The Apologist's Evening Prayer by C.S. Lewis

The tremendous amount of information regarding the Catholic faith found on this site has allowed me to see a greater union with Christ. Basically, I think I have already become a Roman Catholic at heart, but not yet in an official capacity. The main reasons for my unofficial conversion from Calvinism to Catholicism are the following:
1. Authority. The RCC has authority in its structure, allowing its organization to move forward through the ages.
2. World wide strenth. Wherever you may find yourself in the world, there is almost always a Catholic mass available to you, allowing you to partake fully in your faith and in Christ - even though you are thousands of miles away from home.
3. Confession. I have yet to do it to a priest, but I very much look forward to it. The recent posting on Confession highlighted the Bibles introduction of this sacrement to the Christian people.
4. Family friendly environment. Liberalism has infected most Protestant churches. The lack of authority in other churches will speed the ever splitting nature of Protestism. Everyone has his own version of what the Bible states outside the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

God willing, I would like my future generations to look back on this decision as a key to our families ongoing committment to Christ and relief from the constant barrage of liberalism and relativism that will swamp the world.

Also, the RCC provides answers for all questions that may arise. Other churches depend on a handfull of theologians, while the RCC has a world full of the theologians from every country in the world. The RCC provides intellectual Christians will all encompassing answers to lifes most troubling issues. Basically, the RCC is very smart.

Please pray for me during the upcoming year of transition.

A special thanks to Burnt for his guiding light.

Cheers,
Michael

Michael,

That's great! You give me such hope for my family. All my extended family left the Catholic Church for varying Protestant faiths. You give EXCELLENT reasons for becoming a Catholic. My family seems to despise and even hate the Catholic Church. (I also like to remember there is a thin line between love and hate). Their preachers often speak untruths about the Church. I pray everyday that the Truth will somehow be revealed to them. It's hard for me to say anything because such discussions don't usually go well (the arguments haven't been pretty). I just try to be an example of the Faith and remind my children (all 8 of them) to be an example around their cousins. If nothing else, they do seem to respect my family and often compliment the character of my kids.

Let me know of any advice you may have regarding
my family. And please pray for them. I will keep you in my prayers as well

One in Faith,
Mary

PS. This is a great site. I've found that I've grown as Catholic too reading these articles and discussions.

Mary,
I discovered that the gospel and Holy Spirit were alive and well in the Catholic Church. This was a surprise. I grew up with the assumption that evangelical energy remained in most Protestant churches, but had fallen away from Catholism soon after the sixth century. I have attended mass in foreign countries, as those Sunday church services were some of the few offered in English. I soon heard the gospel being preached in those services. I did not hear sermons about Mary, prayer to the saints, purgatory, or the evils of non Catholic communities --- I heard the gospel being spread. We stated the Apostles' Creed, prayed the Lord's Prayer, sang songs, smiled at eachother, and I left knowing that the Holy Spirit was with me. This was the real reason why I began to look to Rome. This was the key. It took years of learning about the RCC to take the figurative step I am taking.

The backdrop of this was a crumbling Calvinist community back home. Churches were splitting over same sex marriage issues and other modern day dividers. Family members began attending non denominational churches (all with a Baptist twist). I saw the future was not confident that those churches would even exist when my children would be ready to choose their churches. I have run for the super highway, as it seems the side roads are crumbling.

Michael

Michael O,

This is great news, I will be praying for you and look forward to reading more about your perception of and journey towards the Roman Catholic faith

Michael O.

That is great grace moving you. I am humbled by your favor in the eyes of our Lord.

