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Lee
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| Joined: | Fri May 18th, 2007 |
| Location: | Birmingham, Alabama USA |
| Posts: | 65 |
| First Name: | Lee | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Charismatic-nondenom.-Presbyterian-Catholic |
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Posted: Mon May 21st, 2007 08:46 pm |
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Hi everyone! I just want to say after 3 years, I'm more in love than ever--with the Catholic Church, that is!
If you could name one single item (I know that's really hard, so you can break the rule if you have to) that had the most influence in directing or encouraging or reassuring you in your journey into the Catholic Church
AND WHY?
P. S. Mine was The Catechism of the Catholic Church because it was so beautiful, so devotional. Also, I was absolutely blown away by the tons of Scripture that was quoted! I always had the idea that the Catholic Church cared nothing for Scripture and had gone off on its own way doing its own thing without a thought of Scripture.
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JillD
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Visalia, California USA |
| Posts: | 597 |
| First Name: | Jill | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | heathen, EvFree, Messianic, LC-MS, Catholic 2007 |
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Posted: Mon May 21st, 2007 08:53 pm |
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Partly because it is an excellent apologetic book, but also because it's the first Catholic book that my friend put in my hand, the most influential was Scott Hahn's "Rome, Sweet Home." It was an eye-opener to me. It showed me how greatly I had misunderstood the teachings of the Church. And it's just a plain old good story, besides.
Jill
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"The alternative to obedience is to turn the conversation into a cacophony of Christians making it up as they go along." - Fr. Richard John Neuhaus
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Lee
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| Joined: | Fri May 18th, 2007 |
| Location: | Birmingham, Alabama USA |
| Posts: | 65 |
| First Name: | Lee | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Charismatic-nondenom.-Presbyterian-Catholic |
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Posted: Mon May 21st, 2007 10:42 pm |
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JillD wrote: Partly because it is an excellent apologetic book, but also because it's the first Catholic book that my friend put in my hand, the most influential was Scott Hahn's "Rome, Sweet Home." It was an eye-opener to me. It showed me how greatly I had misunderstood the teachings of the Church. And it's just a plain old good story, besides.
Jill
Hi Jill, "Rome, Sweet Home" is very high on my list, too.
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 4971 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Mon May 21st, 2007 10:54 pm |
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Lee wrote: Hi everyone!
Hi, Lee, welcome to the Coming Home Network and to the Catholic Church. We're glad to have you here with us. As a cradle Catholic I won't answer your question directly since there is no single book or even a manageable set of books or videos that caused me to fall in love with the Church. I fell in love with the Church quite young, some time in grade school, and although we were "estranged" every now and then especially around my early 20's, the love affair never quite ended. I literally discovered the Church before I discovered girls, and she (the Church) was and is my first true love! (Love of God is, of course, inseparable from love of the Church.)
We're looking forward to hearing more about your faith journey when you feel comfortable sharing it with us. Our "Conversion Stories" forum is intended for just such faith stories. Your sharing can help others on a similar path to understand that they are not alone. Meanwhile, we look forward to your active participation.
Once again, welcome to the Coming Home Network, and welcome home.
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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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BodRod
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 2nd, 2006 |
| Location: | Apple Valley, California USA |
| Posts: | 720 |
| First Name: | Cliff | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Raised an SDA, then Generic Christian, finally at home with ... |
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Posted: Mon May 21st, 2007 11:00 pm |
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I liked, and still use as reference material, Patrick Madrid's works. He writes on a level that I can understand but when I did not understand a point, he wrote a personal letter to me and explained the point. Perhaps needless to say, I was impressed!
Also, I wrote to a place in Oregon and bought a copy of The Journey Song Book, which we use in Mass, and I have enjoyed playing the songs. Sometimes, after reading the words to the tunes, I feel like I am playing a prayer.
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Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
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bjbouwer
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Wisconsin USA |
| Posts: | 50 |
| First Name: | Bonnie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian Scientist, pinball Christian, RCC in 2006 |
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Posted: Mon May 21st, 2007 11:12 pm |
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Scott Hahn's Rome, Sweet Home turned my head, but David Currie's Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic set me on the trail to The Church.
