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PKR
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| Joined: | Wed Aug 6th, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 10 |
| First Name: | Peter | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Grew up United Church of Christ. I am now ... |
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Posted: Mon Oct 13th, 2008 07:59 pm |
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| In my last post, I likened my current position in relation to reaching the Summit of Catholicism as standing atop Disappointment Peak. From below Disappointment Peak it looked like the summit. But as I stand atop of it, I can see the real Summit. The view from here is a nice one, and there is a temptation sometimes to stay, but I know I need to keep going for the Summit of Catholicism. There is disappointment in that when I entered seminary, I didn't bank on encountering the Summit of Catholicism. When I got married, I didn't bank on it either. I can relate now to C.S. Lewis in his certain disconsolation in discovering the Truth of Christianity. I feel something similar in having discovered the Truth of Catholicism. At the same time, I'm awed by the vision of the Summit. It's strikingly different from the grey cloudiness of agnosticism that I viewed in college. It's been a long climb since college. Right now I'm feeling a little dehydrated. There are struggles in my marriage and in my finances due to this Summit I see. Right now I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to get there. I do know I need to keep praying and concentrating on being the best husband and father I can be... (to be cont.) Last edited on Mon Oct 13th, 2008 08:02 pm by PKR
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Free
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| Joined: | Wed Nov 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 357 |
| First Name: | Jane | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Presbyterian, Gnostic, non-denominational, Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Oct 13th, 2008 09:01 pm |
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Dear PKR,
I remember being where you are now. I remember the feeling of dismay when I saw that the Truth was leading me to the Catholic Church. I even said out loud, in a voice that was not at all joyful, "I'm going to have to be a Catholic."
Remember, there is a deep valley before you get to the river. Many troubles are awaiting you in the valley. But there IS a river, and you CAN cross it. And it's well worth the disappointment, the dismay, and the troubles to swim the Tiber.
Cheering you on...
Jane
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setapart
Member
| Joined: | Sat Jan 13th, 2007 |
| Location: | Austin, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 266 |
| First Name: | Bill | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Born Catholic, Non-Denominational Charismatic, Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Oct 14th, 2008 03:39 am |
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Peter,
I just finished reading "The Soul of Mother Seton". She suffered much in her conversion to Catholicism in the early 1800's. The link to the Shrine book store is here:
http://www.setonshrine.org/shop/catalog_bks.htm
You can also find out much about her on the website.
What you will find out about St. Elizabeth Seton and along with most of the converts and reverts on this forum you will suffer much. But you will find that the Lord is constantly watching out for you and will always be faithful to you through all of the stormy seas of doubt and second guessing. I began to ask for her intercession and I believe that this has had a huge impact on me.
Blessings,
Bill
____________________
But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. Mal 4:2
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brian
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Chicago South Burbs, Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 892 |
| First Name: | brian | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | methodist, evangelical, anglican, catholic |
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Posted: Wed Oct 15th, 2008 05:44 am |
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Glad to hear from you. I really hope that God gives you peace as you move closer to what He wants for you and enables you to love your family well. Keep us updated.
Brian
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PKR
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| Joined: | Wed Aug 6th, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 10 |
| First Name: | Peter | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Grew up United Church of Christ. I am now ... |
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Posted: Thu Oct 16th, 2008 05:22 am |
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Thank you Jane: It's good to have someone cheering for me as there are those cheering against me when it comes to entering the Church.
Thank you Bill: I've been checking out St. Elizabeth Anne Seton due to your prompting. She's definitely a Saint I'll be praying to.
Thank you Brian: Keeping in good graces with my family while entering the Church is my biggest challenge.
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ChildofGod
Member
| Joined: | Sat Jul 12th, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 192 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Evangelical Christian |
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Posted: Thu Oct 16th, 2008 12:55 pm |
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PKR wrote: Keeping in good graces with my family while entering the Church is my biggest challenge.
