Conversion Stories

[servant of Merciful Love]

My whole Family is Pentecostal. I attended two semesters of bible college and was very strongly involved. I met my husband last year, and we got married Sept 1st. My husband was also very protestant, and involved. Within the last year or two my Brother and Grandma decided to change over to becoming Catholic. This was a huge change for them. I started to do research to understand them, and why they had made their very unexpected choices. My husband and I will be attending RCIA starting next Monday! Thank you Jesus for bringing us home! Please pray for us Brother's and Sister's. There will be a lot of opposition. But we have faith.

Whew, my conversion story has taken me thus far into my early thirties. The entire family's been Protestant for generations as far as I know. Some of the friends I had in high school were Catholic, so I attended Mass with them once or twice.

The Shepherd's crook really began to nudge me after I began a solitary bible study during a very difficult point in my life. My prayer life became more active simultaneously - the Lord's prayer morphed into something particularly meaningful. I discovered the importance of baptism, wasn't sure if the baptism I had as a child in the Methodist church was proper, so I set out to make "sure" by submersion. As all of this occured, I frequented CF...The Catholic community here was fantastic, recognizing my sincerity and patiently answering my questions.

My marrige was crumbling as I began learning about sacraments - these bolstered me. I prayed for a work to be done in our family unit. Those prayers were heard, even though it's taken a number of years. I began to have a feeling of contentment - something unusual for me, and most undeserved, but I'm being directed home nonetheless.

Oddly enough, even though I'd never been taught avenues of Catholic worship, I practiced the forms (in a sense). My biblical studies revealed the truth over apostolic succession and the authority given to it by God: tradition, infant baptism, purgatory. The Eucharist developed into a huge question mark. I just could not understand why Protestants did not practice this, especially since the Lord himself asked us to do it in rememberance of Him. Something went tragically wrong with scripture only, I thought.

The next isn't something I want to use as a finger-pointing mechanism, but without it - it wouldn't be true... My daughters were attending the local Baptist church, I wasn't particularly thrilled about it but decided the kids needed to learn about God...when they started going just for the fun activities, I became worried. My conscience prickled me. After they brought home a "bible" which only included a New Testament, it was too much. Next thing I know, my little ones are asking when they can be baptized. I suddenly recall at that moment (and I'm paraphrasing): unless one has faith like a little child, they cannot receive the Kingdom of Heaven. The nudge was quickly replaced by the rod, so to speak. Ha.

Needless to say, a phone call to the local priest has started the process. A letter's coming regarding RCIA, and Mass starts for the children and I on Sunday. Will my husband convert? I can't answer that. All I can do is ask in prayer and live accordingly.

Welcome to CF
I will be praying for your spiritual journeys

 

[Voegelin]

I became a Catholic a short while ago in the hospital. Admired the church for years but the sticking point was the eucharist. Not something which can be finessed. Asked an old friend to call a priest, she did, the priest went right to the Divine Presence, said I could have no doubts and that he would pray for me to accept it. 15 minutes later, being wheeled down the halls for another test, I felt a warm feeling in my chest, a great joy and saw my doubts as even funny. 4 hours later, I was baptised by the hospital Catholic chaplain.

 

[Virgil the Roman]

I became a Catholic a short while ago in the hospital. Admired the church for years but the sticking point was the eucharist. Not something which can be finessed. Asked an old friend to call a priest, she did, the priest went right to the Divine Presence, said I could have no doubts and that he would pray for me to accept it. 15 minutes later, being wheeled down the halls for another test, I felt a warm feeling in my chest, a great joy and saw my doubts as even funny. 4 hours later, I was baptised by the hospital Catholic chaplain.

Bravissimo! God Bless you!

 

[Deleteriousnonsense]

I became a Catholic a short while ago in the hospital. Admired the church for years but the sticking point was the eucharist. Not something which can be finessed. Asked an old friend to call a priest, she did, the priest went right to the Divine Presence, said I could have no doubts and that he would pray for me to accept it. 15 minutes later, being wheeled down the halls for another test, I felt a warm feeling in my chest, a great joy and saw my doubts as even funny. 4 hours later, I was baptised by the hospital Catholic chaplain.

