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roxyorthodoxy
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| Joined: | Tue Jan 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | New Jersey USA |
| Posts: | 46 |
| First Name: | Rox | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Revert |
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Posted: Sat Mar 22nd, 2008 06:20 pm |
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Hi, and I hope you all have a blessed Easter....I am preparing my psalm responses for the Easter Vigil tonight. Plus I will cantor tomorrow morning for 8am Mass. I love to cantor and play the organ/piano for the Lord!
We get a small stipend but I should pay God for the priviledge!
How many are you are reverts (or should I say reconverts) like I am?  If you would have told me 20 years ago that I would be on fire for Catholicism I would have asked you what you were smoking??? (Sorry I am a child of the Seventies!)
Also, it is refreshing to hear all the conversion stories week after week on the Journey Home. I am greatful for this forum. God bless you all!
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Candlemass
Member
| Joined: | Tue May 1st, 2007 |
| Location: | Hudson, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 489 |
| First Name: | Mark | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, AOG, Baptist, non - denominational, Anglican, RCC for life! |
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Posted: Sat Mar 22nd, 2008 06:30 pm |
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| I am, after having left the Church some 30 years ago!
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"For I the blind who once could see, the bell tolls for me!"
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roxyorthodoxy
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| Joined: | Tue Jan 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | New Jersey USA |
| Posts: | 46 |
| First Name: | Rox | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Revert |
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Posted: Sat Mar 22nd, 2008 06:55 pm |
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Hi, Mark,
I left the Church while away in College about 30 years ago! I came back after much research and also watching EWTN, Scott Hahn tapes books, and of course The Journey Home (my favorite show on EWTN).
I studied with Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, went to a few Assembly of God Churches, studied Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism while in college. Was involved with New Age thinking i.e. Reiki, Tarot Cards, Marianne Williamson, Caroline Myss,etc. Also went to Lutheran and Episcopal churches as well. I was on a "search" to find the one true Church, the Church that God wanted me to be in and that search concluded with me going back to the holy, Roman, Catholic Church....some of my relatives have left the Church and married people who are anti-Catholic, some of them have no religion at all and are Catholics by name only. It saddens me deeply to witness this but unfortunately they were not catechised properly and are not seekers of Truth. The Truth does not matter to them.
One of the things I love in our Faith is that there are so many charisms and devotions to choose from. We have the Charismatic Movement, the Secular Franciscans, Legion of Mary, Eucharistic Adoration, beautiful healing ceremonies, the Latin Mass, Knights of Columbus, Divine Mercy Chaplets, the Rosary and I could go on and on....there is something for everyone! Plus 2000 years of history...
Sorry to ramble....thanks for sharing!
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Steven Barrett
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| Joined: | Tue Nov 14th, 2006 |
| Location: | Hadley, Absurdistan, AKA , Massachusetts USA |
| Posts: | 1454 |
| First Name: | Steven | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, Episcopal communicant, Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Sat Mar 22nd, 2008 07:03 pm |
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Catholics are like Marines: Once Catholic, Always Catholic!
Save for committing those worst sins, dissenting in such a way as to nuke your own bridges behind you, so-to-speak, having or aiding/abetting or per forming an abortion, or joining PPF in a shameless fashion and holding fundraisers for Emily's List, --- well you get the picture, you've really got to go out of your way to get booted out of The Church.
Contrast this to the many non-denominational, or new bolshie regime that overtook the ECUSA with regards to some of its bishops and other clergy, no less, concerning dissent against ordaining a waspish imp doing something so minor as to dump his wife for sex with guys and becoming a priest and eventually bishop, the old Church of the "bad old days" of auto-da-fes, and all that other gory stuff our detractors love to remind us about, my heavens ---we're the easiest going bunch in the world -- even with a new pope who was formerly known as JP's "Grand Inquisitor"!
