My question! :)

[ukok]

I agree, Jeff...but this is how Kenny started his post ~

My story may be the most boring, least awesome of all.

 

[Suzannah]

Dear "Everyone", especially kimber1:

Yes, this journey is difficult, to say the least. In the past year I have had to reliquish:
a) Sola Scriptura (although I still say it IS the inspired Word of God)

b) pride, which comes from the Sola Scriptura viewpoint
c) the dogma of my church: this is very painful

Please understand, for future inquirers who come here:
a) it is very hard to admit we do not understand
b) it is very hard to admit we have not been properly taught
c) it is very hard to come to grips with God in all that we see: the bombardment that He Himself gives us, is hard to take when He so chooses to do so. It can lead to : confusion, depression, and heartache

I am truly trying to understand...at this point, I am leaning toward Orthodoxy, but I want all of you to know that I fully expect to meet you in person, in the afterlife, and to chat with you, then about how difficult it "was"....thank you, all of YOU, for being here, and for being friends with me in Christ...you will never know how much of an impact you have made upon my life, just because I read your posts, in some very anonymous forums, which had nothing to do with me, or my search. Yes, I read them all!

Love, in Christ,
Suzannah

 

[ps139]

The feeling I have right after receiving the Eucharist.......it seriously is like I am in a different world. More words would be useless in describing it.

 

[Suzannah]

Dear Everyone in Christ,
I'm so sorry I am so ignorant. I wish to know what is the "Adoration" service that everyone is talking about? It is so painful to read about mysteries that are so plain to everyone else, and I have no idea what they mean? Please tell me what this is?
Love,
Suzannah

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

Adoration = spending time with our Lord in his humble form of communion
From www.therealpresence.org:

Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration is the adoration of Jesus Christ present in the Holy Eucharist. In the many Churches that have this adoration, the Eucharist is displayed in a special holder called a monstrance, and people come to pray and worship Jesus continually throughout the day and often the night. Christ’s great love for us was shown when he was crucified on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and give us eternal life. He loves us without limit, and offers Himself to us in the Holy sacrament of the Eucharist. Can we not give Jesus a few minutes of love and adoration in return?

 

[thereselittleflower]

Dear Everyone in Christ,
I'm so sorry I am so ignorant. I wish to know what is the "Adoration" service that everyone is talking about? It is so painful to read about mysteries that are so plain to everyone else, and I have no idea what they mean? Please tell me what this is?
Love,
Suzannah

Oh, please don't feel as though you need to apologize . . a friend of mine had to talk to me for a while about it too . . but it is actually a simple thing . .

Adoration is when people either individually or collectively go to a Church or Chapel for the reason of spending time in the Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist . .

Once the Eucharistic host is consecrated, the real presence of our Lord is there - it doesn't go away . . when there is adoration this consecrated host is put in what is called a monstrance which protects the host while displaying it . . and people go to spend time with Jesus in this special way . .

When I first started going I started while still a Protestant . . I had heard of other Protestants who had gone at the invitations of friends who unexpectedly encountered the presence of our Lord there . .and they kept coming back . . they eventually became Catholic So I decided to go . . and yes, Jesus is there in a special way . .it is very hard to describe . . but I was drawn back and back and back . .

The particular chapel I was going to is what is called a Perpetual Adoration Chapel . . one where people are there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week . . and I was going through the town 2 -3 times a week late at night, so I would stop in to spend some time in prayer or just being in the presence of our Lord in this special way . .sometimes I was with another, sometimes I was by myself . . . . this went on for several months.

I do credit this time spent in the Adoration Chapel with speeding me along to coming into the Church .. I was never preached to, and in fact, when I decided it was time to take a weekly slot, the people who came after me were somewhat amazed that a "Protestant" was coming regularly . . I have made some very good frineds through this time spent with Jesus in this little Chapel . .and they had as many questions for me as I did for them . .

