While this is a nice story I am always disappointed to not read about the realization one is a sinner and in need of salvation.
The quote that jumps out to me:
When you become a catholic you find lots of new ways of feeling guilty.
From former catholics I've talked too....no truer words have been spoken.
I always thought Christianity was about forgiveness.....not finding new ways to feel guilty.
When he is lost for words....why not turn to Christ??....if He's his friend.
When the seas get choppy...why not turn to Christ??...if He's his friend.
Give him time to grow in his Christian faith. I’m a long way from where I was in my faith and understanding than I was 40 years ago. And, having once written about my journey, there were things I left out and would write differently today, 20 years later.
When the seas get choppy...why not turn to Christ??...if He's his friend.
To have faith in such cult is mind-blowing. But, the author was into Marxism, and Anglicanism, and was apparently never offered an opportunity to hear the "Good News" (i.e.:Gospel) about saving faith in Christ, not an organization.
From reading this story, I can only conclude he jumped from the frying pan into the fire!
When you become a catholic you find lots of new ways of feeling guilty.
Here's the way that I look at it: if you are very new in a conversion, the broad strokes (adultery, fornication, atheism, murder, mayhem, theft, etc) are what you feel really guilty about and what you are worried about changing. As you mature, you start recognizing things within yourself that are not pleasing to God that you would have been utterly blinded about earlier.
Consider:
[Eph 4:22 KJV] That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; [Eph 4:23 KJV] And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; [Eph 4:24 KJV] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
I think that if you'd ask most Catholics, they would say that this is a process, not a one time event. As you continue to put more of the "new man" on, you will need to shed more of the "old man."
That is why even the greatest saints through history made frequent use of the Sacrament of Penance. Not necessarily because of horrible sins that they keep doing, but because even more minor sins / vices become even more offensive as time goes on. And, yes, part of that process is, as you recognize more areas where you fall short, you feel guilt for that.
Christ died for ALL of our sins, not just the big ones.