On the opp. side of the Prot. disciplinary coin, there's the hard-core "ya gotta prove" you have a "private personal relationship" with the Lord bunch. They were more fun when they were paying more attention to who was having private relationships they weren't supposed to be having.
I feel right at home, though much of the liturgical music is still too contemporarized (what a word!) for this traditionalist: BUT - and this is the key thing: Nobody's messed around with the essential purpose of the Mass: The Eucharist, THE Center for all of us. Because it doesn't get anymore personal than this folks.
And that's why I came back to "active duty," not reverted.
Nevertheless, let me say this to all, Newbies, recently or not-so-recently returned to "active duty," -- however you wish to describe yourself, (which you have a lot more freedom in how you do it on this side of the Tiber.)
I would like to say this: Thanks to this website, Marcus' Journey Home show on EWTN, and yes, even a Protestant who told me I was being too hard on Cardinal Law during the darkest hours of the pedophile crisis, thus 
knocking a little sense of fairness back into my head and heart. I wasn't anti-Catholic by a long shot, but I felt awfully betrayed until I realized that my heart and faith/relationship with God wasn't going to be any better off by holding on to a grudge for something that hadn't directly affected my family (thank God, for at least.) But as a former Catholic reporter/columnist, the whole matter was too much to fathom, much less explain to my family, non-catholic friends, and to myself as well. But, thanks to my good Protestant friend (and fellow subscriber to FTs who always keeps me in his Christmas gift subs. list), I came back. But it wasn't just that individual Protestant, it was many, many others associated with this website, EWTN and Marcus Grodi's show that also made it so much easier.
While I can be funny, I can also be very crusty and cynical and thanks to everyone here, (and also one of my all time heroes, Cardinal Newman), I came back and couldn't be any happier, (unless, of course, some day I'm joined by my wife and our children. But they love me dearly and see what everything I've gained through my return and so far I haven't heard any complaints. Bewilderment, yes. Complaints, none. I'm sure they don't have a clue to the extent I've been enriched through my association with CHNI, and that's something that'll take time and I suppose only happen if they should decide to follow. I'll leave this in God's hands. (And you know what, I never in a lifetime before I met CHNI thought I'd be anywhere close to being that patient and letting God be God. This, all of you, in one way or another, helped to learn. "Pride ruled my way," lamented a once prideful Anglican cleric.
Hmmmm, I wonder what became of that guy?
Happy Easter and Welcome Home and may you have the eternal bliss of just knowing that when you receive The Lord in Communion - It's the Ultimate Religious Moment You Can Experience In Life.
Love ya Gang! s.
Last edited on Sat Mar 22nd, 2008 07:27 pm by Steven Barrett
____________________
James Michael Curley to a young Thomas “Tip” O’Neill -- “Son, it’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”
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roxyorthodoxy
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jan 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | New Jersey USA |
| Posts: | 46 |
| First Name: | Rox | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Revert |
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Posted: Sat Mar 22nd, 2008 07:17 pm |
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Catholics are like Marines: Once Catholic, Always Catholic! Loved that one!!!! or joining PPF in a shameless fashion
What is the PPF??? Sorry for my ignorance, Steven!!!!
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roxyorthodoxy
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jan 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | New Jersey USA |
| Posts: | 46 |
| First Name: | Rox | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Revert |
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Posted: Sat Mar 22nd, 2008 07:25 pm |
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Hi again Steven,
What attracted you to the Baptist and Episcopal Churches???
What did the congregations say to you when you said you were Catholic, if you volunteered that information?
Before I rejoined the Catholic Church I looked at the Episcopal Church I guess because it felt more like "home" to me. I know that the Word is of primary importance for a Baptist and it should be. We Catholics will get judged harshly if we do not participate in our treasure house of grace i.e. in the Sacraments, the Liturgy of the Word and of course the Eucharist.