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Bonnie in WI
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Br_Carlo
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Tyler, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 153 |
| First Name: | Br_Carlo (Vince Brach) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Presbyterian, Episcopalian, CATHOLIC |
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Posted: Tue May 22nd, 2007 08:10 am |
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God's peace. The book that changed my life forever and started me on the path to Rome was Carlo Carretto's Letters from the Desert (Orbis). It awakened longings in me that I didn't know existed! Later I read his The Desert in the City and realized that my Protestant-shaped conception of prayer was almost completely sterile.
Scott Hahn's books are wonderful, but by the time I discovered them I was well along the path to conversion. Blessings, ~Br_Carlo~
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BodRod
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 2nd, 2006 |
| Location: | Apple Valley, California USA |
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| First Name: | Cliff | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Raised an SDA, then Generic Christian, finally at home with ... |
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Posted: Tue May 22nd, 2007 09:29 am |
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| Same with me Bro. Carlo. I was already in the Chruch by the time I started reading Scott Hahn. Another author that I like very much and I discovered after I was in the Church is Dr. Edward Sri.
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Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
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Lee
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| Joined: | Fri May 18th, 2007 |
| Location: | Birmingham, Alabama USA |
| Posts: | 65 |
| First Name: | Lee | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Charismatic-nondenom.-Presbyterian-Catholic |
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Posted: Tue May 22nd, 2007 10:09 am |
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Most influencial in your conversion: (here's the list so far)
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Rome, Sweet Home 3
Patrick Madrid
The Journey Song Book
Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic
Letters from the Desert and The Desert in the City by Carretto (Orbis).
Dr. Edward Sri
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StephMichele
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| Joined: | Thu May 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | Kentucky, USA |
| Posts: | 7 |
| First Name: | Stephanie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | no religion/non-denominational/Roman Catholic |
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Posted: Tue May 22nd, 2007 10:30 am |
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| The Surprised by Truth series influenced me a lot. I loved knowing that so many people from such diverse backgrounds were coming to the same conclusions I was.
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susiedear
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| Joined: | Thu Oct 12th, 2006 |
| Location: | Twin Cities, Minnesota USA |
| Posts: | 186 |
| First Name: | Elizabeth | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Pentecostal / Evangelical / Catholic! |
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Posted: Tue May 22nd, 2007 12:37 pm |
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Dear Lee, there's no way I could stop at one book that influenced my conversion. Here's my list:
Rome, Sweet Home Scott and Kimberly Hahn
On Being Catholic Thomas Howard
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Surprised By Truth vol. 1, 2, 3 Patrick Madrid
Evangelical is Not Enough Thomas Howard
When Only One Converts
The Lamb's Supper Scott Hahn
Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic David Currie
My Life on the Rock Jeff Cavins
I'm so thankful for good Catholic literature that teaches us the beautiful truth of the faith!
Elizabeth
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But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. St. Augustine
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Ali
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| Joined: | Sat Jan 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 618 |
| First Name: | Ali | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | JW, finally fully Catholic |
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Posted: Tue May 22nd, 2007 02:32 pm |
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Quite honestly, I want to read all those books listed, especailly the Hahn books, but I just can't make myself  I'm horrible at personal study (good at prayer, though), I think I'm still rebelling from my youth when we had a never ending supply of "required reading" 
So my biggest help hasn't been a book, it's been an e-list. One of former JW's, who are now very Catholic. It helped so much to see other people coming from where I came from, overcoming that, and moving on with their new Catholic faith. It's not just for former JW's, though, it's for anyone struggling with that faith (whether it's us or dealing with a family member). JW's have a very unique outlook on most subjects, and it's hard, at times, to get out of that mindset.
