“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.”
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Thank you for your kind words and especially for sharing your conversion to Catholicism. The in-CAPS sentence is a help, why Catholics seem to get no where sharing the faith in all the FR threads with non-Catholics. We keep hoping though...if only.
Listening to/watching conversion stories on EWTN’s The
Journey Home, Protestant lay people and ministers, many do take a period of time to finally cross the Tiber after the “light bulb” moment so do not feel bad. You hear five years often. It makes me think the soon “awakening”,
Catholics hear it called the Great Warning, when it happens,
it will be astounding, shocking, undeniably divine. There isn’t going to be a grace period of a long time after to decide for what you’ve been shown by God.
Isn’t it something, the “grace” of conversion? Mine was
definitely what Catholics, you are aware, refer to as an “actual grace”...a help, a boot from God. I was dead in mortal sin at the time. Everyone think of your far away loved ones, pray, pray, pray, and God will send them the needed grace.
I think Catholics and nonCatholics alike get caught up in the need to be right. And often basic Christian charity gets lost in the conversation. I have a hard time believing Jesus would be very pleased with many of the conversations we have about him.
Frankly, I think the "faith vs works" debate is a good example of us talking past each other most of the time. We're so adamant that we're right and the other side is wrong that we miss what is often a good deal of mutual agreement. And we miss it because we're essentially saying very similar things but conveying them in different terms and pointing to different sources. At least that's my view having been on both sides of the debate. The result is that we overlook what we can discuss in common and fling around insults, fueling dissension and provoking anger. I don't recall those being fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Earlier today I was considering Mt 25:31-46. The righteous weren't aware that they'd done what was necessary for salvation (Lord, when did we see you and welcome you?). The condemned erroneously thought they had been doing what was necessary (Lord, when did we see you and not minister to you?) We can argue all we want but I'm guessing we're all off the mark in our understanding of God's mercy and his grace. Way off :) And this so that in eternity we never stop being astounded at his mercy for condescending to suffer physically for us, love us forever, and share himself eternally.
Peace be with you. I think I will sign off this thread now so as not to fuel any further seeds of dissension. I have stated what I believe as truth and others can disagree or agree as they please. I have no need to be right. Jesus is Truth, not me. I extend peace and gratitude to all who participated with me on the thread.