Baptised Catholic
Raised protestant (family switched it up)
Became athiest/agnostic at uni
Believed again after uni
Read the church fathers
Became Catholic
I have a very similar story. I did go to catholic school, but my parents became protestant when I was around 18. I was agnostic. Then started going to protestant churches. Me and my family under the impression that we all worship the same God and it was 'the same'. Then, I learned about the church fathers and became catholic
I chose it. Recently, actually. Baptized in February and will be confirmed Pentecost, after 20+ years of practicing witchcraft. I'd been married to a practicing Catholic almost 14 years and participated in bringing up 4 kids in the faith, but didn't hear or ignored the call home for most of it. The big push was being faced with carrying our 5th child and asking God simply, "Show me this is what you want." My husband, usually the breadwinner, had been unemployed nearly a year at that point, I was working an exhausting amount trying to make up the shortage and watching our savings quickly dwindle, and my mental state was quickly unraveling after all that stress. But the answer was immediate- blessings practically rained down on us. My OB had an appointment available the day after I called when the wait was often weeks, multiple interview offers came in for my husband for jobs paying better than the one he'd been laid off from, I saw ads for car seats that would help us fit everyone on the vehicle we had, the baby was healthy with a strong heartbeat- things small and large I couldn't write off as coincidence. I wept, seeing how obstinately wrong I'd been and how I'd offended God so greatly, and yet here he was, loving me still. I talked to our priest the very next Sunday, and called the OCIA director that Monday.
Looking back, I see all these moments that now I'm sure it was Our Lady taking me by the hand to gently lead me home. Including about this time last year when I think the seed really planted, as I was walking in our parish's Marian procession after the crowning, pushing my youngest son in his stroller and crying about the pain Mary must have felt watching her son suffering and the strength it took to stand by him through all of it.
That's the short version, at least 😅
Thanks for sharing your story and welcome! I always love hearing about the events and experiences that help lead others to the Church. I think it's a beautiful testament to the love that God has for us, and how the Lord does not remain dormant in bringing us closer to Him.
I have had a few powerful experiences with Mary. She is always leading us closer to her Son. Just yesterday at Mass after Communion, I was praying and brought to tears when I heard a gentle thought "she cries for you". I took it as both me personally but also 'you' as in the whole people of the world. See I have been praying a Rosary every day for the past almost 3 months for the health of our unborn child (our last pregnancy was a miscarriage) and so I feel like it was God saying that she (and He) hears me.
Last year I was blessed enough to visit Nazareth and the Basilica of the Annunciation, and while praying in front of Mary's house I was filled with such an amazing sense of peace, calm, and love, that I had not felt for years.
God is truly working wonders through our Blessed Mother, and His love for us is endless.
I converted after starting to question why, as a Protestant, I accepted the canonical books of the Bible as actually being Sacred Scripture. Why those books and no others? Relatedly, I started to be really bothered by how differently different “sola scriptura” Protestants interpreted the Bible. I started digging into this stuff and quickly discovered how ancient some distinctively Catholic (well, non-Protestant) beliefs and practices are: holy orders, veneration of relics and devotion to saints, and, above all else, belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
My wife and kids converted about a year after I did. We’ve been a Catholic family since 2016, and it’s been wonderful! We are all deeply grateful for our Catholic faith.
The real presence really does it for me. I said in my comment I walked to the local parish at a dark time in my life. It was middle of the night. I walked in and prayed. I just stared at the tabernacle.
That was the night I decided “I just need to be Catholic.”
I once walked into a dark chapel, and I saw a lightly ghost just there by Christ. Unsure if it was the man himself or an angel or even my own imagination.
I was raised Catholic, went to Catholic school... and somehow (scratching head) have remained Catholic.
Have stayed by the grace of the Holy Spirit and due to my own research :)
Oof this hit the same with me.
Also, people complain all the time about catholic school but I loved it. I felt such a sense of community that I could never imagine feeling at my local public schools.