Roxy Orthodoxy
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Steven Barrett
Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 14th, 2006 |
| Location: | Hadley, Absurdistan, AKA , Massachusetts USA |
| Posts: | 1454 |
| First Name: | Steven | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, Episcopal communicant, Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Sat Mar 22nd, 2008 10:12 pm |
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Planned Parenthood Federation. Don't get me rolling that bunch of losers!
____________________
James Michael Curley to a young Thomas “Tip” O’Neill -- “Son, it’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”
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Steven Barrett
Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 14th, 2006 |
| Location: | Hadley, Absurdistan, AKA , Massachusetts USA |
| Posts: | 1454 |
| First Name: | Steven | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, Episcopal communicant, Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Sat Mar 22nd, 2008 11:24 pm |
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My dear Friend,
It's a long story, but it involves many of the problems mixed couples have when it comes to trying to work out accomodations out of love. Perhaps I should put this in the form of a testimony, much like those appearing in other sections of the CHNI website/pages. I still volunteer at the Baptist Church out of loyalty to my boss who has helped me and my family so often out graciousness and love. RUth and I were at the local Episcopal parish in AMherst and decided to take up the invite on Easter Sunday when there were no pkg spaces in the AMherst Common and just headed up the road to the Baptist Church. Like a lot of Catholics/Episcys, we got "loved" into the church, and the love was indeed.
We're still loved, but I'm getting some strange looks, and who knows if a new associate pastor hailing from Gordon Conwell might be wondering if I'm a "plant" from those notorious renegades, Marcus and Scott Hahn. Just kidding. But some eye-balling has occured, but mostly from the glassy eyed I just discovered Jesus crowd you find everywhere. They're sincere, but sometimes I sense a little hostility, esp. if they're non-practicing small c catholics. Good, I'll be a living, breathing good ol' Catholic Guilt Trip in full flesh n' blood. Boy, am I mean!
Great corresponding with you. Maybe someday I will get around to writing a testimony if asked. It's gotta be an "if asked" because I've jumped into too many literary empty pools lately. OUCH!
Happy Easter!
____________________
James Michael Curley to a young Thomas “Tip” O’Neill -- “Son, it’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”
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Luke12:48
Member
| Joined: | Sat Sep 30th, 2006 |
| Location: | Southeast, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 120 |
| First Name: | Kate | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle catholic, left for many years, returned June 2006 |
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Posted: Tue Mar 25th, 2008 04:42 am |
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Me --after many years and thanks mostly to the warm, friendly, accurate and patient responses from some on this board.
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roxyorthodoxy
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| Joined: | Tue Jan 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | New Jersey USA |
| Posts: | 46 |
| First Name: | Rox | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Revert |
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Posted: Tue Mar 25th, 2008 02:23 pm |
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Hi, Kate,
Did you join other churches or were you a lapsed Catholic? In any event - welcome home!
Roxy Orthodoxy
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Therese Z
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| Joined: | Sat Mar 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | Chicagoland, Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 70 |
| First Name: | Therese Z | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle, Cultural, Lapsed, Passionately Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Mar 25th, 2008 02:55 pm |
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I'm a revert, but I didn't even have the decency to attend a non-Catholic Church during my time away. I just kicked my faith to the curb, even after God made Himself known to me as a loving Creator and Father. I spent the next 25 years with little urges toward faith, but always wanting to pick and choose and inevitably drifting away. It wasn't until I decided (thanks be to God for His Grace unrecognized!) to jump back into the Church with both feet, accepting everything, "nothing but net" as it were, that I was flooded with the joy and peace that is waiting for everyone in His Church.
I admire those people who are on a true search for God, leading them away to other Christian churches. Heck, I even admire those people who sincerely pursue Buddhism; at least they are sincere! I was just conceited and annoying, even though in my secret heart I yearned for God.
I always joke that they had to repaint the confessional after my first confession after 25 years. Truth is, I was so stiff and scared and shaky and my mouth was so dry that I can't remember what few sins I dragged out to poor Father. It took about a year of confessions before I got everything confessed!
Happy Easter to all! He is risen indeed!