Now, if I miss a week, which is rare, I really feel it . . things just don't go right that week . .the grace we receive from being in the presence of Christ in this special way is very, very real. I am strengthened for the week in addition to grace I receive from being part of Mass each week.

Now this is private/semi-private adoration, not a service organized for adoration by the congregation at the same time where it is more structured . .

If I can encourage you at all to go, at least once, I know you would be so blessed.

Here is a link to help you find a Adoration Chapel in your area if you would like to attend.

http://www.therealpresence.org/chap_fr.htm

some Adoration Chapels will have set times and dates, others will be perpetual like the one I go to . . those are easier to fit into your schedual.

The same site has tons of information about it . .

http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/pea/a2.html

But I can't figure out how to get to the first link from the 2nd . .


Hope this helps . . it really is a very special time to spend with Jesus.


Peace in Him!

 

[Debi1967]

Also, please tell me how you came to be a Catholic if you were not born to the Faith? What was it that drew you in?

Since I am new I will let the others answer the rest of your questions.
I would love to tell you what drew me to it. You see recently I started this little thread in GA and one of those "people" came in and started debating with me on one of my points. To which I heavily disagreed. This led to me engaging in just a tad bit of flaming. I was a bad girl. But you see somewhere he hit a nerve. He told me something I did not want to hear for one and for two something I could not refute. Then it was brought over to IDD and I was furrious at this. So I challenged Him there well that did not end well either. This is considering I had to apologize in both threads for my rudeness and to the person. But it did make me think and want to know more. And that is how this part of my long Journey came about.
So I then started asking questions. And believe it or not my first intentions were not so pure in thought either I was looking for the hole in the facade and I was trying to find fault. But even though I was filled with anger and many preconcieved misconceptions, many answered my questions very concisely and without malice in return. They simply wanted me to know. They were not trying to convert me although when I did they were overjoyed. But never once was I pressured. I was provided information and the answers to my questions from the Church's perspective and their own. Many offered testimony to me and it simply at times was so inspiring.

Then I found myself defending something I knew little about but suddenly felt overwhelmingly protective over. I also found an inner peace and sense of calm that was not present before now. I had friends that were there for me. I had people that even though I was PRE they prayed for me and told me they Loved me and offered me support. And let me tell you when I did decide to do this I shocked them most of all. Most never thought for a minute that I would convert over.

The thing was it seemed natural to do and like it was I was meant to do all along. It made the Journey I had been on sensical. I felt a presence I never felt before. And it just sort of overtook me without me even noticing. Like one day I opened my eyes and could see clearly for the first time and I was seeing things through the eyes of a child again. I feel all filled up with the joy of it and like a kid in a candy store. It was this the people the communion with them the enlightenment the openness of my heart and so many other things that convinced me it was not only right but the only possible choice I could make.

In Christ
Debi
Peace always

 

[MorphRC]

Personally I dont know what a 'Relationship with God feels Like'. I have faith, I know Jesus is the Messiah, Saviour, I know the Catholic Church is the only true Church, I know all that, but not what it feels like. Which its kinda upsetting and weird.

 

[thereselittleflower]

Also, please tell me how you came to be a Catholic if you were not born to the Faith? What was it that drew you in?

Since I am new I will let the others answer the rest of your questions.
I would love to tell you what drew me to it. You see recently I started this little thread in GA and one of those "people" came in and started debating with me on one of my points. To which I heavily disagreed. This led to me engaging in just a tad bit of flaming. I was a bad girl. But you see somewhere he hit a nerve. He told me something I did not want to hear for one and for two something I could not refute. Then it was brought over to IDD and I was furrious at this. So I challenged Him there well that did not end well either. This is considering I had to apologize in both threads for my rudeness and to the person. But it did make me think and want to know more. And that is how this part of my long Journey came about.
So I then started asking questions. And believe it or not my first intentions were not so pure in thought either I was looking for the hole in the facade and I was trying to find fault. But even though I was filled with anger and many preconcieved misconceptions, many answered my questions very concisely and without malice in return. They simply wanted me to know. They were not trying to convert me although when I did they were overjoyed. But never once was I pressured. I was provided information and the answers to my questions from the Church's perspective and their own. Many offered testimony to me and it simply at times was so inspiring.

