“Well...what about before the Bible was put into word?”
The Word Became Flesh (John 1:1)
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.
web sites: Catholic Answers, patrick madrids, biblechristiansociety, any Scott hahn book, books: mark shea, david curie, tim staples, karl keating, AND : the fabulous “Where we got the Bible From”, book and conversion story.
the best evangelical approach to understanding Catholicism is Scott Hahn’s Home to Rome.
The best understanding of catholic culture (i.e. the little things that make folk catholicism, as opposed to the dogma or how Catholism is practiced in other countries) is the Dummies guide to Catholicism.
Catholics are both rigorous and loose: The rules are strict, but since God is mercy, the burden is light.
Welcome, my friend. Prayers sent for you.
- This looks bad, Bones. He's already worshipping an Apostle. What do you think we should do?
- How should I know, Jim? I'm a doctor, not a theologian!
- Fascinating, Captain! Evidently these primitive peoples honor those whom they think cooperated with their deity.
- She kanna do it Cap'n! I'm giving 'er all she can take! And besides, being a Scot, I'm Presbyterian! Kirk (aside) - Somebody send me a Quaker. They may not do much, but at least they're quiet. Heck, I'd settle for a Buddhist! Uhuru, pour me a drink. WWAT? You're BAPTIST and you can't do it? War speed, Mr. Sulu (get your hands off that young ensign) get us out of here.
Welcome home.
May the Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.
Thinking right thoughts isnt very helpful. Pray the rosary daily. Watch EWTN. Go to a eucharistic service as often as possible - include eucharaistic adoration times into your busy schedule and support catholic schools....
If protestants could get all this done instead of talking about being protestant and their internal angst- the moslem problem would evaporate in the face of christian solidarity.
Welcome! I became Catholic several Easters ago and have not felt more complete. I know he’s been mentioned, but if you get a chance, check out Fr. John Corapi on EWTN (he used to be on Saturday nights) - very compelling and down-to-earth speaker who has “been there”.
Also, if you can get on the ping lists of NYer and Salvation, they put out so much good information on the Church and it’s history.
Haven’t looked at the other suggestions, but “The Faith Explained” by Leo Trese is very good.
Enough strife.
This is one of my favorite prayers. It isn’t very lofty but it’s a simple plea.
Lord, We are Your people,
the sheep of Your flock.
Heal the sheep who are wounded,
Touch the sheep who are in pain,
Clean the sheep who are soiled,
Warm the lambs who are cold.
Help us to know the Father’s love
through Jesus the Shepherd
and through His Spirit.
Help us to lift up that love,
and show it all over this land.
Help us to build love on justice
and justice on love.
Help us to believe mightily,
hope joyfully,
love Divinely.
Renew us that we may renew the face of the earth.
Amen.
This is nice evening prayer.
O God, I thank You
for all the gifts and graces bestowed on me this day.
I believe; help my unbelief.
I hope in you; take away all doubt and fear.
I love you; give me an undivided heart.
[Here examine your conscience]
O my God, I am truly sorry for each and every sin I committed today;
and for all I have left undone.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!
Dear God, if it is your will,
may I awaken tomorrow to another day,
a day to praise You,
love You
and do Your will.
Watch, O Lord,
with those who wake or weep tonight,
and give Your angels and saints
charge over those who slumber.
Tend Your sick ones, O Lord Christ,
Rest Your weary ones,
Bless Your dying ones,
Soothe Your suffering ones,
Pity Your afflicted ones,
Shield Your joyous ones,
And all for Your love’s sake.
Amen.
Hi, UltraS
I look forward to your pursuit of your interest in becoming Catholic. You have had so many posts from Catholics letting you know what their favorite books and reading materials are and I’m sure that you will be guided to choose from among them—and even eventually get around to reading them all. I’m glad you are so young—(the same age as I was when I entered the Catholic Church).
You have received so much good counsel here that the only thing I can add is this:
When you do actually become one of us, I would like to ask that you will commit to the prayerful readings of the Scriptures for the Mass of each day and take those Scriptures and engrave them on your heart. I hope you will rejoice in the Mass and the Holy Eucharist and that your joy will be given to others.
FReeper Salvation always posts the Mass readings of the day. Today is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mass readings from Deuteronomy, 1John and the Gospel are so beautiful.
I offer them to you as my gift to you this day.
Rejoice and be grateful for your youth and energy, for your interest in matters of spiritual growth, and for your grace under fire.
Grace and peace and fellowship in Christ Jesus be yours now and forever.
ROE
God Bless You! Welcome home, I would look to organizations like Regnum Christi etc. There is really so much. Remember that as humans nothing is perfect, but God will NEVER let us down. Honestly the Catholic faith has so many God given gifts for you and many of us really take them for granted. I’m sure you won’t.
DON’T DO IT!!!!!!!
Congratulations! I would suggest the Catechism of the CAtholic Church as the best place to start. Also, newadvent.org to learn about the Church’s past and the heresies we’ve faced to give you (as it did for me) a strong grounding historically, while the Bible and the Catechism give the religious grounding.
The sacraments will be the center of your life - they will warm your heart. The bread of life is just that.
as a life long practicing Catholic I say Welcome!!!
as a practicing Catholic who realizes at times people and elders within the faith believe more in the teachings of the church than the teachings of Jesus I say pray daily and ask God to show you the way rather than any book...
I think going to the local parish church for a while would be an important fir step, but to ‘join’ I think you’d have to go through a months long education program so that at the end you really know what you’re getting into and know for sure it’s what you want (or not). My brother in law converted some years ago and I recall his going thru this process. He did become a Roman Catholic and is very happy with his decision.
Good luck to you. He will lead you.