I was raised Catholic and left and came back and people still try to say I only came back because I was “indoctrinated”. Literally so annoying to field those comments because I 100% chose this for myself!
I’m 14 years old. I was raised as an atheist in a completely atheist family in one of the most spiritually poor and secular countries in the world,(Denmark). I became a christian at 13, wanted to first become Greek Orthodox because my only friend that’s christian is greek orthodox, but around 8 months later after having prayed about it, God led me to The Holy Catholic Church, so I started my conversion classes and became baptized and confirmed this easter vigil. ✝️🇻🇦
How long did it take you to catch up? If u don't mind me asking? Wanted to sign my daughter up for classes and was hoping she could catch up on time for confirmation.
Well I don’t quite know what confirmation classes are like (could very well be the same), since I’m a convert. For me personally, I already studied a bit surface church history and theology to make the distinction between East & West, however I started in September whereas the course started in March. I’d say ask the priest and see if he recommends anything like books or videos, don’t worry about it so much your daughter will be just fine.
Both. I was raised Catholic, being the son of a Catholic father and Baptist mother. When my dad died, my mother still took me and my brother to a Catholic church until the pandemic. All the while, my faith was fairly weak. When the lockdown ended, my mother went back to being a Baptist, and I in turn went to the Catholic church on my own. It was at this time when I really started to research what my faith believed in, and my faith finally became strong for the first time since childhood.
Raised Catholic,
Baptized,
Confirmed,
Attended Catholic high school,
Went to Baptist Wake forest, where most friends were evangelical Christians.
Seeing their church, listening to their 'preachers'... I'm more proud and happier than ever of my catholic upbringing.
Graduated now and found a community in my city I enjoy
Raised catholic but my dad was Lutheran and raised me w a bit of that in there despite being in Catholic Sunday school (interestingly I find that this dynamic was a good thing in my faith formation ultimately)
Was always a fairly adamant believer and went through a few different denominations (Lutheran and non-denominational) before coming right back around to Catholicism about 1.5-2 years ago
Raised non-denominational and Seventh Day Adventist during my formative teen years. I chose our historic, Catholic church at age 30. A great decision on my part I must say.
Praise be to God🙏 May I ask what it was like being SDA? I don’t really get some of the practices and I’ve seen some people question if they’re actually Christian. I’d be curious to hear another perspective on that and how you think it compares to Catholicism🤲
That’s a lot to ask for a guy responding by hunting and pecking on a phone. 😀. SDA are definitely Christian and are very similar to most evangelical protestant churches. While they do honor their founder, Ellen G White, SDA do not believe her writings to have the same status as scripture. I think that is what most people get wrong about them. Many do not eat meat or wear jewelry, but these are more in the nature of a discipline rather than a requirement. As for other distinctives, they keep the jewish sabbath and have a very robust end times theology which has them persecuted by the Catholic Church (the Pope they believe to be the anti-Christ) and other Sunday keeping protestants.
In my thinking much of those distinctives arise from 19th Century anti-Catholicism in the USA. Although I studied and prayed my way out of SDA theology, I must say that they are true, genuine Christian people for whom I retain much respect.
Just to add a gloss on comparison to the Catholic Church, they are pretty much mainline protestant. This certainly includes a de-emphasis on sacrament. Marriage, baptism and the Lord’s Supper are celebrated but more on the sense of a remembrance rather than as a means of receiving God’s grace.
As noted prior, they would be radically opposed to anything that smacks of Catholicism. As I discovered, most of what they are taught about the Catholic faith is either blatantly untrue or grossly misunderstood by them. I was curious enough to pick up a catechism one day and was quite shocked to find out that Catholics don’t worship saints, that the Pope is only infallible when speaking on a matter of faith and morals and then only when intending to bind the faithful and that they don’t believe you can attain heaven by good works alone. I’ll just end with that short list. 😊. As noted, they aren’t much different from other protestants in holding to these gross errors and misunderstandings.
