Comments on Conversion Diary: From atheism to Christianity: a conversion story t...

Weird! I got a student edition of "The Case for Ch...

2010-02-12T16:36:07.429-06:00

Weird! I got a student edition of "The Case for Christ" at a book sale last Friday, and today at another book sale I found the actual book! I must be meant to read it! :)

I was at my library's used book sale and I saw a s...

2010-02-05T16:04:02.700-06:00

I was at my library's used book sale and I saw a student copy of "The Case for Christ", and I decided to get it. I don't know how good it will be, but I figure I'll read it first, and read the actual book sometime later :)

I've been told by a lot of my married friends that...

2009-11-03T15:54:09.468-06:00

I've been told by a lot of my married friends that one of the most influential books, aside from the bible, to have changed their thinking is Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas. To the point where I've recommended it out to all my engaged friends as reading before they marry. Just passing along the hot rec!

The Catholic Church believes in purgatory, which c...

2009-10-25T13:39:32.851-05:00

The Catholic Church believes in purgatory, which contraditcs Jesus' death-the basis of their faith. I suggest you ask God to explain things to you very cearly because the Catholic Church is full of holes. It's a religion. god is far more interested in a relationship than a religion. Religion is man's idea of what God wants. A relationship is keep on loving God and confessing your mistakes and keep on loving God. I'm not completely sur that I got that right, but that's the idea.

I found The Case for Christ the day after I - out ...

2009-07-30T23:59:57.021-05:00

I found The Case for Christ the day after I - out of despair - gave in and told God,"I will do your will, but I just want to know the Truth about you." I didn't feel that the Truth would be found in the religion of my birth Christianity (especcially not Catholicism) but the next day I came across the same first book you did, The Case for Christ, and was most impressed by its arguments for the Resurrection. Your right that the book wasn't perfect, but like you it was a great starting place for me leading me to believe in Christ, but it took a little while longer for God to fight with me to pull me back to the Catholic Church and one of the books which God used to lead me to orthodox Catholicism (because I had quite liberal tendancies at the time) was Everlasting Man, as well as Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton. (I was also very much inspired to trust the Church by the example of St. Francis). It's great to hear your story as it reminds me so much of my own. God bless you. Keep witnessing Christ's transformative love.

P.S. God didn't stopped and pulled me into the seminary despite all my kicking and screaming. God doesn't disappoint though. I love it.

I was wondering on the computer tonight. I'm not ...

2009-04-26T21:25:00.000-05:00

I was wondering on the computer tonight. I'm not ...

2009-04-26T21:20:00.000-05:00

I was wondering on the computer tonight. I'm not a covert, I'm an ordinary Catholic, practising, from Boston. About Communion, the real significance is the quote of Saint Ambrose "Receive what you are ... Be what you receive." In other words, dont view the mass as a passive play -- a changed heart or "conversion" -- so easy to say, so hard to put into practice!
That was the homily today at the Franciscan Church, Arch St (St. Anthony's Srhine). I dont mean to sound preachy - just thoughts ... .
I love Franciscans. A new book was just published, "Francis and his Brothers" (D. Monti, ofm). GK Chesterton wrote a great book on St. Francis as well.
I like the Benedictine practice of lectio divina. Good Benedictine writers include De Waal, an Anglican Benedictine Oblate (Anglican oblates can become associated with RCC Benedictine Oblates due to the fact that the Order was founded c. 550. And of course, Thomas Merton. THE conversion of the 20th century! Readers here would do well to read "the Seven Story Mountain" - a hard slug, but worth it. Lastly, everyone might read because it's very good, James Martin's "My Life with the Saints", a terrific book on the author's favorite saints 9e.g., Aloysius Gonzaga, Francis, Mary (of course), Joan of Arc, Ignatius, Joseph, etc. Read this one. You'll love it.

I was wondering on the computer tonight. I'm not ...

2009-04-26T21:09:00.000-05:00

Wow! That is an amazing story! I was just browsing...

2009-04-03T22:39:00.000-05:00

Wow! That is an amazing story! I was just browsing the internet for some conversion stories for my research paper on Christianity. Came across your blog and it was amazing! Thanks for posting it!

Just finished By What Authority (Shea). A useful ...

2009-02-22T12:40:00.000-06:00

Just finished By What Authority (Shea). A useful but tedious book. It would benefit from a more fugal use of words -- especially the word "paradosis." (Yes I know, that's the subject of the book, but still.)

Glad I read it, though. I needed (need) the reminder to trust the authority of the Church.

And I suppose when it comes to theological and philosophical works, prose I might consider "wordy" would be better described as "thorough."

Just discovered the blog and reading list. It is ...

2009-01-16T16:24:00.000-06:00

Just discovered the blog and reading list. It is wonderful, thank you, there are several I have not read and will.

