Conversion Stories

I love the easter bunny

exnihilo said:

I can´t really say I converted. In reality I was raised a Catholic until I got to the age of "reason" as some people put it and got very distant from faith. Not to long ago I got to a point that my life felt simply meaningless and I had the urge to go back and reassess my priorities.

This period was very difficult but I were very lucky for having a reference in my life from a period in my young years. Even tough I was never really an atheist I lived like one and I had absolutely no hope in anything. The best, I figured, was to live in the moment and indulge myself.

Now that I look back I see that God had never really abandoned me. I was simply searching for something, desperately, but without knowing what it was. And that, I could only find in my childhood faith.

To make this long story short.

All my search halted when I reached the limit of my own understanding, (Now I get St Augustine´s: believe to understand, understand to believe), so I took the only step I could think of: saying the "pater noster". And it was even difficult to remember the words at that point.

That was about a year ago. I think I´ll always remember that moment.

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What a wonderful testimony. May God richly bless you all of your days.

Your brother in Christ.

I haven't been baptized yet but I am in the process of converting to Catholicism from Hinduism.

The realization that eternal salvation is only through Christ Jesus made me see the emptiness in my old belief for what it was.

And I have personally felt the power of the Catholic prayer.

God Bless you and give you strength and guidence in this stage of your walk with Him.

I am so happy that you have found the truth of God's love, and I rejoice with you as you start this new walk of faith within the Catholic Church.

Blessings

Les

I suppose that I could be considered a revert too. I was raised a Catholic and baptised, confirmed etc, but throughout most of my early and mid teens I began to adopt an athiest viewpoint and started investigating cults and pagan beliefs. I never went any further than investigating them, and I still went to mass every week with my family, but didn't really participate.
In the last couple of years I suddenly just had a renewal of faith due to the faith of people I met and through events that happened in my life that demonstrated God's prescence. I became more interested in the Church and Christianity and read around the subject and became more actively Catholic.
It also helped that I found this website which answered alot of my questions

Here's a short summary: I'm a cradle Catholic. Throughout most of my life, I had no idea on what a being a Catholic or a Christian meant. Approxiamately three years as a result of a Pagan using the Bible against me and my Catholic Faith, I was compelled to explore my Christian Faith. I had explored through the realms of Protestantism, and eventually decided that I'd find the best Protestant Church for me. Which was the Episcopal Church. I was thinking, it's like the Catholic Church only without the Pope, the Magesterium, or any of the Sacred Tradition that wasn't in the Bible. Eventually through Edification and discernment, I gradually realized that I was drawn back to the Roman Catholic Church. So, I read up on the Anglican Church and decided that that is not where God wanted me to be. So Later I drifted towards Eastern Orthodoxy and even attended just one of their services. I was turned off my service and was left going back to The Roman Catholic Church. I had realized that God had guided me back to his Church to help me discern and realize that I need not look at other Churches, when my Salvation, hope, and the Fullness of the Truth within Christ's Church lay solely in the Lord's Holy Catholic Church. For me it has been a renewal and reaffirmation of the teachings of my youth. I love the Church and especially the Sacraments. I still know very little in the ways of Christ's One True Holy Catholic Church and am but a novice. I do fall and err and sin alot as any human being would, but now with Christ's helping Hand and his love coupled with his Holy Church, I have found a place to rest my soul and live out my life for the Christ Jesus, my Lord and my God.
sincerly,
Matthew

I've posted my "reversion" story elsewhere on this site. It's really a story about how I came to believe in divine intervention. Here is the introduction and a link to the rest of the story.


Look Closely and You Will See Him
by David Wilkins

INTRODUCTION

It has been said that coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous. I first heard that statement around the time of my father’s death in May 2005. The year that followed is the subject of this story.

During that time, I discovered the meaning behind this thought and formed my own opinion: it isn’t true. At least it wasn’t for me. I’ve never had a need for such weighty statements, but I also never had a year like the one written about here. During that time, I became an accidental and informal researcher of a unique mystery that left me believing with near certainty in the existence of God.

While I have not been faithful to a religion during my adult life, I have always believed that God exists, but, like many people, I’ve also held some unexpressed doubt. Regarding His presence on earth, I considered myself a skeptic. I put little faith in claims of supernatural events, miracles, or other experiences that many people attribute to a Higher Power. I’ve always assumed that unexplained events have some rational explanation—and as a former amateur magician, I’m aware that most do.

Prior to the events of last year, I might have said all do. I now have a different opinion. And while many people come to believe in divine intervention internally—or spiritually—my belief began with a series of remarkable, and more than circumstantial, evidences of a hidden hand at work in the world around me.

