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THE FRENCH GUY Member
| Joined: | Wed Dec 5th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 10 |
| First Name: | Richard | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | baby catholic - born again christian - may be catholic ... |
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Posted: Wed Dec 5th, 2007 12:05 pm |
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I am a French guy, living in Burgundy - married to a wonderful wife, 3 kids (all girls !!). I was born in a Catholic family (by tradition, ie they do not live their faith nor believe!) at age 15 went to Rome with the school and visited the Vatican and took pics of John Paul II...- at age 22 I converted to evangelical protestantism in the USA...then back to France and met my future wife who was Catholic (not practicing). In 1996 we both got baptized as evangelicals - got married (after many battles with the so-called Catholic family)... wanted to be a minister, then got interested in Messianic judaism - back to born again christianity. now at age 36, I feel the emptiness of the sacred things of God in our congregations, the lack of respect of God during Sunday service, found the horrors professed by Luther toward the Jewish community and am looking for THE church Christ established on earth. My kids attend a Catholic school here. I ahve been reading a lot, discovering things I did not know about the Catholic church when I was one... my wife is a great support and said she will go where I decide to go. This is a heavy burden to carry. I do not want to be mistaking... how can God have brought me from Catholicism to Evangelicalism 14 years ago and now show me the way backwards ? how will it be seen by our Protestant friends ? and my kids ? (they are 8, 6 and 4 of age).
if you feel like dropping a line I'd be really thankful !
in Him
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Annie Member
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 718 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Dec 5th, 2007 12:15 pm |
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You are not alone in feeling you are wandering around lost. But God sees to it that we end up back on the trail somehow, even if we have to sometimes sleep out in the open under the trees going hungry because we ate our last candy bar two days ago. You will find lots of wandering and wondering people here. Welcome.
____________________ Annie
Ora et labora
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THE FRENCH GUY Member
| Joined: | Wed Dec 5th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 10 |
| First Name: | Richard | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | baby catholic - born again christian - may be catholic ... |
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Posted: Wed Dec 5th, 2007 12:26 pm |
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hello Annie
I guess it is true. but it is also tiring... my biggest question is : WHY ?
i had to go through hardships to become an evangelical, and after all those years ending up at the same point!
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Intercessor Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 859 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Dec 5th, 2007 12:29 pm |
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Richard, welcome to the Forum! How wonderful to have you here!
The French Guy wrote:
my wife is a great support and said she will go where I decide to go. This is a heavy burden to carry. I do not want to be mistaking...
It sounds as if you have a fabulous wife, and I'll bet those three little girls are precious as well. Your humble desire to be a worthy spiritual leader in your family says a great deal about you, Richard. That burden of leadership is one you do not have to carry alone. Use this simple, fervent, ongoing prayer:
"Holy Spirit, lead me to the Truth. Protect me from error, confusion, and folly."
You know God will honor that prayer, don't you?
And God has already led you to a fabulous resource here at the Forum.
Our moderators are such godly, wise, capable men. Anything you don't feel comfortable about asking publicly can be addressed through the PM (private mail) capabilities of this forum.
So, take a deep breath and know that you are in the Lord's hands. There is so much evidence that He is leading you.
how can God have brought me from Catholicism to Evangelicalism 14 years ago and now show me the way backwards ?
God is creative, isn't He? Rejoice in His mysterious ways and offer thanks that He uses whatever your experiences and contacts have been to bring you to where you need to be at last. He is a masterful teacher with very individualized lesson plans and tests. 
how will it be seen by our Protestant friends ? and my kids ? (they are 8, 6 and 4 of age).
Richard, put your eyes on the beautiful Savior. Tune your heart to the Holy Spirit. Seek the will of the Father. Let the Protestant friends do as they will. This journey is not easy and involves sacrifice. Don't worry about those sweet little girls. They love their daddy and at this age are quite compliant. You might want to begin buying some fine Catholic books for children. There are younger folks on this Forum with children that age who can make helpful suggestions. The main thing is to pray, with your wife, for the spiritual welfare of the girls.
Rejoicing that you have joined us here,
Becky
____________________ "If our charity is arrested by the difficulties encountered in dealing with our neighbor, . . . our relations with our brethren are not regulated by our love of God, but by our love of self." Divine Intimacy p. 781, Fr. Gabriel, O.C.D.
