“When I was Protestant, having someone point out my error was about as effective as a Protestant telling you there’s no Real Presence.”
~ ~ ~
The respectful replies from Protestants and Catholics
are comforting.
You understand much better having lived both. I post personally often sharing the faith in my own words. In this thread, I did reply with two copy and pastes from Catholic Thinker.net, the OP because they are so amazing and the reply was directed to me, not kind, and today, another mock “Toys R Us”, about the prophetic.
I was converted -reverted- by private revelation. I have
a devotion to the messages from Heaven and oh are they
rejected but God is not silent, He speaks to His chosen
prophets every day, you only have to believe. God speaks to
Catholic and Protestant both.
Everyone respects Billy Graham’s touching “altar call” hymn with “O Lamb of God, I come, I come” lyrics in it. If we could only help our brothers and sisters see further, agreed, Jesus is the Passover Lamb in the New Covenant AND God has set it up, we consume the Passover Lamb in the New Covenant too by receiving the most Holy Eucharist.
What was it, would you share, that first turned your heart and mind to the faith?
I was converted -reverted- by private revelation. I have a devotion to the messages from Heaven
That's wonderful. God works in each of us the way he knows is best :) That kind of thing wouldn't have touched my heart. I remember my not-so-charitable thoughts the first time I heard about Fatima. I didn't have the foundation to appreciate it.
What was it, would you share, that first turned your heart and mind to the faith?
I wrote a book about it but never published it. It's a story I wouldn't expect anyone else to believe because I'm not sure I'd believe it if told to me. It's not mystical experiences or anything like that. It's just an unusual tale that takes place over many years.
I think my mind was open to Catholicism because I wasn't raised by parents or a church that instilled antiCatholic notions in me. I knew better than to believe they worship idols, etc. Still, I didn't necessarily accept their answers to my questions :)
My heart was opened to Catholicism when I attended my first Catholic wedding. I felt the distinct presence of Christ in that church. I couldn't explain it but I knew beyond any doubt he was there. That was the initial seed that would eventually sprout into a plant that I failed to nourish and actually tried to uproot numerous times.
But the Gardener was patient. He kept tending the little plant no matter how many times I abused or neglected it. Finally the day came when he had to apply pesticide to save the plant. As you know, bug spray stinks and I found it difficult to be anywhere near the little plant. But it was necessary if the little plant was to be preserved and eventually bear its fruit. After the bug spray, the plant got more robust. Then came the unexpected pruning shears. I objected to the unfairness of cutting a plant that looked prettier than it ever had before, but the Gardener said it was necessary. The next season, the plant bore its fruit and I entered the RCC.
Moral of the story: If Jesus invites you to his Church, don't be bullheaded. Accept the invitation and avoid the headache and heartache that goes with procrastination and refusal.