I don't mince words as I share the reasons why I left the Protestant Episcopal Church of the USA (part of the Anglican Communion) and instead of joining another Protestant denomination, became something I never thought in my life I'd become, a Catholic. My conversion is another story I don't wish to take to my grave, and as Lent has just begun, now's the time to tell it. When Christ called me to His Church in 2009, I attended the nearby St Raphael Catholic Church in El Paso, went through their RCIA program that began that fall, and was received into the Catholic church on Easter Vigil of 2010. I will remain Catholic for the rest of my life. If you think you would like to become Catholic, or feel called to learn more about Christ's Church, I urge you to follow through. Visit a Catholic church near you and speak with a priest. Jesus is in every Catholic church, truly there, and actually present, welcoming you. If you live in or near to El Paso Texas, the Catholic diocese has a lay ministry training institute called Tepeyac. I liked their classes, which I took after becoming Catholic. Those classes are great ways to learn about the Catholic Church. Here's a link to them - www.tepeyacinstitute.com/ www.tepeyacinstitute.com/ministry-training.html Due to my editing the video so it wouldnt be almost an hour long, it may not be clear that it was not just one, but two Episcopal priests telling people at abortion rallies that what they're doing is approved by God. Neither priest was disciplined by the Episcopal church. One of them also headed a seminary. I could not write them off as some wackos back East. A seminary head thinking abortion is a gift from God will influence future Episcopal priests. That they remained in good standing after what they did told me that something evil had infiltrated the Episcopal church. Combine that with the proposed solution to break away from the Episcopal church and Anglican Communion into a new organization - that solution was merely reinventing the wheel. I didnt think that would work in the long run. Then when the hypocrisy of the deacon and some church members became apparent, I saw that a reorganized group of Episcopalians would just be the Church of the Self Righteous Hypocrites of 'my sins aren't as bad as theirs' and 'we dont take the beam out of our own eye first before removing the speck out of theirs.' So I knew a break away and reorganization would never work in the long run with clergy and laity deceiving themselves as they were. Blind leading the blind, both fall in the ditch. Certainly more clergy did plunge into ditches as time passed. Examples: an Episcopal priest testified before Congress that she took an underage teen across State lines to get her an abortion without telling the girl's parents; another Episcopal priest said publically that she got pregnant in seminary, and so aborted her baby so that she could complete seminary. I'd left the Episcopal church by then and grieved over the Satanic infiltration of it. The answer is not to reinvent the wheel, but to put aside ego and learned prejudice and return to Jesus' church.
Welcome to the catholic Church. I just want to point out that they were a standard of how a Catholic Church was be built. The building was in a form of a cross, to make clear that Jesus gave us life by his cross. Sad to see that that modern church is in a circular. In the old churches every detail was there to teach about the life of our Lord. Thank God that our lord is so good present in the blessed sacrament.
I was raised Church of England (Anglican) here in Australia And converted to Catholicism at the age of 21 I’m Now 59 and couldn’t imagine being anything else I love Jesus so much And I love your story ❤😊
I saw a comment once on a video "Why do Catholics stay? Why wouldn't they just go to another church?" Because there is no other church. The faith is greater than any scandal or current event, and it's the one true Church
Cradle Catholic here, I’ve never felt any urge to not be catholic. Even when I was sinful in my teenage years or non-practicing in my early 20s. Never left. Many tried converting me and I never debated I just said I wasn’t interested 😅 or “nah I’m good” now in my 30s I love being Catholic
You should attend a traditional Latin Mass one time in a traditional building. Very powerful and a real presence. I’m in the process of converting to the Catholic Church. I liked hearing your testimony.
