Why did you become Catholic?

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For me, I realized i agree with the teaching, find myself closer to God through Catholic prayers and reading about the saints and how the Catholic church is the true and original church, that’s why I’m converting from protestant.

Why did you become Catholic? or why do you want to become one?
 
For me, my family is Irish Catholic except for my parents. I have felt drawn to Catholicism since an early age and have read about it extensively over the years. Since the birth of my son, the calling has been much more pronounced and I finally decided to listen to the call…been in RCIA for 4 weeks and have been a much more positive person, have the feeling of “coming home”…
 
_Gemma said:
For me, I realized i agree with the teaching, find myself closer to God through Catholic prayers and reading about the saints and how the Catholic church is the true and original church, that’s why I’m converting from protestant.

Why did you become Catholic? or why do you want to become one?
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I had a step-father that was Catholic. I was baptized into the Church when I was 5 then had first communion when I was 7. Then he stopped taking us to Church and I feel away from the Church. I returned to the Church when I was 32 years old after attending other Christian churches for many years. I had to move a lot and faced some personal hardships then it just felt like the other Churches were just hanging oot a sign saying they were Church, but they had no real rules and no priesthood like the Catholic church does.
At least with Catholicism I know what the rules are.
 
Well, I’m young and I was worried about defending my beliefs, so I started asking myself exactly what it is I believe and why… and the rabbit hole opened, and 1 Corinthians’ discourse on oneness, plus evidence of sacramental theology sent me on a chase to find the purest form of Christianity. Ultimately I gave up on Sola Scriptura because I realized the deuterocanonical books were necessary for interpreting the rest, and I believed in more than baptism and communion as sacraments so I looked into Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. I conceded the logic of a papacy, and became Roman, but always felt more at home with Eastern spirituality so I went ByzCath. And here I am now!
 
Very long story but in short, I was called by the Holy Spirit over many, many years. I was non-practicing Jew from birth. I felt drawn to Catholic art, churches, music, etc. to the point of ridiculousness. During a vacation in Mexico, after visiting a dozen churches, old monasteries and convents, I sank into a pew in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary in her “dolores” pose. And I heard her voice. She said to come to her through her Son’s Church. Heard it clear as a bell.

Also the call of the Eucharist - felt it before I understood what was in the tabernacle - just felt pulled to it.

Two years of study and RCIA, much of it painful, much time in very deep prayer (the kind you lose track of time and think its only been a few moments but it turns out to have been an hour), and I let go and accepted Jesus, the Church and all its teachings, even the ones I was not yet ready to accept with my mind. Just gave it all up to obedience.

My husband followed me into the faith (he was an atheist).

My favorite prayer was the day I told Jesus I still had trouble accepting that he was God, that I was a Jew and He had to understand that this “Jesus” thing was pretty much a no-no… and I prayed, “if you are who some say you are, and you really are alive and not dead, active and not gone forever, then you need to drop a billboard on my head to let me know because I just can’t wrap my mind around such a thing and no “still small voice” was going to do the trick.” And He did. Took me at my word, He did.
 
sojo said:
Very long story but in short, I was called by the Holy Spirit over many, many years. I was non-practicing Jew from birth. I felt drawn to Catholic art, churches, music, etc. to the point of ridiculousness. During a vacation in Mexico, after visiting a dozen churches, old monasteries and convents, I sank into a pew in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary in her “dolores” pose. And I heard her voice. She said to come to her through her Son’s Church. Heard it clear as a bell.

Also the call of the Eucharist - felt it before I understood what was in the tabernacle - just felt pulled to it.

Two years of study and RCIA, much of it painful, much time in very deep prayer (the kind you lose track of time and think its only been a few moments but it turns out to have been an hour), and I let go and accepted Jesus, the Church and all its teachings, even the ones I was not yet ready to accept with my mind. Just gave it all up to obedience.

My husband followed me into the faith (he was an atheist).

My favorite prayer was the day I told Jesus I still had trouble accepting that he was God, that I was a Jew and He had to understand that this “Jesus” thing was pretty much a no-no… and I prayed, “if you are who some say you are, and you really are alive and not dead, active and not gone forever, then you need to drop a billboard on my head to let me know because I just can’t wrap my mind around such a thing and no “still small voice” was going to do the trick.” And He did. Took me at my word, He did.
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Interesting! I love hearing stories like these
 
You all have beautiful stories! I grew up in a household that didnt attend church. I have attended many different churches throughout life with friends and other family members, but nothing felt real like the Catholic Church where I believe even as a child I could actually feel the presence of God (of course back then I didn’t know that’s what it was; I just knew it was warm and felt like home). I first wanted to convert at sixteen but succumbed to all the distractions in life, then again at 25, but couldn’t get my Protestant husband to agree to raising our soon-to-be first child Catholic. Finally last year, God’s call was so strong I could no longer resist. We have two beautiful children who we will raise Catholic (he finally agreed, and actually enjoyed hearing what I learned at Mass and RCIA). Now I pray that God is working on him too and that he’ll answer the call!
 