Amazing! God works in mysterious ways. You know you still should go through RCIA and be confirmed. I can't even imagine a hospital chaplain actually baptising someone. You are incredibly fortunate.

 

[Voegelin]

I can't even imagine a hospital chaplain actually baptising someone.

It seemed out of the ordinary to Rev Geoffrey C. Smith, Catholic Chaplain at Yale-New Haven Hospital, who baptised me. I could see the Knight's of Columbus International Headquarters from my room so I suspect most of his time is spent with Catholics. A Congregationalist/Unitarian converting is rare in itself.

You are incredibly fortunate.

Yes, I was. Do not recommend this avenue however .

The lesson here for others thinking of converting who have doubts about the Real Presence : Ask for help. I had not. I will miss out on a lot because I waited so long (decades).

 

[jpalen]

I converted to Catholic a few years ago. My wife was raised Catholic, but wasn't and isn't a practicing Catholic. She is the Holiday Catholic variety. My mother-in-law had fallen away from the church for many years but was getting back in.
I was a believer in Christ and baptised a Methodist as an infant. Raised in a non religious family, I started finding rides to the Baptist church. When growing up I asked for Christ to answer me...be careful what you ask for. I didn't get a non specific feeling or unusual things happening. I got floored by the most brilliant white light penetrating my skull and all the questions I had were answered. Not with a voice but with a knowledge and as close as I can describe, pictures. Fast forward to later years married with children. The rental house I lived in started smoking from the attic one night. At the fire department inspection and later the insurance company inspaection 2 separate men at 2 different times asked me if I was a religious man. I asked both why and both answered that the charred beams from the wiring fire should not have gone out. The house should have burned to the ground, yet it didn't. Around the same time my son suffered a mental breakdown and had taken my shotgun and ammunition and hidden in his closet. The night before he went ballistic and was hospitalized, I was awakened in the middle of the night by water running uphill from a leak in my waterbed and hitting a childs cooking pan near the headboard of my bed. Causing me to awaken and look under the bed where I stored the shotgun. The gun was gone. I found it that night in my sons closet and removed it. The following day would have turned out much different had water not run uphill.
Around this same time my cat apparently found a talent for painting on the living room window with his nose. There was an image of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus on my front window. Not a smudge that kind of looked like it could be the Virgin Mary, but a clear rendition with easily identifiable features. Several people saw this and asked how I had painted it and what with.
There lies the origin of looking at the Catholic church as my church of choice. The Catholics give Mary more credit and respect than the Baptists. There is the weekly eucharist, and the same reading given in each church though the homily will vary according to the priest.
I am comfortable with tradition and am more at home in my local Catholic church than I have been at any other church I have attended.
Christ is the way to the Father, and sometimes for some of us it takes Mary to get us to Christ.

 

[xDirtx]

Well my Mum converted to Catholicism from Protestantism a few years ago.
To be honest I think she just did it for the wrong reasons because she felt left out because all her friends are Catholics and she wasn't.
Because she rarely goes to Church.
At first she was very excited about it and couldn't wait,now she doesn't really care.

Sorry that was a bit of a downer story there.

 

[Daniel25]

I was raised Methodist. I ceased believing in about 5th grade. I do not want to give the impression that my parents neglected my religious education; they did not. I went to Sunday school, etc. I lived hard in college. One day after an all night study session, and then an exam in Linear Algebra, I was absolutely dejected. I sat next to the library wall, smoking cigarettes and feeling like everything was pointless. Some random girl came up to me and said "God has a plan for you!" The best way to describe what I felt was a softening of my heart. I thought to myself, I decided against God when I was in 5th grade; I also thought back then girls had cooties and other foolish things. So I decided to re-examine faith with a clean perspective.

About two years later I started taking RCIA classes. I move around a lot, so I have yet to be confirmed. I'm terrified of confession as well. However, I decided practice is the key to developing a strong faith. So I go to mass, I pray, and I read the bible.

The Church I decided, long ago is the best path as it avoids the endless schism and factionalism of the protestant faiths. It bothered me, when I was searching for churches, how The People's First Presbyterian Church would be saying awful things about The First People's Presbyterian Church, or whatever. Furthermore, it is a sensible middle path between stagnant fundamentalism and permissive innovation. Finally, it is aesthetically and spiritually fulfilling.