Jeff, that's wonderful you are coming into the Church. Has me grinning from ear to ear. During RCIA I was taken to a Latin Mass. I think the nice instructor ladies thought I'd like it, knowing I prefer reverent worship with beautiful traditional hymns, silence and quiet prayer before Mass. Well the Latin Mass had that. But I felt an unpleasant vibe coming from the priest. He was too into himself, it seemed, and I found his vibe irritating. (A few yrs later, he was found to be funneling church money to his mother, and I saw him encourage violent behavior "if blood must be shed, so be it" to his online fans after he got in trouble and was shipped off to an obscure church location out in the desert. I let a priest know what I saw online. Last I know of him.) I'm glad you like the Latin Mass. It is reverent worship. I did not like it, due to it being in a foreign language and the vibe coming off that priest. There is a reverent, approved Mass in English that is reverent. It is used in Catholic churches made up of former Episcopalians and former Anglicans. The Pope approved that Mass. I would love it if that Mass was in every English speaking Catholic church.
Jeff, here is a Catholic Mass using what I just spoke about. It is called the Divine Worship. This Mass is very similar to the kind of church service I attended when I was Episcopalian. Please see what you think of it. I love it. Wish all Masses said in English were this Divine Worship Mass. ru-vid.comaxTX1-UDUxI?si=Qmw_f_hTzjm6AqWh
Ahhh. Unfortunate about that priest. And for me, it’s less about the vernacular, and more about the liturgy. The “Latin” mass is liturgically more sound in my opinion. And I’m not a fan of guitars and modern music at the mass. But that’s me. Howe ever, as long as we find the true presence of our Lord in the Mass, that’s all that matters.
Jesus did not hand us a book called a Bible. Jesus gave us a Church. That Church is The Catholic Church. The Catholic Church gave us a book called a Bible which was inspired by the The Holy Spirit.
Indeed. There were many letters, gospels, collections of sayings the Church authorities at the Council went through to allow, or disallow, their inclusion in the Bible. Each Christian believing that the Bible is all they need, should remember that the Catholic Church is what brought about that Bible.
Jesus would never have mixed his holy church with Rome and other states. How can one follow 2 masters members. Earliest Christians wouldn't even work for rome for these reasons Catholic church is what results when state uses religion and religion accepts. Do you all really deny all the pure evil in Catholic church history?
Satan's grabbed you. Hopefully soon you will reject the devil and embrace Jesus and His Church. Jesus said that His sheep hear His voice. If He has called you to Him and you rejected Him and continue to resist, then you're not one of His sheep it appears.
As a Cradle Catholic, I never knew how strong division was against the Catholic Church. After becoming an altar server just last year serving my first mass at Palm Sunday when I was 15, I became curious as to what the boundaries of my faith are, as I lived in a household that was not really exposed to other denominations of faith. After reading so many convert stories, I became impressed of how challenging converting to the Catholic faith may be, and how strong and brave one must be in order to do so. I am so humbled by your experience that you have chosen the church that Jesus Christ has established for us, and so lucky I found this video. I hope God leads you in the right path through Catholicism and will pray for you and those who love and support you. Deo Gratias!
Where in the Bible does Christ teach Sunday a Holy Day??? Where in the Bible does Christ teach Mary is a mediator/intercessor? Where in the Bible did Christ change the Sabbath to Sunday??? Where in the Bible did Christ teach that Mary has gone/ will go to heaven? Where in the Bibler did Christ teach that a mere man is head of His church??? Where in the Bible is the title "pope" mentioned??? Where in the Bible did Christ teach that those that die go right to heaven?? --Where in the Bible did Christ teach that mere men have to authority to change what God wrote???
I was born and raised Catholic but drifted away from the faith during my college years. After 30+ years of searching for the truth I am now back in full communion with the Catholic Church! It’s so wonderful to be home again! Thank you for sharing your beautiful story! 🙏
Grew up Catholic, lost faith in the religion for so many years then I started to read the Bible KJV I enjoyed it but I wanted to learn more about Christianity especially Catholicism, found out Catholics the first Christians to exist on earth and the first Christian church built was the Catholic Church. Historically Roman Catholicism has played a huge role for Christianity more than the Protestants
I'm happy you did too, Tom. I grieved over what happened to the Episcopal church. I'm grateful for the Christian formation I got in the 60s and 70s growing up in the Episcopal church. Plus I loved, and still do, the Book of Common Prayer, the reverent worship that was in the church, the beautiful music, Evensong, Carols. But you saw what happened. Scripture was tossed out the window, tradition ignored, popular culture became favored over God's will. Unlike the Catholic Church, which does not allow lay people to vote, Episcopal lay people allowed to vote along with Bishops at conventions in the Episcopal church sped along the problems. Though I am grateful for my upbringing in the Episcopal church, I also feel somewhat deceived, even betrayed by the same church. For it was formed and sustained for political reasons five hundred years ago. It betrayed Christ. And it deceives itself, thinking the Orders are valid and that Apostolic succession continues through it. Both deceptions.
