When did you know you were meant to be Catholic?

[jpk1313]

One day I was walking past a cristian book stor and something came over me. It was like I was a puppet I walked in and spent all of my food money on a bible. on my way home I met this guy who knew my name the names of people know even started pointing out scars I had on my body. I’d never met this guy befor and was kinda freaking me out when he started talking about Jesus. he told me the most basic theology. so after that I was like “you know maybe there is something to this jesus guy” so I sat down and read the entire bible. Six months later when I had finnished reading it I went to church for the first time in my life of my own free will (my dad draged me to mormon church as a kid) and when they said they were baptizing people in few weeks I signed up (this was a mennonite church). about five months or so after my baptism I on impulse went to a week day mass at this tiny church (its so small that having lived for ten years just a few blocks away I had never knowen about it) and the singing was off key by people whose english is not a first or even seconed language the homily was so boring I was almost falling asleep but when the time for communion came I felt the presense of christ in church for the first time. So after the mass I went and talked to the priest and asked how to join the church. the next easter I was confirmed and I’ve been a catholic ever since.

 

[ElizabethPH]

Great stories everyone thanks so much for posting them!

I’ve known I was meant to be Catholic from as long as I can remember.

 

[desiringhim]

I knew I HAD to be Catholic when, in my studies of Early Christianity and just “happening” to hear a special segment on Catholic radio, I discovered that the belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist was something universally believed from the inception of the Church. As an Evangelical Protestant who thought the whole thing was just supposed to be a symbolic ceremony of remembrance, this rocked my world.

I still had to wrestle with many other issues (authority of Tradition, the papal office, apostolic succession, etc) but all those were overcome easily through study. It really was the truth of the Eucharist that drew me to the Catholic Church and kept drawing me through everything.

I’ve been Catholic for 10 months and could not be filled with more joy and gratitude towards God for leading me here.

 

[MrsHall]

I knew I HAD to be Catholic when, in my studies of Early Christianity and just “happening” to hear a special segment on Catholic radio, I discovered that the belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist was something universally believed from the inception of the Church. As an Evangelical Protestant who thought the whole thing was just supposed to be a symbolic ceremony of remembrance, this rocked my world.

I still had to wrestle with many other issues (authority of Tradition, the papal office, apostolic succession, etc) but all those were overcome easily through study. It really was the truth of the Eucharist that drew me to the Catholic Church and kept drawing me through everything.

I’ve been Catholic for 10 months and could not be filled with more joy and gratitude towards God for leading me here.

So, so true… the Eucharist is a huge part of my conversion, as well, and also my husband’s. When you already love Jesus and are desiring more of Him, it is awesome and life changing to find out that He is here with us, not just spiritually, but physically in the Consecrated Bread and Wine. There comes a point where you just can’t go anywhere else. I still am in awe every time I approach the altar for the Eucharist. Eucharistic Adoration should be shouted from the rooftops!

 

[IrishAm]

As a 7-year-old, I told my mother I wanted to be Catholic. It was based on the example being set by my best friend’s family, who lived across the street. As a 7-year-old, I suspect the primary motivation was First Communion – dress like a princess and get presents!! What a great religion.

Through the years, the example of that one family grew me beyond the big celebrations into a deeper understanding of their love and faith. At 20, my best friend stood as my sponsor when I made my Profession of Faith; at 22 she was my maid of honor; at 29 she became the Godmother of my eldest, two years later I became the Godmother of her middle child; and, now, at 60, she is still my dearest friend, despite all the years and miles which separate us.

One family. One example. One more Catholic. (Who raised three more Catholics, and now has three baptized grandchildren . . . ).

Be a good example. Bear fruit.

 

[MrsHall]

As a 7-year-old, I told my mother I wanted to be Catholic. It was based on the example being set by my best friend’s family, who lived across the street. As a 7-year-old, I suspect the primary motivation was First Communion – dress like a princess and get presents!! What a great religion.

