommy. I’ll answer the first question.
Since re-verting back to the Catholic Church I have found my attitudes, opinions, and behavior has changed. I used to be very negative, now I am far more optimistic. I used to be more restrictive and narrow-minded. Now I am more open-minded and compassionate. I used to be very right-wing. Now I am more open to people and opinions than I was before.
This is just my experience, other Catholics might have different experiences.

Thanks for sharing, JustaServant. I find it interesting that you said that, because although I’m not Catholic, I have found that I am more optimistic and open-minded since joining CAF and am not as judgmental and narrow-minded as I used to be, so I can relate to what you said.

I heard it once said that “God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason” and I’ve tried to live by that motto as much as I can by listening more and talking less.

 

[Jon_S_1]

Thanks, Jon S. Could you possibly elaborate a little more of #1, especially the last sentence?

Sure, Catholicism is a form of Christianity that is designed to create saints and mold one into a true disciple in the image ofChrist. Evangelicalism that I came from, while having the same goal, was in a way undermined by its own theology of once saved always saved. There was Zero consequence for my sins and thus not much reason for Christianity to be anything more than an accessory in the bag of life. Not sure if your background is once saved always saved, I understand there are varied opinions in evangelicalism on that.

So in Catholicism, we believe God really wants us to be made holy and we can work with him to move toward that goal now (all by his grace). So in the sacraments and weekly church participation, daily prayer, etc…we really participate in the life of Christ.

When I was evangelical I was sincere, but in retrospect I was sincere in the American Dream of which being a church going Christian was a part of.

Regarding #3, I am not an adherent to the prosperity gospel. I don’t believe that God wants all of His people to be rich and He definitely doesn’t want us to be materialistic, although I believe that God has promised in His Word to meet our basic needs.

I am not wealthy by any means but God has blessed me and my family with good jobs and a loving family and decent overall life. I think God tends to favor those who live according to His Word and obey His commands, kind of like the man in Proverbs 31 who was blessed with a wife who loved and followed the Lord, and by such verses as the first verse of Psalms 112, which is also my current CAF signature.

However, I had heard on Catholic radio about some folks whose lives got a lot tougher after they became Catholic, and instead of praying for God to help them through or out of their problems and suffering, my interpretation of what they said was that they were proud to join their sufferings to those of Christ, or something to that effect.

Honestly, I was a little confused by that concept and didn’t know if it is prevalent within Catholicism. It almost sounded (to me) like it was an excuse to just resign themselves to their fate rather than to buckle down and ask God for help, but perhaps I misunderstood what they were saying. If you or someone else could help clarify that for me, I would appreciate it.

Glad to hear you do not hold to the full blown prosperity gospel, but it in some way sounds like you hold a slight form of it. While I agree that There are natural blessings from right choices, I don’t think they are guaranteed or even necessarily expected.

If God rewards his faithful with blessings, why did Job suffer? Why are Christisn missionaries murdered, why was the early church so persecuted?

In Americanism, i.e. The American Dream, hard work equals success and that principle, while true has contaminated Christianity in some ways by making people think that if they are good Christians God will bless them.

It just doesn’t work that way and a realistic look at the world around us both today and through history will confirm that.

I think you did misunderstand the comment about joining suffering to Christ. Just like Christ prayed to not have to endure the cross, we can and do pray for peace and help in our lives. But when we have trials we rejoice in our trials as they refine us into the image of Christ and difficulty in this life can help free us from worldly attachments.

Hopefully this quote from Cardinal Newman can inspire you.

"has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission—I never may know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. Somehow I am necessary for His purposes, as necessary in my place as an Archangel in his—if, indeed, I fail, He can raise another, as He could make the stones children of Abraham. Yet I have a part in this great work; I am a link in a chain, a bond of connexion between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do His work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling.

1. Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain; He may prolong my life, He may shorten it; He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends, He may throw me among strangers, He {302} may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide the future from me—still He knows what He is about."

Also my blog on suffering may help the conversation

findingthecatholicchurch.blogspot.com/2014/02/should-christians-have-to-suffer.html?m=1

 

[Randy_Carson]

Hello all,
This question is addressed to those who converted to Catholicism, especially those who used to belong to one of the Protestant faith traditions, although any convert is welcome to reply.