Hello all! I was drawn to catholicism by my curiosity about the seemingly unrelentless attacks on the church and its beliefs,mainly the moral teachings. My curiosity led me to study what those beliefs were and where they came from. Finally,I got up the nerve to attend Sunday Mass for the first time:) I truly felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in a church for the first time in my life! I have not missed Mass since then! I feel the Holy Spirit led me home ! Sorry for the long post,but I have been wanting to share it here for a long time 🙂
 
I’m a Bible-Belt cradle Catholic so I didn’t decide to become Catholic, but I know plenty of converts. Most of them became Catholic because they were convinced that it was the Church which Christ founded.
 
I was brought up in a Protestant school and with a God-free home life. When I was an adult, I felt drawn towards God several times and each time turned to Protestantism. I always felt there was something missing and drifted away.

This past March I became interested in Protestantism once again and, while visiting a big Protestant website, I became aware of how much hatred there was towards the Catholic Church. I became curious and decided to look up what Catholics believed so I could find out why Protestants disliked them so.

Much to my surprise I found that my feelings and beliefs were compatible with Catholicism 🙂 And so, apart from a month or so earlier this summer, I have had sustained interest in Catholicism since March, which is something I have never had with Protestantism. From my reading I have become convinced that the Church is the one that was founded by Jesus and that Protestants are missing out a lot by their adherance to Sola Scriptura. I like the support of the Church: the intercession of the Saints, the Guidance of the Virgin Mary, the Catechism: knowing what the Church believes and why. I like the tradition. I like the meaningfulness of the Mass and the significance of the Host and the Wine (that they become the real Body and Blood of Christ). I like the solemnity of Mass - it is different to the Protestant services I attended, and I find the Mass much more respectful. I am currently in RCIA and finding out more 👍 The book ‘Catholicism for Dummies’ is helpful to me and I know others recommend it highly too. It’s a very concise book that tells you the essential things you need to know and it’s not as ‘dumbed down’ as some of the ‘for Dummies’ books.
 
One day I bought a Bible, black floppy kind w gold edges, Oxford RSV with the Apocrypha. I bought it even though it had the Apocrypha. One day out of curiosity I started reading Wisdom of Solomon. By the end of the second chapter I was stunned because I’d read the strongest prophecy of Christ. I could also hear the words from the Gospels demonstrating each of the parts of this prophecy.

In that moment I realized Christ and the NT authors indeed used this book and knew of it. On the question of what is scripture Catholics were right and we protestants were wrong. There was no way we could get to truth with Bible and Bible only if we didn’t have all of it.

Took me many years to sort through it all but that is what started it.

Lots of other little things too like the moment in a catholic neighbors house when speaking of something I wanted to see happen and said “Knock on wood” and she wheeled around and blurted out strongly “No! If God wills it” or words to that effect. I realized immediately that she was objecting to the superstition and agreed with her and went home and pondered that. How could catholics be “superstitious” if this clearly devout catholic was so upset about even speaking lightly of a superstition. All the rest of the protestant folks would say that without batting an eye. Seems like such a little thing but that got me looking into the catechism on superstition to see what they really taught.
 
SilverCamellia said:
I was brought up in a Protestant school and with a God-free home life. When I was an adult, I felt drawn towards God several times and each time turned to Protestantism. I always felt there was something missing and drifted away.

This past March I became interested in Protestantism once again and, while visiting a big Protestant website, I became aware of how much hatred there was towards the Catholic Church. I became curious and decided to look up what Catholics believed so I could find out why Protestants disliked them so.

