Unsure of where I belong

[mlz]

As one who was protestant all my life, there is such depth and beauty in the Catholic faith. The respect of God is so moving to me. I can assure you that going to Adoration was amazing. (someone earlier mentioned this to you with a great explanation of what it is) It drew me into the Catholic Church in prayer and study. I will pray for you and your husband.

My love in Christ,
mlz

 

[Abrigham]

There are 3 Catholic churches in our area, so I’m going to check each one out before choosing which one we’ll do RCIA with. My husband and I had a long discussion about this and he is much more open than he was when I first brought it up. He thought I simply wanted to go back to my childhood comfort zone. When I explained that the Catholic church is THE church and that the rest have broken off onto their own path he seemed more open to the idea. He had never had much of the history of the Protestant churches explained to him. I feel SOOO much better after talking with him and opening up. My anxiety is gone and I’m excited to really begin our search for the truth and getting our little boy baptized. I am so grateful that you all have been so kind and helpful. Thank you!

 

[Abrigham]

As one who was protestant all my life, there is such depth and beauty in the Catholic faith. The respect of God is so moving to me. I can assure you that going to Adoration was amazing. (someone earlier mentioned this to you with a great explanation of what it is) It drew me into the Catholic Church in prayer and study. I will pray for you and your husband.

My love in Christ,
mlz

One thing I do miss is the quietness of the Catholic church. Our current church is kind of a big party and it’s hard for me to focus on prayer and thought with everything that goes on. I will definitely be attending Adoration once I find out when they do it at our local churches.

 

[Maryann_C]

There are 3 Catholic churches in our area, so I’m going to check each one out before choosing which one we’ll do RCIA with. My husband and I had a long discussion about this and he is much more open than he was when I first brought it up. He thought I simply wanted to go back to my childhood comfort zone. When I explained that the Catholic church is THE church and that the rest have broken off onto their own path he seemed more open to the idea. He had never had much of the history of the Protestant churches explained to him. I feel SOOO much better after talking with him and opening up. My anxiety is gone and I’m excited to really begin our search for the truth and getting our little boy baptized. I am so grateful that you all have been so kind and helpful. Thank you!

We will keep you in our prayers as we go to Mass today.

 

[Abrigham]

We will keep you in our prayers as we go to Mass today.

Thank you so much! I attended mass alone this morning (my husband is still uncomfortable with the idea) and only looked silly a couple of times. Everyone I spoke with was very warm and welcoming. I also attended our regular church and the difference was so astounding.

Thanks again for your prayers. My eyes are opening and seeing past the falsisties that have been spread about God’s church. I feel so at peace even though I know I have a lot of work ahead of me. It’s nice to be pointed in the right direction.

 

[CleverUserName]

This is my advice: first - stop reading the Bible.

 

[Maryann_C]

Thank you so much! I attended mass alone this morning (my husband is still uncomfortable with the idea) and only looked silly a couple of times. Everyone I spoke with was very warm and welcoming. I also attended our regular church and the difference was so astounding.

Thanks again for your prayers. My eyes are opening and seeing past the falsisties that have been spread about God’s church. I feel so at peace even though I know I have a lot of work ahead of me. It’s nice to be pointed in the right direction.

:thumbsup:Now know this also…not to scare you but to prepare you when you are faced with it… the last place satan wants to see you is home in the Catholic Church where you can receive Christ himself in the blessed sacrament. Be prepared because I would not be surprised if you do not get a serious attack of doubt just before coming home properly. This is a pattern I have observed in my own testimony and others. When it happens take a step back and review the reasons behind your journey home. Keeping a spiritual journal helps.

 

[po18guy]

:thumbsup:Now know this also…not to scare you but to prepare you when you are faced with it… the last place satan wants to see you is home in the Catholic Church where you can receive Christ himself in the blessed sacrament. Be prepared because I would not be surprised if you do not get a serious attack of doubt just before coming home properly. This is a pattern I have observed in my own testimony and others. When it happens take a step back and review the reasons behind your journey home. Keeping a spiritual journal helps.

Thank you for mentioning this. The evil one is a very jealous spirit. When he senses that he is losing his grasp upon someone, or when that person is moving closer to God, the attacks will come. Doubt and discouragement are his main weapons, but fear paralyzes, so he will sometimes simply try to frighten us. The antidote is the Holy Spirit, who drives out all fear and leads, always and everywhere, to unity. He is our consoler in this world.

The prayer to Saint Michael the archangel, and other Catholic spiritual warfare prayers can be a wonderful help in such times.

 

[zz912]

Something I thought might interest you and your husband. This was written by Justin Martyr in about AD150 describing to the Roman Emporer what it was that Catholics did at Mass (because they were being accused of cannibalism, people were confused about the Eucharist as it is the LITERAL Body and Blood of Jesus, but it is not cannibalism.)

It is amazing in that almost 1900 years later, the Catholic Church still celebrates it the same way.