That's me 
Ali
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Lee
Member
| Joined: | Fri May 18th, 2007 |
| Location: | Birmingham, Alabama USA |
| Posts: | 65 |
| First Name: | Lee | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Charismatic-nondenom.-Presbyterian-Catholic |
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Posted: Tue May 22nd, 2007 02:37 pm |
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Ali wrote: Quite honestly, I want to read all those books listed, especailly the Hahn books, but I just can't make myself I'm horrible at personal study (good at prayer, though), I think I'm still rebelling from my youth when we had a never ending supply of "required reading"
So my biggest help hasn't been a book, it's been an e-list. One of former JW's, who are now very Catholic. It helped so much to see other people coming from where I came from, overcoming that, and moving on with their new Catholic faith. It's not just for former JW's, though, it's for anyone struggling with that faith (whether it's us or dealing with a family member). JW's have a very unique outlook on most subjects, and it's hard, at times, to get out of that mindset.
That's me
Ali
So do you mean a blog website? I'm sorry I don't know what an 3-list is.
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Ali
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| Joined: | Sat Jan 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 618 |
| First Name: | Ali | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | JW, finally fully Catholic |
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Posted: Tue May 22nd, 2007 02:45 pm |
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Lee wroteSo do you mean a blog website? I'm sorry I don't know what an 3-list is.
Oh, no no no, it's a yahoo email list.
And I gotta run, no time to explain further! My dd's going to wonder why I'm not picking her up like I should be, lol.
Ali
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Credo Catholic
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| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1212 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Tue May 22nd, 2007 04:08 pm |
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| I watched EWTN for maybe a year before I ever read a book. The talks by Mother Angelica, Fr. Mitch Pacwa, Marcus Grodi's JH program, all helped me get started in the right direction. Last edited on Tue May 22nd, 2007 08:49 pm by Credo Catholic
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mrsbmoo
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 267 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | former Methodist. RCA, Presbyterian, Holiness, Wesleyan... Catholic as of June ... |
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Posted: Tue May 22nd, 2007 06:11 pm |
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I would have to say Fr Corapi's Sweet Sixteen cassette set, especially the one on the rosary. He explained things in such a practical down to earth way that I started praying the rosary before I ever set foot in a Catholic church.
I have read a couple Scott Hahn books but he writes a bit over my head. I just have no talent for those complicated deep ideas. Philosphy was the only class I was afraid I would fail in college.
____________________
Becky
Wife of Michael(called Moo) and stay at home mom to 5 daughters between 7 months and 16
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Truthseeker
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| Joined: | Wed Oct 4th, 2006 |
| Location: | Costa Mesa, California USA |
| Posts: | 340 |
| First Name: | Laura | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | lapsed and returned CATHOLIC!!!!!! |
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Posted: Tue May 22nd, 2007 08:17 pm |
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For me, it was Gina.
When I was so very confused about where truth was, as a newbie Christian who didn't know anything about Catholicism nor non-denominationalism, I accidently entered a Catholic book store, searching for a book that would be "fair to both sides". I met the most lovely woman. I asked her what religion she was and she told me she was Catholic. Then, she told me how much she loved her church, which would have turned me off, because I wanted to love Jesus. But she talked about how her beloved church taught her about her beloved Christ, with her hand held over her heart.
She recommended that I read Rome Sweet Home, which I didn't want, because it had the word "Rome" in it. I took it, because I didn't want to offend her, but I bought and read it it, because her sincerity and love were so tangible. Her quiet testimony gave me the courage to read that book!
And then there are this place and you guys. Where would I be without you all guiding me toward heaven, when I thought surely, I was on the path to hell? I really thought becoming Catholic might lead me there!
Thanks.
Love, Laura
Last edited on Tue May 22nd, 2007 08:19 pm by Truthseeker
____________________
Lord, please make my will your Will!
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Lee
Member
| Joined: | Fri May 18th, 2007 |
| Location: | Birmingham, Alabama USA |
| Posts: | 65 |
| First Name: | Lee | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Charismatic-nondenom.-Presbyterian-Catholic |
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Posted: Wed May 23rd, 2007 11:34 am |
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UPDATED May 23, 2007
List of Most Powerful Influential Item in your Journey to the Catholic Church:
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2
Rome, Sweet Home 5
(including Scott Hahn in general 3)
The Lamb's Supper Scott Hahn
Surprised by Truth (Patrick Madrid) 3
The Journey Song Book
Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic David Currie 2
Letters from the Desert and The Desert in the City by Carretto (Orbis).