Much to my surprise I found that my feelings and beliefs were compatible with Catholicism 🙂 And so, apart from a month or so earlier this summer, I have had sustained interest in Catholicism since March, which is something I have never had with Protestantism. From my reading I have become convinced that the Church is the one that was founded by Jesus and that Protestants are missing out a lot by their adherance to Sola Scriptura. I like the support of the Church: the intercession of the Saints, the Guidance of the Virgin Mary, the Catechism: knowing what the Church believes and why. I like the tradition. I like the meaningfulness of the Mass and the significance of the Host and the Wine (that they become the real Body and Blood of Christ). I like the solemnity of Mass - it is different to the Protestant services I attended, and I find the Mass much more respectful. I am currently in RCIA and finding out more 👍 The book ‘Catholicism for Dummies’ is helpful to me and I know others recommend it highly too. It’s a very concise book that tells you the essential things you need to know and it’s not as ‘dumbed down’ as some of the ‘for Dummies’ books.
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I agree, I’m doing RCIA after leaving my Protestant church. There was definitely a lot of hatred towards Catholics, and the reasons why they hated them weren’t true.
I went to Mass the first time Yesterday and it is more respectful. I feel closer to God since getting interested in Catholicism, I love the prayers and reading about the saints who I find inspiring.
The Catholic faith has filled in the blanks for me and I know this is where God wants me.
 
_Gemma said:
I agree, I’m doing RCIA after leaving my Protestant church. There was definitely a lot of hatred towards Catholics, and the reasons why they hated them weren’t true.
I went to Mass the first time Yesterday and it is more respectful. I feel closer to God since getting interested in Catholicism, I love the prayers and reading about the saints who I find inspiring.
The Catholic faith has filled in the blanks for me and I know this is where God wants me.
Click to expand...
👍
 
I reverted to Catholicism as I stopped believing in the tenant of sola scriptura. One day I came to realize, every Protestant church out there was A-Church-Of-My-Own-Design. The Bible is the fruit of Sacred Tradition and Sacred Tradition is the tree. You can’t have one without the other.

That said, I had/have some difficulty with some doctrinal points, but nothing that separates me from the Eucharist.
 
Grampazuk said:
Hello all! I was drawn to catholicism by my curiosity about the seemingly unrelentless attacks on the church and its beliefs,mainly the moral teachings. My curiosity led me to study what those beliefs were and where they came from. Finally,I got up the nerve to attend Sunday Mass for the first time:) I truly felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in a church for the first time in my life! I have not missed Mass since then! I feel the Holy Spirit led me home ! Sorry for the long post,but I have been wanting to share it here for a long time 🙂
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No need to be sorry for a long post, at least not not for me. I just love treads like this one, Thanks Gemma for this. Threads like these have a way of lifting my spirit. May the Holy spirit continue to guide you all.

God bless

jesus g
 
I was on the road to Damascus 16 years ago and was a hot and cold bible bashing Christian for quite a few years. But as a cradle Catholic in a Catholic Irish family I had a Catholic wedding. In planning the wedding we choose a passage for one of the readings from Matthew 7 which included

“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.”

In planning the whole mass or what ever pieces the priest let us plan, I fell very much in love with the mass. Then on honeymoon in Argentina we happened upon a religious festival in Salta near the Andeas and attended a lovely mass, the next day I crossed the Tiber (in my head anyway). It was a special experience on a walk that ended at the foot of a cross, a story for another day…

Great thread thanks so much…
 
These are always interesting…I have answered this before, but here’s why for me:

Although I was Protestant, I am so blessed to have a family I have. From the time I was a child, our father taught us that Communion was the Body and Blood of Christ, not symbols or elements like the preacher said, he pointed to the words of Christ and that’s what we believed. My mom would go to the Catholic church across from her work on her lunch hour to pray because it was open, it was reverent, she could talk to God. She told us about a school friend that became a cloistered nun. We had Italian Catholic friends, my uncle became Catholic before marrying a Catholic girl in the days before Vatican II.

My oldest sisters were the first to become Catholic, looking for a place that had reverence and respect, looking for a place that taught what our parents taught us. My parents were glad they were going to church, as they had stopped in college, and Catholic was fine. I started going to Mass with them and became Catholic in college, realising that this was the church my parents taught me about, not the protestant church I grew up in. My mom became Catholic too a couple of years ago.

Only one person raised any objections, that was the minister at the protestant church I was attending at the time and had attended all my life. He was concerned I was joining the church where they pray to Mary. I answered his concerns with the truth. He and his family came to my confirmation, as did other friends from the church.

I’m sure my uncle and his family were praying for us all those years, I know they were thrilled when we told them we were being confirmed in the Church. I wish everyone had such joy shown to them when they became Catholic.

I have found I prefer the Tridentine Mass, I have had people assume I was a cradle Catholic and then just smile and nicely correct them. But I guess in a way I was, by the grace of God, the teachings of the Church are the teachings our parents gave us as children and they led each of us to become Catholic.
 
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