To protestant converts:

[Layman_F]

The Holy Spirit brought me to the Church. Even as a child (I was not raised in any church or denomination), if I needed to pray, I would go to the Catholic Church in my hometown, go inside, kneel down, and pray. I always felt compelled to go there. The door were always open too, whereas, the protestant churches in town always had locked doors.

Throughout my life, I’ve always had little things or “coincidences” happen that pointed to the Church. One of the very last things that “sealed the deal” for me was this: I was trying to decide whether or not to join the Church (I like how I was trying to decide. God had all ready decided I should join. ). As we drove down the highway, I had my eyes closed and I was praying with all my heart for God to show me which path I should take. When I opened my eyes, a huge semi passed on my side of the truck. The words on the side of the truck said, “POPE.”

God has a sense of humor.

I’m still in awe of how often these kind of "coincidences"are a part of people coming to belief.

 

[CatherineOH]

I’m still in awe of how often these kind of "coincidences"are a part of people coming to belief.

He shows us the way. It is us who must Listen.

Being raised Lutheran, then United Methodist, I removed my letter of membership with the UMC years ago when they became pro-choice, and pro-gay/lesbian. I believe in hating the sin but loving this sinner, but they were proving to be lovers of the sin. I returned to the Lutheran church after much seeking.

As a Lutheran, I already crossed myself, prayed the rosary, believed in the presence in the Eucharistic, had communion at EVERY mass …etc etc

Then I cam across an important book in my life by a theosophist. Anne Bessant ‘Esoteric Christianity’ which lead me to reading the Tao and others. Then an important person became known to me by the name of Thomas Merton I have a small collection of his works. Unknown to me before entering RICA, he was a Catholic Monk. My favorite quote of his is; “The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them.” This line was the fire lighting the crucible at Christmas. (My favorite book is the 7 storied mountain)

For all the reasons mentioned by others before me, including Pope Paul’s letter on women and many other things, I am now Catholic. Yes, it has taken quite some time. I"m not a joiner. It has only taken about 25 years, but I did join an RICA class last fall. I just wanted to learn more, and something was pushing me that direction. It was the same something that has urged me to do many things in my life. Some would call it my guardian angel, others the holy spirit, still others my patron saint. Perhaps it was all of the above. It took a lot of shoving.

The last I took communion in the Lutheran church at Christmas.It seemed empty. That is when Merton’s line came to mind and I started thinking of it in terms of the original separation of Martin Luther from the church. I heartily believe that if Luther were alive today, he would still be part of the church. It took the church about 100 years to correct itself, but it indeed did. Martin Luther, Wycliff, Tyndale, Calvin and the rest were taking the WORD and twisting it to fit their own image. More have followed in their example bringing most of the Protestant denominations further away from the WORD. The next night I knew the next time, I would be taking communion (the Eucharistic) as a person in communion with the Catholic church., for the Church is the original one and is the one Jesus started. … and so here I am.

 

[Della]

I can relate CatherineOH to what you wrote about the reformers because as a former Episcopalian I too thought about our founder and realized the only thing that had caused Henry VIII’s break with Rome was that Rome wouldn’t give him what he wanted–an annulment. Henry died believing himself still a good Catholic, strangely enough. But those who followed him took things way beyond what he intended because men’s desires, not God, was at the back of it.

I was happy as an Episcopalian. The liturgy was lovely, the hymns beautiful and rich in meaning, I had read nearly everything written by C. S. Lewis who, if Episcopalians claimed patron saints would have been mine. I even got the sense that I was receiving something in communion, for I had an open heart that God would not deny. I think it’s why so many don’t “cross the Tiber”–because God doesn’t desert them and they are satisfied where they are.

But, when I joined another parish in a church built by a contractor who builds gymnasiums, a lot of the charm disappeared. Stripped of all the Gothic trappings it just wasn’t the same–something was missing. I little understood it was the Eucharist, but I was restless enough to check out the Catholic parish near our house. It was modern and a lot like the Episcopal church (although the building was a step up, but nearly as ugly IMHO). Still, there was “something” there that was missing from the other and it wasn’t just architecture.

I was reconciled to the Church in that ugly Catholic parish, but we now go to a more orthodox parish whose church design is slightly better but still not to my tastes. There the liturgy is celebrated with reverence, the word is preached in truth, and we worship God offering the one sacifice of Christ upon the altar. I’ve come home, and discovered no matter how plain a building might be or how cold the people or lame the celebration, that Christ is still there in the Eucharist, and that I could never leave having received the body and blood, soul and divinity of Christ himself.

