In all the conversion from Protestantism stories I know, the journey begins with a visit of the Mass, continues with the scripture and the history, and then the candidate struggles with the Catholic spirituality and ecclesiology — that is, Mary, the saints, and papacy.
Conversions from other faiths might be different. Dr. Roy Sholman (sp), a Jewish convert, had Mary appear to him. He did not know who she was...
I agree that a very common factor is the experience of the Mass and the presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
I haven’t read Mr. Schoeman’s story, although I’ve seen his books in the catalog. It sounds fascinating!
On the contrary; he recognized her immediately!
Yet every night before going to sleep, I would say a short prayer to know the name of my Lord and Master and God whom I had met on the beach. A year to the day after the initial experience, I went to sleep after saying that prayer, and felt as though I was woken by a gentle hand on my shoulder, and escorted to a room where I was left alone with the most beautiful young woman I could imagine. I knew without being told that she was the Blessed Virgin Mary. I felt entirely awake (and my memory is as though I had been awake), although I was dreaming. I remember my first reaction, standing there awed by her presence and grandeur, was wishing I knew at least the Hail Mary so that I could honor her!
TC - here is Roy Schoeman's amazing conversion story.
I strongly encourage everyone to read his book - Salvation Is From The Jews . It provides such great insight into the Catholic faith from a Jew educated in the Talmud. Mr. Schoeman also addresses a question that has plagued me for years. He writes:
Both Matthew and Mark explicitly mention Jesus' silence as well as the underlying motive of envy. From Matthew 27:12-18:
"But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?" But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge; so that the governor wondered greatly ... For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up."
Mr. Schoeman points to the Lemann brothers (also Jewish converts) who made the touching point that Jesus' silence before the High Priest was motivated by His profound respect for the office of the Jewish Priesthood. Mosaic law forbids compelling a witness to testify against himself. It was because Jesus did not want to put the High Priest in the position of sinning against that law that He refused to answer the High Priest's questions even though beaten for it. (John 18:19-23) which he then quotes. Jesus acquiesced only when the High Priest ordered Him to answer in the name of God.
This is extraordinary! I am not familiar with Mosaic law and could never have figured this out. Can you imagine! Here is the sinless Son of God respecting Jewish laws so as not to cause his accuser to sin!