The Sacrificial Life

[theculturewarrior]

I was watching EWTN today and they had Fr. Bob Levis and I think Fr. Trigilio, and they were talking about difficulties converts often face. I had only caught the tale end of it, but they were talking about when a convert comes into the Catholic Church, say, from an evangelical background, and they lose their support system, only to find Catholics who don't care.

Fr. Bob (I think) said that this was an attack of the devil. He said this was because the devil cannot stand it when people come to the Truth. And that when the spiritual high wears off, you come down HARD.

I think I need a hug.

Anyway, he recommended St. John of the Cross.

St. John of the Cross...pray for us!

[Livin_the_MASS]

[quote name='theculturewarrior' date='May 22 2004, 04:37 PM'] I was watching EWTN today and they had Fr. Bob Levis and I think Fr. Trigilio, and they were talking about difficulties converts often face. I had only caught the tale end of it, but they were talking about when a convert comes into the Catholic Church, say, from an evangelical background, and they lose their support system, only to find Catholics who don't care.

Fr. Bob (I think) said that this was an attack of the devil. He said this was because the devil cannot stand it when people come to the Truth. And that when the spiritual high wears off, you come down HARD.

I think I need a hug.

Anyway, he recommended St. John of the Cross.

St. John of the Cross...pray for us! [/quote]
"Dark night of the soul"

Good Book *Hug*

Pax
Jason

[Sojourner]

Here's a hug for you, TCW.

Amen, and amen. This has been very true for me. I have been attending my parish for nine months or so, and really don't have any close friends there ... converting itself was intensely emotionally draining, so I really haven't had the reserves left to put myself out there at my church and start deepening friendships.

At my last church, almost all my close friends were within the church, and that's who I spent the majority of my time with. Now, I find I get piecemeal fellowship together from people at work and people from my old church; I hardly ever hang out with people from my parish. The community aspect of church simply isn't part of my life. I don't know if it's my parish, or if it's Catholic churches in general.

It's been hard, and it just doesn't look like it's going to get any easier.

St. John of the Cross, pray for us!

Edited May 23, 2004 by Sojourner

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='theculturewarrior' date='May 22 2004, 04:37 PM'] but they were talking about when a convert comes into the Catholic Church, say, from an evangelical background, and they lose their support system, only to find Catholics who don't care. [/quote]
Man... I hear ya...

And Sojourner, I empathize with you too... My social circle was too tightly connected to our old church. I will not make the same mistake again (even if I could, which I don't seem to be able to do...) I will make friends in our new parish, but I will not make it my whole world. Having no job, my work friends are my homeschooling friends... and they pretty much all went to my old church...

My secret goal is to teach all of my Baptist friends about the truth of the Catholic Church and help bring them home... then I'll have my tight little circle back... :ph34r: okay... that's never going to happen... but I can pray for it, right?

[Archangel Raphael]

I can also empathize in a similar situation. However heres another thing to think about, and please don't take this as an attack or anything, just something to think about.

As long as your 'old church friends' aren't bashing you cause of your change in a Christian religion, why worry about it? Everyone is called differently. God will use anyone, Baptist, AG, Pentecostal, Catholic, anyone for His Glory as long though as that person is yielding. When that person is yielding, then no matter what background, the Lord will use them and good Fruit will come from them, souls will be Saved and lives will be changed. I mean personally.. maybe we should focus a bit more on helping eachother grow in the Lord than worrying about getting our friends to come to our perishes.

Just my thoughts though, sorry if I got off topic.

[theculturewarrior]

I think the issue is that once somebody converts from a close knit religious community, they are faced with rejection from family and friends. Most of us on this converts thread have realized that the Truth is not a relatvisitic proposition, that we are all called to know and live the Truth, and that the Catholic Church teaches the Truth. That's why I personally am Catholic.

Often when a convert comes to this conclusion, he is presented with rejection from family and friends, and a weak support system within the Catholic Church. That was the point of this thread.

[homeschoolmom]

A.R. While, I believe that non-Catholics can be saved and that God uses Protestant churches to draw people to Himself, I believe that the Catholic Church is where we find it the way God wants it. Right now it is a topic my friends and I politely ignore...

[Archangel Raphael]

Alright, again just sharin how I felt I understand.

[Lil Red]

for women, try getting involved with CCW - Council of Catholic Women. They do a lot of stuff for the parish community, so it's a good way to meet and become friends with your fellow parishioners. For guys, I would try the Knights of Columbus. Every parish has a council.

[Lil Red]

Or, stick around after mass, introduce yourself to your fellow pew-mates. Go to the parish picnics or fairs. Go to the funerals (as weird as it may seem). Ask your parish secretary what areas need volunteers or help in (he/she will know it all!).

[Archangel Raphael]

Knights of Columbus are cool.

[Ellenita]

Go on a church pilgrimage! Nothing like really getting to know people when you have to meet for breakfast every morning....

[theculturewarrior]

Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe helps to. There is an indulgenced prayer to her, about keeping us faithful in love and hope amidst the bitterness of life. I'll see if I can't dig it up.

[theculturewarrior]

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mystical Rose, make intercession for the Holy Church, protect the Sovereign Pontiff, help all those who invoke thee in their necessities, and since thou art the ever Virgin Mary, and Mother of the True God, obtain for us from thy most holy Son the grace of keeping our faith, of sweet hope in the midst of the bitterness of life, of burning charity, and the precious gift of final perseverance. Amen.
One Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father...in gratitude for the Miraculous Portrait as a continuing miracle and testimony.

[DojoGrant]

You really have to get active to build those friendships.

An example for me was our college youth group. I felt very excluded as one converting and a new convert. It was hard for me to make friends and having in recent months broken up with my girlfriend, I did feel a bit left alone.

So I made myself get involved. Now I've led communion services, am an usher, alter server, reader, and EM, I'm on the youth group council, I lead a prayer group, I'll be on the RCIA team this year, I'm in a vocational discernment group, Knights of Columbus, and I'm a sacrastan for two Masses, and there are very few people who don't know who I am, even if I don't know them. The majority of my friends are in the parish, young and old.

Sometimes its hard to go out there and get really involved when you don't know hardly anyone, but after the initial hurdle, its all uphill.