 

[CatherineOH]

I can relate CatherineOH to what you wrote about the reformers because as a former Episcopalian I too thought about our founder and realized the only thing that had caused Henry VIII’s break with Rome was that Rome wouldn’t give him what he wanted–an annulment. Henry died believing himself still a good Catholic, strangely enough. But those who followed him took things way beyond what he intended because men’s desires, not God, was at the back of it…

I’m discovering through my studies too of certain inconsistencies with Martin Luther. I’m thinking he began having some serious mental issues at about the same time he was excommunicated. It is most evident through the dissertations on how he was editing the bible. I think the second edition of the KJV is lucky to still have most of the books intact. I’m glad Tyndale (and others) disagreed with Luther on those matters…

…Christ is still there in the Eucharist, and that I could never leave having received the body and blood, soul and divinity of Christ himself.

AMEN. Welcome Home

 

[in_servitude]

This is embarrassing to admit, but it was the conversion of my anti-catholic brother-in-law (who’s family was living with us at the time). He joined the church, then I joined a year later.

His parents were protestant, as are mine. I figured that was what I was supposed to do, stay out of the Church.

Ooofff, what a terrible idea. But, that’s the truth. I watched him stand up and become Catholic against his parent’s wishes.

Then, I grew up. I did the same thing the next year.

 

[gigi4747]

I’ve been a Christian for 30 years within the Evangelical spectrum. What brought me to Catholicism: I finally read the Bible for myself & felt like I couldn’t reconcile things like Calvin’s TULIP or Once Saved Always Saved. After sifting through tons of denominations, the closest expression I could see that mirrored what the Bible actually taught was Catholicism. That brought me to the writings of the early church fathers. When I compared the history & longevity of the Catholic church to the ill-effects of the Protestant Reformation & my own experience, I knew there was no other logical choice. It scared me, really, to be faced with Catholicism. It was the last place I ever thought I’d end up! I didn’t just jump on the bandwagon… I tried to gloss over it… took my time… but almost a decade later, I know this is where God has been leading me all along. I’ll be confirmed this Easter Vigil!

I like “newly minted.” Welcome home!

 

[DHC1Chipmunk]

Reasons I converted to Catholicism:

The fragmentation of the Protestant “church” (the fact that I could choose a new “church” when I wanted a new theology).
The complete disregard within the Protestant denominations to which I belonged of the saints and the Church triumphant.
Hearing Protestant pastors make rabidly anti-Catholic remarks during sermons (“methinks thou dost protest too much”).

I’m grateful to God for using these things to lead me home to the Catholic Church.

As an aside, I’ve yet to hear any Catholic make rabidly anti-Protestant remarks.

 

[CatherineOH]

…As an aside, I’ve yet to hear any Catholic make rabidly anti-Protestant remarks.

From Catholics, I have heard a few, but Very Very Few. And the comments / remarks were spot on … sort of along the lines that I said a few posts up about M. Luther. I heartily think he would still be in the Church. As for H 8th, I think he was as self centered as we all tend to be. The problem is that he was the head of a country and had the wealth and power to do something more about it.

Lord have Mercy on us all for we are all struggling daily / hourly to live our lives as Apostles of Christ.
I think this website has said it well; crawfordcountycatholics.com/bad_catholics.html

We should always remember that Christ’s Church is not a sanctuary for Saints, but it is a hospital for
sinners. Christ did not die on a cross for our sins so that only the Saints can be saved. It is also very
clear from the Bible that even the first 12 apostles who Jesus chose were sinners. Jesus did not
reject these men even though he knew they were sinners. After all Peter denied Christ three times,
Judas betrayed him, and Thomas doubted the resurrection, but they were still chosen to be apostles.
So, while it is clear that all Christians should strive to be united with Christ we should never be
scandalized when other Christians fall into sin. Instead, we should always strive to keep sin out of our
lives and we should always pray that sinners will be reconciled to Christ and will become the best
Christian that they can.

As Moher Angelica said while talking about mercy “We are all sinners in one way or the other”

 

[aragonjohn1]

I was an atheist I realized Jesus loved me and I broke down crying.

God called me and nothing can seperated me from Him.

Shalom

 

[choliks]

I was an atheist I realized Jesus loved me and I broke down crying.

God called me and nothing can seperated me from Him.

Shalom

Your story would be very interesting. I hope you can share it with us if you don’t mind.

 

[aragonjohn1]

Your story would be very interesting. I hope you can share it with us if you don’t mind.

Aright I was an atheist and I thought there was no God until I thought of Jesus. An overwhelming sense of peace entered my heart and I broke down crying with joy. Eventually after a little study I became a catholic again.