Yes, I understand. They fear for your salvation, am I right? Just a word of caution, sometimes it takes years for people to be unbound from wrong ideas and misconceptions. But then I suppose you already know that since you have been on this journey of faith, right?
The best witness you can be to your family and friends is in your actions, not your words. In many ways they are probably not ready to discuss the doctrines of the Catholic Church. However, if you live out the teachings of the CC, especially that of making charity your aim and offering up your sufferings to Christ daily, they will begin to see a difference in you. It is at this point that they may ask questions. It is at this point that they just might be more open to your journey of faith.
In Christ's Love,
Darlene
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PKR
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| Joined: | Wed Aug 6th, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 10 |
| First Name: | Peter | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Grew up United Church of Christ. I am now ... |
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Posted: Mon Oct 20th, 2008 07:37 pm |
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Darlene,
Yes, they are concerned about my salvation in the sense that I will be losing my soul to a power hungry church, one that is too partriarchal and won't allow women to be ordained, one that abuses kids. Right now I'm trying to concentrate on just what you said: to live out the teachings of the Catholic Church, to increase in holiness. Meanwhile, I'm being adopted by the Moravian Church for the time being. I live in an area where there is a strong Moravian presence, and I'm currently doing some development work for a Moravian organization. The pastor of the local Moravian church is a friend of mine. We went to the same seminary. I do some pulpit supply and play in a gospel, bluegrass band at his church. I also work part time at a nearby Catholic parish. I have to say that it has been one of the most unpleasant places I've ever worked. However, I've also worked in some other protestant churches, and they have been no bed of roses either. Since Paul, the parish has presented it's headaches.
I know it's going to take time and patience for me to enter the church. I'm inspired by one of my heroes, Chesterton, who took a long time to get into the Church. My reason for wanting to enter the church is summed up perfectly by Chesterton: "To get rid of my sins." One of my temptations is just to jump into the Church right now... If I were single, I would have entered the Church yesterday. But I know, jumping in right now would do more harm than good. I liken entering the Church to a spaceship entering the Earth's atmosphere from space. It has to come in at just the right angle, or it will skip off into space. I'm trying to find the right angle...
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PKR
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| Joined: | Wed Aug 6th, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 10 |
| First Name: | Peter | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Grew up United Church of Christ. I am now ... |
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Posted: Tue Oct 21st, 2008 01:23 am |
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| In other words, the concern for my salvation is from a liberal protestant perspective, not an evangelical protestant perspective.
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PKR
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| Joined: | Wed Aug 6th, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 10 |
| First Name: | Peter | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Grew up United Church of Christ. I am now ... |
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Posted: Mon Oct 27th, 2008 05:59 pm |
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In that last post, it's more correct to say, "The concern for my salvation is more from a liberal Protestant perspective, than from a evangelical Protestant perspective." Though I suppose an argument could be made that both are a liberal perspectives.
At any rate, some questions: Are Roman Catholic priests allowed to preach in Protestant churches? Would a baptism conducted in a Protestant church in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by a pastor who is not ordained, but who is sanctioned by his denomination to conduct baptisms, be deemed valid by the Catholic Church?
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Dave Armstrong
Network Apologist
| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 2169 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Evangelical (1977): Diverse Protestant Influences / Catholic in 1990 |
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Posted: Mon Oct 27th, 2008 09:23 pm |
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At any rate, some questions: Are Roman Catholic priests allowed to preach in Protestant churches?
Sometimes, sure, although often they are tealking at events which are not worship services per se.
Would a baptism conducted in a Protestant church in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by a pastor who is not ordained, but who is sanctioned by his denomination to conduct baptisms, be deemed valid by the Catholic Church?
If it uses a trinitarian formula and is done with the right intention, yes. Any layman can baptize, especially in emergency situations.
____________________
I'm happy to offer whatever theological & personal assistance I can. My blog, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, contains 2000+ papers & web pages (absolutely free) & 16 apologetic books (for sale):
http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/
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