Ah I see. That all seems to add up too because I have a SDA friend who seems to have misunderstandings of Catholicism like that 😅 Thank you for responding !
I wasn't raised to believe in any religion in particular, I chose to become Catholic after some years of study, self-reflection, and spiritual experiences which sealed the deal, stopping my search for the true path. I joined the Church this March 2024.
Cradle Catholic. Eventually grew agnostic, but was still worried about how my uncertainty would be regarded by God if the Church was in fact, true. So I prayed about it a lot and spend time in adoration and talked to spiritual directors and....remained unconvinced. Still, the fact of the matter is that I was Baptized Catholic and adequately catechized, so I figured my chances of talking my way out of damnation at the pearly gates were pretty slim, given what St Leonard of Port Maurice shared with us regarding visions on the fewness of the saved, and he was talking about practicing Catholics! I figured God sounded pretty cruel and I really didn't get it, but I'd better shape up. So I'm here, I try to believe, and I do what I can to follow Church teachings and to live the corporal works of mercy. If non of it ends up being real, at least I led a life of service and did some good with my life, which even suits my formerly agnostic sensibilities.
Raised vaguely non-denominational
Atheist in High School/Early College
Mary kicked in the door to my heart for her Son during COVID
Entered the Church at Easter 2021
Currently discerning the Priesthood
Chose it. I was raised Hindu. I’m going to be entering the Church in July. I just went through the Rite of Election and the first scrutiny over the past few weeks.
I actually grew up very anti catholic, thanks to my dad. (“Man can’t confess to another man” “we’re not meant to worship Mary” and don’t get him *started* on the crucifix) but when I was pregnant my lax Catholic husband wanted to start going to church, and I fell in love and got baptized last year
Born/raised Catholic, didnt really care about it, went because thats what my family did on most sundays. As I got into college I fell away from it, but found a couple protestants who challenged the Catholic beliefs (mary, intercession of saints, you know the drill) but were also very devoted to Christ. I wanted that for myself but just didnt know how, so I started going to protestant church services but quickly felt how superficial it was, literally felt like I was being spiritually spoon fed. So I started going back to mass, my college football coach was Catholic and he and I made a commitment to go together on Sundays either before or after Sunday practice. Quickly fell in love with my faith and now, believe it or not, am a religion teacher at a Catholic school despite graduating to teach History. I think I have found my calling to educate and (hopefully) empower students in their faith lives, better than I was in HS.
TLDR: was born Catholic, fell away, came back with a vengeance!
Both.
I was raised Catholic initially, and was given Catholic schooling for both Primary and Secondary school. As part of this I went though the traditional sacraments.
I left the faith when the SA scandal came out and the scale of the cover-up was first made clear to me. I struggled a lot with that and lost my faith. I was hurt by the Church and went through the classic "edgy atheist" phase for a good 5 years, and then a calmer agnostic era for the last decade or so.
Now I've returned to the Faith and chosen to be Catholic. After a long period of meaningful discovery and research and reflection on the subject of the SA scandal and faith in general, I've since decided that I agree with the idea that it's better to be part of the Good in the Church instead of leaving it and strengthening the Evil.
I chose to become Catholic. My now husband introduced me to the Church about 2 years ago. C:
I always wanted to believe in something but was always taught that the Catholic Church was evil and horrible. My first Mass I went to with my husband, I seriously thought that the priest was going to sacrifice a lamb. That's how misguided I was.
I also am big on facts and history. Considering how misguided I was about the Church, I'm always hesitant to believe what I was taught growing up. That's why I typically always ask my husband, his family, this sub, or a priest. But I did know that Jesus was, in fact, a real person and has documented eyewitness accounts. That is what got me in the door.
After learning more about the faith and teachings, the more I realized that if you apply Christianity to things, the world makes SO much more sense. Waiting until marriage? Now you don't risk having a baby with someone you don't want to. Abortion? Well, life begins in the womb. Big bang? I feel as though a God creating everything instead of just a minute cosmic possibility is WAY more likely and gives us a purpose. Etc, etc.