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roxyorthodoxy
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jan 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | New Jersey USA |
| Posts: | 46 |
| First Name: | Rox | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Revert |
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Posted: Tue Mar 25th, 2008 04:13 pm |
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Hi, Therese,
I'm a revert, but I didn't even have the decency to attend a non-Catholic Church during my time away.
I love your humility, Therese, perhaps you were named after one of my favorite saints, St. Therese of Lisieux. It wasn't until I decided (thanks be to God for His Grace unrecognized!) to jump back into the Church with both feet, What was the biggest reason for your reconversion? Or like me was it a combination of things?
So you accept everything i.e. dogmas of contraception, practice of celibacy, etc.? I now except everything. Although celibacy is an issue in which I wrestle with from time to time....besides it is not dogma, it is a practice of the Church and I understand the reasons why but I think now it should be a choice....but that's another topic!!!!
God bless you and yes, He is risen and is there for all who seek Him.
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Therese Z
Member
| Joined: | Sat Mar 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | Chicagoland, Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 70 |
| First Name: | Therese Z | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle, Cultural, Lapsed, Passionately Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Mar 25th, 2008 04:56 pm |
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Yes, St. Therese is my patroness, although I didn't like the idea for most of my life, I thought she was too goody-goody. Now I am thrilled with the idea of having that great-hearted Carmelite interceding for me in Heaven (although you'd never look at me and think "Little Flower.")
I threw myself into the arms of the Church in 2002, during a time of family stress, ramping up my worry and panic quotient, and a layoff from work, which left me some time to think. I decided (and when I say "I decided" I mean the Holy Spirit was kicking me hard from the rear) that this time, I was just going to believe EVERYTHING and accept EVERYTHING, even if I didn't quite understand it or agree with it, figuring I'd study up on it after I said "Yes, in obedience I believe." God didn't let me down - I was FLOODED with the reasons why things were true or necessary from books, TV, casual comments from others, examples from nature......
I wouldn't have been surprised at one time in my life to find myself more involved in church, but as a cafeteria Catholic, among my many friends who are in that sneering, feminist, revisionist, liberal version of "Amchurch," but instead here I am, with a rosary in my briefcase and a crucifix on my bulletin board at work, with a pile of Catholic classics on my bookshelf and the Adoration schedule tucked in my car's sun visor. Har de holy har har har....the beautiful joke is on me.
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vlynn
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| Joined: | Fri Dec 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | St Johns, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 5 |
| First Name: | Vicki | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic |
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Posted: Wed Mar 26th, 2008 06:26 pm |
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Hi,
While you all were away from the Church, is there anything that a Catholic family member or a Catholic friend could have said or done or shown you that would have helped you to return? I have a family member who has been away from the Church for 20 some years. She is so convinced that she knows the truth and that everyone in her family is soooo wrong to remain with the Catholic Church. She even wanted my two aunts, who are nuns (Sisters of Christian Charity), to speak with her paster. She thought that if the nuns heard the "real truth" they would see the error of their ways. Is returning to the Faith something you have to discover on your own? Is there anything I can do to help her? The nuns just tell me to pray and I do, but is there anything that I can do?
Thanks, Vicki
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Vicki, wife, stay at home mom with 6 children ages 4 to 21
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roxyorthodoxy
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jan 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | New Jersey USA |
| Posts: | 46 |
| First Name: | Rox | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Revert |
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Posted: Wed Mar 26th, 2008 07:01 pm |
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Hi, VLynn,
That's a good question....I have a few in my family and some friends who have rejected the Church....what a pity in my humble (?) opinion!
1) I prayed to know the true Church and the way that God wanted to be worshipped
2) I come across EWTN and the knowledge of Scott Hahn, Father Corapi, and of course the Journey Home
3) I listened to tapes and read books about the Early Church Fathers and other conversion stories....Patrick Madrid's books are good too.