I had similar views growing up even though my grandparents were Catholic. I was baptized at a Church of Christ when I was 20 and now I'm getting ready to be confirmed into the Catholic church this coming Easter vigil. Funny how things tend to work out sometimes. 😎
I was baptized as a Baptist around 10 then converted to Catholicism around 24. Same story. You never know what you’re missing until you take part in the holy mass
God bless you and congratulations! I was raised Baptist and will also be confirmed Catholic at this Easter Vigil. Can you imagine being a part of THE church established by God himself, wow! How could we have denied that but thanks be to God, He welcomes us to and welcomes us back after we have been led astray. I'm so glad to be home!
quote---Welcome home, to the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church! .. unquote Quote the book, chapter and verse that mentions " One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church!" from the Bibl;e!!!!
Thank you for sharing your testimony! One of many ways in which God drew me into the Catholic Church was by enabling me to sense His Presence in the Tabernacle. I wasn’t anti-Catholic at the time, just ill-informed and resistant. But God lovingly pursued me and drew me with His beautiful Presence. Coming home has been the hugest blessing!
Loved your story, I am a cradle Catholic, but was Catechized in the ‘70’s after Vatican II and it wasn’t good. We did what we because we were told just to do it and not why. In2010 I met a lady and started going to her Pentecostal church and a Southern Baptist church. It was a great show and very entertaining, but absolutely no reverence. As I began reading reading and reading everything led me back to the Catholic Church so Easter 2018 I came back home!!! I can now defend my faith, in love, and I am so at peace at home. God bless!!!
Every believer is a prophet, priest and king - he is given the freedom to take the initiative in creating God's kingdom on earth. This is a great and important novelty of the Second Vatican Council
Happy you're entering this Easter! Good for your nieces. How much of a cut up are you? I'm picturing all kinds of pranks I'd play if I had a sister and she's anti Catholic. Such as before her first visit to my home after becoming Catholic, place a big cross on the front yard. Burn incense inside. Have statues of saints in the foyer and living room. Bottles of Holy Water in the kitchen, bath and dining room. Rosaries hanging from doorknobs. I'm a cut up and if I had a sister and she was anti Catholic, that is what I would have done when I became Catholic. Breaks the ice.
@@DesertRatGardener Where in the Bible does Christ teach Sunday a Holy Day??? Where in the Bible does Christ teach Mary is a mediator/intercessor? Where in the Bible did Christ change the Sabbath to Sunday??? Where in the Bible did Christ teach that Mary has gone/ will go to heaven? Where in the Bibler did Christ teach that a mere man is head of His church??? Where in the Bible is the title "pope" mentioned??? Where in the Bible did Christ teach that those that die go right to heaven?? --Where in the Bible did Christ teach that mere men have to authority to change what God wrote???
I did something similar! Raised Catholic, got away from the church. I wanted to return to church, but tried other faiths. I hated people hugging me and all when I came in too 😂 I am also not used to people asking you to just join the faith. Catholics learn their faith, then participate. I'm all, "I don't know you." Went to a Catholic Church. Felt the presence, felt the history and tradition with purpose. I was home. And I was raised to stay for the recessional and applaud the instrumentalists or choir ❤
Wow. We're kindred spirits, Marie. I hate people I dont know and like a lot hugging me too and I totally get the "I don't know you". That's marvelous that you felt the Presence too. Jesus shephards us home, thank goodness.