Dr. Edward Sri
On Being Catholic Thomas Howard
Evangelical is Not Enough Thomas Howard
When Only One Converts
My Life on the Rock Jeff Cavins
E-mail member list
Talks by Mother Angelica, Mitch Pacwa, Marcus Grodi's Journey Home program
Fr Corapi's Sweet Sixteen cassette set
Catholic book store clerk, lovely, devout with sincerity and love
Bloggers at http://www.chnetwork.org forums
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David W. Emery
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1714 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Sat May 26th, 2007 09:54 am |
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Hello, Lee. My conversion happened a long, long time ago, before hippies began to populate the earth.
For me, the first nudge toward Catholicism came from the books given me by my Methodist pastor for my studies to “become a member of the church.” This was the local lingo for what most Methodists today refer to as “confirmation.” In the “old days,” children brought up as Methodist would be baptized, often as infants, but they would not be registered members of The Methodist Church (this was before the current United Methodist Church came into existence and obviously before the year 2000, when the UMC decided to count baptized children as members) until they had studied and made a conscious choice to be Methodist. They would then be formally received as members. I was 12 years old at the time.
These books denied the divinity of Christ (actually an anomaly among Methodists, as I would find out later; I had always believed in it because it was in the bible) and laid bare the “1500 year gap” between early Christianity and the Protestant reformers.
Once I had determined that I would remain a Christian but search around for the genuine article, the mainstays that I kept coming back to were books on philosophy, especially the epistemology and metaphysics of St. Thomas Aquinas, and the bible. I needed the philosophy because I realized I was engaged in a battle for truth against the essentially subjectivistic and relativistic stand taken by those (mostly Protestant or agnostic) around me. Thomist philosophy was the only one I could find that stood for the existence of an objective truth and the ability of the human being to discover, know and embrace that truth. The bible, meanwhile, was to me quite clearly showing the Protestants to be wrong and the Catholics right. Prayer and the discovery of the Catholic spiritual tradition, especially St. John of the Cross, brought me the rest of the way. After some months of instruction, I entered the Catholic Church at age 19.
David
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Lee
Member
| Joined: | Fri May 18th, 2007 |
| Location: | Birmingham, Alabama USA |
| Posts: | 65 |
| First Name: | Lee | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Charismatic-nondenom.-Presbyterian-Catholic |
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Posted: Tue May 29th, 2007 12:11 pm |
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What an unusual 19-year-old you must have been!!! What a story of God's grace opening your eyes!
Blessings,
Lee
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Lee
Member
| Joined: | Fri May 18th, 2007 |
| Location: | Birmingham, Alabama USA |
| Posts: | 65 |
| First Name: | Lee | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Charismatic-nondenom.-Presbyterian-Catholic |
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Posted: Tue May 29th, 2007 12:31 pm |
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I would like to add John Martignoni of Bible Christian Society--wonderful! AND our local Catholic radio station (which sadly is no longer broadcasting) had the show, Catholic Answers, every day at 5 p.m. just at rush-hour traffic time, and I was a "captive audience" so to speak. I was facinated and nothing could pry me away from that one-hour show!
Here's the list again UPDATED:
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2
Rome, Sweet Home 5
(including Scott Hahn in general 3)
The Lamb's Supper Scott Hahn
Surprised by Truth (Patrick Madrid) 3
The Journey Song Book
Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic David Currie 2
Letters from the Desert and The Desert in the City by Carretto (Orbis).
Dr. Edward Sri
On Being Catholic Thomas Howard
Evangelical is Not Enough Thomas Howard
When Only One Converts
My Life on the Rock Jeff Cavins
E-mail member list
Talks by Mother Angelica, Mitch Pacwa, Marcus Grodi's Journey Home program
Fr Corapi's Sweet Sixteen cassette set
Catholic book store clerk, lovely, devout with sincerity and love
Bloggers at http://www.chnetwork.org forums
St. Thomas Aquinas, and the bible
Prayer
Catholic spiritual tradition, especially St. John of the Cross
John Martignoni of Bible Christian Society
Local Catholic Radio
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David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1714 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Tue May 29th, 2007 12:49 pm |
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Lee wrote:
What an unusual 19-year-old you must have been!!!
