Posted on 07/30/2012 11:25:11 AM PDT by stpio
Rome, Italy, Jul 27, 2012 / 03:51 am (CNA/EWTN News).- “Until two years ago, I was a really committed atheist and I really hated the Catholic Church,” said poet Sally Read, as she explained how all that dramatically changed during nine months in 2010.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicnewsagency.com ...
Does she explain why she hated the Catholic church?
It's not always easy to describe, but you know it when you've found it. :)
"There are not a hundred people in America who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions of people who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church." -- Archbishop Fulton SheenShe discovered the truth.
I see the root of her conflict right there. Psychiatry, in my view, is simply a secularist religious cult that attracts mainly mentally ill people to its practice. It attempts to replace God with the Id, with the ego and super-ego, with habits, with electro-chemical impulses.
Of course, they can't do it. Its like they with to re-define what the ocean is, and then attempt to take people across the sea in a rubber dingy.
Great story. I’m reading an excellent book, In The Light of Christ, by another Englishwoman, Lucy Beckett, about western literature and the concepts of beauty, truth and goodness as understood - as they only can be - in the light of Christ. Not a light read, and it helps to have a pretty extensive knowledge of literature and art, but an excellent book.
One of her ideas is that a sincere and honest seeker who is drawn by the beauty of the world and of the concepts in our finest art and poetry will come to Christ, if given an opportunity. This Canadian priest seems to have given our poet a chance...we must all do likewise when we meet people who are searching.
That is the way it works. People aren't persuaded by our arguments, they are won by Christ himself.
Does she explain why she hated the Catholic church in the first place?
Then why do we argue?
Humans love nothing more than a good argument. But you can’t argue someone into the kingdom.
I was referring though to our efforts at evangelizing. God seems to use us in the process, but for all our talents at persuasion it seems to me that people aren’t really convinced by what we say, they are convinced (when they are convinced) by something that Christ does within them.
Its just an observation.
Sounds like it was something her parents instilled in her.
That’s what I think, but I’ve ben told many time here on FR that all it takes is a desire and a leap of faith and someone can believe anything.
“Does she explain why she hated the Catholic church in the first place?”
~ ~ ~
It doesn’t say in the CNA article, atheists are not fond of the faith. The awesome miracle Sally received helps confirm a fact though. Go to any Catholic Church and kneel...sit if you like...before the Tabernacle and you will be changed. A suggestion for disbelievers. Jesus is truly present in the Tabernacle, you will receive graces. Ask Jesus in prayer, are you truly there Lord, present in the consecrated host?
Is it ever explained what she hated about the Catholic church?
I really don’t think it’s that easy.
Really? And how is this different from the Mormon's direction telling seekers about the "burning in the bosom bosom"?
I may be off base here, and am open to correction, but seeking after signs of any sort is not how the Christian faith is to be confirmed.
This reminds me of the book, “The Case For Christ” by Lee Strobel.
“I really don’t think it’s that easy.”
~ ~ ~
Miracles are special, God helping everyone believe. So is kneeling in God’s presence. Jesus wants you to believe in His presence in the Eucharist. That’s miraculous, supernatural. You will receive special graces.
Trust and do it. Go to the parish office if the Church is locked -the times- and ask to be let in or go near to the time of Mass or the ending of Mass.
Most all Churches have a Eucharistic Adoration Chapel next to the Church or in the Church building itself, you can go kneel/sit before the Monstrance. These days, Eucharistic Chapels have an electronic lock that you have to know the password. Go to the Parish office for the password or knock on the door of the Eucharistic Chapel and if an adorer comes to answer your knock, explain you don’t know the password.
Didn’t Sally asked in prayer, show me, lead me to you Lord? So many converts share they prayed this prayer.
blessings,
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