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Annie Member
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 718 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Dec 5th, 2007 12:30 pm |
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Maybe there were things to learn being evangelical. I was in a different church every place I lived as I moved around the country but I learned something from every denomination, finally learning that I belonged in the Catholic Church. The Mennonites taught me to sing, the Methodists taught me to sing ALL THE VERSES, the Presbyterians taught me I wasn't a Calvinist at heart I would always be Arminian. The Anglicans taught me that women really shouldn't be priests and I should join a Real Church. The Quakers taught me how to sit in silence and listen carefully.
So things may not be as mixed up as you think.
____________________ Annie
Ora et labora
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THE FRENCH GUY Member
| Joined: | Wed Dec 5th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 10 |
| First Name: | Richard | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | baby catholic - born again christian - may be catholic ... |
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Posted: Wed Dec 5th, 2007 12:43 pm |
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thank you Intercessor ! merci !
i know that many people on this website have gone through the same process I am going through. i know the Lord is my Shepherd and will guide me and wants the best for me.
last saturday evening I went to Mass with my eldest girl - since she attends a private Catholic school here I was surprised to see her doing the cross sign, bowing her head for the Eucharisty (we did not partake...), reciting the NOTRE PERE (our Father)... i felt so awkward and wondering during the mass : is this what is good for us ? i am now used to singing in the evangelical church, people clapping hands, the preacher, cool laid back services...and now here I am, with a rigid ceremony, but so respectful of GOD.
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THE FRENCH GUY Member
| Joined: | Wed Dec 5th, 2007 |
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| First Name: | Richard | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | baby catholic - born again christian - may be catholic ... |
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Posted: Wed Dec 5th, 2007 12:45 pm |
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Dear Annie
it is true we I have learned a lot - I had never opened a Bible before - I guess this made me leave the Catholic church- last July we went on vacation 8 days in Rome, visited the Vatican - and i was boasting so much, prideful, thinking I have the truth, they are all worng those poor Catholics ! thank God I am no longer one of them... we even passed by the tomb of John Paul II and did not even stop...just said : he misled his people... 5 months later...I am the one who is "lost" !
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Intercessor Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 859 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Dec 5th, 2007 02:06 pm |
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The French Guy wrote:
i felt so awkward and wondering during the mass : is this what is good for us ? i am now used to singing in the evangelical church, people clapping hands, the preacher, cool laid back services...and now here I am, with a rigid ceremony, but so respectful of GOD.
Richard, I spent fifty-eight years as a Baptist before coming into the Catholic Church and experienced the differences in worship styles and music programs. I also was looking for reverence. How does one truly worship God without reverence?
The three most important factors in my journey were these:
The Holy Spirit led me to Truth. How can one fail to respond to Truth?
The Truth lies in the Catholic Church. It is, as you say, the one true Church established by Christ.
The Eucharist drew me like a magnet. I could feel the power of the Real Presence of Jesus. After learning about the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, how could one fail to enter the Catholic Church?
I needed a better quality fuel for my "spiritual engine." I craved the grace found in the sacraments. As a Catholic, I am trying harder than ever to please the Lord. However, He gives me grace through the sacraments to strengthen me in those efforts.
What a precious thing to see your daughter already making the Sign of the Cross.
____________________ "If our charity is arrested by the difficulties encountered in dealing with our neighbor, . . . our relations with our brethren are not regulated by our love of God, but by our love of self." Divine Intimacy p. 781, Fr. Gabriel, O.C.D.
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CajunRick Network Helper

| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 4981 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Wed Dec 5th, 2007 02:27 pm |
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THE FRENCH GUY wrote: I am a French guy, living in Burgundy
I am also a French guy, living in south Louisiana! Unfortunately my parents did not teach me French (as children, they were called stupid because they couldn't speak English), and we have borrowed a lot of your culture. Welcome to the forum. Finally, someone else who knows what a boeuf gras is, and the difference between Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras!
____________________ Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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THE FRENCH GUY Member
| Joined: | Wed Dec 5th, 2007 |
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| First Name: | Richard | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | baby catholic - born again christian - may be catholic ... |
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Posted: Wed Dec 5th, 2007 02:31 pm |
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merci pour le message !
too bad you did not learn the most romantic language in the world!!
i hope to be able to exchange with you!