Shalom

 

[oldsouth]

Initially, it was William F Buckley - he was the most brilliant writer and speaker I ever heard. I identified with him for many reasons. One day it hit me that if Buckley was a practicing and very active Catholic, maybe I should explore it. I was in school in a baptist college at the time, and was finding many intellectual inconsistencies in what they were teaching. I read Buckley’s Nearer My God and became very interested. Then, I stumbled on Scott Hahn and his conversion stories and Answering Common Objections convinced me. Essentially, after exploring dozens of denominations, the Catholic Church was the only whose doctrines agreed entirely with y understanding of the Bible.

 

[jerome_ky]

I couldn’t answer the question why not to join the Catholic Church. I picked up the Catechism and read through it and I agreed with everything in the first 200 pages, going through the Creed- “God the Father, Jesus Christ His only Son…” all the way up to “Holy Catholic Church.” I thought how can you believe all that and not be Christian? It made me question all the Protestant propaganda. After that, I had to question the Church’s claims, and they all stood the test. I compared them to the claims of Protestant churches and realized they didn’t really even have anything that comes close. Going to Mass and being in the Presence of Christ sealed the deal.

 

[uther]

I hadn’t been inside a Church of any kind for years, just living wild and free, so to speak. Actually I found it was more wild than free. There was never any question in my mind about God although I flirted with new paganism in the organized sense, Druidism to be exact.

But I finally was convinced that I had be Christian. So I methodically set out on an intellectual journey to find the true Church. Coming from an evangelical Baptist background I had not really explored the wide range of denominations out there, although I had a sense of where they stood on most of the disagreements.

I started out from where I was and worked backward, in a sense and it wasn’t long before I ended tracing everything back to Luther, Calvin and Zwingli. That seemed as though it was the very beginning. At the time it wasn’t immediately obvious that I had followed my upbringing to its natural conclusion, and it was my prejudices that caused me to stop there.

Oddly, looking then at the Reformation I began to look at the causes, and eventually got to the response to the Reformation from the Catholic Church, the Council of Trent. I was shocked to find that the Church was unapologetic and unmoving on the great “pillars” of Protestantism as we had come to know them. All the “sola’s” that were so ingrained in me were challenged by the Church without any mincing of words.

Curiosity? Perhaps. But I began to look at the issues that were the line between Protestant/Catholic and listened to the Catholic arguments. At the same time I started to pay attention to the Early Fathers, and to notice that the Church had been around 1500 years before Luther. A nephew became Eastern Orthodox and that caught my eye for a time until I began to read some of the vitriolic arguments between some of those churches and I recognized something familiar from my Protestant upbringing.

One day it hit me kind of like an earthquake, shaking the ground under me. The Church of Acts, the Church of the Apostles, the Early Church was indeed very Catholic, not only structurally but more importantly, Catholic in theology, through and through. I felt as if I had been let down, scammed, sold a bill of goods for all of my youth. It hit hard for a time but eventually I recognized that the blame for the error was less that of my parents, but was shared by all their ancestors back some 500 years.

It became obvious to me that the true Church was indeed the Catholic Church, warts and all, inconsistencies, scandals, half-heartedness, the whole enschalada. I discovered that I would rather be in the true Church in a state of shambles (which it is in some ways) than in a vibrant and successful state of error. I came in at the height of the Boston sex abuse scandals and it has been hit after hit since then it seems.

That was the intellectual journey, about one year. In my mind I was Catholic. My heart came later.

 

[The_Reginator]

I hadn’t been inside a Church of any kind for years, just living wild and free, so to speak. Actually I found it was more wild than free. There was never any question in my mind about God although I flirted with new paganism in the organized sense, Druidism to be exact.

But I finally was convinced that I had be Christian. So I methodically set out on an intellectual journey to find the true Church. Coming from an evangelical Baptist background I had not really explored the wide range of denominations out there, although I had a sense of where they stood on most of the disagreements.

I started out from where I was and worked backward, in a sense and it wasn’t long before I ended tracing everything back to Luther, Calvin and Zwingli. That seemed as though it was the very beginning. At the time it wasn’t immediately obvious that I had followed my upbringing to its natural conclusion, and it was my prejudices that caused me to stop there.

Oddly, looking then at the Reformation I began to look at the causes, and eventually got to the response to the Reformation from the Catholic Church, the Council of Trent. I was shocked to find that the Church was unapologetic and unmoving on the great “pillars” of Protestantism as we had come to know them. All the “sola’s” that were so ingrained in me were challenged by the Church without any mincing of words.

Curiosity? Perhaps. But I began to look at the issues that were the line between Protestant/Catholic and listened to the Catholic arguments. At the same time I started to pay attention to the Early Fathers, and to notice that the Church had been around 1500 years before Luther. A nephew became Eastern Orthodox and that caught my eye for a time until I began to read some of the vitriolic arguments between some of those churches and I recognized something familiar from my Protestant upbringing.