Questions:
Has your life changed in any significant way(s) since converting to Catholicism? if so, please elaborate

**Has your faith been enhanced? If so, please provide an example or two **

**Have you been blessed materially or in some other way since converting to Catholicism or have you encountered more struggles, or are things about the same as they have always been? **

Thanks to those of you who choose to reply. I am curious if there were any major changes in your life or lifestyle since you “Crossed the Tiber” and if there were, do you attribute them to your decision to convert or were they unrelated?

For instance, if you are doing better financially and/or in your health or family life, do you attribute those blessings to be from God for you becoming Catholic? Conversely, if you have seen more struggles and/or challenges in your life since becoming Catholic, do you think this is God’s way of testing your newfound faith or do you believe it is Satan attacking you for your decision, or are these things unrelated altogether to your decision to convert to Catholicism?

Going from Protestant to Catholic may be like putting on glasses for the first time as this video shows:

youtube.com/watch?v=84-Cuc-Tz2o

We fight at first…and then everything becomes clearer.

 

[Jon_S_1]

Going from Protestant to Catholic may be like putting on glasses for the first time as this video shows:

youtube.com/watch?v=84-Cuc-Tz2o

We fight at first…and then everything becomes clearer.

So true, it is like that! And part of the wonder is not realizing how much you were missing!

 

[katy]

About redemptive suffering, which I find is very helpful and comes from the Biblical verse:
"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the divine office which was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now made manifest to his saints.” (Colossians 1:24-26)

This is from a writing of JPII titled Salvifici Doloris (On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering). I am not very good at explaining things myself, and he put into words what I would, but badly.

“A source of joy is found in the overcoming of the sense of the uselessness of suffering, a feeling that is sometimes very strongly rooted in human suffering. This feeling not only consumes the person interiorly but seems to make him a burden to others. The person feels condemned to receive help and assistance from others and at the same time seems useless to himself. The discovery of the salvific meaning of suffering in union with Christ transforms this depressing feeling. Faith in sharing in the suffering of Christ brings with it the interior certainty that the suffering person “completes what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions”; the certainty that in the spiritual dimension of the work of redemption he is serving, like Christ, the salvation of his brothers and sisters. Therefore he is carrying out an irreplaceable service.” (SD 27)

 

[Tommy999]

Not sure if your background is once saved always saved, I understand there are varied opinions in evangelicalism on that.

No, I do not adhere to OSAS and never have. I think that is a dangerous philosophy that can lead to libertine behavior. (Romans 6:1-2) I believe that we Christians must persevere to the end to be saved and we can freely choose to exit the expressway of faith by our own free will at any point, which I do not intend to ever do, with God’s help.

Glad to hear you do not hold to the full blown prosperity gospel, but it in some way sounds like you hold a slight form of it. While I agree that There are natural blessings from right choices, I don’t think they are guaranteed or even necessarily expected.

If God rewards his faithful with blessings, why did Job suffer? Why are Christian missionaries murdered, why was the early church so persecuted?

I was mainly applying the law of sowing an reaping. I happen to believe the Christian faith to be true. However, even if I didn’t, I think there are natural benefits that flow from right choices that come from Christ’s teachings. For example, I do my best to work as unto the Lord and not just for man (Colossians 3:23).

Sometimes, I can tell when my boss is around and when he isn’t by the behavior of my coworkers and how active or inactive they become. I was told once by a boss that he appreciated my work ethic, when all I was doing was applying Colossians 3:23.

I think you did misunderstand the comment about joining suffering to Christ. Just like Christ prayed to not have to endure the cross, we can and do pray for peace and help in our lives. But when we have trials we rejoice in our trials as they refine us into the image of Christ and difficulty in this life can help free us from worldly attachments.

I agree that trials help refine us into the image of Christ and difficulty in this life can help free us from worldly attachments. For example, I gave up ice cream for Lent. That was very hard for me as I have never done that before. However, with one week to go, I have not missed it as much as I thought I would. God has helped me focus on other things in its place. I also have suffered significant losses in my life as I mentioned in post #9 so I know that each of us will have trials and tribulations in this life, some more than others.