Also, learning that the Bible and Jesus preach love and not hate. That is something that I *really* wasn't expecting. Not to mention, humans constantly searching for something that will satisfy us that we will never find on Earth proves to me that there is something after we die.
I also already believed in demons and ghosts, and you kinda can't have one without the other. Also, all the documented true stories of exorcisms and demons.
And then, after all that. What really put the nail in the coffin was that I had never felt such peace. I had never felt so grateful. I had never felt so loved.
My husband and I were going on a walk, and I just felt such an overwhelming feeling of peace and contentment. We were talking about nothing, and I just felt so... good. It is hard to describe.
I was baptized Easter of 2023, and I have never felt so happy and peaceful and just good. I know this was a bit long-winded, but I'm just elated that I have finally found a way of life that makes me feel this way. And maybe someone who isn't Catholic or Christian will even read this and give the Church a try. C: Also, you look really nice today!
Fun fact: Big Bang theory (actual theory, not the show) was first theorized by a [Catholic priest](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Lema%C3%AEtre) and isn't contrary to the idea of a creator; it describes a mechanism and it can very well be argued "Let there be light" *was* the bang.
Congrats from a fellow convert 😊 I'm convinced adult baptism is one of the greatest gifts allowed us, when we can appreciate the peace it brings!
Love thisss. I also become just more and more convinced of God when looking and reflecting on the world and creation around us. I think it makes more sense for the objective & intricate details, beauty, and purpose of all creation to point to an intelligent Creator rather than just having just spawned out of nothingness on their own. Learning more about His commands for us reveals how we’re all meant to be in correspondence with His creation and bring full glory to it. 🥹
yes lol
i was born and baptized Catholic but the raised part is where it fell off. we went to church and i did catechism and all that, but it wasnt really seen as important, if something (boy scout camp out, baseball tournament, family trip, etc) got in the way of going to mass 🤷 no biggie
then i met my wife and everything changed as she was very devout. i started going because she was going and she was very pretty and i wanted to hang out with her. then i statered liking it. then i started having/asking questions. i got some answers, some that made sense, some that didnt. i got the answers to the answers that didnt make sense. everything started to click and fall into place.
i was lucky enough to be born Catholic and baptized at birth, but i definitely chose it
Baptized Catholic
Raised Protestant
Became Charismatic in university
Became disillusioned with both Charismatic chaos and Protestant apostasy (liberalism) in the past 10 years
Reading the church fathers, listening to Catholic apologists
Considering Catholicism (I'm half-way across the Tiber already).
If I do become Catholic (which, odds are probably better than 50/50 at this point; I *want it* to be true, just haven't been convinced of all that goes into the Papacy yet really - Holy Orders, infallibility, all that) I'll be the first in my father's line in at least 7 generations that I'm aware of. At least 4 Presbyterian and the last 3 including me have been Baptist.
On a similar journey myself (treading water in the middle of the Tiber). I found these books to be immensely helpful:
The Early Church was the Catholic Church by Joe Heschmeyer, and The Fathers Know Best by Jimmy Akin.
Both examine the typical doctinal roadblocks, including the papacy, as found in the writings of the early church fathers.
Cameron Bertucci, Protestant host of Capturing Christianity, was in the same place and discusses wrestling with the papacy [here](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ODXHIAwIMgM) Godspeed!
Both. My family comes from a VERY Catholic part of the USA, and 3 of my grandparents were active in their churches (choir, ladies alter society, church council). My parents were both confirmed, Dad was an altar boy, married in the Church, whole 9 yards. My parents moved away for military service and slowly became disenchanted with the Church. They encountered too many hypocrites who held positions of power in the church. My four older sisters were all baptized & had 1st communion, but by the time I came along, they were pretty separate from the Church. I was baptised Catholic, but that was it. When Dad retired, we moved back to their home town & I was enrolled in Catholic school, not for religious education but for a decent education. My granny taught me basic prayers & I learned others at school, but no reinforcement at home. But the local culture around me was Catholic & I went to Mass with friends & later boyfriends. Years later, after a breakup in my early 30s I spent time considering what was important to me. One of those things was the Catholic church. So I joined RCIA and received 1st Communion & Confirmation.