We had a wonderful Bible study group at St Martha’s Catholic Church. Anyway many Episcopalians ladies would attend during Easter season. The ladies were very surprised to find how our churches have a lot in common. This was 30 years ago. Anyway, during the pandemic my parish church was closed. I really missed not going to Mass. There was an Episcopalian church near my work and they had just opened. I thought maybe it was could at least go to their women’s Bible study group. So I went on their website to see what they were all about. I was very shocked to find what was on their website. They said that they were pro choice and pro LGBTQ. It’s sad that the Episcopal Church as gone down this route . My late Father in Law converted to the CatholicChurch. He was Anglican. He never regretted his decision.
Eventually the Anglican church will collapse. Many Bishops have left the Anglican communion to join the Catholic Church since I left it. A number of Episcopalians in the USA have left the Anglican communion to reorganize themselves into new denominations where they use the Book of Common Prayer and call themselves Anglican, but they are not in communion with the Anglican communion and are not at the Lambeth conference. Reinventing the wheel is what they did. Won't work in the long run. My hope is that all put aside ego, and drop learned prejudice against the Catholic Church, to return to Jesus' Church. Anything else is playing with the devil.
I recently reverted back to my Catholic roots, it feels so good to be home! We live in Las Cruces. You might want to come down and check out the festivities they have in December for Our Lady of Guadalupe at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Tortugas. The mass they had on Our Lady’s feast day was AMAZING! Fr. Valentine never disappoints with his homilies. They also do a pilgrimage up Tortugas Mountain and have Indigenous dancing. It is a truly beautiful experience.
My exwife was very anti-Catholic. What is interesting to me is that most antiCatholics dont actually know what the Catholic church teaches. They have NEVER taken RCIA!!! They should at least take RCIA to understand what the Catholic church teaches.
That's true for myself. I thought I knew about the Catholic church, but after I entered the Church and then took Tepeyac classes did I learn that what I thought about the Catholic Church was hundreds of years out of date, and all before Vatican II. If I'm typical, most Protestants have no real comprehension of Vatican II and the modern Catholic Church. Rather, Protestants are taught out dated, by hundreds of years, slander from the Protestant Reformation. I was an Episcopalian (before the Episcopal church went to hell in a handbasket) who said that Catholics should leave and become Episcopalians if they have two brain cells between their ears. I erroneously thought that Catholic priests damned to Hell and would not bury Catholics who took their own lives. Erroneously thought lay Catholics believed they could get away with anything because they just went to confession and got absolved, then did all their sins all over again. And erroneously thought the Catholic Church was ok with that because they could sell to the laity indulgences. Things like this is what I erroneously thought Catholicism was all about: utterly cruel, superstitious and full of graft. Plus the things I read in the paper did not help: Catholic laity seeing Mary or Jesus in a bank window after a rain, or bringing the neighbors over to see the tortilla scorch mark of Mary from their burrito, and all kinds of such things that made the newspaper. I'd laugh and think those Catholic priests really keep their flocks in the dark ages. (Learned after becoming Catholic that the priests want the laity to not be seeing miracles and signs every which way they turn, but instead be faithful followers and doers in service to Christ fulfilling our baptismal roles.) So, it was such a breath of fresh air to learn at Tepeyac all about Catholicsm. Huge relief. Because I had no choice but to obey and join Christ's Church after what He did. Yet I found RCIA irritating at times. Stuck with it only because I was doing as Jesus wanted me to do. In hindsight, I think Jesus had me go through that particular RCIA to see if I will endure. Because only after I did not get up and walk out, but stuck with it (three hours every Sunday for nine months, taught by lay people, most with little to no theological education), did I then learn about the Diocese lay program instruction that really taught well, from priests, nuns, theologically educated PhD lay Catholics a full understanding of what a Catholic is, does, should do in living a life of faith in the Kingdom of God. Breath of fresh air. And not at all what I had thought the Catholic church was about.
