Hi everyone,
After being Episcopalians for over 20 years our family left and began attending an evangelical Protestant Church. I miss the Eucharist and long to turn to Catholicism. My husband was a very "low church" Episcopalian and cannot accept , the doctrine of The Real Presence, veneration of Mary, authority of the Pope.
I can just become Catholic myself, but after 43 years of marriage I hate to see us
at odds. I guess I am here for support and advice.
David Z Your writings are wonderful and I really enjoy the discussions.....
Any ideas out there ?? :(

Hi Late,

I offer these comments as a "cradle Episcopalian" who after a long journey is in RCIA (preparation for confirmation in the RC Church) and as one who has seen everything from what you call "low" Episcopalian to the High church and yes, even the charismatic wing of the church! Tell your husband, its there!

Have him check out this web site as a starter: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04175a.htm

Then I'll provide this as a primer for learning about the "real presence": http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05573a.htm

Please understand, I too have had to overcome a lot in my journey, I Love the Anglican worship, liturgy, etc., but one thing in this trip I have done is to expell many of the myths I held about the Catholic Church. They love Jesus as much as I do, and I would think that should be paramount in your search.

Try these options and I;'m sure some friends I've made here will offer much more... look for Ken Follis as one, David Z as another,.. and..., oh and..., and him too!


Peace


Roy

Roy,
My gratitude for your thoughtful response. The New Advent site and I are old friends. This search and struggle have been going on for years and I am familiar with most or the decent Catholic sites for doctrine and apologetics. I find something new to read on New Advent almost daily.
My husband and I are both well educated (you know, all of those letters after ones name) and in our sixties. While he has come a long way, his scientific/logical backround still often takes over.
We were both sent to church/Sunday school as children, and so we were without reinforcment in our homes. Our determination not to repeat that has produced two wonderful sons who are strong in their faith. both choosing NOT to remain in the Episcopal church. They are both married to young women of strong belief and we joyfully await the birth of our first grandchild (a boy) in July. I might add that both his brother and my sister and their families are Catholics.
I am trying to find a contemporary biography of a man who became a Catholic later in life. One that goes a bit deeper than many I have read.
Anyone out there who can recommend a book such as this and/ or any other any reading?
I know that I ramble - sorry, but it is wonderful to have found "fellow travlers"!

I can HIGHLY recommend John Henry Newman's Apologia.

More later . . .

Blessings,

Late,

Welcome to this forum and bless you on your journey. I would recommend Scott Hahn's books especially Rome Sweet Home........Also the Lamb's Super the Mass as Heaven on Earth.... Bless you in your journey. I will be praying for you.

Take Care and Be blessed today. Tony Reckmeyer :)

Hey there... I'd recommend reading Alan Schreck's "Catholic and Christian". Its a classic and its a very comprehensive, non - polemical, and good read about the Catholic faith. I'd suggest reading that book as well.

Thanks and many blessings to you all! :)
I probably should start posting somewhere else (under another catagory) as this is no longer really an "introduction" Any suggestions?
I will be going to Mass tonight at our local church. This will be a new experience for me -- not Mass, but where I am going. This is a small town with Catholics being only about 10% of the population. Until now I have been driving thirty-five miles to go to a much larger city and a large parish. This is a big step as we are a bit "high profile" in the area . I am not really concerned, I know that folks will talk, but I know that it is the right thing to do. It is hard to not to really be able to full participate (The Eucharist), but I always look forward to just being there. Keep me in your prayers. Mary

Prayers ascending! Be at peace!

Blessings,

Late, be assured our prayers are with you.

Late,

I read with interest your posts here. I am a relative newcomer to this forum. I do not post on what you might call a regular basis. But I enjoy the "fellowship" of this forum.

Like Tony, and some others here, I am a mere two and half weeks from becoming Catholic. This is a huge step as I was raised in a very anti-Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical tradition. I spent some time in the CEC, which has an Anglican flavor to it. Now I am joyfully anticipating my reception into the Catholic Church.

My journey was long. I had many anti-Catholic biases to overcome, similar to those you mention from your husband. I am not nearly as learned as David Z. and some others here. But it sounds like your husband and I could have a shared perspective. I would encourage either you or him to e-mail me. Perhaps we could initiate some dialogue that would be helpful in your present circumstance. If so, I would be honored to help.

Peace to you and yours,
Patrick

Two books that helped me a long the way were:

The Faith of Our Fathers
by James Cardinal Gibbons

Kevin Davis of Charlotte, NC writes in his review on Amazon.com:

Catholicism and Fundamentalism
by Karl Keating

This book is one that to me seems germaine to the problems many go through in becoming Catholic. When you drag it all out and consider all of the most virulent, hateful and extreme objections that exists against the Catholic Church in Fundamentalist circles... Well if Keating can answer the best (of the worst) he certainly answers the "rest".

Rome Sweet Home
by Scott Hahn

Terry Fenwick of Half Moon Bay, CA writes:

A) - See all my reviews


Moonie, Buddist, Catholic
by Thomas Case

I liked every word of this book. Not so much an apologetic work, this man's heartfelt biography resonated with me. A lost soul form a lost generation, he tried many alterantives, but his sould just could not rest.

Once again thank you all for your support and suggestions. I have read Scott Hahn and am awaiting the arrival of several of the others you all have mentioned.
Thank you also for your prayers -- we have been married for over 40 years and walked through worse than this .. Blessedly we can "disagree agreeably" most of the time!
Blessings, Mary

Hey David,

What are you trying to do ruin her? :D :D John Henry Cardinal Newman was the one man who ruined me!!!! Now the only thing I have eyes for is Her. One day I will tell you the story.

Da

My friend, I would love to hear the story! Newman's "Apologia" was my reading of choice during the silent retreat my first year at Nashotah House. 'Tis a terrible thing indeed for an Anglican to read! :)

Newman's example was of great influence on me. Some have called the "Apologia" the greatest spiritual autobiography since the "Confessions" of St. Augustine of Hippo.

Blessings,

Mary,

I don't know if you would find this list helpful . . . I had forgotten I had prepared it. But there is some good stuff there. Your husband might just find "The Office of Peter and the Structures of the Church" to be a thought-provoking read.

http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-About-Becom...0701142-0115923

Blessings,

Hello David,

I made the aweful, terrible and wonderful greatest mistake of my life when I read the Apologia. From the first few pages the chords of my heart were strummed and I found myself as one dead. For some reason the Lord put JHN as my teacher. I felt every pain he had gone through every doubt he faught against, every doctrine he was felled by.

As I went along my way in seminary there he was, whispering in my ear. I bought Lead Kindly Light and was again stabbed through the heart. What joy it was to see the Lord bring forth such great poetry. Soon I found myself an outsider, always wondering why I felt such love, true love, for my spiritual mothers, the Church (you know which) and Our Lord's earthly Mother. It seemed that everywhere I turned there was someone new that intrigued me, only to find that they either knew JHN, or he was captivated by them also. My Patron Saint to the Deaconate was St Phillip Neri.

Frederick Faber's Blessed Sacrament did nothing but seal the heart wound that no amount of counter Church teaching could dislodge. I would go home from seminary crying and repenting because of the way I looked upon Her, asking the Lord why can't I be like everyone else and just fit in. There She is standing there calling me. Then last week I saw Amazing Grace and upon looking up W. Wilberforces bio, having heard Ken Follis mention that one of his sons had converted, I find that he was friends with Newman and Faber. That is not all by any means and I feel the story is not finished yet...

Da

To the thread's originator~

How is the journey progressing?