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Catholic Revert
For many years I attended an Episcopal Church “just like Catholic” people said. I could live life on my own terms and still have the sacraments. Almost. Then one day I stopped kidding myself and contacted Catholics Come Home. After forty years its good to be home. As for living life on my own terms, I was meant for better things. Funny a younger guy like Sam Guzman gave me my inspiration: Be a man: Be a saint.
Great article. One of my main reasons would be (also a sub-point to “it’s true”) the depth and richness in tradition of intellectual and spiritual answers to basically all questions.
There’s literally not a thing I ever came across I couldn’t find or work out an answer to in the works of a saint or theologian, the catechism or from real life Catholics. And the huge discrepancy between these experiences and how many others perceive the faith (infantile, anti-scientific, only for people to feel more comfortable, backwards etc etc) fuels me with a fire to bring it to people’s awareness. Also, the sacraments, of course 😀
This is one the most complete, profound statements of the faith I have read. You have certainly nailed it. I wish I could express my thoughts as well as you have. The statement “Catholicism is true” is the elevator speech we all need…period. The Bottom Line.
These all seem like great reasons, but aren’t they just as true of the Orthodox Church?
Two aren’t. It’s not true, and it’s not half as ancient as the Catholic Church. It can’t appeal to any divine authority because it was granted to Peter and his successors. The patriarchs aren’t Peter’s successors.
Interesting point to which I would counter: If the Orthodox Church is false, then so is the Catholic as they are too substantively similar for one to be true and the other to be false.
Re-read the second paragraph on Truth: “But it is important to emphasize that for all her beautiful theology and philosophy, the Catholic faith is not just a system of ideas. All of the ideas she has generated are merely doorways to a transcendent realm of spirit, and ultimately, to Christ himself. If we miss this, we miss everything. No philosophy, no matter how glorious, is sufficient as an end in itself. It either leads us to Christ, who is truth itself, or it is a waste of time.”
To which I’d add that the beautiful theological and philosophical doorway is vanity if one does not take the effort to pass through it, and that the personified Truth in Christ is the measure.
I don’t think the evidence supports these claims. First, the Orthodox Churches can trace their existence to Christ via the apostles and their successors just as truly or authentically as the Roman Catholic Church. To pretend that the Orthodox Churches are some kind of invention of the 11th century doesn’t correspond to the facts.
Second, Roman Catholics need to disabuse themselves of the delusions that Peter was the only apostle. Jesus chose 12, and though Peter may have been unique personality among them, the idea that Peter is the only person who participated in the building of the Church has no grounding in historical truth.
No Murray! Do your home work
Not only just as true, but demonstrably more true. The Catholic church is devoid of history, beauty, or anything resembling ancient liturgical Christianity. It even repudiates its own past beliefs.
The claim that the “Catholic Church is devoid of history, beauty….” seems to have no grounding whatsoever in reality or actual history.
The Roman Catholic Church isn’t perfect — no church is — but it isn’t helpful to make just transparently- and demonstrably-false claims about it.
As a cradle Catholic my perspective is a bit different; but I agree that it’s the only faith that actually makes sense of the world. I love it, as flawed as I am, I love it so!
As a kid I was totally ignorant of spiritual things; looking back I can see how God orchestrated countless details of my life to bring me to the point where I finally “said ‘Yes’ to Jesus” just before my 17th birthday. It was none of my own doing. That was the beginning of a journey that took me from being part of a Christian community comprised mostly of ex-Catholics (complete with opinions and prejudices) to subsequently being part of many other church denominations.
Fifteen years later, I found myself going to weekday Mass as a visitor with a friend because it was the only church service I could get to on a regular basis. One day in my devotions the Lord began to reveal that each spiritual experience I’d had over the years was His preparation for the next step He had for me: becoming Catholic. Immediately, I found myself in a war between the message I’d “heard” in myself and the prejudices I’d unwittingly held inside of me for so many years. I had to get to the bottom of the matter, so I began praying and searching the Scriptures. Several weeks later, I found the inner peace I’d sought — and was then convinced that this was indeed the Lord’s direction for my life. (Heavily summarized from a much longer testimony.)
Very true, Sam. I converted to the Catholic Church after growing up as an evangelical. The first push for me was from Our Blessed Mother; I went to a couple Masses, praying the rosary and researching the Faith and Her teachings. Then the Lord got me out of a pretty tough time, so I decided to stay true to my heart and seek a “home in Rome”. I’ve been Catholic 7 years this past April, and I’ve not regretted it one minute. The Lord, through the Sacraments, continues to grant me the grace to grow in holiness (all Him, not me), and Our Blessed Mother has kept me from despairing in my sin. What a beautiful gift our Faith is. God Bless His Church and Her members, and may He be praised in His Saints.
Sam, Thank you for your words. They strike a resonance with this wandering pilgrim (me). I was raised in an evangelical holiness sect, ordained, and served in it. Most recently, I served in a mainline part of the same Wesleyan tradition. After 30-plus years I am seeking a home within the Catholic faith. Your ten reasons comprise together what I now see: Beauty, Goodness, and Truth coalescing. Covet your prayers as this now means secular employment.
I am a frequent visitor to The Catholic Gentleman and am currently enjoying your latest book.
Peace,
Randy Myers
Catholicism allows us to overcome what seems impossible; the sin in our lives which weigh us down! The sacrament of Confession is a powerful force in Catholic lives!
We also have another weapon too; a gentle and beautiful and meek Mother who we can turn to and request her intercession: Our Lady in heaven the Blessed Virgin Mary!
I love my faith and I love being Catholic!
God bless Sam, keep up the great work brother!
Kieran Maxwell
Ireland.
Sorry Sam. I wanted to say zeal.
Hello Sam. Great text, full of true. You have a great seal and I congratulate you for your job like a modern apostle. Keep like that, working hard with passion for the re-flourishing of our Catholic faith. God bless you and many like you that use the media for spreading out our Catholic faith.
Great article! Thank you.
My reason for being a practicing Catholic and never wanting to be anything else is my love of Jesus, the Holy Eucharist, and the Sacraments. There are many other reasons why I would not be anything else, but they are all connected to what i said first: My love of Jesus!!! +