When it comes to relating to the Roman Catholic church, it's history and its teachings, I would guess that a lot of your readers, myself included, vacillate on the spectrum between tentatively curious and positively terrified. It is reassuring to have you take us on this journey with you, showing us the places along the way where you made important discoveries, avoided (or perhaps sometimes failed to avoid) pitfalls, and found companionship through the communion of the saints. Thank you for following the example of St. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 12, as he is about to launch into the famous "love chapter," when he says, "and now I will show you the most excellent way." Thank you for showing us, and not simply telling us that "this thing over hear is wrong" or "you should do and believe this." So many of us have had far too much of that in our lives.
Thank you for this newest post. I just started RCIA last week. Between your discussion of your conversion on your podcast and your Substack posts and being around Catholic families at my co-op the last two school years, I found myself really looking into Catholicism a year ago. I read Rome Sweet Home and listened to other’s conversion stories, asked my Catholic friends questions, watched videos here and there on Catholic answers and prayed. My husband is not interested at this time in RCIA or becoming Catholic nor are our four kids. But my husband was fine with me starting RCIA. We still attend our non-denominational Protestant church on Sundays. I’m not sure when I’ll get yo attend a mass but hoping I’ll get to soon.
Tsh, I apologize for being really “late” with comments on your Swimming the Tiber” part 2 post Sept 11...but I had no time to read and digest all you said! I do admire your writing style and how succinct you are at putting thoughts to paper! I do have a question...where did I miss Part 1, and where can I find it to read it again?!
I’m a cradle Catholic who’s so grateful for the catechesis with which I’ve been blessed by several adult converts like you. Thanks for sharing the details of your journey. It’s both interesting and enlightening to see our faith from an outside perspective written by someone who’s a master writer and deeply respects the Catholic Church. Thanks again 🙏🏼
I was raised in the Catholic church and absolutely loved it - I even wanted to be a nun. But God had other plans and told me that I would instead have two boys and two girls by the time I was 26. I did (much to my husband's dismay). I married a Protestant, though, and a friend, also Protestant, convinced me to try her church and basically the Catholic church was "bad and wrong." There were a lot of things happening in life at that time and she was a really great person, so I went to her non-denominational church. And thus began a decade-long struggle with Christianity that ultimately ended with me leaving it all behind in my mid-thirties to become a witch.
After divorcing my husband six weeks ago, God took His opportunity to get my attention again, with a whispered, "Go back to Mass." Not any of the churches I'd been a part of over the years, but Mass. And while I do love Mass and have been going as often as possible, I've still been wondering if this was a temporary stop on the way to a permanent church home. So when He prompted me to ask you about church, Tsh, and you sent me that response, I knew I was in the right place.
When it comes to relating to the Roman Catholic church, it's history and its teachings, I would guess that a lot of your readers, myself included, vacillate on the spectrum between tentatively curious and positively terrified. It is reassuring to have you take us on this journey with you, showing us the places along the way where you made important discoveries, avoided (or perhaps sometimes failed to avoid) pitfalls, and found companionship through the communion of the saints. Thank you for following the example of St. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 12, as he is about to launch into the famous "love chapter," when he says, "and now I will show you the most excellent way." Thank you for showing us, and not simply telling us that "this thing over hear is wrong" or "you should do and believe this." So many of us have had far too much of that in our lives.
Really appreciate the encouragement, Jason.
Thank you for this newest post. I just started RCIA last week. Between your discussion of your conversion on your podcast and your Substack posts and being around Catholic families at my co-op the last two school years, I found myself really looking into Catholicism a year ago. I read Rome Sweet Home and listened to other’s conversion stories, asked my Catholic friends questions, watched videos here and there on Catholic answers and prayed. My husband is not interested at this time in RCIA or becoming Catholic nor are our four kids. But my husband was fine with me starting RCIA. We still attend our non-denominational Protestant church on Sundays. I’m not sure when I’ll get yo attend a mass but hoping I’ll get to soon.
Tsh, I imagine that you have run across this particular English Madman, but on the odd chance you may have missed that pleasure, may I introduce you.
Chris
https://www.firstthings.com/article/2021/06/the-cross-and-the-machine
Dang it Tsh...another disturbance! Thank you :)
Tsh, I apologize for being really “late” with comments on your Swimming the Tiber” part 2 post Sept 11...but I had no time to read and digest all you said! I do admire your writing style and how succinct you are at putting thoughts to paper! I do have a question...where did I miss Part 1, and where can I find it to read it again?!
I’m a cradle Catholic who’s so grateful for the catechesis with which I’ve been blessed by several adult converts like you. Thanks for sharing the details of your journey. It’s both interesting and enlightening to see our faith from an outside perspective written by someone who’s a master writer and deeply respects the Catholic Church. Thanks again 🙏🏼
Thanks for pointing me to this, friend.
I was raised in the Catholic church and absolutely loved it - I even wanted to be a nun. But God had other plans and told me that I would instead have two boys and two girls by the time I was 26. I did (much to my husband's dismay). I married a Protestant, though, and a friend, also Protestant, convinced me to try her church and basically the Catholic church was "bad and wrong." There were a lot of things happening in life at that time and she was a really great person, so I went to her non-denominational church. And thus began a decade-long struggle with Christianity that ultimately ended with me leaving it all behind in my mid-thirties to become a witch.
After divorcing my husband six weeks ago, God took His opportunity to get my attention again, with a whispered, "Go back to Mass." Not any of the churches I'd been a part of over the years, but Mass. And while I do love Mass and have been going as often as possible, I've still been wondering if this was a temporary stop on the way to a permanent church home. So when He prompted me to ask you about church, Tsh, and you sent me that response, I knew I was in the right place.
I'm excited to read more about your journey.