Share your "Moment of Change"

[JRKH]

In another thread about the minimum required to get to heaven, we were challanged to share our personal moments of change. That point when our Lord really changed us.

Review the post Quote below from the other thread and respond.
(I added the bold to highlight the question and grayed the first comment as it only relates to the other thread.)

Thanks to Ginger2 for a great question.

Let’s have at it.

James

Originally Posted by Ginger2
I am greatly offended at this question and its implication toward protestants.

Being saved doesn’t mean you can forget about God and get on with your worldly life!!!

On the contrary, God begins to change your life. You begin to lose your desire for worldly things and your focus becomes more and more on the things of God.

It’s not out of duty or responsibility. It is not because you are supposed to… It is a desire that comes from within.

Are there really no Catholics who understand what I am saying?

Did any Catholic ever experience that moment of change when you finally understood, and began to long for God with your whole heart and soul? I mean REALLY long for Him - for His will to be fulfilled thru you. To be able to give something back to Him.

All my life I believed and I did what I was supposed to. But there were specific stepping stones that I can look back on and see clearly how God has conducted my life despite my stupidity and brought me to understanding and desire for Him. God has changed me from the inside out.

Tell me your story. I long to hear what God has done for you. I don’t want to hear about your traditions and rituals. I want to hear how God has changed you.

Anyone, anyone at all. Boast to me of the Lord’s power and mercy.

 

[JRKH]

I am a Cradle Catholic and a Revert. I just returned to the Church in the last couple of months after being away (in varying degrees of seperation) for about 30 years.

While I cannot say I have had a dramatic “Turning Point” I have to say that, while I never really forgot my roots, it wasn’t until I came back to the Church that I realized how much I had misssed it.

My Wife and I have been struggling with Alzheimers. Through the good work and love of my godfather, we began considering a return to the Church. To do this would entail my obtaining an Annulment of my first marriage. I struggled with this for some time. Then, one early morning as I lay awake thinking about this, my wife raised the blanket made the sign of the cross and put the blanket back down. She was sound asleep at the time. I couldn’t believe my eyes but there it was. After that my doubts dissapated and 9 months later our marriage was convalidated in the Chuch.

I knew that by returning to the Church I couldn’t just go through the motions which is what it became during my growing up years. I had to come with a true belief and realization of Gods Love for me and what He was willing to endure for my sake.
The first time I recieved the Eucharist after so many years was as beautiful an experience as I can ever remember.

I realize this isn’t a great “revelation” type moment, but it was significant for me, and for my Dear Wife.

James

P.S. I wish to add that, through the Grace of Our Lord, my wife is recovering from alzheimers. Prayers do heal!! Praise be his Holy Name

James

 

[Matas]

The OP quoted, “I don’t want to hear about your traditions and rituals.”

I suspect that the original poster who’s quoted above is some non-catholic trying to evangelize catholics. “When were you saved?” kind of thing. I can not share my story without including all those “irrelevant” traditions and rituals.

 

[water]

Did any Catholic ever experience that moment of change when you finally understood, and began to long for God with your whole heart and soul.

When one is far from the Catholic church, he/she misses out many treasures that God has given to. One of them is the lives of the Saints. Oh my, who much could he/she learn about their lives and their love for God and people.

For this poster, I recommended her/him to get some book about Canonized Saints and read it.

 

[JRKH]

The OP quoted, “I don’t want to hear about your traditions and rituals.”

I suspect that the original poster who’s quoted above is some non-catholic trying to evangelize catholics. “When were you saved?” kind of thing. I can not share my story without including all those “irrelevant” traditions and rituals.

I don’t believe this at all or I would not have started this thread.

I certainly don’t care if rituals and traditions are included. If a person has a life changing revelation during Mass or Confession or doing the dishes it really doesn’t matter.

The idea here is to share your experience.

God Bless

James

 

[JRKH]

When one is far from the Catholic church, he/she misses out many treasures that God has given to. One of them is the lives of the Saints. Oh my, who much could he/she learn about their lives and their love for God and people.