Yes, some would even say “strange.”
My point, however, was that a number of books influenced me in that journey. First, there were the Methodist textbooks. They were supposed to instruct me in the finest Protestant tradition but had the opposite effect, because through them I discovered some of the glaring weaknesses in Protestantism’s foundations. (I didn’t mention the lady from Planned Parenthood that had been invited to speak to the Methodist teen group, since this was not really an accessible resource, but I had a feeling from the very beginning of her talk that something was terribly wrong for this to be happening in a Christian context. Later, of course, I was to find out just how wrong it was.)
Then there were the books on Thomist philosophy (mostly college textbooks found in the public library and in used book stores) that helped me find the realistic understanding of God’s creation that I was yearning for. This had a direct connection to other areas of Catholic thought: the relation of faith to science, social and political thought, to mention a few.
Thirdly, the bible proved to me that there was indeed one true religion, one true sacrifice, one true church, and that this was all to be found in the Catholic Church. It’s all there for anyone who has eyes to see.
The fourth, and probably the decisive, factor was the books on Catholic spirituality. This is what really attracted me: prayer and moral living in accordance with divine revelation lead to actual union with God. Heaven becomes a real possibility instead of an abstract desire for “something better.” In this way, eternal life begins to make sense.
I had to wait several years to attain the canonical age at which I could speak for myself and actually convert, because my parents were dead set against my purpose.
David
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DrDave
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| Joined: | Mon Nov 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Mildura, Australia |
| Posts: | 211 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Cradle - Lapsed - Renewed Catholic |
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Posted: Wed May 30th, 2007 04:32 am |
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I was baptised a Catholic at 8 days old so maybe my opinion on this doesn't count but growing up I looked at the division between christians as was convicted that "something just wasn't right here", so I determined to find which was the "True" faith.
Somewhat reluctantly I took on board the best piece of advice my father ever gave me. "Before you go choosing another religion, make sure you know whats wrong with the one you already have"
Over the years I've found many faults with the church, but when investigated, these faults turned out to be faults of individuals involved, not faults of the insitution. So I never found a compelling reason to leave.
Fast forward, one day I read Humane Vitae, and since that day whenever I encounter a church teaching that I find difficult to understand, I no longer ask "if" the church is right, only "how" is the chuch right.
Regards Dave
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Annie
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| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
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| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Wed May 30th, 2007 10:02 am |
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| For me it was prayer and the sacramentals which the Oxford movement Anglicans use too. then I looked at church history and the rest is history!
____________________
Annie
Ora et labora
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pamflute
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| Joined: | Thu Jan 18th, 2007 |
| Location: | Tampa, Florida USA |
| Posts: | 24 |
| First Name: | Pam | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist to Presbyterian to United Methodist to Catholic |
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Posted: Wed May 30th, 2007 01:31 pm |
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| I would say that the most influential item on my journey was the book that started it all. My husband and I were part of a conservative, Presbyterian Church that was going through the "worship wars" and trying to sort out what kind of service we were going to have. A new pastor had arrived and had charismatic leanings and so the service was going that way. Five years later that church now has a very liturgical type of service and had that pastor been there before I doubt I would have looked at anything, so I guess the arrival of Pastor "A" was quite important in my thought process. Somehow I found a book by Frederica Matthewes-Green called "At the Corner of East and Now" about her experience with Eastern Orthodoxy. I was fascinated and still am to a certain extent with Orthodox worship, so different from anything I had known as a child growing up in an independent Baptist church. Later on, my husband and I went to an Orthodox service in the next county and I suppose you could say practical reasons kept up from becoming Orthodox - finding a church, the fact that services are only one a day on Sunday and my husband is a night owl, etc. I was looking for an alternative to Orthodoxy and lo and behold, found Catholicism. Not what I expected but close enough! Of course, there are othe reasons, but practical reasons certainly played a role. I also enjoyed Scott Hahn's "Rome, Sweet Home" and "The Faith of the Early Fathers" which led me to the internet, etc.&n | | |