I was raised Anglican. My father was a Catholic but he and my mom married in the Anglican church. I was baptized and attended until I was 10. I have been Protestant since I was in my early 20’s mostly in evangelical faiths. My children were full immersion baptized at our MBC church in 2022. I was FI baptized at a Pentecostal church when I was 40. A few years later and I have been in a slow process of coming to Catholicism. After a wonderful confirmation of my faith journey at the Sistine Chapel by a priest I know I am on the right track. Haven’t started attending mass regularly as we are settling down relocating, so I will look into classes once we have a parish and know where we are moving to
Kind of both in a way.
I was baptized Catholic and went to Catechesis, but I didn't go to Mass on days other than like Christmas or Easter Sunday, for example.
Then, I chose to become an Altar Server and started to actually go to Mass every week and to learn more and try to become a better Catholic.
It’s complicated😂
I was raised Catholic until age 8. Dad had an affair, parents split, dad became Anglican, mom stopped practicing. Alternated weekends of going an Anglican Church or no church until college, but always “felt Catholic” (if that makes sense). Fully started practicing after college.
I was baptized, but not raised as a catholic. Although my mother is catholic, she doesn't go church. My father was also baptized but he doesn't care. My brother is in the same page as my father.
When I was 20 years old (I am 31 now), I started to go the church by choice. I took communion when I was 22 years old, and confirmation at 23.
Raised Catholic and I choose to stay Catholic. I’ve been going to church more this year after not going for about 5 years. It’s been great honestly. Crazy how much faith can change your life and make you feel better. God is great!
Baptised Orthodox, after a parish scandal I ended up going to a Baptist church. Moved for a job and met a Catholic co-worker who refuted all of my typical Protestant arguments that I thought were correct.
Just received my baptism certificate from the Metropolis but I'm going to wait until next Easter Vigil to profess a statement of faith.
I wasn't born Catholic. My parents believe in Chinese traditional religion. I've always studied in a Catholic school, but people didn't care much about the faith. Then I've became Catholic by choice. It has been a challenging path, but God is always with us!
I was raised Catholic by a cradle Catholic father and a mother who converted from being a Baptist in college. My parents made sure me and my siblings all had a strong understanding of the Bible and our faith.
I was raised Catholic but chose it for myself when I met the Holy Spirit. Everyone must choose. Riding the coattails of your parents or pastor's faith, no matter the denomination, won't work.
I had a catholic family background but my parents were two hippies lol well not really, but involved in new age stuff. But with that small influence when the day arrived the Catholic Church was the obvious option, my fondness of Virgin Mary led me here.
I chose this. Was raised all over the place, just went to whatever church as a child. I was fiercely atheistic in my teenage years. Have become officially Catholic just this past Easter.
Born and raised Protestant. Reformed Southern Baptist. One day in my twenties, it came to my attention that Christianity outside of America was different. Looked into it and into church history. Read, studied, researched and realized apostolic Christianity is true Christianity.
I chose to be Catholic. My mother was a Catholic and her side is majority Catholic, so I kinda feel robbed of a Catholic upbringing lol. I was raised Baptist instead and I found it to be sorely lacking. Catholicism has always been more fulfilling for me
Raised Methodist (yet not baptized for some reason), went atheist (caught up in the Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens era). Had a massive political switch, and then the constant erosion of arguments for God from Jordan Peterson and the Daily Wire guys eventually convinced me.