à bientôt
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THE FRENCH GUY Member
| Joined: | Wed Dec 5th, 2007 |
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| First Name: | Richard | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | baby catholic - born again christian - may be catholic ... |
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Posted: Wed Dec 5th, 2007 02:36 pm |
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dear Intercessor
thanks for the answer - when i said I feel awkward, it is true !! as for the sign of the Cross, I started doing it again today...today I entered our 1200 years old Catholic church - and did it. then I sat and prayed for the Lord to give me sign. i know i could have it easy : we both with my wife come from a catholic background, even today with my wife we talked about Luther, the horrors he said about the Jews - she told me : knowing you, why didn't you check all these things out before becoming Protestant ? and then she said : you should thank me for insisting putting our kids in a Catholic school... and then : if you want to go to the Catholic Church, it is OK -
but our kids love Sunday school back in our Grace Brethren Church...
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Intercessor Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 859 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Dec 5th, 2007 03:14 pm |
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The French Guy wrote:
but our kids love Sunday school back in our Grace Brethren Church...
Richard, I will not deny that Protestant churches can have phenomenal success with children's activities. I am very grateful for the training I received as a child and as a teenager in the Baptist faith.
Devout Catholic parents take responsibility for the religious education of their children. There are some excellent materials available to parents. Perhaps you and your wife could also begin a family time with the girls during which you have some videos like The Donut Man and work/play together on art activities (religious scenes), making Rosaries, singing songs, little mission projects for the needy.
It is certainly important for children to have interaction with other children. However, they will surely find that in other areas of their lives. Most important is that they be brought up with correct teaching and with the sacraments of the Church. (What joy to be present at my grandson's baptism into the Catholic faith!)
I have been so blessed by the young children in my parish who are home-schooled and are brought to daily Mass. They have a special radiance.
I hope others on the Forum with younger children will respond with more information and suggestions.Last edited on Thu Dec 6th, 2007 02:44 pm by Intercessor
____________________ "If our charity is arrested by the difficulties encountered in dealing with our neighbor, . . . our relations with our brethren are not regulated by our love of God, but by our love of self." Divine Intimacy p. 781, Fr. Gabriel, O.C.D.
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THE FRENCH GUY Member
| Joined: | Wed Dec 5th, 2007 |
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| First Name: | Richard | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | baby catholic - born again christian - may be catholic ... |
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Posted: Sat Dec 8th, 2007 09:34 am |
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hi !
tonight we'll be going to Mass...the whole family. my wife asked me today "if you were alone, where would you go ?" i said I'd be going back to the Catholic church - she said it was fine with her because she had never been as extremist as I as en Evangelical christian and had never looked at the Chatholic church as the devil - she even said that she'd been to Mass on several occasions because of our kids attending a catholic school.
please pray for tonight's mass (at 6:30pm in Dijon, which will be 12h30pm in New York ;-) ) + it is the Immaculate mass today...
In Him
richard
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kimdyuma Member

| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Arizona USA |
| Posts: | 710 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle Anglican, Episcopal /Catholic-04/07/07 |
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Posted: Sat Dec 8th, 2007 11:25 am |
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| I am a recent convert to Catholism from an Anglican background- How I wish I had converted when my kids were younger- at 15 and 16 I have had to let them choose to to stay in my former church, luckily my husband is agreeable to taking them, he is Agnostic. I am praying daily that they will come with me - had they been younger children there is no question that I would have just brought them with me- so be careful that in letting your children stay with the Brethren Church for Sunday school that you don't make it more difficult for the family. By the way I am French Canadian however left Canada in 78 and som my French is very very rusty. I have been thinking of taking a college class to brush up on my French.
____________________ Adopt from your local Humane Society- Please spay or neuter your pets
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Intercessor Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
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| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Sat Dec 8th, 2007 06:02 pm |
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Richard,
Well, I think the Mass in France must have ended about three hours ago.
Tell us all about it.
I was amused (and touched to see how the Holy Spirit had kept her heart open to the Truth) to learn that your wife had attended several Masses on her own at the school. Life is certainly interesting, isn't it?