For this poster, I recommended her/him to get some book about Canonized Saints and read it.

That is a good idea for us all. I would especially recommend books about recent and current holy people as well.
JP II
Sr. Theresa
Mother Angelica
Come to Mind.

But how about yourself Water. Have you had a Life altering experience?

James

 

[water]

we were challanged to share our personal moments of change. That point when our Lord really changed us.

But how about yourself Water. Have you had a Life altering experience?

James

God has changed us when we were born and baptized, it is us who decide to undo the change. Anyhow, God has given me the button “Redo” (as if in Microsoft product) about a year ago and I am still working on it.

 

[LISA_Annette]

In another thread about the minimum required to get to heaven, we were challanged to share our personal moments of change. That point when our Lord really changed us.

Review the post Quote below from the other thread and respond.
(I added the bold to highlight the question and grayed the first comment as it only relates to the other thread.)

Thanks to Ginger2 for a great question.

Let’s have at it.

James

There was a time that I changed dramatically in my life, but that doesn’t mean there are more changes to be made. But it was a special experience to know that God exists Personally, and actually Knows me. * Intellectually*, I might have known that before, but I needed to* believe that in my heart *and soul. Some would say I was “born again”—so whatever you want to call it, I woke up in my faith after seeing a picture of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus, a picture that has been seen so much—but I had an intimate and unmistakably powerful experience. Twenty four yrs ago, and I still remember it.

 

[JohnPaulTwoToo]

In another thread about the minimum required to get to heaven, we were challanged to share our personal moments of change. That point when our Lord really changed us.

I greet a challenge like this with the same indifference that Jesus expressed regarding signs and wonders. Many covet and receive these gifts without conversion, and respond with nothing better than conceit. If our separated bretheren want testimony to Catholic spritual experience, then they should stop denying the very public miracles at Fatima: Our Lady of Fatima.

The saints write abundantly that graces are showered profligately about us, good soil, rocky soil, and thorns. Every grace that I have received has affirmed the Magisterium of the Catholic Church and refuted protestant heresies. No loud-mouthed protestant “witness” has ever impressed me.

 

[JRKH]

I must say that I am somewhat disappointed with the responses so far.
Are there no Catholic Converts here who can share their experience?
Are we afraid of witnessing to events in our lives that really changed us and brought us closer to our Lord?

OK. So we are baptized and a member of God’s Church. If we are such good witnesses to Him, why do we shy away from sharing our experiences.

Remember, this thread was started by me, not Ginger2. Her question was only the inspiration for it.

I believe that everyone has experiences in their lives that provide a profound new insights into their faith - that is if they are looking for them - and it is obvious to me that some here have had these experiences. I shared mine how about others. It may not fit the same senerio that Ginger2 envisions but they would certainly be valid here.

So how about it - does no one want to share their moments? Or are we content to simply snipe and “read into” the original intent of the thread. I have no hidden agenda. If Ginger2 does then that is his/her issue.

I am truly saddened that no one here yet has shared a truly life altering experience whether it be from a convert, re-vert, or life long Catholic. I have shared part of mine, are there any others?

May God Bless

James

 

[LilyM]

I must say that I am somewhat disappointed with the responses so far.
Are there no Catholic Converts here who can share their experience?
Are we afraid of witnessing to events in our lives that really changed us and brought us closer to our Lord?

OK. So we are baptized and a member of God’s Church. If we are such good witnesses to Him, why do we shy away from sharing our experiences.

Remember, this thread was started by me, not Ginger2. Her question was only the inspiration for it.

I believe that everyone has experiences in their lives that provide a profound new insights into their faith - that is if they are looking for them - and it is obvious to me that some here have had these experiences. I shared mine how about others. It may not fit the same senerio that Ginger2 envisions but they would certainly be valid here.

So how about it - does no one want to share their moments? Or are we content to simply snipe and “read into” the original intent of the thread. I have no hidden agenda. If Ginger2 does then that is his/her issue.