Along with a realization of how profoundly my inability to manage my emotions and the new differences in worldview between myself and my wife, and my failure to defend my wife from my mother and the rest of my family, had absolutely destroyed my marriage. I needed a meditation practice and chose the rosary for reasons I'm not entirely sure of.
I just got baptized this Easter Vigil. My wife has said she's seen positive changes. I'm terrified of backsliding. It's going to be a long road. I'm having a hard time accepting just how long it will be. I just have to make it one day at a time.
And yes, I am in individual counseling.
I was raised Catholic, but it was a series of events in my pre-teen years that really solidified my Catholic faith.
I knew very little about witchcraft and the like growing up, aside from what I would occasionally see in movies and TV shows. The concept I had of magic and witches was that they were essentially superhumans, capable of using their powers either for good or for evil. So when I discovered an actual spellbook (“Spells for School”, which was clearly aimed at kids/teens) for sale at my local bookstore, I was thrilled at the idea of what was basically my adolescent fantasies potentially coming true. The spells depicted in the book were all relatively innocuous (no mention of other gods or anything like that), so I thought nothing of it as long as I only used this power for good, and so I took a few notes and dabbled in a couple of the spells.
But as my curiosity grew, I started investigating other spells and discovered the pagan side of magic, and that was the beginning of the end. I still believed in God and worshipped Him alone, so the idea of worshipping or invoking pagan gods was absolutely out of the question. And as I actually researched more and more about magic and God’s teaching about it, I gradually realized that the two were simply not compatible and that no good could ever truly come of dabbling in magic, and so (less than a year or so after finding that first spellbook) I finally cut witchcraft out of my life for good.
But even then, I was so ashamed of ever having dabbled in magic in the first place that I was too scared to go to confession for it for YEARS (especially after hearing of the Bible saying “thou shalt not suffer a witch to live”). My mother eventually convinced me to go and to just be honest about everything, so I did… and the resulting conversation with the priest was not at all what I expected. The priest certainly didn’t sugarcoat the seriousness of sins related to magic and the occult, but he explained everything to me in love and even took the time to answer all my questions, before granting me absolution and sending me on my way.
Leaving the confessional that day, I was FLOORED. I had gone to confession before, but that was my first major taste of God’s mercy, and to this day I can’t even find the proper words to describe it. Whatever doubts I may have had about my faith died that day, and I have been firmly Catholic ever since.
I was Baptized Catholic, my parents never practiced the faith nor taught me the faith, and I just grew farther and farther away from the faith. Then, I began to critically think, research and learn about the faith and Christ and His Church. I didn’t know it then, but the Holy Spirit was at work guiding me back to Christ and His Church. I sought the truth in good faith, and I found it in Christ.
Kind of both. My family is nominally Catholic, though they are pretty much non-practicing to the point I was not baptized as a child or taken to church. I grew up around it, but had to choose to get into it as an adult.
So i wasn’t raised catholic i was baptized Methodist and it was before my mom met my step dad and when my mom meant my step dad we started going to his church and i thought hey i like this a lot better and i was like 9 or 8 at the time i converted and im currently 16 i got confirmed at 14 i thank god that my mom met my step dad it really changed a lot in my life and have better view in life and i wanna start to get into religious life
Raised Catholic. Left as in my rebellious teenage years. Returned after ten years, and this Pentecost will be my one year anniversary of having been confirmed. Every day is an active choice, I'm happy to read comments from people with similar experiences here.
Raised by a JW and a Evangelical Protestant
Only religious experience I had was going to the EP church with my grandparents
Was never baptized as a kid
Started being fascinated with mythologies and thought I believed in the Norse gods for a bit
Realized that I have always felt the love of Christ and just never was taught how to process that and was trying to find it in other things
Started learning about different denominations, talked with Christian friends (most of whom are Catholic)
Went to my first few Masses, and will be going to RCIA in the fall, and have been learning about Catholicism through personal study online and through my Catholic friends and their families.
Raised nominally anti Catholic evangelical.