I remember i almost left the Catholic faith. Looking for another Church(PROTESTANT). Never realized all this denomination that broke away fr the Holy APOSTOLIC church. Did more research and with the help of the holy Spirit learn my Faith more. And thank God i stayed CATHOLIC. God bless you and God bless the HOLY CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC CHURCH. 📖🍞🍷📿⛪️🕊🙏🏻🔥
Thanks for sharing your testimony! I want to encourage you to share your journey. You have a very strong conviction of right and wrong and that’s from the Holy Spirit. The beauty of the Catholic Church is that we are not alone. We are the Body of Christ and we pray for one another. I am praying for more conversions such as yours
Very beautiful testimony of your conversion. I was particularly touched by your experience of the 'Presence' which I wish I could experience every day. God bless you and may God lead many people to the Church through your witness.
Blows my mind too. More accurately, it humbled me. I was wrong, so wrong, about the Church. And did not know how wrong I was. It's His Church. He's the shephard calling His sheep.
Your story was so different than most I have heard from those who came to Catholicism. Because you felt the Presence, was that all it took for you to decide to become a Catholic? You were truly blessed to actually feel the Presence. I am a cradle Catholic and for a while not practice my faith, but there was no way I could not be a Catholic. The few times I entered a Protestant church I was overcome by the starkness, no artwork, statues, and really nothing but a plain cross in front to tell anyone entering it was a house of Gods. There was the complete absence of Christ’s presence!, basically cold! I am 82 and have been in an intense study of the foundations of Catholicism since Nov. 2019. It all began while waiting for my wife’s rehab session to end after knee surgery. I had read the few magazines there and pulled out my phone and opened RU-vid. I opened a video of the conversion of Scott Hahn, a Presbyterian minister who converted to Catholicism. He said reading the Church Fathers was the key. He had been a strong anti-Catholic. I watched the conversion stories of many others and the common thread was the Church Fathers. So, I realized I was a Catholic who did not know the Fathers and that started my digging into learning more about my faith. It has made me more fully appreciative and so thankful for my Catholic faith. I have watched many people’s conversion stories over those years and the one takeaway is that those who grew up in most Protestant traditions were fed a lot of lies about Catholicism. How sad it must make our Lord feel that there is such misinformation passed on to many who grew up in other Christian churches about His Church. I know that the Holy Spirit came upon you as He did to start me on my journey to become more fully a Catholic!
Thank you for sharing. I wish everyone would return to Jesus' Church. Interesting to learn that a nmbr of Protestants know nothing of the Church Fathers and the history of Christianity, and that after learning about it, that convinced them to convert. I knew a great deal about the Church Fathers, the early church, and the history of Christianity through the time of the Apostles up to the present. Studied it in religious education classes, and in secular university classes. So knowing about this is not what converted me. Jesus actually there at the altar is what did it.
What a wonderful testimony!!! Welcome home! I had a similar experience, too. I am born of a Muslim faith, and long story short I went to the parish opposite my workplace at that time, sat at the pew (for the first time in my entire life) where I then gradually kept weeping profusely. It took me 2 to 3 weeks to admit that I was repenting. While weeping, I glanced up at the tabernacle/altar and there was this SUPER HUGE presence but also felt like it was but a mere sliver of itself. I knew immediately who that was. I turned away quickly to cast downward saying in my heart "I'm not worthy to look at you!!" Mass began (first time attending it), and during the Epiclesis the celebrant priest said "This is my flesh..." & "This is my blood..." again I kept weeping profusely, snot and all. Never had I felt so ugly my entire life! Still during Mass when the celebrant priest presented the Host saying "Behold, the Lamb of God...", all I wanted to do was to crumple at the aisle to prostate and never get up. Again, it took me 2 to 3 weeks of reading and learning-from Scott Hahn, Fr. Mike Schmidt, folks from Catholic Answers to name a few-about the Mass and came to a realisation that that was indeed Christ Jesus! That God is ALIVE! Needless to say I am entering into the Church this coming Easter Vigil as of writing this :)
Very powerful. Thanks for sharing. It's humbling for a cradle Catholic. Many of us take our faith for granted. My great grandfathers on both sides of my family were Muslims who immigrated settled in my country. They married local women (heathens) but all their children and most of their descendants were baptized Catholic as they worked closely with the pioneering missionaries at the time. I will remember you and all those who will be entering into full communion with Holy Mother Church this Easter. Welcome home. God bless 🙏❤️
I am a former evangelical pastor, after 20 years I decided to return to the Holy Catholic Church. Catholics come home ministry helped me a lot. I took the R.C.I.A. classes, had my Confirmation sacrament and I am serving as a lector and catechist in my local church. I should never have left the Catholic Church.