I am truly saddened that no one here yet has shared a truly life altering experience whether it be from a convert, re-vert, or life long Catholic. I have shared part of mine, are there any others?

May God Bless

James

It’s because life for the Catholic is a CONSTANT process of change and conversion and changing again and converting again, and drawing ever closer to God in usually subtle ways THROUGHOUT it all.

It’s the height of presumption to think there’s a moment where we ‘arrive’ at any sort of pinnacle either at understanding of God or His will or of longing for him.

My life as a revert Catholic has been a CONSTANT longing for God and his will and growth in understanding. And I mean that quite literally, every day, almost every moment since my reversion. And the understanding and longing simply grow and grow together.

Every single new experience has contributed to my understanding and longing, like the snowflakes that together make an avalanche. You can’t say that any one was ‘the’ snowflake that caused it.

It’s like asking a married couple to define the moment when their love for each other was at its height. Hopefully they’ll answer that the greatest heights and depths and breadths are yet to come, and that there is always more to attain to!

 

[JRKH]

LilyM,
Beautifully said. Thank you so much.
May God continue to Bless You.

James

It’s because life for the Catholic is a CONSTANT process of change and conversion and changing again and converting again, and drawing ever closer to God in usually subtle ways THROUGHOUT it all.

It’s the height of presumption to think there’s a moment where we ‘arrive’ at any sort of pinnacle either at understanding of God or His will or of longing for him.

My life as a revert Catholic has been a CONSTANT longing for God and his will and growth in understanding. And I mean that quite literally, every day, almost every moment since my reversion. And the understanding and longing simply grow and grow together.

Every single new experience has contributed to my understanding and longing, like the snowflakes that together make an avalanche. You can’t say that any one was ‘the’ snowflake that caused it.

It’s like asking a married couple to define the moment when their love for each other was at its height. Hopefully they’ll answer that the greatest heights and depths and breadths are yet to come, and that there is always more to attain to!

 

[Coreopisis]

I must say that I am somewhat disappointed with the responses so far.
Are there no Catholic Converts here who can share their experience?
Are we afraid of witnessing to events in our lives that really changed us and brought us closer to our Lord?

OK. So we are baptized and a member of God’s Church. If we are such good witnesses to Him, why do we shy away from sharing our experiences.

Remember, this thread was started by me, not Ginger2. Her question was only the inspiration for it.

I believe that everyone has experiences in their lives that provide a profound new insights into their faith - that is if they are looking for them - and it is obvious to me that some here have had these experiences. I shared mine how about others. It may not fit the same senerio that Ginger2 envisions but they would certainly be valid here.

So how about it - does no one want to share their moments? Or are we content to simply snipe and “read into” the original intent of the thread. I have no hidden agenda. If Ginger2 does then that is his/her issue.

I am truly saddened that no one here yet has shared a truly life altering experience whether it be from a convert, re-vert, or life long Catholic. I have shared part of mine, are there any others?

May God Bless

James

I am not a Catholic convert and have been practicing my whole life so I am not sure I can share but I am goign to anyway just for the heck of it. I went to Catholic grade school and always went to church and have some very spiritual and Catholic persons in my family. This has blessed me with always longing to be closer to God because most people around me did.

However all this doesn’t mean that I don’t have confirmations of my faith where I feel like the fire, that is my desire to be with God, isn’t inflamed as if logs were thrown onto an already burning fire.

I can think of one in particular. One was when I was maybe 7. I grew up next door to my Grandparents. My very spiritual and religous Grandfather had Pancreatic cancer and his bedroom window was on ground level near our backyard where we played. If you know anyone who has had that it is a horrible death, extremely painful and you basically starve to death and fecal matter start comign out of your mouth.

He was in such pain that when they would move him he would scream. We could hear him while we played and often would find ourselves in tears.

He was a living skeleton. Yet, despite all his pain and medication he would get out of bed and kneel next to the bed to pray the rosary as long as he could. You could see the sweat from the pain. I would hurt for him. Yet he WANTED to do it for God. He wouldn’t even hurry through the prayer. I never ever heard him ask God to take the cancer away. He would just pray.

