a Catholic finds Christ

[princessozma]

In the introduction thread, I was asked by a member here to post on how I found Christ, which I thought was a pretty interesting thing to mull over. I don't talk about it much. There are lots of reasons for that... but I guess that comes later!

I'm now 30 years old and have been a lifetime Catholic. I was born and baptized as a baby, took my First Communion in the Church and went to Catholic schools for 13 years (2 of those in an all girl convent school!). I then made my Confirmation when I was 21 (most Catholics are about 14) and got married to my best friend and sweetheart in that church.

Parallel to this was an experience when I was in junior high. I had gotten to the point that I hated going to church (don't so many of us at this age??), I was playing with Tarot Cards, pretending to be all dark and mysterious, being a brat generally and feeling like something was missing, though I felt the Lord was tugging at me every day. I would go to Church at school, but I was simply going through the motions. I was emotionally confused and feeling guilty and just generally "not right."

I started high school the same way, with all of my friends, having a great time. It's strange, even though I bound all these feelings up and forcefully blocked God out of my mind and heart, I was REWARDED (!) for that. Imagine... I was happy, popular, had lots of friends and was even elected class president. Funny how Satan works sometimes, isn't it?

That year, though, I was exposed to a good friend of mine who had a strong faith and her family did as well. She got me hooked on a Christian magazine for teens and introduced me to some Christian music. I thought it was kind of goody-goody, but I liked her, so it made it better. Plus, her home life was so much happier than mine. She and her family were open, loving, kind and allowed her to express her adolescence naturally, when my family did not. My mom, on the other hand, fought me growing up tooth and nail and my dad was on the verge of emotionally abusing me. They didn't trust me (for no good reason) and didn't let me see friends outside of school. No sleepovers, no movies, zip! Mental illness runs in my family, so I don't attach as much blame as some people do... but it was tough...

The summer between my freshman and sophomore year at school, I went to a Billy Graham Crusade. I totally sat in the nosebleeds, but I could feel the message that far away. I realized that I had been going to church all these years, but I had never really connected with Christ the way I thought I should. When they suggested that we come down from the bleachers and pray the sinner's prayer and accept Jesus, I didn't even look at my friends, I just went. And everything just changed. On the grass of a baseball stadium, with hundreds of other people praying, I was in my own little bubble with the person who prayed with me. Things felt... different. I felt... different.

I tried my best that summer to soak myself in scripture, go regularly to Mass, spend time with my youth group, remove any kind of bad influence from my life, you name it.

When I got back to school in the fall, I was hit with reality, and hard! I lost most of my friends, I was called a "Jesus Freak" at school (ok, no surprise there!), I was demonized for joining the pro-life club, you name it. It's amazing how being a Christian can bring out the worst in some people. And at a Catholic school no less! But some amazing friends and teachers helped me along the way. I even gave a witness at our school retreat. My friend's whole family, the loving kind one, came to see me and support me. It still brings tears to my eyes.

My parents were angry about the whole thing... basically worrying that I would become too zealous around them. That I would leave them for my newfound faith. I was so overprotected that once I was grounded from going to church! Well, parenting teenagers is hard I guess... ; )

Anyway, things were up and down for awhile. I switched schools my junior year to start over, and that failed miserably. I went to college, abandoned everything I had stood up for, and ended up having some of the best times of my life. Satan rewards sinners, let me tell you! In the thick of all of this, I met my husband. He knew I wanted to remain a virgin until our wedding night, but I never felt toward anyone like I did for him, so after a year and a half, I just didn't care anymore. I'm not going to say it was bad or that I didn't feel connected to him, I just had let myself down and it took awhile to see sex in a normal light, even after I was married. Word to the wise!

Blah blah blah... this story is getting a little long winded. But whose story of salvation isn't?? ; )

Suffice it to say, I'm just plugging in all of my Christian theology from then with my life now. I had let it go for too long and it's going to be a steep road back. I have found God fully in the Catholic Church and I think that my faith there has added so much joy and complexity to my faith that I will continue to use that as my avenue to God.

I know a lot of Protestants and Evangelicals have conflicted feelings about the Catholic Church and I will not try to sway them one way or another. When I found the Lord, I was very confused about my upbringing as well. Misunderstandings about the nature of Communion, Catholics relationship with Mary, the infallibility of the Pope and numerous other things split up what could be a relationship with Christ that could be shared with all. But I will leave that to our priests and ministers to help people understand. I'm just a lowly believer who likes her church.

Plus, I'm Italian, so there's no escaping it! ; )

I will say one things though. I was bothered for awhile that no one in my family had accepted Christ as their Savior in so many words. I thought, "How can they be Christian?" Until I talked to my grandmother, the kindest, holiest, warmest person I have ever known. I asked her, "Have you accepted Jesus into your heart?" She said, "I accept Him into my heart every day."

[Gentletouch]

Thank you for sharing that Princessozma. It brought tears to my eyes.
When you accepted CHRIST in the Billy Graham Crusade, you received the right message of salvation and that's what matters. And it's what said in Ephesians 1:13-14. When we receive the message of the gospel and received CHRIST as our LORD and SAVIOR we are sealed for redemption. The HS became the guarantee for that event. What the HS has sealed no one can unseal. So you are on your spiritual journey till your death or till JESUS comes whichever comes first. Your judgment is in the hands of GOD and HIS Word and no one else.

Welcome to the family of GOD. it's in here that we share our faith to each other. The focus of our love and discussion here is JESUS and HIS Holy Word and our denominational doctrines comes last. We discuss things based and backed up by the word of GOD and we pray that when we get to heaven we will all see each other there.

I hope you will enjoy your fellowship with us. The board consist of loving, smart, spiritually and Bible knowledgeable, prayerful, encouraging, supportive women, and we hope you just found the board you are looking for. We are transparent to each other and we can share our problems here without being accused, unfairly and unkindly judged , ridiculed, or rebuked but when we need to speak out the truth, we let GOD's Word bring the truth forth. If we have no scripture that we personally know to address the issue on hand then we pray that someone who has it will bring it forth so that we will grow together going to the same direction. And I think that is what the purpose of the church is: one body, one GOD, one Spirit, one unity, so that when JESUS comes He will find us united in HIM.

Princessozma, blessings. I'm glad you came and we praise GOD for leading and guiding you here. Thank you for sharing your testimony. Most of the things that come to us are the works and leading of the HS for the Master's purpose and plans.

Gentletouch

[lovelevi]

Princessozma,

Praise the Lord! Thank you so much for sharing your spiritual journey with us.

Welcome to the board, too.

Lovelevi

[princessozma]

Thanks guys! I thought I would get "what the heck is a CATHOLIC doing here?" heehee... The ladies here are a blessing.

[Bondservant]

I am glad to have a Catholic join us. I would love to have your input on subjects. My husband was raised Catholic and in many ways still cherishes the faith he grew up with. We currently attend a United Methodist church, but really we are just lovers of God who have found a home in our current church. We drink from the fountain of Christ, not any particular denomination.

Welcome and you have an awesome testimony!

In His Grip,
Melissa