God bless you and welcome home! I will pray a rosary decade for you today to stay strong in your faith and that you feel welcome in your new spiritual home here in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. Non nobis Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tua da gloriam!
Thank you and God bless you too. In the pinned comment and the description, I say that I was received into the Catholic Church on Easter Vigil 2010. So I've been Catholic almost 14 yrs.
@@DesertRatGardener Then I will pray for you to be an inspiration to other converts and reverts :) Thank you for sharing your story! I reverted a few years ago after growing up somewhat loose in the faith. Hearing convert/revert stories like these always fills me with joy.
I found your story more compelling than any apologetics argument for the Catohlic faith. A miracle of the divine presence is a game changer acting with His gift of your obedience. May you suffer well in this life for the faith, your salvation and your family.
Former Protestant, now Orthodox Christian. I left due to politics and the introduction of relaxing church policies that was separating my previous denomination (not to say Orthodoxy is denominational, it is pre-denominational, just to clarify). That along with discovering more about church history, I am glad to have found my home. I am glad you have found a home as well with one of the apostolic churches founded by our Lord through his apostles!
Praise God! I'm joining the Church this Easter (3 weeks to go). After my family went to our first Mass a year and a half ago, my oldest, then 3, told us "that felt familiar".
Isnt just me? By the time u mentioned about his presence i got goosebumps everytime until the end of ur story, like u i dont like attention just let me be in church and talk to d almighty...im a catholic too, in jesus name amen
I actually became so emotional😭when u said the Epistle Priest said, "God loves abortion." I realised the hurt was coming from deep within my soul. Tears non stop. 😭😭😭
Wow awesome genuine testimony! No need for debate theology apologetics.. you felt the presence of the Lord in the Eucharist! When you know you just know. Welcome home sister!🙏😊
just finished your video, what a story!!! Wow!!! have you ever watched the channel called "the coming home network"? its all stories of why people converted or reverted to the Catholic Church. Im a revert and once i came back i never doubted or questioned the authority of the Church. I too will never leave. No matter how big the scandal, or problems, the gates of hell will not prevail!
I'm happy you returned, and that you feel the same way - not going to leave. It's Jesus' church. He's not left it. In fact, He's right there in every Catholic church. Since He's faithful, you bet I will be, and you are too. I watched Marcus Grodi interview converts on EWTN every week for a long time. I think that's the same network. His son interviews now. Really like how that Coming Home organization helps Protestant pastors on their journey to Jesus' Church. They've done so much good. I particularly watched Episcopalians, both laity and clergy, on that program discuss why they became Catholic. Episcopal Bishop Steenson was my diocesan Bishop in the Episcopal church. He was on that program discussing why he became Catholic. He saw the huge problem of lack of real authority in Anglicanism, and the enormous benefit of the Catholic magisterium.
I am a cradle Catholic. I have always felt GOD there. That presence is always there, in the Eucharist in the tabernacle. My parish is fortunate enough to have an adoration Chapel. If I can’t make daily mass, I at least check in and sit with JESUS for a while.
I'm very happy for you and your story is very interesting. My road to the Catholic faith was a long search through many different churches and many years as a Jewish person as well. I finally found the real Church.