Then I found myself defending something I knew little about but suddenly felt overwhelmingly protective over. I also found an inner peace and sense of calm that was not present before now. I had friends that were there for me. I had people that even though I was PRE they prayed for me and told me they Loved me and offered me support. And let me tell you when I did decide to do this I shocked them most of all. Most never thought for a minute that I would convert over.

The thing was it seemed natural to do and like it was I was meant to do all along. It made the Journey I had been on sensical. I felt a presence I never felt before. And it just sort of overtook me without me even noticing. Like one day I opened my eyes and could see clearly for the first time and I was seeing things through the eyes of a child again. I feel all filled up with the joy of it and like a kid in a candy store. It was this the people the communion with them the enlightenment the openness of my heart and so many other things that convinced me it was not only right but the only possible choice I could make.

In Christ
Debi
Peace always

DEb . . I am still shaking my head in wonderment at how fast this part of your journey all happenend for you I really did not expect it so fast . . LOL

When I started going to Adoration I had no intention of becoming Catholic . . if anything, I would go back to the Eastern Orthodox Church I was born and baptized in . .. when your Grandfather and Uncle are priests, the tie is pretty strong It wasn't until I had been going for well over a year that I finally came to the point of resolving the last of my issues and realized I had to become Catholic. . . .

The peace is incredible . . .

As part of our RCIA we are having 4 classes on Church history . . the first class was last night and these particular classes are open to anyone who wants to come . . .Now what I want to share is really hard to explain, but as I am sitting there, listening to the instructor, I was so struck by what I was becoming a part of, this Church . . the greatness of it and the very real communion of its members . . this is really hard to describe as I don't know if I can find the words for it . . but never, anywhere else in Protestantism, have I ever felt this before . .and this is not the first time since coming into the Catholic faith .. and it comes unespectedly . . but there is a wholeness that we are all really a part of . .it is not just a gathering of people who share the same beliefs . .we are really a part of something in an organic and deeply real sense . .I am at loss for words .. nothing I am saying conveys what I really want to say . .

Peace in Him!

 

[thereselittleflower]

Personally I dont know what a 'Relationship with God feels Like'. I have faith, I know Jesus is the Messiah, Saviour, I know the Catholic Church is the only true Church, I know all that, but not what it feels like. Which its kinda upsetting and weird.

Hi MorphRC

Don't be discouraged by this . . God works in us in different ways and in different times . . God gave me a very profound conversion experience when I was in highschool . . and Jesus became very real to me very quickly . . but it wasn't until much later that I discovered that many Christians do not have experieinces like this . . and then I realized that their faith was much stronger than mine because they believed without the experiences I was given . .

Your faith is precious in the sight of God . . very precious . . trust Him with all your heart . .when the time is right, you will know . . seek God's face . . don't ever give up . .

Do you know about Mother Theresa's life? She had visions of Christ telling her what to do . . then nothing . . she experienced nothing from God in the way of a personal relationship . . she had no sensible experiences for the rest of her life . . but if you get a chance to watch a tape of her speaking, she exudes Jesus with every look and every word . . I heard her speak on tape to a gathering of priests .. there was no doubt in my heart at all that she KNEW Jesus . . it wasn't until afterwards that I found out that she never "experienced" Jesus the way we have been talking here for the majority of her life . .

God rarely calls us to such a walk. But when He does, He shows us it is not in what we "feel" or "experience" but in faith in Him .. Do not loose heart.

We will be praying for you!


Peace in Him!

