Considering Converting (vanity)

Yep. That's what I meant to write...oh well. I think folks got the hint.

41 posted on 03/04/2004 9:32:10 AM PST by TheStickman (If a moron becomes senile how can you tell?)

http://www.catholicity.com/maryfoundation/

This is a great source for explanatory tapes. I'd especially recommend any of Father Larry Richard's. I was received into the Church at Easter Vigil of 2000, and when I went to make my first Confession, I listened to that tape in particular several times in my car.

I too had issues with telling my father I was converting - my mother converted in the 70's and basically turned our family into North Ireland, and all us kids stopped attending any church at all. When God called me into the Catholic Faith, I was terrified to tell Dad. He took it far better than I expected, though - he said that if that's what God was calling me to do, then I should do it. He even came to the Vigil Mass.

42 posted on 03/04/2004 9:46:43 AM PST by nina0113

Best wishes! My husband and I are both converts ... our families thought we were bats, but now they appreciate the grandchildren :-). My mom is from Northern Ireland (Protestant), and told me, "I always new you would do something weird ... I guess it could be worse! Thank God your Grandpop is in his grave, and whatever you do, don't tell Aunt Martha!"

I recommend "What Catholics Really Believe" and "Catholicism and Fundamentalism" by Karl Keating, and "Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic" by David Currie. These do a great job of addressing the misunderstandings and genuine areas of disagreement between Catholics and Protestants. Also anything by Scott Hahn!

43 posted on 03/04/2004 10:22:24 AM PST by Tax-chick (It's hard to see the rainbow through glasses dark as these.)

Re: Good question. Specifically, my wife and I decided we needed to develop/join a support system in preparation for the years after our children (late teens now) are gone.

Not only is there no mention of God, Christ, Redemption, etc in your reasons, but there is no mention of seeking the Truth either.

Jesus said unless a man is born again of the Spirit of God, he could not even see the Kingdom of God. That would be a good place to start.

44 posted on 03/04/2004 10:31:07 AM PST by Ephesians210

45 posted on 03/04/2004 10:50:57 AM PST by BlackElk (Dean of Discipline of the Tomas de Torquemada Gentlemen's Club)

To: CatholicLady

Welcome to FreeRepublic, CatholicLady! God bless!

46 posted on 03/04/2004 11:44:42 AM PST by Siobhan (+Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet+)

Welcome home, I pray that you will find blessing upon blessing and grace upon grace. Others have recommended Marcus Grodi and the Coming Home Network to you and the forum at Catholic.org. There are also some resources at The Catholic Exchange.

Also, I know a number of former Episcopalians and former Lutherans who found the EWTN website loaded with helpful information.

Eternal Word Global Catholic Network

47 posted on 03/04/2004 11:53:28 AM PST by Siobhan (+Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet+)

Your response is as inappropriate as it is false.

48 posted on 03/04/2004 12:00:41 PM PST by FormerLib ("Homosexual marriage" is just another route to anarchy.)

Good luck on your journey! You seem to have several excellent sources being provided and you've managed to unearth only one naysayer.

The naysayers can be quite helpful as they remind us of what we turn our backs on when we turn to face the Lord.

49 posted on 03/04/2004 12:06:08 PM PST by FormerLib ("Homosexual marriage" is just another route to anarchy.)

To: CatholicLady; Catholicguy

CatholicLady, meet Catholicguy. Catholicguy, CatholicLady.

A proper introduction seemed appropriate. ;o)

50 posted on 03/04/2004 12:12:12 PM PST by malakhi

Hmmmmmmm.......

A romance in the making per chance on the Freep site?

51 posted on 03/04/2004 12:20:21 PM PST by undirish01 (Go Irish! If only we can get the theology dept. turned around.)

Congratulations! The move you have undertaken is one not to be taken lightly. I wish you God-speed in your new journey. You may want to try www.newadvent.org. That, and the other sites mentioned on this thread would be extremely useful to you. I'm a cradle Catholic and have always known one religion. I can in no way know what it is like to leave one faith and enter another. My wife converted four years ago from being Baptist. She has enjoyed being Catholic immensely. I hope and pray you do, too. Welcome aboard!!!!!

52 posted on 03/04/2004 12:45:31 PM PST by NCC-1701 (GIVE US BACK LOGO-FREE TV!!!!!)