Wonderful James. I've heard that it is hard for a Jew to become Christian. The persecutions and pogroms on Jews by Christians certainly were evil and utterly against Christ' commandments. Jesus shepharded you to Him.
Welcome HOME! If you're ever interested in learning more about the Catholic faith, I encourage you to look up some videos on Steve Ray and Keith Nestor... these guys are what we call "on fire" Catholic converts. Dr. Brant Pitre, Dr. Scott Hanh, and Father Mike Schmitz are also brilliant, especially the The Bible In A Year and The Catechism In A Year Podcast. Best of luck to you on this amazing life changing journey!
Thank you. If anyone lives in or near to El Paso Texas, the Catholic diocese has a lay ministry training institute called Tepeyac. I liked their classes, which I took after becoming Catholic. Those classes are great ways to learn about the Catholic Church. Here's a link to them - www.tepeyacinstitute.com/ www.tepeyacinstitute.com/ministry-training.html Online, I like Dr Brant Pitre, as well as Father Chris Alar of the Divine Mercy. On Being A Christian, a book by Catholic Hans Kung, is excellent.
I appreciate your honest, transparent view on other denominations. Then, I love your story on how you entered/converted into the Catholic faith. Yes, most of us have experienced his presence. It's great that you're telling us your story with humor.😊😅 Thanks 😊❤
I was poorly raise catholic, but my mom always told sus to love God. When I was 30 I stared researching many denominations, but they all felt 90%. I was a little against Catholicism, but attending mass, Jesus touched my heart every weekend. I didn’t know why I was always crying at mass, but it felt really good. Months later I learned about the transmutation and it all made sense.
I am a cradle catholic that is still on a journey that has not been a smooth ride to be sure. How I love your personal story you tell of our Lord's presence in the churches you visited and what you did in your life to become a catholic! Never have I heard a story such as this! Thank you so much for your wonderful story!
It gives me such great joy to hear other people's experiences of sensing Christ's presence in the Church! I, too, have felt this! It's not real often for me, but when it has happened (and it still happens once in awhile), it's something to make me catch my breath! The thrill and the astonishment is Right. There! Of course, Jesus wants us to live by faith and not by sight (and I think that's why it's only an occasional thing) and yet he gives to each person according to their needs. He allowed me an awareness of his presence early on because I, like you, came from a Protestant background that was quite hostile towards the Catholic Church. I thought I had to be going CRAZY to allow myself to walk into a Catholic Church for a Mass! Yet my whole reason for being there was because I had come to the understanding of and belief in the Real Presence, and I knew I needed to know more about the Church. His being there in the room gave me what I needed to keep on going and to keep on researching. In hindsight, it is one of the most wonderful gifts he could have given me at the time! It was as if he was saying, "Yes, it is I, whose flesh is kept in the tabernacle, in the stored consecrated host. Whenever you enter into this building, you're entering into my presence on a whole new level! And welcome!". It gives me goosebumps and even tears - I'm not exaggerating! - to even reflect on this now. The rest is history. I am Catholic. And I will die Catholic. Jesus says that "according to your faith it will be done to you." I believe that if anyone comes to a sincere conviction about the Real Presence in the Eucharist and steps out in faith and comes to Mass, having at least expended some basic effort to acquire a basic understanding of what's going on, more likely than not Christ will meet them halfway and make himself known to them, too, at some point -- each according to their needs. Just remember: God is not in the wind or in the earthquake, but tends to manifest more as a whisper felt within.
GOD want a church that unites his children but Satan breaks them all and established 40k Christian churches to bring down the CATHOLIC Church which jesus entrusted to Peter.. But hey, 2k years later and the CATHOLIC Church is still around and strong but how many Protestant churches fell and new one sprouts.. Welcome home to the church that jesus built upon Peter..
Thank you!!!, I'm born and raised catholic. Our year did not start good, sister diagnose with cancer , me having issues at work and started having financial difficulties. Began to question my faith but with your testimony showed I'm on the right path. GOD BLESS!!!!
