Jan

27

The Challenges and Graces of Conversion

Posted By reynor | Filed Under Quotes & Excerpts 

by Chris Findley

Sensing and answering the call to convert to Catholicism is a tremendous decision on many levels.  It can be one of the most freeing, elating, and exciting events in one’s life.  After perhaps years of struggle, many nights of worry; after wrestling with your conscience for weeks or months and learning all you can about the Church, ”coming home” can be a great relief.  But that relief is often tempered by a very real cost.  The decision to convert is seldom free of heartache, misunderstanding, and strained or broken relationships.  This doesn’t mean that we delay our conversion or, God-forbid, deny it.  But as a fairly recent convert, I thought it might be good to offer some reflections on the challenges you may face as a new convert.

1. The Relief of Resolution

Often the first thing you feel is relief.  You’ve finally made the decision!  There is a sense of the weight of indecision coming off your back, the hound of heaven has chased you down.  You have your own moment of standing in the presence of God and truly offering yourself again to Him.  There is a sense in which the “Yes” to convert is a great act of faith — you do not know where the path will lead you.  You’re just convinced that this is the path you are meant to travel.  Now you are relieved to answer the call.

2.  Disappointment that not Everyone Shares Your Relief (though some will)

Once the news of your decision begins to spread, you will likely find that not everyone is as thrilled as you are.  Some will perhaps understand your “need for a change”, but they will question the timing, direction and perhaps even the sanity of the decision you have made.  It can be disappointing.  You have spent considerable time and effort and prayer reaching this decision and you have experienced the relief of your own “fiat” — your own “yes” to God.  But for some people your decision will be strange or worse…which leads to #3.

3.  Anti-Catholic Sentiments

One well-intentioned person in my congregation heard of my family’s decision to convert and said, “We’re sorry to see you go.  We’re even more sorry you’re going to be Catholic.”  In #2 your sanity may be questioned; here, in #3, among more anti-Catholic minds, your salvation is questioned.  Comments like, “How can you buy into a church that worships Mary?”, “So now you’re not going to share Communion with anyone else?”, “Why would you submit to allow a priest to stand between you and God?” are common…and you may experience worse comments.

(Please continue reading the article here.)

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