In return may I suggest Kathleen Norris, especially "Amazing Grace" though I also love "Cloister Walk"

"Javier from Argentina said... On the philosophica...

2008-12-07T21:30:00.000-06:00

"Javier from Argentina said... On the philosophical foundations of Catholicism, I would recommend Jacques Maritain, and Etienne Gilson."

Yes, and add to that, especially if you prefer the less technical, Chesterton's book called St. Thomas Aquinas. The entire book is a thrill, but the chapter titled The Permanent Philosophy, followed by the "Sequel" chapter, are simply golden.

Jen, great blog. Maybe see you on Marcus Grodi's show sometime?

Peace,

Jesse

Good GreetingsDear,I love reading stories, but not...

2008-11-05T18:37:00.000-06:00

Good Greetings

Dear,

I love reading stories, but not any story, so I love the true stories, so I wanna share this true story with you, so please take your time and read the full story then tell me what do you think?

here is the story and remember if you are realy looking for the truth, it is a true story not fake:
http://www.yusufestes.com

With all respect,
Have a nice day
SAM

Ironically, Strobel's The Case for Faith was one o...

2008-10-27T02:26:00.000-05:00

Ironically, Strobel's The Case for Faith was one of the books which convinced me that I was not and could not be a Christian... It's been too long for me to remember all the arguments of the book clearly, but I remember being deeply satisfied by them--and I *wanted* to find a good reason to be a Christian. Unfortunately, Mere Christianity and the "liar lunatic or lord" argument left me almost equally unmoved.

Hi Jen: on the subject of God's love, but better s...

2008-07-18T14:13:00.000-05:00

Hi Jen: on the subject of God's love, but better still, on how much He is "needy" of our love I dare to recommend the book "He and I", the dialogues of the Lord with a French woman -Gabrielle Bossis- that died in 1950. In the Spanish translation He says to Gabrielle on October 30, 1936: "Lock me in your heart with a sign of the Cross, like a prisoner between bars". And on October 25, 1936. "Take care of My Love. There isn't an orphan more forsaken than I". Hope you enjoy it and use it as much as I do.
Maria Elena from Mendoza, Argentina

FOr Bible study you might enjoy "How to Read the B...

2008-07-08T01:54:00.000-05:00

FOr Bible study you might enjoy "How to Read the Bible for All It's Worth."

Gordon Fee and Douglas Stewart

It's great introduction to understanding genre, style, context etc.

Anything by Brennan Manning is outstanding - espec...

2008-06-14T19:03:00.000-05:00

Anything by Brennan Manning is outstanding - especially Abba's Child - The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging and The Ragamuffin Gospel.

check out Finding Faith, by Brian McLaren.

2008-06-14T14:14:00.000-05:00

check out Finding Faith, by Brian McLaren.

Hi Jennifer,I introduced myself on your new visito...

2008-04-29T13:48:00.000-05:00

Hi Jennifer,

I introduced myself on your new visitors post a few days ago, and have been checking back regularly. What is it about conversion, or in my case, reversion, that turns us on to reading again. I'm sure you, and many of your posters were already avid readers, so good for them. I'd be interested to find out how of your responders were "fallen-away-readers" like me, who hadn't read anything longer than a magazine in years (and even then just mostly the captions and summaries), but as soon as we got that pull back towards the faith, however it happened, we couldn't read books fast enough. What happens? No doubt it's the Holy Spirit at work, but would love to hear if others had the same experience. I could have counted on one hand the number of complete books (aside from work related reading) I read in '06. Now since '07, I've had to go buy a new bookshelf to make room and still have more I haven't gotten to sitting on the floor next to my bed. And I can't wait to read them! Sorry, got off on a tangent about reading in general, but you get the point.

As for your list, it's fantastic, and I think I either already have them all or they were already on my to-get list, other than your very first one by Mr. Strobel. So consider that one added now, too. I'm a sucker for a good conversion story, so of course I love the "Surprised by Truth" series, as well as Steve Rays "Crossing the Tiber". Sometimes the "immigrants" have a gift for helping the "natives" see things in a new way, at least they did for me.

Hi Jennifer,I am one of those priviledged ones so ...