I think Kim and I agree on your good fortune that the girls are as young as they are now and share a concern that prolonging their attachment to the Protestant church could prove painful and problematic down the road.
I hope you and your wife can form a friendship soon with a Catholic family that has children the ages of yours. Visiting in each other's homes can strengthen you.
God bless.Last edited on Sat Dec 8th, 2007 07:26 pm by Intercessor
____________________ "If our charity is arrested by the difficulties encountered in dealing with our neighbor, . . . our relations with our brethren are not regulated by our love of God, but by our love of self." Divine Intimacy p. 781, Fr. Gabriel, O.C.D.
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Talithacumi Member

| Joined: | Sat Sep 30th, 2006 |
| Location: | Eastern Ohio, USA |
| Posts: | 248 |
| First Name: | Cheri | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic - Latin Rite |
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Posted: Sat Dec 8th, 2007 08:58 pm |
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Richard,
Bienvenue! (My elementary French is very rusty... did I spell that right?) Anyway, just wanted to welcome you to the forum.
"...how can God have brought me from Catholicism to Evangelicalism 14 years ago and now show me the way backwards ? how will it be seen by our Protestant friends ? and my kids ? (they are 8, 6 and 4 of age)"
As a Cathlic "Lifer" - or Cradle Catholic or whatever you want to call it - I can't answer this from any personal experience, but my take on this is that I think a lot of times God will allow people like yourself who came from a "nominal" Catholic background to wander off, in the hope that some day they will return and bring back with them a little bit of wisdom and maturity that they've picked up in their travels and wanderings. It's the classic Prodigal Son story. Think of it. If you didn't go through all those other churches, given the way you had been existing - I won't say "living" - in your Catholic faith, you might still be stagnating in the seemingly muddy waters of Catholicism. Catholicism as you knew it then presented no challenges to you, no opportunity for growth. You were totally indifferent to it. But since you left and experienced and explored other faiths and their practices, you've seen that really, their "waters" are nothing more than man-made dams of streams that, if left to flow naturally to their Destination, well... all roads lead to Rome, or in this case, all rivers lead to the Tiber. (OK, so maybe my analogies aren't so good...)
But my point is that, through your experiences in those other churches, you have become accustomed to looking at things in greater depth; you've had to in order to discover why they weren't working out for you. And now that you've found yourself wading in the Tiber again, so to speak, your eyes have been opened to see that beneath all that slimy muddy scum of indifferentism, nominalism, scandals and everything else, there lies a depth and a beauty and a "hope chest" of treasure that you never noticed before.
Like I said, it's the Prodigal Son story. You left Home to search for a life for yourself. But now you're discovering that "there's no place like Home," eh? The Father is just waiting to kill the fatted calf and prepare a feast for you in honor of your return. And the rest of us will be waiting to celebrate with Him.
As for how it will be seen by your Protestant friends, I won't lie. Many will be hurt, scandalized, even angry. They might even desert you. But you will have a greater treasure of Catholic brothers and sisters (both here, hopefully - and the saints in Heaven) to help make up for the loss of some of your Protestant friends. But you might even be able to win some over, or at least give them something to think about. Who knows? God may use you to do that. Being Catholic is not easy, but it is worth it. That's all I can really say on that score.
As for your children, I understand that they are still young and are even already practicing some of the "motions." If treated right, young children are usually pretty resilient. I'd personally rather get them involved sooner than later when they start getting set in their ways.
Here's to your return! Salut!
Comment dit 'on en francais? (sp?): "God bless you." (I forget...)
JMJ
- Cheri
____________________ “We do not want a Church that will move with the world; we want a Church that will move the world.”
- G.K. Chesterton
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Michelle1982 Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 23 |
| First Name: | Michelle | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | protestant services at military chapels, Bible, Baptist, Berean, Calvary Chapel, ... |
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Posted: Tue Dec 11th, 2007 12:26 pm |
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I just want to say that I will be praying for you! There is not too much more that I can say. It seems like everyone else summed it up good!!
Perhaps, the Lord wanted to teach you things along the way. Perhaps, He also wanted to give you an appreciation for some of the things protestants do right. There are some, just not all. They are awesome at evangelizing and ministering to people. That is something that Catholics need to work on. I know for me, I am also converting.