One day it hit me kind of like an earthquake, shaking the ground under me. The Church of Acts, the Church of the Apostles, the Early Church was indeed very Catholic, not only structurally but more importantly, Catholic in theology, through and through. I felt as if I had been let down, scammed, sold a bill of goods for all of my youth. It hit hard for a time but eventually I recognized that the blame for the error was less that of my parents, but was shared by all their ancestors back some 500 years.

It became obvious to me that the true Church was indeed the Catholic Church, warts and all, inconsistencies, scandals, half-heartedness, the whole enschalada. I discovered that I would rather be in the true Church in a state of shambles (which it is in some ways) than in a vibrant and successful state of error. I came in at the height of the Boston sex abuse scandals and it has been hit after hit since then it seems.

That was the intellectual journey, about one year. In my mind I was Catholic. My heart came later.

What a great read. I feel like showing that to some protestant family members if the time came to do so. Great points and well written.

I love your user name. Is your last name ‘Pendragon’?

 

[Burubara]

I knew I wanted to convert since the first time I set foot inside a Catholic church, which was my local parish in Havana (where I was born). I was only six, but I fell in love. It was a traditional Spanish built church full of peace, a place where I felt God could truly reside. I was raised Protestant by my parents, they’re Evangelicals. I informed them about my wishes to convert when I was in sixth grade, they just brushed it off as a “phase” that I needed to get over. But I kept fighting for it, and in the summer of eighth grade I was allowed to attend mass. I went to mass every Sunday of that summer, and I loved it more and more each time I attended. I started the Religious Ed program (CCD), and was confirmed on the 1st of March this year. March is the month I was born in, so it makes it a whole lot better

Now as for intellectual reasons, one of the biggest I would say was Jesus giving St Peter the keys to Heaven, and Jesus giving the apostles the power to forgive sins. Also, Catholic liturgy. Mass actually has a meaning to it, to receive our Lord through the Eucharist. Everything in a Catholic Mass happens for a specific reason. At a Protestant Evangelical service, it just seemed like they winged it. Most of the time it was just a rock concert for half an hour and then some guy (the pastor) giving a speech, with food for everyone at the end.

I’m happy that I converted

 

[skeyes]

I was drawn to the culture of the Catholic Church. I di not understand many things when I agreed to become Catholic. I just knew I wanted to be in that culture. Later I knew that it was, to quote a man who said, “it was the siren call of Jesus in the Tabernacle”. I have been Catholic for 24 years and I love Jesus’ Church more and more each day.

Stan

 

[The_Reginator]

I knew I wanted to convert since the first time I set foot inside a Catholic church, which was my local parish in Havana (where I was born). I was only six, but I fell in love. It was a traditional Spanish built church full of peace, a place where I felt God could truly reside. I was raised Protestant by my parents, they’re Evangelicals. I informed them about my wishes to convert when I was in sixth grade, they just brushed it off as a “phase” that I needed to get over. But I kept fighting for it, and in the summer of eighth grade I was allowed to attend mass. I went to mass every Sunday of that summer, and I loved it more and more each time I attended. I started the Religious Ed program (CCD), and was confirmed on the 1st of March this year. March is the month I was born in, so it makes it a whole lot better

Now as for intellectual reasons, one of the biggest I would say was Jesus giving St Peter the keys to Heaven, and Jesus giving the apostles the power to forgive sins. Also, Catholic liturgy. Mass actually has a meaning to it, to receive our Lord through the Eucharist. Everything in a Catholic Mass happens for a specific reason. At a Protestant Evangelical service, it just seemed like they winged it. Most of the time it was just a rock concert for half an hour and then some guy (the pastor) giving a speech, with food for everyone at the end.

I’m happy that I converted

Welcome Home!!!

 

[Russ_of_Tokyo]

The short answer is that I was an Episcopalian/Anglican who was at a dead end when things got crazy in the Anglican world and I didn’t want to return to the shallow evangelical Protestant worship style I had known before I discovered the Anglican liturgy.

An Anglican priest friend encouraged me to consider the Catholic Church and the two reasons that pulled me in were:

1. Peter
2. The Real Presence in the Eucharist

I came into the Church two years ago when I was 54. So now I’m a baby Catholic. Had my parents permitted me to stay in the crib till I was 54 I could have been a cradle Catholic.

The very very very long version of my story is on my web site, www.stutler.cc

 

[gigi4747]

To Russ: Your story was on the FB page of the Coming Home Network, correct? I read it there and thought it was great. I lived in Japan for two years and recognized the red bridge in nikkou behind you! Thanks for sharing your story.