What I was speaking of was something different. For example, if a wife has an abusive spouse, should she pray and take practical steps to get away from the abuse and protect her children or should she consider it as her cross to bear and join her sufferings to those of Christ? I happen to believe she should protect herself and any children she has until such time that the husband gets his act together and is no longer abusive.

Perhaps I misunderstood what they were saying on the Catholic radio station I was listening to, but it almost sounded like the proper Catholic response was to grin and bear it and offer up your sufferings to Christ in such a case. I hope I misunderstood that.

 

[Lenten_ashes]

Thanks, Church Militant. I reread your testimony just now. Very inspirational and I could tell it was honest and sincere, which I like very much in a person.

When it comes to the so-called “prosperity gospel”, I don’t believe in it, either, but believe that there are blessings that naturally flow from following the Lord and obeying His commands, although the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike, and sometimes bad things happen to Christians for no apparent reason and we must trust Him regardless of our circumstances.

For example, my wife was in a bad car accident about 10 years ago when she got T-boned by a van than ran a red light. She wound up with a steel plate in her upper back from it. It still causes her pain. Also, when I was young, my older brother, who loved the Lord very much and was attending Divinity School at a well-known university was killed in a freak car accident that was not his fault. I love him very much and still miss him all these years later and hope to see him again in heaven some day.

Along those lines, I like to follow the philosophy found in the Christian praise song by Matt Redman called ‘Blessed Be Your Name’.

youtube.com/watch?v=PnWKehsOXu8

May the Lord continue to bless your life, Church Militant.

I love, love, LOVE that song. Makes me tear up everytime i hear it. Thanks for sharing and reminding me of it.

 

[katy]

I know for certain the Church does not advocate staying with an abusive spouse, endangering herself (or himself) and the children. As I understand it, we are not to seek suffering, but when it comes to us anyway it can be joined to Christ’s suffering and be fruitful.

 

[exnihilo]

Has your life changed in any significant way(s) since converting to Catholicism? if so, please elaborate

I am happier, more at peace, and more compassionate. That isn’t to say I am always experiencing or demonstrating the maximal of any of these. I still experience ups and downs. But over all I experience these more and to a greater degree.

Has your faith been enhanced? If so, please provide an example or two

My faith is greatly enhanced. I have a deeper and stronger faith. In particular I feel a greater bond to the Church throughout time and place. As a Protestant I certainly recognized other Christians. But it is different as a Catholic. We were recently lucky enough to vacation in Hawaii. When we attended Mass there I didn’t feel completely like a visitor. I felt like the local church was just as much mine as my home parish. As a Protestant I could have attended other services, though I never did. But I don’t imagine I would have experienced the same sense of not really just belonging but, properly understood, ownership.

As a Catholic I also feel tied through history all the way back to the Church at its foundation. As a Protestant we certainly viewed ourselves as continuing in the teachings of Jesus. But the fundamental foundation of Protestantism is that the Church in some way got significantly off the tracks. In my experience, other than folks mentioned in the Bible, we mostly concerned ourselves with Christians from the founding of Protestantism up until today. There was oddly an exception for St. Augustine.

Now I get to experience Saints from throughout the history of the Church. And with that I get specific examples of how diverse men and women submitted to the will of God. I find these holy men and women to be great inspiration. But as important is that throughout the Catholic world the Church is honoring these same Saints at the same time. As a Protestant I might hear about a holy person in a sermon or in a book. But the whole Protestant world wasn’t joining together on a specific day to honor and learn from that person’s example.

My faith has been enhanced by daily Mass. I can go to Mass any day of the week. I can offer God the highest form of worship every day. I can experience the sacramental presence of God every day. I can enter a quiet church and pray before God every day. Nothing can build faith more than this.

Have you been blessed materially or in some other way since converting to Catholicism or have you encountered more struggles, or are things about the same as they have always been?

No, my material condition has not changed. Things are the same.

 

[Tommy999]

I love, love, LOVE that song. Makes me tear up everytime i hear it. Thanks for sharing and reminding me of it.

You’re very welcome, Lenten_ashes. I really like it and am blessed by it, too. I’m glad others are as well.