When, I first discovered the truth in the Catholic church, I was angry at the protestant church. It was actually, during the time my sponsor was in Afghanistan for 1 1/2 months, I got back involved in the protestant service, planning on not converting afterall to Catholocism. The Lord was gracious. I am now, back in RCIA and still converting to the Catholic church. But, in that short process, the Lord showed me all the good things I learned as a protestant. My anger melted away. I can now look back at my protestant upbringing with gratefulness of all it did taught me. In fact, I do not regret anymore, being raised protestant. I would not have appreciated as much the fullness of the truth..
Also, the Lord, knows what each one of us must go through to put us on the right path. Obviously, this is the path the Lord wanted to take you on before showing you the truth.
____________________ "..............From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." Luke 12:48
"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." J
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CitizenofRome Member
| Joined: | Tue Dec 11th, 2007 |
| Location: | Shreveport, Louisiana USA |
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| First Name: | Ron | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifelong Roman Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Dec 11th, 2007 02:08 pm |
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| Ah...la belle France! "Eldest daughter of the Church"! May you be an inspiration to the rest of your countrymen who have departed from the faith of their fathers! God bless you...and welcome home!
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Tina in Ashburn Member

| Joined: | Mon May 21st, 2007 |
| Location: | Ashburn, Virginia USA |
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| First Name: | Tina | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Roman Catholic, Ukranian Catholic, presently practicing as Roman Latin ... |
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Posted: Tue Dec 11th, 2007 02:26 pm |
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Richard,
You are wandering? And wondering why? Sometimes our own actions, our frail human nature, lead us astray. But there's a saying - "God writes straight with crooked lines." God allows our experiences and free will to teach us our lessons. I've noticed that the French are blessed with an ability to think very analytically and get to the point very quickly. The French are thinkers - when they pay attention. Alors! You now are analyzing your actions and asking why. You will be fine. Just keep thinking, with obedience to God in mind. France isn't known as "the Eldest Daughter of the Church" for nothing. You belong in the Catholic Church as your birthright.
Andree, my mother's mother was from Saumur, dans la valee de la Loire. Andree married a soldier and came here. My mother, Solange, as a daughter of a French woman, experienced Catholicism only as a 'cultural' thing. By the time she was expected to be confirmed, Solange had no interest in it, having not really been exposed to the depths of Catholicism. My mother suffered from contempt of Catholicism, her experience colored by my grandmother's [apparently] tepid attitude. So your comment:
THE FRENCH GUY wrote:
I was born in a Catholic family (by tradition, ie they do not live their faith nor believe!)
sounded familiar. I guess this attitude isn't rare in France? [Americans suffer terribly from Puritanical influences, so our attitudes are bad too.]
In the 1950s, my mother was sent on assignment to write an article about a new foundation, a Trappist monastery, in nearby Berryville Virginia. Well, once these monks found out my mother was a fallen-away Catholic, it was "all over". The whole monastery prayed like crazy, and my mother came back to the Church.
So here I am, in the Church because of the Faith handed down through my French grandmother, re-discovered by my mother.
I also have a relative, on my father's side, who just died last year at age 92 - Odette Hertz. She had taught the Ward method of Gregorian Chant to children at the L'institute Cathollique in Paris before Vatican II. Her brother is still in Meaux.
Thanks for your story!
____________________ Tina
Arlington Diocese
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CajunRick Network Helper

| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
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Posted: Tue Dec 11th, 2007 02:36 pm |
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CitizenofRome wrote: Ah...la belle France! "Eldest daughter of the Church"! May you be an inspiration to the rest of your countrymen who have departed from the faith of their fathers! God bless you...and welcome home!
Welcome to you also, Ron. We're glad to have you with us.
____________________ Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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THE FRENCH GUY Member
| Joined: | Wed Dec 5th, 2007 |
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Posted: Wed Dec 12th, 2007 05:04 am |
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| Thanks to all of you for your messages - it is nice to see one is lifted up in prayers...last Sunday and Monday we spent two days in Germany with my wife and kids to go visit Christmas markets and we had therefore much time to spend talking - as I had said previously, we have decided to attend Mass averey Saturday and we think we will let time do its work - I am even more convinced that the Catholic Church is true, but I also battle with some stuff like parying to Mary etc. I also think God is starting a work within our family - we were last July in Rome with the kids and visited all the famous sites (Vatican, the tomb of Peter, the tomb of Paul, the catacombs etc...) - it was awesome - now I guess God was already trying to show us something. we have also decided to stop calling us Protestants, because of the things we have discovered about Luther and because we may be on our path to Rome again...
