Advice for a future Catholic.

[Annuit Coeptis]

Beginning after Easter of next year I will begin the process of conversion to Catholicism (from Protestantism). It was a bumpy road but, after years of reflection, I've finally decided that my home is in the Church. Is there any advice that I can be given for what to do in the meantime, such as books to read or other instructional materials to study? I'd appreciate any candid advice (and prayers as well).

[Hyeronimus]

Wellcome home! Sure, you can count on our prayers. But why wait until Easter for starting the conversion process? Look for a good traditionalist priest who can instruct and advise you, and get a cathechism published before the Second Vatican Council.

[Martin Ant]

The Truth make us free. I think that it is not difficult knowing what is the truth religion if it is sought with good will and we don´t put obstacles to the Grace. That is what the spaniards we have defended always in our History since the Third Council of Toledo (589 A.D.).

You can start with the Cathecism of the Coucil of Trent, the Cathecism of St. Pius X and the Encyclicals and other Papal documents (better of the Popes Leo XIII, St. Pius X, Pius XI and Venerable Pius XII).

In Christ.

[Annuit Coeptis]

The Truth make us free. I think that it is not difficult knowing what is the truth religion if it is sought with good will and we don´t put obstacles to the Grace. That is what the spaniards we have defended always in our History since the Third Council of Toledo (589 A.D.).

You can start with the Cathecism of the Coucil of Trent, the Cathecism of St. Pius X and the Encyclicals and other Papal documents (better of the Popes Leo XIII, St. Pius X, Pius XI and Venerable Pius XII).

In Christ.

Ah, thank you for these weblinks- it answered my question to Hyeronimus about other cathecisms. I knew that they were out there but I wasn't sure where to start looking.
I've learned a significant amount on this forum but my desire to convert to Catholicism goes back a number of years- I think it's time to finalize this desire.

For my part, I've found the history of the Church in Spain and the countries of my ancestors, Britain (prior to the split during the reign of Henry VIII) and France, to be very helpful.

Take care.

[Annuit Coeptis]

Wellcome home! Sure, you can count on our prayers. But why wait until Easter for starting the conversion process? Look for a good traditionalist priest who can instruct and advise you, and get a cathechism published before the Second Vatican Council.

Thanks!

I wouldn't know where to find a traditionalist priest in the area where I live, I'm afraid- I got in contact with the local parish and spoke with the coordinator of the RCIA program. I also am not sure what catechism would be appropriate- while I've got access to the revised catechism, the newest one, I don't know of any other.

[Irmão de Cá]

Praise the Lord All Mighty! There's some splendid news! One more soul to trail the path of salvation, for there's no salvation out of the Church! Now you'll gonna have to earn it every day on; don't lose faith! Way to go, Annuit ! God bless you!

Here's some good old apologetic speech from G. K. Chesterton, to inspire you in this new and decisive step you're gonna take:




Regarding the concern you expressed here:

Thanks!

I wouldn't know where to find a traditionalist priest in the area where I live, I'm afraid- I got in contact with the local parish and spoke with the coordinator of the RCIA program. I also am not sure what catechism would be appropriate- while I've got access to the revised catechism, the newest one, I don't know of any other.

Well, that's the major problem with almost every catholic interested in the traditional ways of his/her faith; no parish to attend traditional mass on Sundays, no traditional priests to perform the traditional ministry. This shouldn't prevent you to do the right thing! Better to receive sacraments from a non-traditional priest that none at all! Learn all you can about what Catholicism actually is and what have constantly been though the centuries, stand your ground and never let anyone to talk you out of it, no matter who and what they say!

[Annuit Coeptis]

Well, that's the major problem with almost every catholic interested in the traditional ways of his/her faith; no parish to attend traditional mass on Sundays, no traditional priests to perform the traditional ministry. This shouldn't prevent you to do the right thing! Better to receive sacraments from a non-traditional priest that none at all! Learn all you can about what Catholicism actually is and what have constantly been though the centuries, stand your ground and never let anyone to talk you out of it, no matter who and what they say!

It's partly due to the Reformation and partly due to the mainstream liberalization of the Church that so many Christians are misguided. I think it's better to be, say, a doubting Catholic who has a connection to the Church than a misguided Protestant who engages in such heretical ideas as Zionism or an "interfaith dialogue" with Islam. I've got my particular doubts, of course, and some private beliefs, which I'm sensible enough to keep to myself- but I think that any Christian worthy of respect, and who respects Christian civilization, ought to belong to the Church. This choice doesn't come lightly but after long reflection over a number of years. I'll "take what I can get" for now; the local parish is mainstream and I don't know of any other parishes around that're more conservative in orientation. I'm not expecting immediate success in anything and I'm sure the process of de-Protestantizing might take a number of years (but I'll keep in mind the good portions of Protestantism that I like, i.e. the sermons of John Wesley, etc.). For Protestants Christianity begins largely with Luther with the previous 15 centuries being irrelevant.


Chesteron is good; I got a copy of his book "Orthodoxy."

[Annuit Coeptis]

I snapped some quick pics with my phone of the effigy of my parish's namesake St. Rose of Lima. I was going to get some others- a wooden effigy of St. Thomas Aquinas and one of the Lord- and some of the stained-glass windows- but I was getting curious looks from some of the other parishioners.