 

[Lakatide]

I converted from Hellenic Reconstructionist Paganism, which is the worship of the anicent Greek deities. I was a dedicate of the greek goddess Hekate. I was also involved in witchcraft, some ceremonial magick and some brief experiments in Goetic evocation.

I came to the Catholic church a couple of years ago, after a short period as an enquirer into the Russian Orthodox church, and am much the better for it. I still struggle a bit with the after-effects of my occult involvement but it's getting gradually better and I thank God for that.

Some of my family are still Pagans, which brings me sadness and concern, but I continue to pray and hope that they too will find God.

 

[Virgil the Roman]

Glory to Jesus Christ, Lakatide!

 

[yourstrulyjulie]

I posted in this thread a few months ago about being in RCIA. As an update, I converted from being Presbyterian to Catholic this Easter

 

[~Jennifer~]

I am converting from Baptist to Catholic. My dh's family is Catholic. Both religions are very very different and the sad part is is that my kids (10 & 7) know more than I do (because they have been doing RE classes since Kindergarten) and they know what to do in church and I have to follow them. I started RCIA classes last year but got sick with (depression) and stopped going. I plan on doing RCIA when they start up again usually when school starts. I'm looking forward to it. One thing I want to learn is how to pray the rosary.

 

[Virgil the Roman]

Glory to Jesus Christ!

May our Blessed Lord preserve, keep, bless, and strengthen thee in thy endeavours by His grace and mercy.

 

[Vendetta]

Praise to the Lord Jesus Christ

 

[Jacqueline9423]

Not a convert or anything, but I'm actually looking into the church and I feel very at home when I think of it. I'm considering converting when I'm 18, which will be next summer.

 

[BAChristian]

Not a convert or anything, but I'm actually looking into the church and I feel very at home when I think of it. I'm considering converting when I'm 18, which will be next summer.

February 2003 was the most important decision of my life. Peace be with you.

 

[peacetrain20]

I converted last year, it was a very long process, I went through an annulment which lasted over a year, had my children baptised, and attended a year of instruction at the Catholic church with the local priest and then got married as I was living in wedlock with my partner. Then I was baptised after easter. It was an incredible journey for me, I was brought up in the Uniting church but my parents weren't fantastic church goers and I stopped going when I was about thirteen or so. I then diverted for many years down a new age path barking up many non-christian trees in an attempt to find meaning and a sense of peace. This had, needless to say, the opposite effect. While the Catholic church has been dragged through the mud in the media lately, for the sins of some very lost and troubled people, to me it is the church that was set up essentially by Jesus and his followers so it is the most perfect of all religions. My only bug bear is I can't find many people my own age, but this is probably the crisis in christianity generally, I would love to meet more x generationers through this forum and share stories or indeed anyone else who has made the conversion journey because it is not an easy one by any means but ultimately very rewarding.

 

[peacetrain20]

Hi Jennifer, I too am learning the rosary, see my story of conversion posted today. I have found youtube to be good, there are a few decent explanations on there. I also share your burden of depression and it aint easy so good luck with the journey.

 

[Adam Warlock]

Hello all! I've been Anglican/Episcopalian for almost 10 years, but our Lord has been directing me towards the Catholic Church for a long time now. I've been attending Mass this summer at a wonderful parish.

I am very excited and humbled by our Lord's grace and mercy. In 3 1/2 weeks, I will begin RCIA. Please keep me in your prayers, as I know that spiritual attacks will be headed this way in the days leading up to RCIA (and during it as well). Prayers and encouragement for all new converts will be greatly appreciated during this coming Church year!

 

[VVGMom]

I'm starting the RCIA process at the beginning of September. I couldn't be more excited. I guess I've been doing the "dance", so to speak, around Catholicism since I was young, but it is very clear to me that it is where I am supposed to be now. The last few years of my life have been a test of every aspect of my life and I have only felt true, pure peace within a Catholic church. I've said many a prayer to Saint Rita and feel a connection with her.

Prayers to all who are going through the process and those who have gone before!