I’m tempted to say it was an odd year, but that would tell only half the story. It’s been even as well. Most of all, it’s been improbable, highly improbable.

continued here....

http://www.christianforums.com/t5114939-my-firsthand-account-god-is-alive-and-well.html

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Its amazing how many converts/reverts there are to Catholicism! I am one myself, being received into the Church and confirmed this Easter!

Hello I'm new and just wanted to say hi.

I'm a convert. Was raised Baptist. I love the Catholic faith, but am struggling a lot with problems from my family. Its so hard trying to explain my beliefs to them, because it only falls on deaf ears. They refuse to listen to what the Church teaches, because if they did their world of their beliefs would shatter. I hope to be confirmed ASAP since I am a baptized Chrisitan. Missed this Easter due to an RCIA class that was being led by a wanna be pagan(seriosuly she told us mass is not for praying and merely a social event and that its okay to pray to flowers as God) I decided I didn't want to enter the Church that way. Currently dating my best friend and the man who has taught me all I know about Catholicism. I heard from a little bird he might propose at my confirmation!

thereselittleflower said:

Hi!

I am one! Actually coming into the Church this Easter with my whole family!!
!

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What does Easter mean?

Do you mean, 'what is Easter'? It is the time where Christians remember the death and resurrection of Jesus

we were received this Easter vigil. I credit the Holy Spirit and everything that Joseph Razinger wrote.

themaninblack1963 said:

I was brought up going to a Methodist Chapel back in Wales from a very early age until I was in my mid teens, then I lost my faith & my way for many many years, even got involved with the occult in my early 20's. I am now 44 and last March I was walking past Wesley Owen's Bookshop (A Christian bookshop in the UK) when I felt the urge to go in & buy a Bible, I dont know why I cant explain, anyway I went in & bought a NIV version & started reading it, then I started thinking about going to Church, I went to an Evangelical one a couple of times & even though everyone was really nice, friendly & welcoming I just didnt feel at home, so for a few months I just left it, then one day as I was on the bus to work i passed a Catholic Church & felt the urge to go there. The following Sunday I went to my local Catholic Church & have been going there for 4 months now, I felt at home immediately have met with the Priest a few times & the guy who runs the RCIA & will be beginning my RCIA course this Sept. Even my 6yr old daughter is coming with me every week now, I am still working on my wife!! whats amazing is I come from a strong Protestant background/area but was drawn to the Catholic Church & cannot explain why! All I know is that I feel at home & blessed & I am grateful to have found the Lord again.

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Thanks for sharing MIB, that's wonderful. Please keep us informed how your faith formation is going

The Journey Home - Conversion stories

I figure with my baptism this friday, I should share I grew up in a house that celebrated Christian holidays and occasionally (twice a year) attend a baptist church with my grandmother.

When I was 13, my aunt and uncle (Jewish) took me in, and I started going to their Sabbath services on fridays and saturdays. Being in Hebrew was difficult for me, but I quickly picked up what I needed to know. I felt like something was missing the entire 6 years I attended out of respect for my aunt and uncle, and my cousins bar mitzvah.

I tried a lot of things in high school, I tried out wicca, and for a while I thought I was aethist(but I was still praying...*no comment on my ignorance*).

After I graduated, I joined the army. In order to go to a specific church, you had to have a buddy. My buddy wanted to go to the Catholic church, and since I didn't care at the time, I went with her most sundays. It was only for 2 months, and I don't remember the services, because I wasn't really interested.

When I was pregnant with my son at 20 years old, I felt something in me change, that missing and longing was more desperate. I realized that I couldn't take care of my son. It was something that hit me really hard, and I began to pray, and I prayed everyday. Finally through a course of events, my son was adopted by two Catholic parents. I couldn't have asked for a better couple. I then ventured back to my life with my friends, and realized that I was passed the drunken weekends (I had been the DD((designated driver)) for 9 months), and that I needed some people in my life that were more mature. I moved back home and my parents welcomed me. It was a different experience, going back after living on my own, and I realized my mother was becoming more devout in her faith (no church though). I was grateful for the small things, like saying grace at dinner together. Still something was missing. Shortly after this, I started talking to Swoosh. Love at first site for me at least. He hadn't had someone to go to church with for a while, and he asked me to attend the Easter Vigil at his parish. I felt no harm could come by it, and it seemed really important to him, so I said sure. Walking into the Catholic church, with a lit candle, I felt it. That ever present feeling that you can't explain but it swooped around me and I got goosebumps. During the service, I began to cry. I finally felt that here, nothing was missing, and that I knew in my heart for the first time that Jesus was real and what he did was amazing.