Thanks to you and all the others who've taken the time to post links and offered to pray for us. I spent an unplanned hour with the Deacon this afternoon, asking questions and sharing my impressions of the Mass we attended last Sunday. There's a LOT to be worked out as wife and I had previous marriages and all that *fun* stuff*. However, with your prayers and God's Guidance I'm confident we will continue to grow together as we enter into this Body.

I was struck by how nice everyone over there is. Folks here have been just as kind and I can't thank you enough for it. Thank you all so much! I don't wanna sound/read like a broken record here:)

53 posted on 03/04/2004 1:07:32 PM PST by TheStickman (If a moron becomes senile how can you tell?)

Can you tell give a particular reason why your wife left the Baptist church for the Catholic?

Becky

54 posted on 03/04/2004 1:21:05 PM PST by PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain (Proud member of the Lunatic Fringe, we love Spam, Uzi's and Jesus.)

To: TheStickman; NCC-1701; undirish01

There's a LOT to be worked out as wife and I had previous marriages and all that *fun* stuff*.

Lol! I recall an episode last year on The Journey Home. (If you have access to EWTN via your cable TV, this program is MUST viewing! You will feel totally at home listening to the guests relate their conversion stories. You will also find many of these same stories at The Coming Home Network web site).

That particular night, Grodi's guests were a couple who had shared the conversion together. Like you, they ran into an immediate stumbling block with previous marriages. They entrusted the matter to their pastor and waited ... and waited ... and waited. Lent rolled along and they discussed the matter with each other. They researched what catholics normally do and read about 'giving up' something important for Lent. They considered 'giving up' coffee, etc. but decided to 'do' something instead.

They chose to attend daily mass. Because they had not yet been received into the Church and could not receive communion, they would sit in the back pew. Meanwhile, the old pastor was replaced by a young one. After mass one day, the new pastor called them over. He had noticed them at mass every day, sitting in the back pew but never presenting themselves for Communion. He delicately asked if there was a 'reason' for this. So they explained the situation. He smiled, and immediately asked them to come to the rectory the next day with all of their documentation. Within the span of a week, he had remedied all of the snafus in the paperwork and had them on track with the RCIA program.

Their story was truly heartwarming. For cradle catholics, like NCC-1701 and myself, we oftentimes assume more about our Catholic faith than we should. EWTN's program - The Journey Home - has had life altering effects on me. Some of Grodi's guests have literally been 'called' to the Catholic Church, from every denomination. Another moving episode was that of Marty Barrack, a convert from Judaism. I posted a thread to the Religion Forum today, about yet another Jewish convert. I'll bump it to you.

Like all siblings, even the catholics in this forum have their petty disagreements. On ONE thing we are all certain, is our faith in the Catholic Church.

Please keep us advised as to when you and your family will be received into the Church. One of he greatest blessings that you will receive on that night are the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit.

My 17 year old daughter, rebellious by nature, dropped out of the Confirmation program last year. It was heart breaking for me and so many catholics in the forum took up the rosary beads to pray for her. This past November, she finally completed her studies and made her Confirmation. That night, I cried tears of joy! The change in her has been remarkable. One friend, who hadn't been to mass in years and never made his Confirmation, despite being raised Catholic, called her up, asking if he could attend the Mass. Since the release of The Passion last week, other kids are calling her, asking her to accompany them to the movie. She herself, told me that she has made a 180 degree turn and has fully embraced her Catholic faith.

My prayers, and I'm sure the prayers of many other here in this forum, are with you and your family. Should you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask. We are here for you and will celebrate your reception into the Church with you, when that day arrives. God bless you!

57 posted on 03/04/2004 4:20:50 PM PST by NYer (Ad Jesum per Mariam)

Thank you so much for sharing both stories of Hope!

58 posted on 03/04/2004 4:48:03 PM PST by TheStickman (If a moron becomes senile how can you tell?)

To: nina0113; TheStickman

I'd like to ditto nina's recommendation for the tapes on catholicity.com. Very informative, very faithful tapes which helped me, a former CINO come back to the Faith of the Church. If you have a decent internet connection you can listen to the tapes online (click on the preview tapes selection). RCIA is normally a requirement for conversion, just be aware there are some programs (and even some priests/bishops) that are heterodox. Invest in a good Catechism and use that as your yardstick.

59 posted on 03/04/2004 7:13:19 PM PST by rmichaelj

Ger Tzedek prayer for your wife's and your life in faith.

60 posted on 03/05/2004 10:39:46 AM PST by onedoug

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