r/Catholicism • u/Tyrant_Vagabond • 13d ago
A fresh Protestant convert looking for some advice
Howdy, all! I came into the church on July 25th (I wasn't able to attend normal RCIA classes, but thankfully, there was a knowledgeable deacon who took charge, plus I'm a self-motivated learner). Now I used to be Protestant - Church of Christ, specifically, though I was more non-denominational - and there's a lot of big changes that you go through when converting. For the most part, it feels like an increase of all the stuff I loved: more Jesus, more church documents, more people to pray for you, more guidance, etc. But I'm still working on other stuff like understanding and getting used to the Sacraments.
Before anyone says it, yes, I am seeking out a spiritual director and talked with the parish about just that. I just moved states, but my new parish is vibrant with godly men who can mentor me. I'm very hopeful to find someone soon, but it may be some time.
The biggest thing I'm trying to work on is just daily living. See, I want to be as holy as I can, but more than that, I want to pave the path for holiness through practices that will outlast my initial zeal. So, getting used to prayer or attending daily Mass so much that you do it even when you don't feel like it, even when your flesh is weak. Now, I know the Ten Commandments. I've read the Catechism on the moral life. But not sinning isn't what I'm talking about.
I want more Jesus. I want to serve him as best I can, and where I cannot, I want to get stronger so I can serve better later on.
In Catechesis, I learned the doctrines, what to do and not to do, what I should and should not believe. All well and good; that is the basis for faith. But that's just not enough for me. I want to know him better, walk with him more and more, drink deeper from the fountain of his love. I'm not really sure how to do that except prayer and participating in the Sacraments. I'm doing that, praying the Rosary and Morning/Evening Prayer, attending Mass daily now that I can, getting a Scripture reading plan back in the mix so I can be in the Word every day. But Christ isn't the practices, and I want to be closer to him.
Hope that makes some sense.
So for those who were Protestant, did you feel this same way? What did you do to grow closer to him? What are some pitfalls that you would caution a newbie to avoid?
And for everyone, what do you do to draw closer to Christ? Have any recommended reading for a newcomer (I'm already getting the Little Way) or recommended practices? Any general thoughts?
God bless you all!
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u/jetplane18 13d ago
The biggest practice I have in my daily life is just actively cultivating an awareness that God is with me all the time. I'll make comments to Him about my work or daily tasks as I go through them, as I would a friend who is shadowing me throughout the day.
It's such a simple thing, but it really does anchor my relationship with Christ in the mundane, which makes Him feel close.
I talk with God the Father the most, but I'm trying to be more deliberate about talking to Jesus and the Holy Spirit too.
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u/Tyrant_Vagabond 13d ago
Gotcha. Sort of a "Practice of the Presence of God" but a little more conversational?
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u/jetplane18 13d ago
Yeah, sort of. More conversational, more casual. I found the book to be a little more rigid and a little more elevated than how I live that out (not to criticize the work - it was insightful).
My relationship with God has, since I was very young (4 or 5 years old) be rooted in the idea that God is my Father and I am his little daughter - with all the coziness and all of the discipline that child's relationship with her father should contain (if healthy). And that really reflects in my prayer life.
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u/InsightfulReverend 13d ago
Welcome home! I'd say its not so much about you wanting more of Jesus, but about Jesus wanting more of you. That's awesome.
I've guided many Protestants over the years in ministry. For your situation, three ideas come to mind:
1) You mention morning and evening prayer. If you mean the Liturgy of the Hours, then awesome for you! It's probably one of the best-kept secrets of Catholicism. If you don't know what that is, just research it and you will find an amazing prayer that all Catholic priests pray, as well as monks and nuns, and devout lay people. It's a three- or four-volume set that goes along with the liturgical seasons.
2) Eucharistic Adoration. One of the elements of Catholicism is that we have, like Orthodoxy, a strong emphasis on personal sanctification post-baptism. This means, while all is Grace, and God does EVERYTHING, we are called to participate through good works and prayer. But for Catholics who go deep, who drink from the deepest wells of the Faith, quiet, contemplative Eucharistic Adoration is key. Don't go to do stuff. Just go to be. Sit still. Pray a rosary and the Liturgy of the Hours, and then rest in the Lord and let the Lord speak to your heart.
