[NYer]

What a moment. I stood in the aisle of St. Helen's Catholic Church with one hand on the shoulder of each of my new friends. Pete and Rose were converts from a Protestant faith and I was sponsoring them as they came home to the Catholic Church. It was the 5th Sunday of Lent and our OCIA class' third scrutiny. Over the shoulder of my friends I could see my own sponsor praying over our daughter Kimberly and another candidate. Next to me stood my husband, Richard. His sponsor was out of town, but standing in for him were Steve and Janet Ray. Steve wrote a book and made several tapes that were instrumental in my husband's decision to become Catholic. I had to close my eyes and concentrate on the prayer because if I looked around any longer at this unbelievable sight I knew I would begin to cry for joy. My heart sang with praise to God. If someone had told me two years earlier that I would be a Catholic, I would have laughed out loud. How unthinkable. Now here I was, not only a Catholic, but praying over other's who were crossing the Tiber. But the most unbelievable part for me was the unflinching conviction of my husband as he stood there receiving his blessing with his eyes set on the crucifix. God had heard my prayer. The impossible intention of my Rosaries for the past year was coming to pass before my eyes. Blessed be God, forever.

[Support Free Republic]

Aww man! Enough of the fundraiser posts!!!

Only YOU can make fundraiser posts go away. Please contribute!

[NYer]

Later in our discussion he mentioned that he had received an email that contained a Catholic document that apparently came out of the Vatican that made it clear that the Catholic Church had not changed their position on soteriology in two thousand years.

What an inspirational story! A long but worthwhile read.

Patty Bonds writes for the EnvoyMagazine blog site.

EnvoyMagazine

[NYer]

Later in our discussion he mentioned that he had received an email that contained a Catholic document that apparently came out of the Vatican that made it clear that the Catholic Church had not changed their position on soteriology in two thousand years.

What an inspirational story! A long but worthwhile read.

Patty Bonds writes for the EnvoyMagazine blog site.

EnvoyMagazine

[drstevej]

***Too quickly the Mass was over and I told my friend goodbye and walked to the parking lot. I could not feel my feet on the ground. My spirit was still resonating with the bliss of that moment in his Presence. I was praying frantically. O Lord, was that you? But Lord, I didn't think you even attended Catholic Church, let alone fill the place like that? I need answers Father. There are so many issues to tackle. What about Mary, Saints, Purgatory, salvation by works, etc. Where do I begin? His answer came back clear and unmistakable. "Start with what draws you, start with the Eucharist."***

Experience trumps doctrine.

[Saint Athanasius]

Man... I love reading these stories...

I was raised Catholic, fell away from the faith, then came back as an Evangelical... but getting involved in my local Catholic Church... I remember reading Lewis- Mere Christianity while my friend was reading Surprise by Truth!

I asked him what his book was about, and he said people converting to the Catholic Church... I was like who in their right mind would do that... He suggested Rome Sweet Home... and the rest is pretty much History!

[.45MAN]

Just Wonderful!

[Romulus]

Oh Pat, why Catholic?

Beautiful.

[ACAC]

This is the type of posting that just begs to start a flame war. Anyone can post stories of people leaving one church for another. I read somewhere that 1.5 million Protestants became Catholics last year and 1.5 million CAtholics became Protestants last year. I just think these threads tend to devolve into flame wars. I don't see the point.

[nickcarraway]

Surpised by Truth 3: 10 More Converts Explain the Biblical and Historical Reason for Becoming Catholic : This book contains Patti Bonds' full story and nine other stories, including Dwight Longenecker.

[NYer]

Bump! A heartwarming story!