A Small Testimony...

I just got back from church and I've been posting over a few threads, then as I stopped to get something to eat for a sec I realized I should prompt a small testimony.

I am, as many of you who have read my posts know, Protestant. I know many of you have suffered insult and attack at the hands of people who do not see the truth of your faith. Indeed I was once not much different from them. I am greatful to say that I never fell to attacking people directly, but my heart was not disposed to a love for my brothers and sisters that have been revealed to me in the Catholic Faith. Even while dating a Catholic girl I still found myself with a "spar in my eye" so to speak.

But Praise the Lord, he has delivered me and shown me something, that people of the Catholic Faith are my brothers and sisters, that I love and cherish! The Lord showed me that your hearts are for the Lord, and though we may walk different paths of faith, we are still all on the Lord's path, and that differences in doctrine do not destroy that!

I enjoy posting here, enjoy talking with you. I try to keep all my comments clear of even the slightest question of my intent and love for all of you, because that is not the heart the Lord has given me. For the one post that was deleted, I do apologize to the moderators.

I just wanted a thread dedicated to the fact that not all Protestants are against Catholicism. I now regularly attend a Catholic Church to regularly seek my Lord in prayer and worship with those of fellow Christian faith, and though you may suffer at the hands of some, my heart goes out to those that are not able to grasp the truth and adopt a love into their heart.

I have truly been freed by the Lord, and I thank all of you here who have helped me to see and better understand the truth of God's life and purpose.

I pray that more may come to this truth. God Bless All Of You!

I've never been to an adoration chapel that I know of? But then again, I am not sure what exactly that is! (Maybe that's one of those things that if you don't know, the answer is no )

Sorry for being a bit not understanding what you're meaning, but what exactly is on display? I think I've seen what you're talking about (the box that it's locked away in) but I've never seen what's actually in there or anything like that.

Ah, I think I understand. I'll have to read this all again when I have a bit more sleep. Thanks for the links and the explanation!

Oh, could someone explain how the bread becomes the consecrated host? Is it blessed by a specific person or what exactly goes on? Thanks. Still learning so much

Thanks for the link proud2bcatholic.

I have been studying a lot about the communion especially. At our church I have run into some people that believe the bread itself is sacred, but in our faith we believe the bread to only be a symbol.

This is sort of a silly question, and I'm not looking to create a huge debate, but Christ ascended to heaven and left his spirit (the Holy Spirit) for us. So how is it that we (well, Priests, being part of our body of church) bring physical manifestations (sp?) of him back? Isn't that sort of declaring that he's still here physically and he's not really fully ascended to heaven? Bearing in mind a lot of this is still really new to my mind and being processed for the first time

One thing that concerns me about the Catholic Church is it still gives a separation between God and people in some ways. The church still stands in God's place in so many ways while Jesus died so that we may personally enter in. I am of the lineage of the sons of Abraham (Jewish, but I just love using that phrase for some reason) and so I have known the belief that we are separated from God and someone must enter in on our behalf. I, by my faith, am allowed to have communion and act in faith however I feel the Lord's prompting and moving me. It is my faith that guides my life.

Well, before I make this some huge long post, I'll try to get to what I'm asking. By my faith and the Lord's prompting in my life I move. I read the bible and pursue his will. However in my learning about the Catholic Faith I see the Priest standing in the place of Christ so much. It seems that so much of the Catholic Faith is being submitted to the Priest taking the place of Christ. How much do you submit a situation before the Lord directly and not pursue a Priest about it? This is not saying that either is wrong or right, I'm just curious to know how people of the Catholic Faith live.

I have been thinking about talking to a Priest about a situation I'm going through right now. Not because I believe it would be a decision of Christ but for wise and Godly counsel.

Oh, before I go asking too many questions and pestering too much, in our church we take the "Fellowship of the Saints" to mean one another (fellow Christians), but Saints to the Catholic Faith are different, so how is this accomplished? Is that praying to the Saints and such?

Ok, thank you all for your answers and such! It's really great learning so much! The past few weeks of my life have been so much growth in the Lord.

Just realized the way I said that was really bad. Before I finish reading on all the posts, I didn't mean to say the Priest was standing BETWEEN you and God, but that he was taking the place of Christ in certain situations. IE: Confession, giving ... I forget what it's called, but permission to do certain things (not practice Lent or something of that nature)

Sorry for that, really poorly worded.

Ok, now that I've read the posts

So the Priest moves in the (place of? Not sure how to word it) when he blesses the bread and wine. And also, from my understanding, when in the confessional he is becoming Christ (again, not sure how to word that, or if I'm even thinking of it right)? But for your answers to your situations you seek counsel of a Priest but still seek God for the answer.

So "One Body, One Bread" means that the body of the Church (and thus Christ) is the body including those that have ascended to heaven and those that remain here, and one bread is because those here are partaking of Christ here (by the consecrated host) and those in heaven are partaking of Christ in heaven? Is that right? Close to?

And by what you're saying we all become Saints in heaven, but the title of Saint here are just the ones the church is "sure of" by their great works here?

Thanks! I feel like when I met my extended family for the first time and learned about all the Jewish traditions. (Though I'm still not giving up my bacon and ham!)