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Esther
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Bronx, New York USA |
| Posts: | 157 |
| First Name: | Esther | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist to Roman Catholic 11/26/06 |
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Posted: Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 04:45 pm |
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| After you joined the Church, did any of you ever have regrets, go into a depression, or face extraordinary obstacles? I know I have heard these things prior to joining the Church, but they have seemed to intensify since I was accepted in the the Church.
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David W. Emery
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 2410 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 04:58 pm |
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Yes, Esther, these things happen a lot. I was young, alone and afraid when I made my commitment to the Catholic Church. Integration was difficult and took several years. My family was very hard on me, to the point of persecution. After that came the sweeping changes in the wake of the Second Vatican Council, which left me questioning whether this was really the Church Christ founded. It all piled on me over a period of five or six years right after I became Catholic and took another decade to resolve completely. Yet here I am 40-odd years later doing things I never dreamed of back then.
Satan has quite a bit to do with these difficulties, but so does God, as he brings good out of evil. They show what you are made of, whether you are going to persevere in the faith, whether you are willing to suffer for Christ and his Church, whether you are ready to give up your own will to do the will of the Father. Those who prevail are given the golden crown.
David
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BodRod
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 2nd, 2006 |
| Location: | Apple Valley, California USA |
| Posts: | 840 |
| First Name: | Cliff | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Raised an SDA, then Generic Christian, finally at home with ... |
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Posted: Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 08:21 pm |
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Hi Esther,
<<<...did any of you ever have regrets, ...... or face extraordinary obstacles?>>>
My wife was a VERY VOCAL anti-Catholic so I caught a lot of verbal anger when I started attending RCIA and later when I joined the Church. She also slept on the couch for a few days, did not talk to me, etc. etc. etc. Then came the insults, verbal tirades and so on. She tried to get the kids to support her position but they did not. In fact the older daughter gave me a an already blessed travel Rosary for my briefcase. I was addened by my wife's attitude but I understood it fully since I had been raised in the same religion as she had been.
One day, during one of her tirades, I challenged her to listen to the Nicene Creed and tell me exactly what she was objecting to. I read the lines of the Creed and she did not object to a single concept in the Creed. This seemed to anger her at first then she seemed to feel a little foolish. From that time on she has been calm.
Do I have any regrets? None, not one. I feel refreshed every Sunday morning when I receive and again when I share the Elements of Communion to my fellow believers in my role of helping serve. I participate in a couple of Ministeries and I get support from them also. Before I became a Catholic, I looked at several other religions, belonged to the Rosicrucians for awhile, I joined a service club, etc. and nothing gave me the peace I was looking for nor filled the hole I was feeling in my life. Not only do I have no regrets, I would go through it all again, including the "Catholic bashing" and personal insults in an instant! I have been saddened for my sins but then elated for my forgiveness. I feel joy when doing my pennance and I look forward to every Mass.
I thought I would calm down as time passed; maybe even become an E&C Catholic but that has not happened. I am as thrilled now by my Journey as I was when I attended my first Mass!
I wish you all the best in your Journey! 
____________________
Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
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AggieCatholic
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | San Antonio, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 82 |
| First Name: | Lance | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | United Methodist to Roman Catholic (Anglican Use) |
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Posted: Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 08:33 pm |
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Any life altering change, such as leaving a faith community for another, can be stressful and can lead to feelings of loss or regret. I looked at my conversion as a new beginning. I became a fixture in my parish volunteering whenever I had the time.
I never recall feeling depressed about my conversion, though there were ramifications in my life. Some extended family members have stopped talking to me. But, whatever negative feelings I've had have been overshadowed by my love and devotion to the Church. I've thrown myself into the faith by exploring the many different aspects of Catholicism. What I enjoy most is sharing what I've learned with people curious about the Catholic Church.
I highly recommend you talk to your spiritual director, priest or RCIA director very soon about the feelings you're experiencing because depression really is the opposite emotion felt by recent converts.
You will be in my prayers,
Lance
____________________
What part of, "Hoc est enim Corpus meum" don't you understand?
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Esther
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Bronx, New York USA |
| Posts: | 157 |
| First Name: | Esther | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist to Roman Catholic 11/26/06 |
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Posted: Tue Jan 23rd, 2007 01:45 am |
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David W. Emery wrote: Satan has quite a bit to do with these difficulties, but so does God, as he brings good out of evil. They show what you are made of, whether you are going to persevere in the faith, whether you are willing to suffer for Christ and his Church, whether you are ready to give up your own will to do the will of the Father. Those who prevail are given the golden crown.