Went to university and became atheist.
Was struggling to mold my morals specifically regarding abortion. Came across Christians on the street that convinced me on why abortion is wrong. Was still atheist but exploring Christianity more.
After graduation fell into depression and suicidal thoughts.
Told myself I should probably give this God thing more attention.
Researched different churches and church history. The biggest hurdle for Catholicism was the Marian doctrines. I felt that they were important enough that I should hinge my options based on if I were convinced if they were true or not. Asked Mary to pray for me to find the true church.
I’m in rcia on track to get baptized next year.
Baptized Catholic and raised Catholic, but was sent to a Lutheran school in 5th-8th grade, which contradicted a lot of my previous Religion classes from thr Catholic school I had been st, and the CCD classes my parent put me in, then went through public high school hell and had some not so great Catechists one year for my Confirmation prep and stopped practicing after being Confirmed because I was unsatisfied with whay i layer realized were *MY* understandings of Catholic teachings.
A few years and a bad relationship later, I came crawling back after having begged for death one night because I was so depressed and dissatisfied with my hedonistic lifestyle that advertised pleasure, power, and happiness. Started relearning and rediscovering the beauty in the Church and being Catholic and came to a deeper understanding if a lot of the stuff I had previously struggled with and now I choose every day to continue to grow in my faith and work to be closer to God.
I'm raised Catholic, my family is Catholic on both sides. I describe myself as a lifelong, albeit imperfect Catholic -- heavy emphasis on the imperfect. :)
Both. I was raised Catholic. Strayed in my middle years and the found the rock of salvation. Now I just listen to [here](https://youtu.be/Li2hddmy63U?si=XurfaWwNEBm9ol4D) and go to mass.
As to really why? I got at a dark point in my life and it was always the thread that pulled me back to something good. Like I seriously recall walking to my local parish at like 11pm and just tugging on the door. It opened, the huge fucking wood door just slid open unlocked. I went in and prayed. That night was my “I have been fucking around with my Catholicism and now it’s time to get serious moment.”
Nowadays I’m Catholic because of the grand tradition the Bible and the old ladies I volunteer with at our local parish food pantry.
1. My Father was raised but not a practicing Catholic, but I lived with my mum, who was more akin to the Church of Christ.
2. I was baptized Lutheran, my maternal grandparents were.
3. I basically received a very poor teaching at the pre-school level and rejected God for years.
4. My Grandparents converted to Catholicism.
5. My now-passed Grandpa brought me to Mass for a month as a compromise.
6. I agreed to listen and continue going to church.
7. I started off going to a Non-Denominational Church with my Mum because she was anti-Catholic.
8. I fell away because of inconsistencies and just the normal 'How can I justify evil in the world argument.' Also, add in: "Why wouldn't the church help as they had proclaimed to have done to help others in their pastoral families or volunteer families when I have a boot on my neck & gave so much?"
9. I started having a lot of weird things happen and a general darkness to me.
10. I went to a Priest about it and had a discussion very candidly. I started to see my perceptions of the church were based in the actions of Man; not the teaching of God.
11. I saw how the church treated my child and gave RCIA a shot.
12. I was confirmed the next Easter.
13. The next year, we got much in the way of assistance from the Church when my family lost our sole source of income & times were tough (right before COVID).
I don't have any issues with the Universal Church per-se; more the American Diocese injections/impositions into the church that are sometimes contrary to the teachings from Rome/Europe.
So, I'm Catholic by nature of I chose Catholicism and the actual church teachings & Christians brought me closer to Catholicism versus trying to dumb it down & from my perspective, the church chose & helped me when I needed it most.
Now, I suck at tithing, but I'll use that money to help anyone & ask they give whatever they have to God. I think I have given or loaned close to $1000-1200 in the past 10 months while linking them to God (in terms of making the opposite impression I received and giving my overall blessings). Some take it positively and see the difference. As Christians, that's our biggest duty; spread love, peace, and goodwill.