My heart goes out to you. A cancer fight is a terribly hard ordeal for your sister, and your work issues and financial problems add much stress for you. Our trials and sufferings can seem needless, unjust, a slap in the face, even a betrayal. Sometimes one may feel that God isn't listening, or worse - hears and does not care. Even Jesus felt forgotton by God the Father. Even Jesus. Writhing in agony as He is tortured to death by crucifixion, abandoned by almost all of His apostles, betrayed by one of them, whatever He'd been praying silently as he felt every torn tendon and flayed flesh, at one point He screamed out 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?!" I ignore some who water this desperation down as merely the first sentence from a psalm. No. Jesus felt abandoned by God the Father. He did not buck up about it either. He screamed "Why?" Moments later, though, Jesus places His spirit in God's hands. A total act of faith, and trust. Despite feeling abandoned earlier. Like Him, place your worries in God's hands in faith and trust that He will handle it. You *are* on the right path. God bless you too.
There are many religions here in my country many years ago,but the majority are still Catholic,and I have many friends and relatives, they tried many religions, but they still came back to Catholic!☺️
Desert Rat thank you for your testimony. The Blessed Eucharist is Jesus gift to us. To deepen your faith be sure to participate in confession, Eucharist, and Adoration. God Bless!
Thank you Rick. Stations of the Cross every Friday this Lent at the tiny village church, and I'm going. My last confession was helpful. I dont go to confession much. Priest lit a fire under me. I live around wild animals in the mountains now. Often the only human beings I see are once a week at church, then errands. Essentially, I am to cease being a quasi hermit and get out among people to do something to serve God. Confession really is a good thing. My daily life is fixing to change.
Yea kind of a country boy myself. Born and raised in central Florida and played football in Auburn Alabama. I’m more of a coach than Hunter but have had a bit of time in the woods. Been married 50 years this June and count my blessings in the little things!
THANK YOU❤️ for being so real about your journey! Welcome to the Church. I have a “presence” story. At my first Easter Vigil I didn’t realize the Eucharist was taken out of the tabernacle due to Good Friday and consecrated new at the Easter Vigil. I had walked in the church, I felt strange as if I walked into a regular building, it felt different. As the mass started I looked at the tabernacle and saw it was open and EMPTY! Shocked to see this (I was not yet educated as to why it was empty) and quickly realized THAT was the reason the church felt like a regular building and not a church, Jesus’ Eucharistic presence was not there at that time. I have other stories of sensing His presence, but I invite others to experience this PRESENCE for themselves❣️
Catholicism is an ancient church. It’s called Apostolic Church - because it’s started by the Apostles themselves. Jesus handed the church to St Peter - the Rock. Look at those ancient churches - are Catholic .
I’m currently Episcopalian, but I’ve had one foot out the door for years. I just didn’t know where to go. Long story short, through a series of incidents in quick succession (like over a weekend), I was led to consider the Catholic Church- something I, too, swore I would never consider. Now, with a dozen books and countless hours of RU-vid Catholic conversions under my belt, I am convinced that the Catholic Church is the One True Church, and I want in on it! Bummer that I realized this at the beginning of Lent, and now must wait more than a year to become Catholic, but it will be worth it. Honestly, I feel a bit robbed. I’m over 50. I grew up Presbyterian, and then moved to the Episcopal Church as an adult. All of the beauty and knowledge of 2000 years has been there, waiting. And I knew nothing. Please pray for me that next year, about the time, I will finally be welcomed home.😊
You will be home. :) Jesus calls you too. I was 50 when, also during Lent, I began attending the Catholic Church after what Christ did at the altar. And it was a year before I was received into the Catholic Church. It's worth the wait. I understand you feeling a bit robbed. I felt somewhat deceived, even betrayed by the Episcopal church. Ah well, the important thing is to follow Christ, who leads us to His Church.
45 years old. Episcopalian for 10 years. Called out by dramatic encounters with God that showed me the way to the Catholic Church. It took a lot of humbling of myself to make the changes but I'm so much better as a result. May God bless your path as you pray and attend mass and discern your next steps.