*And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. *

1. Gather on Sunday together.
2. Old and New Testament readings
3. Homily
4. The Our Father
5. Bread and wine offering
6. Eucharistic prayer
7. The Great Amen
8. Communion
9. Communion to the sick and homebound
10. Collection (which we do now before the Eucharistic prayer)

Hopefully you enjoy it!
rosarychurch.net/consecration/justin.html

 

[pablope]

Originally Posted by Abrigham
Thank you so much! I attended mass alone this morning (my husband is still uncomfortable with the idea) and only looked silly a couple of times. Everyone I spoke with was very warm and welcoming. I also attended our regular church and the difference was so astounding.

Thanks again for your prayers. My eyes are opening and seeing past the falsisties that have been spread about God’s church. I feel so at peace even though I know I have a lot of work ahead of me. It’s nice to be pointed in the right direction.

Now know this also…not to scare you but to prepare you when you are faced with it… the last place satan wants to see you is home in the Catholic Church where you can receive Christ himself in the blessed sacrament. Be prepared because I would not be surprised if you do not get a serious attack of doubt just before coming home properly. This is a pattern I have observed in my own testimony and others. When it happens take a step back and review the reasons behind your journey home. Keeping a spiritual journal helps.

Thank you for mentioning this. The evil one is a very jealous spirit. When he senses that he is losing his grasp upon someone, or when that person is moving closer to God, the attacks will come. Doubt and discouragement are his main weapons, but fear paralyzes, so he will sometimes simply try to frighten us. The antidote is the Holy Spirit, who drives out all fear and leads, always and everywhere, to unity. He is our consoler in this world.

The prayer to Saint Michael the archangel, and other Catholic spiritual warfare prayers can be a wonderful help in such times.

Great advice……but both forgot to mention a heavenly advocate…The Virgin Mary…when you feel down, when you are being attacked…ask for her help. She will never fail to help you.

 

[po18guy]

Great advice……but both forgot to mention a heavenly advocate…The Virgin Mary…when you feel down, when you are being attacked…ask for her help. She will never fail to help you.

We knew that you were lurking, that’s why!

 

[peace2u2]

:thumbsup:Now know this also…not to scare you but to prepare you when you are faced with it… the last place satan wants to see you is home in the Catholic Church where you can receive Christ himself in the blessed sacrament. Be prepared because I would not be surprised if you do not get a serious attack of doubt just before coming home properly. This is a pattern I have observed in my own testimony and others. When it happens take a step back and review the reasons behind your journey home. Keeping a spiritual journal helps.

It is good that you mentioned how the devil will attack and try and prevent you from participating in the fullness of God’s truth in the Catholic Church.

Peter Kreeft mentions in his book, Catholic Christianity, that the second most hated place of the devil is in the confessional and the most hated place of the devil is in the Eucharist. The reason: because the devil knows the Real Presence of Jesus in both of those Sacraments and the devil does not want you to be healed. The good news is that Jesus does!

Someone else mentioned the help of St. Michael and The Blessed Virgin thru intercessory prayer; also good advice.

ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/michael.htm

ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/Spiritual_Enemies.htm

ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/chaplet-of-st-michael.htm

ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/magnificat.htm

ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/Memorare.htm

padrepiodevotions.org/loretolitany.asp

 

[Abrigham]

Thank you all for the wonderful advice. I know we have a long road ahead of us. Not only is there so much to learn and do (Figure out which church I like, baptize my son, join an RCIA, get our marriage blessed, first confession, first communion, and more), my husband is still unsure (though, he’s not totally opposed, and considering I sprung this whole idea on him less than a week ago-I’ve been thinking about it longer than that-I’d say he’s greatly improved), and I know we’re going to have quite a few friends and possibly family members who will try to stop us, though how many and how hard they will try I don’t know. I’m aware of all of this and sometimes it seems really daunting and impossible, yet I still want to do it with all my heart. I told my mom yesterday and she completely supports us. When I told her I thought either the Catholic Church has it right or ALL the churches have it wrong she told me that my dad thinks exactly the same thing and that is why he chose to become Catholic, though he is no longer practicing. I’m hoping our conversion will help them get back to the Church. I have continued to pray for God to lead us in the right direction.

 

[po18guy]

Thank you all for the wonderful advice. I know we have a long road ahead of us. Not only is there so much to learn and do (Figure out which church I like, baptize my son, join an RCIA, get our marriage blessed, first confession, first communion, and more), my husband is still unsure (though, he’s not totally opposed, and considering I sprung this whole idea on him less than a week ago-I’ve been thinking about it longer than that-I’d say he’s greatly improved), and I know we’re going to have quite a few friends and possibly family members who will try to stop us, though how many and how hard they will try I don’t know. I’m aware of all of this and sometimes it seems really daunting and impossible, yet I still want to do it with all my heart. I told my mom yesterday and she completely supports us. When I told her I thought either the Catholic Church has it right or ALL the churches have it wrong she told me that my dad thinks exactly the same thing and that is why he chose to become Catholic, though he is no longer practicing. I’m hoping our conversion will help them get back to the Church. I have continued to pray for God to lead us in the right direction.

What a blessing to be living this life filled with hope!