2008-04-25T19:34:00.000-05:00

Hi Jennifer,
I am one of those priviledged ones so to speak, born and raised Catholic. My mother is a saintly woman, a chemist and a thomist (in the tradition of St. Thomas Aquinas). But that did not keep me from being swept away by the cultural revolution of the 60s. By the time I turned 14 I became in effect my own God, without being aware of course. I picked and chose from the teachings of the church whatever I saw fit, always making sure to accomodate my own desires. I did follow my conscience, but in retrospect, at the time it translated to "my will be done". My mirror was dirty for a very long time and I was not even aware. I also have a mind naturally bent on analysis. And, just like your grandfather, the existence of God was always obvious to me. Yet, in spite of that, I failed to really understand and follow the most basic of the commandments (the first of course) between the age of 14 and 32. The result: I managed to bring myself to the bottom of the barrel. Of course, my mother and a host of her friends were praying for me. The miracle did happen, nothing short of a direct divine intervention. It cannot even be expressed in words, let alone proven.But the effects are always the same. You want to climb the mountain top and scream out loud so that the whole world can hear. Eventually we learn to temper ourselves for fear that we appear crazy lunatics talking nonsense. What I am trying to say to you is that the process of conversion never ends.The depths of God are unfathomable. It is a fantastic journey. Since 1993 I have plunged single minded in the study of Scriptures, the teachings of the Church and how they came to be what they are, the history of the Church and heavy duty theology. It's been a fruitfully humbling experience so badly needed to chop away the pride...And so, the Sacred Tradition is nothing other than the mind of the Church, the sensus fidelium. There is a meeting of minds and hearts in the one Lord and what a glorious celebration: the communion of saints. Apart of apologetics, here is what I think would disclose in an accesible form the mind and heart of the communion (if you did not read them already): St. Augustine's Confessions, The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila in a new translation by Mirabai Starr (excellent translation) and The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton. And of course, if you really fall in love with all three, which I think you will judging by what you wrote, then go ahead and read everything else penned by these titans.
Welcome home!
With all my love in Xst.
Joanna
P.S. You would also love My Life with the Saints by James Martin, S.J.

Praise Father that he raises up children from outs...

2008-04-20T20:12:00.000-05:00

Praise Father that he raises up children from outside the religious establishment, such as yourself, to inject His love, peace, joy, faithfulness, perseverance, and holiness into these congregations.

My problem with religion has nothing to do with the validity of the message, but with the aspect of human nature radiating out of the religious institutions and seeing those religious organizations squeeze the fruits of the Spirit out of its members' lives.

Faith in the love of the Father to reconcile all man to Himself through the atonement of His son will never fail a person, but as soon as one trusts a religion for salvation they will soon find themselves longing for the days of their “first love”, or risk becoming as irrelevant as the average American church member is to an intelligent atheist.

I'm sadden by the thought that the people of our nation are being lost to sin, because of those called to be a light to them have become as steeped in idolatry as any non-Christian.

hi jennifer- awesome book list there you write ...

2008-03-28T01:22:00.000-05:00

hi jennifer- awesome book list there you write in such an engaging manner very much drawn in to to know more of your story and your journey. I am interested in how you have come to such a definitive view on consubstantioation. Curious to hear how you come to taking this so literally. Have you read any of peter kreefts books??? He is interviewed by lee strobel in his *case for faith* book, I found him to be a very intriguing author. Very glad I saw you on tracys blog!

Everytime I read your blog I feel like I am adding...

2008-01-27T21:25:00.000-06:00

Everytime I read your blog I feel like I am adding more books to my Amazon wishlist! I have read some of those on this list of yours but not all. Thanks for posting this!

On the philosophical foundations of Catholicism, I...

2008-01-27T13:27:00.000-06:00

On the philosophical foundations of Catholicism, I would recommend Jacques Maritain, and Etienne Gilson.

Jess -Good questions! There are other parts of the...

2008-01-25T17:08:02.718-06:00

Jess -

Good questions! There are other parts of the Mass: readings from the Bible, greeting others, a sermon by the priest, etc. But the central event is the consecration of the Eucharist. Here's why (from Wikipedia):

[The Eucharist] is a memorial which does not just bring to mind the event celebrated, but also makes it truly present. The Eucharist is therefore understood to be not simply a representation of Christ's presence, or a remembrance of his Passion and Death, but an actual participation in the Sacrifice of Christ, the manifestation in the present, of an event that occurred once for all in time.

The Eucharist makes present that one sacrifice, not a different sacrifice...the only difference is in the manner in which it is offered -- the Church teaches that the Mass is the sacrifice at Calvary made present in an unbloody manner.

All of the events in the Mass are important -- if, say, the priest gives a sermon in which he says things that aren't true about Catholic teaching, that is a big deal and a bad thing -- but it all pales in comparison to the miracle that happens at the consecration.

Honestly, when I first heard that Catholics today still think that what they receive at Communion is truly the body and blood of Christ, my reaction was something like, "Are you kidding?" I wasn't sure if I was ever going to be able to believe that.

But, now that I am officially Catholic and can receive Holy Communion, there is no doubt it my mind. I wrote about it here and here if you're interested.

Again, I hope I'm explaining all this correctly. :) Feel free to ask any other questions as well.

Hope you have a great weekend!