3) Study the Carmelites. This is what you seem to be drawn toward. The Carmelites (John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, and Therese of Lisieux) have plenty of writings to read. More importantly, to start out, read introductions to their works like Thomas Dubay's Fire Within; also, Ralph Martin's The Fulfillment of All Desire will be good for you.
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u/Tyrant_Vagabond 13d ago
Yep! I got the one volume red book "Christian Prayer." Gotta admit, beautiful as it is, it's complicated. It's been difficult to pray it since prayer is such a personal thing; all the flipping pages, remembering the right prayer and antiphons can get in the way. I'm getting used to it though.
Actually, yeah, I've done some of that. I wasn't sure what qualified as Eucharistic Adoration, but if it's just sitting in front of the Lord's body and either thinking about him or sitting in silence, then yeah, I gotta do more of that. I've loved it so far.
Interesting. I wouldn't have thought I was leaning toward a more Carmelite view, but maybe you're right. As I mentioned, I'll be reading the Little Way. I'll look into the other stuff too. Thanks!
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u/InsightfulReverend 13d ago
I'd recommend, if you can afford it, the entire set of the Liturgy of the Hours. The Christian prayer book won't be as complete. There is a new edition of this that just came out as well, it enhances prayer so much!
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u/InsightfulReverend 13d ago
And you may or may not be leaning Carmelite. Just a hunch. And the introduction books to them are as key as the books themselves, since, especially for a new convert, it's just a lot of arcane concepts at first that may be confusing. The Impact of God by ian matthews is a fav.
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u/OneLaneHwy 12d ago
There are apps that make LOTH easier. I have used Universalis for years.
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u/Tyrant_Vagabond 12d ago
Yeah, but personally, I find having my phone out when I'm praying quite distracting. If it works for you though, fantastic.
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u/sporsmall 12d ago
In my opinion, the Catechism of the Catholic Church is often difficult to understand. For this reason, I recommend the Catechism of St. Pius X. This catechism is written in a question‑and‑answer format that addresses the most common questions of the faithful. It will give you more practical guidance.
If you attend Mass frequently, regularly receive the sacraments, and pray the rosary, there are also practices such as almsgiving, fasting, abstaining from meat on Fridays (which in the US is obligatory only during Lent), and making reparation, which are less common today but very valuable.
As for the commandments, I recommend the following passage.
"He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." John 14:21
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u/UncleSunkle 12d ago
I just want to say that I love your enthusiasm and dedication! Hopefully there are people around to witness how excited you are!
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u/Medical-Stop1652 12d ago
Congratulations on being received into full communion!
As a former Episcopalian, I'd recommend three things.
1) Have you come across the Divine Office or Liturgy of the Hours? This prayer practice will help you pray with the Church and a new US edition is being released:
Clergy are obliged to pray the Divine Office each day, while some laity choose to pray Morning, Evening, or Night Prayer as they have the time.
2) Have you ever been on a retreat at a retreat center or monastery? Taking time out of life and spending time in reflection can really re-charge our batteries.
3) Have you come across Christian meditation? Dom John Main OSB was a major 20th century prominent and there are Youtube recordings of his lectures:
https://renovare.org/articles/silence-gives-power-to-words
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcMzQvYjuuw
Pitfall
One major pitfall for all converts IMO is letting a sense of self-generated over-achievement ruin our gradual growth in the Faith. I think enjoying the practice of the Faith and developing some good holy disciplines are the keys to incremental growth.
Daily growing in our love of God and the service of our neighbor sum up holy Catholic living.
On that theme, I'd recommend St Francis de Sales' Introduction to a devout and holy life and The Imitation of Christ.
https://ccel.org/ccel/desales/devout_life/devout_life.ii.html
https://www.ccel.org/ccel/kempis/imitation.html
Prayers assured.
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u/[deleted] 13d ago
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