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Intercessor Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
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| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Dec 12th, 2007 05:11 am |
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Richard, thanks so much for the update.
Sounds as if things are coming along very nicely.
I'm happy for you.
Becky
____________________ "If our charity is arrested by the difficulties encountered in dealing with our neighbor, . . . our relations with our brethren are not regulated by our love of God, but by our love of self." Divine Intimacy p. 781, Fr. Gabriel, O.C.D.
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THE FRENCH GUY Member
| Joined: | Wed Dec 5th, 2007 |
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Posted: Wed Dec 19th, 2007 03:17 pm |
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Hello everyone,
I haven't said much lately...actually I have been going through some kind of a crisis...last Sunday we had our Christmas worship service at our evangelical churhc (my kids acted in the play) and then the afternoon we attended a Christmas concert at a Catholic church (the churhc is more than 1000 years old, very beautiful but it was cold !!!)...then in the evening we started having a talk with my wife who was starting to feel "weird" and "lost" - she could not get the Christmas spirit because of our talks about catholicism and protestantism...she said she agreed with everything catholic except the place of Mary and praying to her etc...to tell the whole thing, with my wife on saturday afternoon (while the kids were rehearsing back at our evangelical church) we took some time both of us, went downtown and entered one of the many catholic medieval churches of Dijon to have a look at the "creche" (representation of Mary, Joseph, jesus, the shepherds etc...). while inside the church, a man approached us with a small basket with tiny papers on which were written bible verses. that was neat - he sais it was a gift from God for us for Christmas. that was cool and my wife appreciated...but THEN... he gave us a small piece of paper and said we could write a prayer request, lay it down at the foot of the statue of Mary and Mary would intercede for us...that was it...my wife said thank you, we left the church. then came sunday with our christmas celebration at the evangelical church and the christmas concert at the catholic church in the afternoon. then in the evening my wife starting to say she did not feel at ease with all this - thet there are good things in all churhes, but she could never ever go 100% to the catholic church because of this Mary too big devotion. and she said i had completely got her all shook up in her spiritual life. i got scared... so in the night of Sunday to monday, i wrote her a message saying actually "we are christians, we protest because of the errors found in the churh and are evangelical because we belive in the Gospel + if God allowed us to be in an evangelical church it is because He blesses us through it..."
then yesterday evening, (I am in politics too !!) I had a meeting with people from our political party - I was stunned ! there were 7 people, who all say they are catholics, but hate the blacks, the arabs, who say France will become an islamic country and therefore we must fight, they are royalists (they want the king back...), support Petain (the French guy who had teamed with Hitler in 1940 and sent many Jews to the camps...), the want to serve pork soup to homeless people sothat only true European christian catholic homeless can be fed and jewish and muslim homeless can starve..and they consider Catholics only those who practice the mass in Latin etc... I was appalled... all of a sudden my protestant being rose up !
when I came home I told my wife what I had heard.. all of a sudden my wife said : at least now you know what to think about catholicism...
I feel like I have spoilt everything... today I felt again the peace of the truth of catholicism although I have a hard battle with the devotion to Mary...
my wife who until last saturday (before the "incident" with leaving a paper note at the feet of a statue of MARY) was very open and agreed to go saturday evenings to Mass is now far behind...
truly, I need help...how can I enter a Church with such people inside, how can I understand the devotion to Mary (?), how can I bring up the subject again with my wife...???
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kimdyuma Member

| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Arizona USA |
| Posts: | 710 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle Anglican, Episcopal /Catholic-04/07/07 |
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Posted: Wed Dec 19th, 2007 03:39 pm |
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THE FRENCH GUY wrote:
then yesterday evening, (I am in politics too !!) I had a meeting with people from our political party - I was stunned ! there were 7 people, who all say they are catholics, but hate the lacks, the Arabs, who say France will become an Islamic country and therefore we must fight, they are royalists (they want the king back...), support Petain (the French guy who had teamed w
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