 

[Debi1967]

DEb . . I am still shaking my head in wonderment at how fast this part of your journey all happenend for you I really did not expect it so fast . . LOL

When I started going to Adoration I had no intention of becoming Catholic . . if anything, I would go back to the Eastern Orthodox Church I was born and baptized in . .. when your Grandfather and Uncle are priests, the tie is pretty strong It wasn't until I had been going for well over a year that I finally came to the point of resolving the last of my issues and realized I had to become Catholic. . . .

The peace is incredible . . .

As part of our RCIA we are having 4 classes on Church history . . the first class was last night and these particular classes are open to anyone who wants to come . . .Now what I want to share is really hard to explain, but as I am sitting there, listening to the instructor, I was so struck by what I was becoming a part of, this Church . . the greatness of it and the very real communion of its members . . this is really hard to describe as I don't know if I can find the words for it . . but never, anywhere else in Protestantism, have I ever felt this before . .and this is not the first time since coming into the Catholic faith .. and it comes unespectedly . . but there is a wholeness that we are all really a part of . .it is not just a gathering of people who share the same beliefs . .we are really a part of something in an organic and deeply real sense . .I am at loss for words .. nothing I am saying conveys what I really want to say . .

Peace in Him!

I know it is so hard to explain for me as well. To truly capture it into words does it no justice but that is all we have and I have so many new feelings that it is truly mystifying. and to think that this what I get from my relationships with my brethren on the internet what will I experience in person if this is truly awesome that is going to be something beyond compare.
Your Sister In Christ
Debi

 

[Suzannah]

"Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet believed". -- Jesus, Our Lord and Saviour

I believe that by this, He meant all of us, not some, but all, of us, who have never had such visions, but followed Him anyway.
To follow Jesus is hard. It is not easy. I know because I have spent the last many years following Him, and I still don't understand the totality of it. I am still searching for Him, in every place that I find, truly has Him. I find Him in the Catholic church, in the Orthodox Church and yes, in the Baptist church. When we talk about our "relationship" with Him, it is really one sided. We are saying that we "experience" Him in some way. But few people ever ask how He experiences US. And that is the basis of my search, my journey.

For Debiwebi: I can completely relate, and I appreciate your Christian love in sharing what happened to you. I have a similar story!

For theresalittleflower: I am stilll doing my "book learning" right now. I have not yet gotten to the "Eastern Rites" of the Roman church. Can you recommend a website or book? Love to you, very much, from the heart of a literal and spiritual desert,
your friend,
Suzannah

 

[Debi1967]

Suzannah have you tried looking the FaQ thread here? It might be there along with alot of other answers for you that is where I find a lot of stuff.

 

[Suzannah]

Debi,
I looked but I did not see it. I may have just missed it and will look again. Two questions for you:
1. May I ask, I want so much to change my "faith icon" on here, but I am afraid it will be seen as disrespectful. How did you come to do it so fast?

2. I remember your thread about all the "things" you believed and I had responded to it with some fast and loose logic. I'm sorry if I offended in that thread. I really want to be "united" with other Christians. I publicly confess that I might have been "flippant" in my answer. I hope that we can still be friends? Please?
It seems to me, we are on a journey of faith together and we should be friendly to each other. So I publicly confess my sin of pride.

 

[thereselittleflower]

. . ..

For theresalittleflower: I am stilll doing my "book learning" right now. I have not yet gotten to the "Eastern Rites" of the Roman church. Can you recommend a website or book? Love to you, very much, from the heart of a literal and spiritual desert,
your friend,
Suzannah

Hi Suzannah

Believe it or not, the desert is a very good place to be.

Here are some links about the Eastern Rite Churches . .

Here is a list .. there are a lot!

http://mb-soft.com/believe/txn/eastcath.htm

If I were to go to an Eastern Rite Church, I would probably choose an Antiochene one as those are ones that parallel the Eatern Orthodox Church I grew up in as a child . .

Here is another link with a short descrption and links to various rites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Rites

Here is another link that looks like it has lots of information - and perhaps I should have listed this one first It has quite a bit of inforamtion:

http://www.silk.net/RelEd/eastern.htm


I hope this gives you a good start in learning about the Eastern Rite Churches of the Catholic Church . .