Through the years, the example of that one family grew me beyond the big celebrations into a deeper understanding of their love and faith. At 20, my best friend stood as my sponsor when I made my Profession of Faith; at 22 she was my maid of honor; at 29 she became the Godmother of my eldest, two years later I became the Godmother of her middle child; and, now, at 60, she is still my dearest friend, despite all the years and miles which separate us.

One family. One example. One more Catholic. (Who raised three more Catholics, and now has three baptized grandchildren . . . ).

Be a good example. Bear fruit.

What a beautiful story!
This is a great thread!
:clapping:

 

[lutherlic]

I knew I HAD to be Catholic when, in my studies of Early Christianity and just “happening” to hear a special segment on Catholic radio, I discovered that the belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist was something universally believed from the inception of the Church. As an Evangelical Protestant who thought the whole thing was just supposed to be a symbolic ceremony of remembrance, this rocked my world.

I still had to wrestle with many other issues (authority of Tradition, the papal office, apostolic succession, etc) but all those were overcome easily through study. It really was the truth of the Eucharist that drew me to the Catholic Church and kept drawing me through everything.

I’ve been Catholic for 10 months and could not be filled with more joy and gratitude towards God for leading me here.

desiringhim, your experiences echo mine. I have only been officially Catholic for 1 week, but found after a great deal of “research” that the many things I thought were issues were often great strengths. God is so good and patient.

 

[usemelord]

Me Catholic? Not a chance!! That was my attitude for about the first sixty years of my life on this planet. I was raised in a loving Christian home, accepted Christ at about age 13 and believed my salvation was guaranteed—you know, once saved, always saved. I married a cradle Catholic (43 years ago this coming April Fool’s Day) and we raised our daughter and son in the Catholic faith. They each have four kids (my son expecting his fifth in August) and all eight grandkids are being raised Catholic. As such, I was the only one in our family who was not a practicing Catholic. Then, about seven years ago I decided to explore what the Catholic faith was all about. I always felt that it was too steeped in ritual. No one ever explained to me why Catholics do what they do at Mass so I never appreciated what was going on due to ignorance (i.e. lack of knowledge), not stupidity. When I made the decision to investigate Catholicism, I told everyone in my family that I was doing it for myself, because to do it for anyone else but myself would be the wrong reason. I entered in RCIA around the Fall of 2003 and quickly began to understand what I had been missing all those years. Ever so gradually, the scales fell from my eyes, the fog lifted, and I started connecting the dots—all those good metaphors. Bit by bit I felt like I was the proverbial snowball rolling downhill; the more I learned, the more I wanted to stay in RCIA—like forever. Needless to say, I fell head over heels in love with my new faith. Prior to my conversion I had always felt that the only thing I needed was the Bible and the Cross. However, now I fully understand the importance of the Sacraments and, most especially, the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. My life turned a complete 180 degrees. After coming into the Catholic Church at Easter Vigil 2005, I am now described by my wife as “too Catholic.” What better compliment could she give me, albeit unwittingly on her behalf. I stand on Christ’s promise that He lives in me and I in Him as long as I take Communion in a worthy manner. What on Earth could be better than that? Praised be Jesus. Everyone reading this thread my prayer for all of you is that you always stay blessed.

 

[MrsHall]