As I learned more about the Catholic church, and I read, and read and read, did I mention I read, as much as I could to learn about it. Excitedly I showed up for my RCIA classes, and the first few classes were amazing. After a few weeks, my excitement dwindled on some "facts" they were teaching (they were almost blasphemy) about the sacrements. So, I dropped the classes. We also changed parishes. There, Father Jim, as funny as can be, seemingly felt like he spoke to me, with his down to earth personality and his blessing of being able to speak in a way that could motivate a mountain to move, and be happy to do it. Moving to Florida, I was excited and started classes again. Same thing, teaching that confession is really just for a clear head, and you "don't have to do it." just felt really wrong to me. So I waited, and I continued on the journey with my own self-loathing (I wasn't sure I deserved God's love.). Moving to Phoenix, we found the Latin Mass. At first I could not follow along and it made me feel uncomfortable and nervous. So we tried a few other parishes. Nothing. So, in an effort of compromise,(Swoosh loves the latin mass!), we continued going to the latin mass. Next thing I knew, I was following along and felt that same at home feeling I had felt before. Finally I approached Father Fryar about RCIA, and thus my classes began. Realizing that Catholic 101 was not going to teach me too much, as I had done a lot of homework, Catholic 102 (as I call it), began. I am still learning, and I love it in the church. I picked St. Mary as my saint. When I have been lonely and wonderous of my son, I pray and she listens. I have always felt that special connection because who better understands the loss of a son? Besides look at all the Catholic signs in my life? (seriously it's like a blinking neon orange sign!)

*hugs to all my Catholic family*
I'll be home on Friday June 29th at 11am! (finally!!)

I am a revert.

A catholic who lost his way due to protestant theology and embarked in a hedonistic lifestyle.

My father would go to mass each week and offer up the eucharist for the safe return of his wayward son.

After denying Christ in a nightclub and mocking him with another lapsed catholic form my school years. I climbed into bed around 6am worn out, exahusted yet absolutly wide awake I just broke down I had hit rock bottom. My life was over, there was nothing more for me that this world could offer, none of it had delivered what it promised, I had realised it was just a massive deception. What is more it did not even make sense any more....nothing made any sense anymore.

The darkest hour is just before dawn, it was then the morning star arose in my mind, here was one thing that did make sense...when everything has gone when the rome you have built for yourself has been burned to ashes, when all your clothes are torn from your body and there is no one around we will all stand naked before God...alone, just you and him. When the plastic melts and all you posses fades away into a meaningless mass of junk that you can no longer make any sense of, its there I first met God and it is there we will all meet God at the end of our lives.

that night I gave myself to God, his creation for his purpose. i prayed that as a tool among many tools in his tool box that he might use me, even if it is just once.

At first I didnt return to mass and i didnt say anything to anyone, I just read and read and read I felt it wouldnt be right to go back to mass, that somehow it would be sacraligious, that I didnt deserve to be there.

I then had a dream where I recognised my own sin and that all mankind had sin and I met Jesus and he touched my head and a huge sense of forgivness swept over me like a flood of emotion.

Although I wallowed in my hedonistic lifestyle early on I knew it to be sinful and I still believed in Christ but I would justify not going to confession simply telling myself I did not need to confess to a man.

Now here I was being forgiven by Christ in my dream and yet I went as soon as I could to confession, not because I needed to confess my sins to a man but to fullfill all righteousness in the matter.

I had returned to Church.

If there is one thing I learned that I would pass on to anyone who asked it is this.

Do not work yourself into a frenzy seeking for happiness and peace in the things of this world. So long as you've given yourself to Christ... Materially All a man needs is one good meal a day and a warm bed on a night time...everything else is a bonus.

I was a Lutheran studying to become a pastor. Due to bad experiences with my internship supervisor and another pastor after seminary, I not only left the seminary, I also left Lutheranism. In fact, one of these pastors told me that Lutheranism isn't for everyone and maybe I would be happier somewhere else. I found this to be a confusing comment coming from an ELCA pastor where ecumenism is so strongly stressed. I was in need of a new spiritual home and found Catholicism.

Since I have become a Catholic, I have found the Catholic faith to be very biblical in its teachings despite what I was told as a former Protestant. I have found the Catholic Church to be very faithful to holding unto Christian beliefs and not caving into to secularism and modernism.

I guess there is something to be said for Scripture and Tradition as opposed to Scripture alone.

Dr. Robert Koons is a professor of philosophy at the University of Texas, he was fully received into the Catholic Church on May 26, 2007.

His weblog is here.
I like his bottom line.

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The president of the Evangelical Theological Society has returned to the faith of his childhood. His statement is here

"...Even though I also believe that the Reformed view is biblically and historically defensible, I think the Catholic view has more explanatory power to account for both all the biblical texts on justification as well as the church’s historical understanding of salvation prior to the Reformation all the way back to the ancient church of the first few centuries..."

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He is not saying the Reformed view is wrong, he is saying the Catholic view has more explanatory power. It's not "this or that", it's more like "this AND that".
The official response from the Evangelical Theological Society is here.