Pastor and Flock Become Catholics

National Catholic Register ^ | April 2001 | Judy Roberts

[NYer]

While this event occured 3 years ago, the story is one worth sharing again. EWTN is running a new video entitled: A Dinner with Alex Jones. Check EWTN's web site for time slot. The program culminates with videotaped portions from the Easter Vigil mass.

If there is one thing that marks the faith journey of Alex Jones, it is his uncompromising commitment to the truth. In 1998, then Reverend Jones promised his congregation of some 200 souls, a real New Testament worship service. In thirty short days of reading the Fathers of the Church he came face-to-face with the Truth again. Like the night when he gave his life to Christ, Alex Jones had made another great discovery. He had found the Apostolic Church. Here, in the writings of other "Pentecostal Pastors" who had known and followed the apostles, was a Christianity he had never known; a liturgical and hierarchical Church where the center of worship was not just great preaching or even the movement of the Spirit, but the Eucharist. The Church founded by Jesus was a Sacramental Church. Going to the Scriptures, Alex found that they fell right in line with his new apostolic vision of the "Church of the upper room."

[NYer]

One of the most moving interviews I have ever seen, was the night Alex Jones appeared as a guest on EWTN's The Journey Home. He spoke with the program's host, Marcus Grodi, about his faith journey and his surprise to find that it had led him to the Catholic Church. As the above story notes, there were several challenges in embracing catholicism. But the most moving part of his story came towards he end of the program. A caller asked him how he had approached the Eucharist.

Alex looked off for a few seconds, choking back tears. On the night before he and his family were to be received into the church, he asked Fr. Dennis if it would be alright to receive "his Lord" on his knees. There wasn't a dry eye in the audience that night!

Hope you enjoy this beautiful story.

[NYer]

For those who have never read Scott Hahn's In The Presence of the Lord, here is Scott's first hand experience as he attended his first catholic mass.

* * * * *

Scott Hahn’s The Lamb's Supper - The Mass as Heaven on Earth.
Foreword by Fr. Benedict Groeschel.
Part One - The Gift of the Mass

Hahn begins by describing the first mass he ever attended.

"There I stood, a man incognito, a Protestant minister in plainclothers, slipping into the back of a Catholic chapel in Milwaukee to witness my first Mass. Curiosity had driven me there, and I still didn't feel sure that it was healthy curiosity. Studying the writings of the earliest Christians, I'd found countless references to "the liturgy," "the Eucharist," "the sacrifice." For those first Christians, the Bible - the book I loved above all - was incomprehensible apart from the event that today's Catholics called "the Mass."

"I wanted to understand the early Christians; yet I'd had no experience of liturgy. So I persuaded myself to go and see, as a sort of academic exercise, but vowing all along that I would neither kneel nor take part in idolatry."

I took my seat in the shadows, in a pew at the very back of that basement chapel. Before me were a goodly number of worshipers, men and women of all ages. Their genuflections impressed me, as did their apparent concentration in prayer. Then a bell rang, and they all stood as the priest emerged from a door beside the altar.

Unsure of myself, I remained seated. For years, as an evangelical Calvinist, I'd been trained to believe that the Mass was the ultimate sacrilege a human could commit. The Mass, I had been taught, was a ritural that purported to "resacrifice Jesus Christ." So I would remain an observer. I would stay seated, with my Bible open beside me.

As the Mass moved on, however, something hit me. My Bible wasn't just beside me. It was before me - in the words of the Mass! One line was from Isaiah, another from Psalms, another from Paul. The experience was overwhelming. I wanted to stop everything and shout, "Hey, can I explain what's happening from Scripture? This is great!" Still, I maintained my observer status. I remained on the sidelines until I heard the priest pronounce the words of consecration: "This is My body . . . This is the cup of My blood."

Then I felt all my doubt drain away. As I saw the priest raise that white host, I felt a prayer surge from my heart in a whisper: "My Lord and my God. That's really you!"

I was what you might call a basket case from that point. I couldn't imagine a greater excitement than what those words had worked upon me. Yet the experience was intensified just a moment later, when I heard the congregation recite: "Lamb of God . . . Lamb of God . . . Lamb of God," and the priest respond, "This is the Lamb of God . . ." as he raised the host. In less than a minute, the phrase "Lamb of God" had rung out four times. From long years of studying the Bible, I immediately knew where I was. I was in the Book of Revelation, where Jesus is called the Lamb no less than twenty-eight times in twenty-two chapters. I was at the marriage feast that John describes at the end of that very last book of the Bible. I was before the throne of heaven, where Jesus is hailed forever as the Lamb. I wasn't ready for this, though - I was at Mass!