Me Catholic? Not a chance!! That was my attitude for about the first sixty years of my life on this planet. I was raised in a loving Christian home, accepted Christ at about age 13 and believed my salvation was guaranteed—you know, once saved, always saved. I married a cradle Catholic (43 years ago this coming April Fool’s Day) and we raised our daughter and son in the Catholic faith. They each have four kids (my son expecting his fifth in August) and all eight grandkids are being raised Catholic. As such, I was the only one in our family who was not a practicing Catholic. Then, about seven years ago I decided to explore what the Catholic faith was all about. I always felt that it was too steeped in ritual. No one ever explained to me why Catholics do what they do at Mass so I never appreciated what was going on due to ignorance (i.e. lack of knowledge), not stupidity. When I made the decision to investigate Catholicism, I told everyone in my family that I was doing it for myself, because to do it for anyone else but myself would be the wrong reason. I entered in RCIA around the Fall of 2003 and quickly began to understand what I had been missing all those years. Ever so gradually, the scales fell from my eyes, the fog lifted, and I started connecting the dots—all those good metaphors. Bit by bit I felt like I was the proverbial snowball rolling downhill; the more I learned, the more I wanted to stay in RCIA—like forever. Needless to say, I fell head over heels in love with my new faith. Prior to my conversion I had always felt that the only thing I needed was the Bible and the Cross. However, now I fully understand the importance of the Sacraments and, most especially, the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. My life turned a complete 180 degrees. After coming into the Catholic Church at Easter Vigil 2005, I am now described by my wife as “too Catholic.” What better compliment could she give me, albeit unwittingly on her behalf. I stand on Christ’s promise that He lives in me and I in Him as long as I take Communion in a worthy manner. What on Earth could be better than that? Praised be Jesus. Everyone reading this thread my prayer for all of you is that you always stay blessed.

This is an amazing story, and reminds me not to assume that people know what is going on during the Mass or in the sacraments—after all, I didn’t understand it for 30 years and when I finally did that was when I, too, fell in love with the Faith. Thank you for sharing this story, Usemelord. He is using you!

 

[Catholic_Kenpo]

I was raised in a good Methodist home. My mom was rasied Presbyterian and my dad was raised Baptist, so it seemed like a happy medium. When I went off to college, I convinced myself that I didn’t need to attend church in order to be a good Christian. I ended up failing out a couple of years later for unrelated reasons. My lack of church attendance lead me to apathy and eventually to a professed agnosticism or atheism, depending on when someone asked. Fast forward 11 years, and I return to college determined to finish what I started. This was in 2003. Sometime between then and 2005 my best friend converted to the Catholic Church. I remember remarking to him that it struck me how the closer he was moving toward God, the further I was moving from Him. In 2005, a couple of events happened that got the Catholic faith more within my realm of vision. Growing up in North Carolina, the Catholic presence had been basically nonexistant, so I didn’t even get lies about them - they weren’t enough of them to bother talking about. The first event in 2005 was the death of Pope John Paul. I knew enough to know that he was a good man, and that even those in the churches I had attended growing up respected him, even if they didn’t always agree with him or follow his teachings. It was hard to hear of his passing without thinking about the Catholic Church. The second event was the tragedy involving Terry Schiavo (sp?). The way her husband treated her was absolutely abhorrent to me. I noted that she and her family were Catholics, but it didn’t really mean anything to me.

A few weeks or so later, on the Saturday evening of the Easter Vigil, I was sitting at home working on my computer as usual when I suddenly knew that I had to be at church the next morning. Not just any church, but the Catholic Church. I wasn’t particularly enthused by this idea, but I looked up the only church in Tuscaloosa and figured out what time I needed to get up if I were to go (9:00). Because I didn’t really want to go, I didn’t bother to set my alarm. I figured if God wanted me there, He’d make sure I was up on time. The next morning, I woke up, bang on 9:00. I still wasn’t particularly excited, but I felt obligated at that point. Went to Mass and was stunned at the almost phycial presence I could feel in the building. I wasn’t alone there, and it wasn’t the other parishioners. Being that I’d only ever been to Mass once in my life, I followed along with the people around me. Aparrently I did a pretty good job as nobody gave me weird looks or anything. When it came time for the Eucharist, I felt compelled to ask somebody what I should do, but ignored it as I knew what I was doing, and just went along with the crowd. (Yes, I know this was wrong, but I had no idea at the time) I was blown away by the power held in that “bread” and “wine”. It was almost electric, for lack of a better word.

After Mass, I hung around and talked to the Deacon. He told me they had just finished RCIA, but to leave my contact info with the office. I did so, and about two weeks later got a call that they were starting up another class due to extraordinary interest. There were 17 others wanting to join! I was confirmed on October 9, 2005 and haven’t looked back.

-CK