Eventually he could no longer kneel. We would visit him and he would always smile except near the end when he was delusional. He always loved God very much and would pray in front of us and even through this continued to pray for his son who was killed in a car accident a couple years prior. I remember thinking that if I were him I would hate God for letting me get such a horrible cancer and letting my son die. (I was only 7 and didn’t know any better) I would cry at night that God would let this happen to my Grandpa. He was a good man and did nothing bad. No sinning that I was ever aware of. No drinking, no drugs always building people up and never knocking them down.

When he finally died my Grandma was all alone. It was so sad and my heart ached for her. Yet she didn’t hate God either and that had a profound effect on me. She kept telling me that it was God’s will that he had cancer and she thanked God for letting him die so that he wouldn’t suffer any longer. Somehow I started to understand but I am not sure how or exactly when. She said that she looked forward to seeing him someday when she died.

Since then I find myself much more accepting of life circumstances and have felt in my heart that burning that you are talking about. To love God so much no matter what happens to you is very inspiring to those around you, especially to an impressionable child.

 

[JRKH]

Coreopisis,

Thank you for sharing. I have tears in my eyes.
What a blessed example to have in your heart.

James

 

[bpbasilphx]

<<In another thread about the minimum required to get to heaven, we were challanged to share our personal moments of change. That point when our Lord really changed us.>>

But the Lord is ALWAYS changing us every moment of every day, as we lean on Him!

He changes us more and more into His image and likeness every time we receive the Holy Eucharist (among other things).

This is what Eastern Christianity calls “theosis.”

 

[Coreopisis]

Coreopisis,

Thank you for sharing. I have tears in my eyes.
What a blessed example to have in your heart.

James

Thanks James I am glad you liked it. My Grandpa was a good man I miss him very much.

I understand what the other posters are talking about but I also understand what you are asking and think there is a slight disconnect.

I do always have a desire to be with God but sometimes you get busy wiht life and you sort of loose sight of it. Then something happens and it snaps you back and you feel like a few logs were dropped on the fire.

My brother died last year of a drug overdose. I got angry with God for a good month but then I got over it and actually felt closer to God. I don’t know how or why but I did. This is just another small example.

 

[JohnPaulTwoToo]

I am truly saddened that no one here yet has shared a truly life altering experience whether it be from a convert, re-vert, or life long Catholic. I have shared part of mine, are there any others?

Giving you an overview of my spiritual journey may help you understand my “attitude”:

First: Graces personally received – personal experiences, dreams, visions, locutions, impossible coincidences, learned and charismatic people, ardent prayers, pilgrimages, retreats, studies, readings – all totally wasted and to no effect.

Next: Discovery of the little flowers like St. Theresa and St. Faustina, and the workmen like St. Maximilian, St. Louis de Montfort, and Ven. John Paul II – resulting in some real understanding of what holiness is all about. (St. Faustina totally blew me away!) Which led to:

Finally: The Queen of Saints, Mary Most Holy! Tower of ivory, House of gold, Ark of the covenant, Gate of heaven! You know the litany. It’s all true. Never let me stray from her kind gaze. Any desire for change, after that, seems like ingratitude. I pray only in thanksgiving.

Oh, and she didn’t let anything go to waste! All those scraps and loose threads from before were knitted into a wonderful, multicoloured garment, just as she does for all her family – most suitable attire for receiving the Eucharist, the flesh and blood she clothed her Son in.

http://www.aohdiv2.org/images/rosary1.jpg

 

[JRKH]

Giving you an overview of my spiritual journey may help you understand my “attitude”:

First: Graces personally received – personal experiences, dreams, visions, locutions, impossible coincidences, learned and charismatic people, ardent prayers, pilgrimages, retreats, studies, readings – all totally wasted and to no effect.