In Love

when we were one

Michael O.,
Congratulations! May God continue to bless you as you come home to the Catholic Church and help to fulfill Jesus' prayer that we would ALL BE ONE. My prayers are with you.
In Truth,
Matthew

Michael,

I had the same discovery, that the Holy Spirit is alive in the Catholic Church, about 10 or so years ago during the Sacrament of Confession. I had actually quit going to Catholic Mass in my teens and early twenties. I was attending either no church, or occasionally a non-denominational church (I never felt at home here). I married a Catholic who insisted that our children at least receive the Sacraments, although we weren't bringing them to Mass regularly. I was raising them exactly as I was raised...Catholic by name only. It's funny you mentioned the Sacrament of Confession as one of your reasons for coming to The Church since this was the turning point in my life as a Catholic. I had brought my child to receive First Reconciliation. The priest suggested that parents go to confession too. I was quite annoyed with this, but managed to "round-up" a couple of sins just to get it over with. I was totally unprepared for what was going to happen. The Holy Spirit came upon me and I was filled with a flood of emotions. Tears were streaming down my cheeks and I could barely speak. The priest knew exactly what was going on when he learned this was my first confession in years. I was forgiven for 15+ years of sin. I felt so free. I still have that same "free feeling" after going to confession. It's an amazing Sacrament.

Like you, it still took a couple of years before I fully understood the Gift of the Catholic Church. There was much to learn and I was full of misinformation regarding the Church. As my children got older, I started teaching them Catholic apologetics. I enjoyed this so much because I was learning with them. We often discuss various attacks on Catholicism and the correct response. This is getting more and more important with college around the corner. The "once saved, always saved" movement is very popular on campuses.

You mention the impact being Catholic will have on your future generations. I see this with several huge families in my Church. Three generations, aunt, uncles, cousins, and of course the grandparents that did an excellent job of raising their kids in the Faith. They all take up 3 or 4 pews. I often think about my siblings, neices and nephews, and parents and how nice it would be to celebrate Mass together with them. It doesn't seem likely, but your conversion gives me hope.

Peace,
Mary

Mary,

I do not want to underestimate the mountain I plan to climb to arrive at a comfortable, assured state where I am fully confident of the Catholic walk. I plan to meet with priests and discuss with them issues in which I have doubts. I plan to discuss this with my Anglican minister, who has already described himself as Catholic at heart (he is married). I want to be sure of any final decision, so I plan to conduct numerous consultations prior to beginning any formal procedures.

Is my conversion too intellectual in nature? Too bookish and realpolitik? What about the old, down home spiritual conversion? I believe this has happened on a slow scale. But, to be honest, this has been more of an intellectual exercise. Just as Calvin and Luther's arguments were well researched and pointed, I believe the modern day Reformers of the faith will find truth in the RCC through reading, prayer, and blogs.

I believe much good came out of the European Reformation. I believe that those Reformers served the faith. The influence of the Reformation was necessary to bring-forth dramatic reform in the RCC. Those protesters shed public light on the corruption and unChristian practices with the RCC. I believe a little revolution is a good thing once in a while, but the issue of Seperation is one about which I still have doubts.

Now is time of the new Reformation of the faith. In this process, we will need to go old school, and the RCC will lead the way... I hope.

Michael

Michael,

Intelligence and Catholicism go well together! This is from "How to Stay Catholic in College", "As a Catholic, you have nothing to fear from embracing learning and acquiring wisdom. There can never be a contradiction between a truth of faith and any truth that you learn in higher education. No area of knowledge is forbidden, off limits, or contrary to spiritual development."

It's no surprise that you are thinking your conversion over carefully and it's great that you are consulting with a priest. Your spiritual conversion will probably happen after you start receiving the Sacraments and experience the Holy Spirit personally. Assuming you've already been baptised and are married, you will receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation.

I think most Catholics will agree that reform was needed in the Church, but "divorce" was not necessary. A few men that were involved in the Catholic Reformation were St Francis de Sales, St Ignatius of Loyola, St Thomas More, St Charles Borromeo, and St Robert Bellarmine. Because the Holy Spirit worked through such men as these, we still have the true Church of Christ today.

God Bless you in your searching,
Mary

Michael O,

Your eagerness to do "due diligence" before entering the Roman Catholic Church reveals your honesty. Take as much time as you need but no longer. I look forward to the day when your exhortations to teach the faith come from inside the Church.