David
David, thank you for the reassurance to know I am not alone in this. Thank you for sharing your story. It gives me hope. I know I did not make the wrong decision, and I know I would never leave the Church. I know it is the pillar of truth and I need (and love) the Eucharist. I just needed/need some perspective. My faith obviously has a long way to grow, especially in perservance. (As I am sitting here whining about how I feel) I know in my heart that I made the right decision, and if I was asked to choose again, I would choose the path that Christ has laid before me again. This is not because I am strong or have much faith, it is because I desperately need Christ and know He is my hope and will guide me to eternal life. So thank you for understanding and letting me vent. (that goes for all of you)
BodRod, thank you for your kind words and advice. I so admire your passion for the Church. I aspire to have that same passion some day.
Lance, Yes this has been a difficult transition in my life. I will be seeing my spiritual director the first weekend in Feb out at the monastery. I love it out there. It gets me away from everything. Hopefully he will have some insight. I think part of my depression is a lack of an clear objective. I knew God called me to join the Church, but now what. I don't know what is going on to be completely honest, but I just have to take it one moment at a time.
BTW I was born in San Antonio and still have family down there. Love that place.
Thank you all for your response and most of all for your continued prayer and support.
God bless,
Esther
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David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 2410 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Jan 23rd, 2007 08:04 pm |
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I think part of my depression is a lack of a clear objective. I knew God called me to join the Church, but now what.
You can make this the purpose of your visit to your spiritual director.
From a very early age, I felt called by God, but I never knew to what I was called. Years passed. Instead of pursuing the consecrated life, which I was attracted to but saw as closed to me for various reasons, I married. Finally, about 15 years ago I started praying again about the question of vocation. Over a period of about seven years, it was answered in a way I could never have imagined.
I was born in San Antonio and still have family down there.
Interesting. I was just up that way a few hours ago, seeing my wife on a follow-up. After being in the hospital last week, she’s doing better, but is not yet fully recovered.
David
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SBC2RCC
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | York, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 136 |
| First Name: | Monte | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | was Southern Baptist Minister, now Roman Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Jan 23rd, 2007 08:09 pm |
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Dear Esther, (and all the others who are wondering about this question)
Great question! Yes, after finally being received into full comunion with the Catholic Church I experienced a lull of feeling. Since I was no longer in expectation, there was not that bouying me along.
But this is OK, like you, I greatly enjoy the confidence that I am where the truth is to be found. The grace of the sacraments doesn't depend on feelings, thankfully, but upon faithful regular reception.
And I don't ever won't to go back to where I was before as a Baptist.
____________________
In Christ,
Monte W
(Formerly on CHN Forum as "Pilgrim Paul"
Minima Maxima Sunt
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sewnsew
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Arizona USA |
| Posts: | 905 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle Anglican, Episcopal /Catholic-04/07/07 |
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Posted: Mon Jan 29th, 2007 12:52 pm |
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| I do not have the feelings of depression- more of "I should have done this years ago" but I do attend my present Episcopal church with my family ands each Sunday I look around and feel regret- at missing the people, and the music, Our current priest is retiring in April so that will be easy for me, our church is in the middle of a split- many of the congregation will be attending a "new" Angelican Church which will have it's first service next week. I belong to a prayers and squares quilting ministry which I hope that I will still be welcome at on Saturdays once I make my move. I will actually be juggling life quite a bit- RC on Saturdays for me and Episcopal with my husband and kids on Sunday at least until they finish coming to terms with my becoming Catholic..
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Liza
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| Joined: | Thu Dec 28th, 2006 |
| Location: | Naples, Florida USA |
| Posts: | 25 |
| First Name: | Liza | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Roman Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Feb 5th, 2007 01:35 am |
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Ester...I can identify with you. I was born and raised in the Methodist Church and now.... horrors of all...I have come into the Catholic Church. As a Methodist I was always taught the Catholic Church was wrong and they did not believe in salvation by grace and having a relationship with Christ as with being born again. Well I have been born again and accepted Christ as my personal savior many years ago when I was a practicing Methodist. When I entered the Catholic Church all my Protestant Christian background only made it crystal clear to me I had come into the first and real Church. Have you ever watched and listened to Father Corappi on EWTN on Sat. and Sun. evenings? To me the full message of the Catholic Church is having a personal relationship with Jesus but also experiencing the ultimate when we partake of the Eucharist (Christ) every week. I know there are many Catholics who partake and do not give a second thought but think just taking communion every Sat or Sun and that's all that they need to do. I see many leaving after communion thinking they have done the deed. I do not see it this way. Having a born again relationship with Christ and being Catholic is the ultimate experience. I go to mass because I want to be with Jesus, not because it is required and a sin if I don't go. I may be a different breed of Catholic but I'm happy to be Catholic.
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Saint Wanna Be
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| Joined: | Thu Oct 26th, 2006 |
| Location: | Oxford, Mississippi USA |
| Posts: | 17 |
| First Name: | | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Roman Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Feb 5th, 2007 09:05 am |
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AMEN LISA! I felt like I was reading my testimony as I read your entry.
Peace,
Keith
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St.W.B.
In the Eucharist We find Emmanuel
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