Next: Discovery of the little flowers like St. Theresa and St. Faustina, and the workmen like St. Maximilian, St. Louis de Montfort, and Ven. John Paul II – resulting in some real understanding of what holiness is all about. (St. Faustina totally blew me away!) Which led to:

Finally: The Queen of Saints, Mary Most Holy! Tower of ivory, House of gold, Ark of the covenant, Gate of heaven! You know the litany. It’s all true. Never let me stray from her kind gaze. Any desire for change, after that, seems like ingratitude. I pray only in thanksgiving.

Oh, and she didn’t let anything go to waste! All those scraps and loose threads from before were knitted into a wonderful, multicoloured garment, just as she does for all her family – most suitable attire for receiving the Eucharist, the flesh and blood she clothed her Son in.

JP2too

Thank you. Now were talking!!

I like how you tie everyting together in your last section. Although you say that the first items were “all totally wasted and to no effect,” in fact they weren’t because Our Lady, “didn’t let anything go to waste! All those scraps and loose threads from before were knitted into a wonderful, multicoloured garment”. This is so true.

God works in so many wonderess ways, large and small, but what so many people forget (myself included sometimes) is the amount of growing involved in following Christ.

There may (or may not) be a “lightbulb” moment, when one realizes how much they need God, but after that there is a lifetime of learning, living, and growing with God. That is where the real test lies.

Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut.
Also Thanks for the beautiful image of our Lady.

May God Continue to Bless you on your Journey

James

 

[AngelsAmongUs]

I grew up Protestent attending a Baptist church during my youth, then I converted to Catholicism recently. I can’t tell you there was “one” life altering moment that changed me forever, but there have been “millions of moments” throughout my life. And every one of those moments have been a blessing.

But maybe it was the moment I had when I was just a kid around the age of 11 yrs old when I went up to the front of the church for alter call. I think I just kind of floated up there on a cloud. I can’t remember my feet ever touching the ground, but I felt a “tug” and the next thing I remember I was standing in front of the church saying that I accepted Jesus into my heart. But even before then I knew my heart belonged to Jesus. I can’t remember a time when it didn’t. I used to pray to God before I even knew how to pray. When I was a kid I would talk to God at night as if he was sitting on the edge of my bed.

Or maybe it was the moment when I was baptised, as I’m quite sure something profound happened to me that night.

Perhaps it was the moment that the Priest annoited me with oil at my confirmation. I thought I would lose my balance for a few seconds, and I knew something wonderful just happened to me.

But then there was the time that I made the sacrament of reconciliation and I remember feeling light and free and I didn’t think I would make it out of the Church before I started crying. I think I cried all the way home that day thanking God for his Mercy and for forgiving me…a poor sinner.

But wait, the moment I received communion for the first time in my life was the happiest day for me. Receiving the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ…well there are just no words to describe that feeling and it truly was a special moment.

My life with Jesus has been a life long journey and millions of moments that has brought me here. And every single life changing moment has led to the next life changing moment. Where some might point to one particular moment in their life and say, “that’s it.” I cannot do that. I treasure each and every moment I’ve had with Jesus. Each one is just as special as the next. He lives in me and I carry Him wherever I go. Wherever He leads me, I will follow, and wherever he takes me, there I’ll be.

God Bless !

 

[VoxOrion]

I’m kind of surprised at the resistance, almost hostility, toward the idea of individuals sharing a moment about their conversion - I see numerous “Tiber Swim Team” footers for posters - I can’t believe that converts are unable to put something together. At some point many of us were not Catholic, then determined that we were Catholic - isn’t that the very definition of change? I don’t know whether to take it as some kind of extraordianry piety, or being contrarian for contrarian’s sake (or the whiff of protestantism associated with discussing a change).

Perhaps some of you who are converts have forgotten the strength and visibility of Christ working in people’s lives you experienced when hearing other’s tell of their conversion stories, or perhaps it’s hard for a cradle Catholic to appreciate them.

I’m new to Catholicism, and new to this board - my faith is stronger ever day, but I’m wondering if this is the right place for me.