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Acclaimed Atheist Poet Becomes Catholic: 'My Tears Just Stopped'
CNS ^ | November 30, 2016 | Mark Judge

Posted on 11/30/2016 2:18:01 PM PST by Steelfish

Acclaimed Atheist Poet Becomes Catholic: 'My Tears Just Stopped' By Mark Judge | November 30, 2016

“If you’re there, you have to help me.” Those are the words that poet Sally Read said to an icon of Jesus in 2010. Read, a British poet and atheist, had stopped into a church in Santa Marinella, Italy. She felt burdened. Her young daughter was having health issues. Her husband Fabio was enduring some stress at work. “There was this incredible experience where this presence almost came down, and my tears just stopped, just dried,” Read tells CNSNews.com. “I felt almost physically carried up. It was as if someone walked into the room. I knew this person. I knew that I was a Christian.”

Up to that point Read, now 46, had been an atheist. “I was brought up an atheist,” Read notes in her just-published memoir, “Night’s Bright Darkness: A Modern Conversion Story.” “At ten I could tell you that religion was the opiate of the masses; it was [driven] into me to never kneel before anyone or anything…As a young woman I could quote Christopher Hitchens and enough of the Bible to scoff at.” Read was born in 1971 and raised in Suffolk, England. As a young woman she worked as a nurse in a psychiatric hospital and became a critically acclaimed poet, winning the Eric Gregory Award in 2001.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; General Discusssion
KEYWORDS: catholic
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1 posted on 11/30/2016 2:18:01 PM PST by Steelfish
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To: Steelfish

Praise God!

Some of the most moving testimonies I’ve ever heard came from former atheists.


2 posted on 11/30/2016 2:20:38 PM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Steelfish

Her book about her conversion: http://www.ignatius.com/Products/DDD-H/nights-bright-darkness.aspx


3 posted on 11/30/2016 2:21:15 PM PST by vladimir998 (Apparently I'm still living in your head rent free. At least now it isn't empty.)
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To: Steelfish

This reminds me of my favorite scene from my favorite movie THE SONG OF BERNADETTE. I know you all know the story of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes, but if you haven’t seen the movie, please buy or rent and watch over the Holidays. Vincent Price’s character has a spiritual awakening much like this. It brings tears to my eyes everytime I watch it and I watch it at least ONCE a year. :)


4 posted on 11/30/2016 2:26:23 PM PST by Hildy ("The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it." Orwell)
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To: Steelfish

FABULOUS!!! Welcome HOME!! WELCOME TO SANITY!! WELCOME TO REDEMPTION!!! May you HELP SAVE YOUR FAMILY!!


5 posted on 11/30/2016 2:27:26 PM PST by Ann Archy (Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: vladimir998

OK...ALL FREEPERS....WATCH “THE WAY” this season....UNBELIEVEABLE!!!


6 posted on 11/30/2016 2:28:32 PM PST by Ann Archy (Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Steelfish

The title alone — “Acclaimed Atheist Poet Becomes Catholic: ‘My Tears Just Stopped,’” just takes your breath away.

I’m curious about two things:
1) why she tried contacting orthodox Catholic women for her book. I’m surprised that a non-Catholic would realize that there are orthodox v. heterodox Catholics, and, even if she did, the media usually goes for the heterodox ones.
2) what made her pick up St. John of the Cross. Kind of an unusual saint’s writings to start with.


7 posted on 11/30/2016 2:29:00 PM PST by BlessedBeGod (To restore all things in Christ. ~~~~ Appeasing evil is cowardice.)
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To: Steelfish

Most fortunate woman to have had this experience.


8 posted on 11/30/2016 2:31:02 PM PST by 353FMG (AMERICA IS ALL THAT TRULY MATTERS)
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To: Steelfish
Welcome, sister. Welcome to the love that is the Christ.

May your days be long upon the Earth and the comfort He gives be your guiding light through all that will assail you.

In Jesus name.

9 posted on 11/30/2016 2:33:37 PM PST by Thumper1960 (Trump-2016)
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To: Steelfish

May this dear soul truly have entrusted herself to Christ alone for eternal life - and not just joined a church.


10 posted on 11/30/2016 2:43:50 PM PST by aMorePerfectUnion
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To: Steelfish

BTTT


11 posted on 11/30/2016 2:54:32 PM PST by oldfart
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To: Ann Archy

Amen!


12 posted on 11/30/2016 3:01:18 PM PST by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: Steelfish

Stopping at the magnificent churches in Italy could do that, for sure.


13 posted on 11/30/2016 3:18:42 PM PST by Doche2X2
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To: Steelfish

Welcome home, Sally Read!


14 posted on 11/30/2016 3:56:01 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Hildy

I watched that movie many times as a young girl. My confirmation name is Bernadette, after St Bernadette.

I remember about 4 years ago, going through some really stressful times, everything going wrong, so much worry, so burdened, heavy heart. I went out into the garage and spoke to the mountain out loud, I was crying out asking the Lord to help me, remove the worry. Immediately I heard “My Name said, then, everything will be alright”. I felt immense peace and love flow through me at that time. I stopped crying and walked in the house and then everything did work out.

I will never forget the male voice saying my name; it was Jesus, I am sure of it.


15 posted on 11/30/2016 4:20:30 PM PST by Engedi
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To: aMorePerfectUnion

The Church is the bride of Christ, the rest is just a universe of mish-mash Christianity with irreconcilable contradictions.


16 posted on 11/30/2016 5:31:42 PM PST by Steelfish
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To: aMorePerfectUnion
"May this dear soul truly have entrusted herself to Christ alone for eternal life - and not just joined a church."

Funny, you never hear anyone say something this snide about someone's choice of a church when someone becomes a Protestant Christian.

17 posted on 11/30/2016 5:34:14 PM PST by fidelis (Zonie and USAF Cold Warrior)
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To: fidelis

I do not criticize this dear soul’s choice of denomination in the least.

I do wish eternal life for her and not just church membership. Any Christian would wish exactly that. Do you?

Eternal life comes from saving faith in Christ alone. That is what I wish every person.


18 posted on 11/30/2016 5:37:18 PM PST by aMorePerfectUnion
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To: Steelfish

Salvation comes from entrusting ourselves to Christ alone for forgiveness and eternal life. No church provides this.

Welcome Back to FR Steelfish.


19 posted on 11/30/2016 5:39:05 PM PST by aMorePerfectUnion
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To: Steelfish

Salvation comes from entrusting ourselves to Christ alone for forgiveness and eternal life. No church provides this.

Welcome Back to FR Steelfish.


20 posted on 11/30/2016 5:39:18 PM PST by aMorePerfectUnion
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