[jobim]

What a great story Alex has to share. I organized a conference at our parish 2 years ago in which we brought in Jeff Cavins and wife, Fr. Peter Stravinskas, and Alex Jones and wife. The Joneses are the absolutely most gracious, faith-filled folks. They provide the necessary antidote to the Hubbards etal that helps us to renew our faith.

Thank you, NY, for your posts and commentaries. I read them all and salute your well-grounded faith!

[conservonator]

Five years later, while he was reading about the church fathers, Keating’s question resurfaced. Jones began a study of the Church’s beginnings, sharing his newfound knowledge with his congregation.

To quote John Cardinal Newman: "To be steeped in history is to cease to be Protestant."

[american colleen]

I saw that "Coming Home" program. I filled up as well! We are so blessed as Catholics and most of the time I at least forget that fact.

Kneeling for Communion is one of the things I still miss even after 30 years.

[Tantumergo]

BTTT for an edifying post!

[samiam1972]

I love these stories! I have a bookshelf full of them! :-)

[Frumanchu]

I have a sincere question that I have not found an answer for yet.

Chalcedon sets forth that the divine and human natures of Christ exist "without confusion, without change, without division, without separation."

The Roman Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation as I understand it have the bread actually becoming or taking on the substance of Christ's flesh (which is obviously an aspect of His fully human nature).

What I don't understand is how Christ's flesh can be in two places at once, both sitting on the throne and in the substance of the Eucharist in any number of churches at any particular time.

Again, I am asking this sincerely because I have yet to be given a reasonable explanation for this, especially in light of the definition set forth in Chalcedon.

[Siobhan]

Bump.

In our new parish (--where the pastor is getting to know me. ;^) --) there is an ancient aboriginal woman who receives the Lord directly upon her tongue (standing as demanded by the pastor) and then she steps up to where the altar rail was and drops quietly to her knees.

Our family and others now join her in this practice, and by e-mail the word is beginning to spread to other places. So I pass this on to you in America.

[Gumdrop]

I just happened upon this program last night on EWTN. It was an accident, and I remained with it until the end. It is an inspirational story.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Bumping Your Question to those better than I. Can anyone of you give him a well-thought answer. I gotta run to Mass. God Bless.

[Salvation]

Bumping this thread. Great find!

[Salvation]

What a testimonial you are giving in your church. God bless you all.

[Salvation]

Not just happening here!

Catholic archdiocese of Washington [D.C.] has largest ordination class in 14 years

Roman Catholic friar community growing

Retiring priests pose problem for the Archdiocese of Boston

Church Is Still Attracting Converts

Former Anglican priest ordained Catholic priest in San Francisco

Planted in tradition Orthodox churches are gaining presence, members amongst Protestants

AM - Anglican clergy defect for Catholic Church

Archdiocese has active, engaged laity (Archbishop Burke article)

Pastor and Flock Become Catholics

[Salvation]

Ping to #9

Transubstantiation

[AAABEST]

John 6:51
I AM the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give IS my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Keywords "am" and "is".

This is where it tells us that when we take communion, it IS the body of Christ. In at least three other places, Jesus tells us to do this in remembrence of Him, but this passage is key in that he leaves no doubt as to what we are doing when we take communion. It IS his body.

As to how he does this wouldn't you agree that God is capable of anything at all, the least of such being in two places at the same time?

[Salvation]

Can God be in more than one place at a time?
Yes.

According to Matthew are all things possible with God?
Yes.

Then, is it not possible that Christ can be present in the Holy Eucharist as well as at the right hand of the Father.

Stretch your mind and let faith take hold.

[AAABEST]

Wow, what a great statement of dedication and devotion that is.

That takes guts.

[sinkspur]

What I don't understand is how Christ's flesh can be in two places at once, both sitting on the throne and in the substance of the Eucharist in any number of churches at any particular time.

That's why the Eucharist is called a "mystery." The miracle of the Loaves and Fishes was a sign of what was to come in the Eucharist: Jesus really feeds us, with His Body and Blood.