4) I studied more and prayed, I had the earnest desire to know the Truth wherever that would lead me
5) most importantly I had an opened mind and listened to other people and about their Faith i.e. Mormonism, Pentecostal, Jehovah Witnesses, etc.
6)the Holy Spirit had a huge role in this
Perhaps you can give her a tape if she is willing to listen or a book, like Scott Hahn's Rome Sweet Home. Or invite her to watch The Journey Home Program with you. If she is obstinant all you can do is pray for her and hope that the Holy Spirit will work within her soul to do His Handiwork. It won't happen overnight. Ask her to read about the Early Church Fathers and don't even mention Catholicism....usually that will plant some seeds.
Good luck and praise God for the Truth.
Roxy
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Luke12:48
Member
| Joined: | Sat Sep 30th, 2006 |
| Location: | Southeast, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 120 |
| First Name: | Kate | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle catholic, left for many years, returned June 2006 |
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Posted: Thu Mar 27th, 2008 12:20 am |
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Neither Roxy--about 27 years as a vehement athiest!
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roxyorthodoxy
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jan 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | New Jersey USA |
| Posts: | 46 |
| First Name: | Rox | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Revert |
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Posted: Thu Mar 27th, 2008 12:35 am |
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While you all were away from the Church, is there anything that a Catholic family member or a Catholic friend could have said or done or shown you that would have helped you to return
There were a few people in the business world that were devout Catholics, and I was curious as to why they continued to be Catholic. Their example was influential and the fact that they were loving people not judgmental or preaching to me at all.
Also, my mother went to Mass every Sunday and still does, but she didn't have that much of an influence on me. My husband is a self-avowed Protestant, or so he claims to be, is not religious in the least.
I think it was EWTN that was a great influence on my reconversion and some of the people I met in the business world that were practicing Catholics. A lot of my friends were either anti-catholic or indifferent to the Catholic faith.
I hope that answers your questions about any people who influenced me.
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setapart
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| 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: Thu Mar 27th, 2008 02:07 am |
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I am a revert - drifted away from the Faith in my early 20's - at 32 had a life transforming conversion experience in a non-denom church for over 24 years- came back to the CC a few years ago. During my early years after my hatred for everything Catholic was very extreme. Over the years I mellowed out little by little. Now thanks to God I am back home to the Church of my childhood.
Bill
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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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Zosan
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| Joined: | Mon Dec 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | Biloxi, Mississippi USA |
| Posts: | 84 |
| First Name: | Norm | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Roman Catholic - Worldwide Church of God - Assemblies of ... |
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Posted: Thu Mar 27th, 2008 04:49 am |
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I'm a cradle Catholic who departed the faith at 18 and returned at 50. In between those years I dabbled with:
Jehovah's Witness
Buddhism
Mormanism
Worldwide Church of God (Herbert W. Armstrong)
Southern Baptist
Assemblies of God
My first awakening to the Church was when I heard Father Paddy mention the Didache during a homily. A few more homilies led to confession after 30 plus years. 3 years of New Wine, Baptism Instructions, RCIA Instructor, Mass Lector, Mass Commentator, Cursillo, A.C.T.S., P.L.A.Y., Light Weigh Coordinator, Bible Study Coordinator, Knights of Columbus and ARISE.
I'm an EWTN junkie with an ever growing library of Father Corapi material and a host of other Catholic resources. I'm listening to Marcus and Kimberly Hahn via Real Audio as I type this post. Is that sick or what?
In Christ We Are One
Norm
aka Zosan
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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: Thu Mar 27th, 2008 05:19 am |
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Go for it - Norm
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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ordinary means
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| Joined: | Sat Mar 8th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 16 |
| First Name: | andy | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic in name only, now Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Mar 28th, 2008 06:30 am |
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roxyorthodoxy wrote: I would be on fire for Catholicism
I came back. I never had the fire until now. Once the fire is lit I don't think you can put it out. But I sure am enjoying the burn.
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