A Small Testimony...

[John the Engineer]

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!

 

[Michelina]

...I just wanted a thread dedicated to the fact that not all Protestants are against Catholicism.

...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.

Thanks for this testimony, John. We know that there are a number of nonCatholic Christians here on these boards and elsewhere who feel as you do. I pray that their number grows.

True Unity in Christ is, most fundamentally, a unity in His Love, even where there are doctrinal differences. Most nonCatholic Christians are misinformed about us. We Catholic Christians don't help the situation because we either ignore them or speak harshly of their ignorance.

The past weeks have been interesting for OBOB. I am happy about the changes and hope they bear much fruit. I pray that all Christians, of all backgrounds, ask for the unifying Love which Our Lord wants us to have.

 

[thereselittleflower]

This is so wonderful to hear.

Have you gone to an adoration chapel to pray yet at all? I think that you will find this to be a very special time to spend in prayer with our Lord either by yourself or with others. If I can encourage you to go I would be so happy.


Peace in Him!

 

[John the Engineer]

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 )

 

[BAChristian]

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 )

No.

Just kidding...

An adoration chapel is a small room where the consecrated host is contained in a monstrance and is set out on the altar. You can walk in, physically be with our Lord, and feel completely in peace.

Some parishes are blessed enough to have perpetual adoration, where the host is always present, and there is always someone in there. You can never leave the host alone.

Adoration has deeply enriched my life...Adoration is a very sacred time. Generally, we walk in, kneel with both knees, and bend over and bow, and then go to the pew and kneel and pray...

Ours is from 9-5 on Fridays only. At 5:15, we have benediction...I like to get off work early, get there around 4:30, and just pray.

BTW, good post John...thanks.

 

[Filia Mariae]

Thank you John.

 

[ukok]

It is heartwarming to read your post, John. God bless you.

 

[thereselittleflower]

Hi John

I think you would know if you had

The idea of the consecrated host being on display may seem a little strange to the Protestant mind, but I started going to an adoration chapel at good year and a half before I actually decided to become Catholic . . The first night I went, it was just to see what it was like . . I went back a few days later, and thus my time in the adoration chapel started on a fairly regular basis . . to be with Jesus in a place specially set aside for this in this manner . . there have been times when I have gone in, kneeled down before taking a seat, and could almost not get back up again, the presence of Christ was so strong . .

And even if the host is not on display, it is still inside a box calle a tabernacle, and Jesus is still just as present .. you just don't visibly see the consecrated host.

I hope you will get a chance to go and spend time with Jesus in this special way . . you don't have to say anything . . just let God be God . .


Peace in Him!

 

[John the Engineer]

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.

 

[BAChristian]

...what exactly is on display?

http://www.therealpresence.com/

See the monstrance? It's on the far right...it's also the third picture from the left up top on the banner logo on the altar.

Within the circle is where the consecrated host is contained...a little oval "cup" has the bread in it, then that oval "cup" is fitted into that oval hole in the monstrance...

Here's a really old one, and here's also a good explanation of the Monstrance...

 

[John the Engineer]

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

 

[ProCommunioneFacior]

John,

Here is a brief FAQ about the Eucharist, which is the Sacred Host that we worship in adoration because we believe that it is Jesus. If you have anymore questions after reading this please do not hesitate to ask. But to briefly answer your question only Priests can consecrate bread and wine into the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This takes place at every Catholic Mass during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The FAQ's briefly cover this among other things. Here is the link to the FAQ.

http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/eucha1a.htm

I can say that from my personal experience that there is nothing on this earth that compares to receiving Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior into my being every day and regularly worhsipping in my church's chapel. It has brought much grace into my life.

 

[BAChristian]

It has brought much grace into my life.

...good post p2bc...

It brings sacramental grace within.

With that said, is sacramental grace, sanctifying grace? I remember Shelb touching upon this subject in a nice thread a month ago.

 

[ProCommunioneFacior]

Yes, I believe that there is actual grace and sanctifying grace, we receive sanctifying grace in the sacraments, especially in the Eucharist.

 

[kimber1]

john, i think i can speak for everyone here when i say that your OP has touched our hearts and filled us with hope! God bless you.

 

[John the Engineer]

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.

 

[thereselittleflower]

John

Maybe you can explain more how you see the priest standing in the place of Christ . . I think there is a misconception here, but I am not really clear about how you are seeing this, so it is difficult to address . .

But to say this . . The Priest does not stand between me and Christ ever . . I never get that sense, I never feel I have to go through a priest to get to Christ . .I come from a Protestant background of over 30 years and was a strong christian then too . . I think I know what you are saying, but really the experience is something else entirely . .

The priest is leading us to Christ, helping us to Christ, not putting himself inbetween us and Christ . . the priest is like a doctor, but not of the body, of the soul . .

If you could explain yourself better that will help us to be more direct in our responses . .


Peace in Him!

 

[Metanoia02]

How much do you submit a situation before the Lord directly and not pursue a Priest about it?

Almost all the time.

 

[thereselittleflower]

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.

john, this is why we go to a Priest . . for Wise and Godly counsel, not because we will receive a decision directly from Christ . . .we also believe that the Priest, by virtue of his office, of the sacrament of Holy Orders receives a special charism, a special gift, and many times will have discernemt given to them that they will share with us . . . does this make sense? I think you are very wise to consult a priest about whatever situation you are going through.

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?

The communion of saints recognizes that the body of believers is ONE . not divided between the living and those who have passed on . . The Catholic Cburch teaches that all believers are saints in the general sense . . but what the Catholic Church calls Saints in the specific sense are those individuals, who by their lives on earth, have lived in such a way that the Church is certain that they are present with Jesus in heaven right now, and so can internceede for us on earth . . These the Church gives the formal title of Saint to . . and we believe that just as I can ask you to pray for me, I can also ask a Saint in heaven to pray for me as well . . . this is called praying to the Saints, and we use the older English, more general meaning, of "praying" as asking someone for something - anyone . not just God . .

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.

That is so wonderful to hear, and please keep asking . . this is one of the best ways to clear up misconceptions and really understand what Catholics believe and why. And it really is a growth experience in the Lord!


Peace in Him!

 

[John the Engineer]

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!)