Love to you as well


Peace in Him!

 

[Debi1967]

Debi,
I looked but I did not see it. I may have just missed it and will look again. Two questions for you:
1. May I ask, I want so much to change my "faith icon" on here, but I am afraid it will be seen as disrespectful. How did you come to do it so fast?

2. I remember your thread about all the "things" you believed and I had responded to it with some fast and loose logic. I'm sorry if I offended in that thread. I really want to be "united" with other Christians. I publicly confess that I might have been "flippant" in my answer. I hope that we can still be friends? Please?
It seems to me, we are on a journey of faith together and we should be friendly to each other. So I publicly confess my sin of pride.

Oh for goodness sake I don't even remember. But thanx. I have never looked unkindly toward you. I respect you, why would I do that? So it must not have been that important.
I was told that if I had been taken by the Holy Spirit and felt it then that was all that was needed to proclaim myself for now. Have I taken some flack over it? Yes but it is very much worth it. What I have found far outweighs that in comparison. And then I was asked what I was waiting for? So if that is how the Spirit is working in you and that is what your heart feels then what are you waiting for?
My brethren have done nothing but encourage me with constant PMs and posts of Welcome Home. And I will tell you the same for that is where you would be. With your new family.
And I would Love for us to be friends I have always respected you and never once have I thought badly about you. Sometimes in GA things have a tendency to become heated and that is just the nature of it and posting there. I really take no offense although at the time I seem very heated or passionate about something.
Your Sister Always
Debi

 

[Suzannah]

:hugs: to Debi! Me too! Everything you said, I have felt! Praise God, that we are One in Christ!
:hugs:

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

Debi,
I looked but I did not see it. I may have just missed it and will look again. Two questions for you:
1. May I ask, I want so much to change my "faith icon" on here, but I am afraid it will be seen as disrespectful. How did you come to do it so fast?

Suzannah, we gladly welcome all who wish to and are ready to proclaim their faith. If your already baptised in the name of the trinity, your already a member of the church . If you haven't been baptised you would be considerd a Catechumen and by your desire you have a special place with in the church. (Note in both case you still would require an educational process refered to as RCIA so that your are prepared to receive the sacrements of the church)

So change your icon when every you fill ready.

Can. 204 §1 Christ's faithful are those who, since they are incorporated into Christ through baptism, are constituted the people of God. For this reason they participate in their own way in the priestly, prophetic and kingly office of Christ. They are called, each according to his or her particular condition, to exercise the mission which God entrusted to the Church to fulfill in the world.

§2 This Church, established and ordered in this world as a society, subsists in the catholic Church, governed by the successor of Peter and the Bishops in communion with him.

Can. 205 Those baptized are in full communion with the catholic Church here on earth who are joined with Christ in his visible body, through the bonds of profession of faith, the sacraments and ecclesiastical governance.

Can. 206 §1 Catechumens are linked with the Church in a special way since, moved by the Holy Spirit, they are expressing an explicit desire to be incorporated in the Church. By this very desire, as well as by the life of faith, hope and charity which they lead, they are joined to the Church which already cherishes them as its own.


§2 The Church has a special care for catechumens. While it invites them to lead an evangelical life, and introduces them to the celebration of the sacred rites, it already accords them various prerogatives which are proper to Christians.

 

[thereselittleflower]

*thereselittleflower wipes a tear from her eyes . .


Peace in Him!

 

[Suzannah]

Dear Aaron=Aggie: You mean, since I was baptised a "Baptist" in the name of the Trinity, I am already "okay" in the eyes of the Church???? (mouth hanging open)....this is not what is taught about Catholicism in Protestantism. We are taught that we are seen and recognized as "apostates"....I belive in the Trinity wholeheartedly???? Are you saying that Catholicism does not see us as "blank apostate"??? If you are saying that, I have been lied to by Protestantism and that makes me angry!