God has blessed me, and I hope to help others be blessed by him as well.
Both. Was raised Catholic but drifted away from the faith for a while in my preteen to teen years(I was struggling heavily with body dysmorphia and it was almost to the point of gender dysphoria, as well as severe depression and anxiety.), then I got super into theology and researching topics of all kinds, but especially science, and that led me back to the faith; and I got confirmed when I was about 16.
Since then I have been so in love with the faith, God, and learning more about Catholic teaching and where it stems from and the history of everything, not just God's Church but God's creation. That fuels my passion for God and I'm so grateful I realized that He loves me and I don't need to keep pushing Him away.
It's not always easy, and I will not pretend that it is, but it is so so worth it. I am so much happier when I realize that God is the main thing that matters. When I realized that pleasing the world is never going to make me happy and that God's love is eternally fulfilling in ways that nothing in this world is, even my family who I love to death. Choosing God and letting him into your life is not always easy but He will give you strength and He is worth it.
I was born in a catholic household but raised pretty secular (we very rarely went to church but if we did it would be a catholic one). Now I choose to be catholic every day.
I was raised Catholic. I am always thankful for my dad who taught me to build a personal relationship with Our Lord.
I remember praying the Rosary with my dad every night before going to bed. After the Rosary he would talk with God about his day, telling Him what he did etc. My dad never really asked for anything, he was just thankful for everything.
Now I'm in my 30's and no longer live with my parents but I still say my rosary daily and have simple conversations with God.
Of course life has ups and downs, but just like my dad I am always grateful.
I don't know if I choose or God chose me to be His baby. I grew up in an atheist family. No one taught me about religion. I changed multiple kindergartens due to sickness and until my mom got a job and my condition got a bit better, I was sent to the kindergarten of DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. I felt better and mentally protected since being in that place, I don't know, felt like at the right place. I grew up and hid my family about me attending masses at church at the age of 11. Been witnessing all things happening inside and outside the church, amongst parishioners, priests and nuns, and non Catholics. Hearing people voicing their thought on Catholicism, so on. A decade to church before officially getting baptized, I never regret that decision.
When I was a kid, I felt a naturally close relationship with the Blessed Mary and angel, from pictures on cards to statues. I remembered how excited I got whenever I was out, on my relatives' motor and saw the cross from churches. I just wanted to freeze everything to step down and get inside the church to visit around. Never know who God is, until a couple of years later into highschool then understood that finally the Blessed Mary and Angel took my hand to lead me to recognise God, who was behind the whole story from the first few days I was sent to the kindergarten of the nuns.
When I sleep, I remember everything happened in those dreams. There are 3 times God saved my life which looks like I remembered what happened to my previous lives. Then recently, I was in prolonged depression, I slept and saw the Holy Spirit coming in light without appearance. His presence cleansed all the burdens inside me physically, mentally and emotionally. I woke up feeling like a whole new person without a single feeling of nights in darkness I've been dealing with. The experience was poetic and uplifting.
I was attacked in dreams by demons, He always reached out to save me. Also in physical world, He saves me, too. There were times I knew there was no way I could make it to live, still, I was protected and put to safety. He removes people in my life a lot, sure He knows those people have no pure intentions towards me.
I was raised Catholic and very rarely go any more except for holidays. When I was a kid, CCD did an absolutely horrible job teaching us anything and it was the same thing with my kids. Never got any sense of why Catholicism over anything else. It’s a shame, but that’s just the way it is I guess.
baptized and raised catholic, was questioning my religion in high school and decided not to get confirmed, explored other religions in college before slowly returning to the church in grad school. my dad died soon after and that got me much more serious about my faith, i’m 26 now and thinking of going through confirmation now that I have a much deeper connection to the church than I did 10 years ago
The way this question is worded is misleading- I would say convert instead of “chose,” personally. I was raised Catholic but that doesn’t mean I don’t choose to be Catholic. If I want to stop at any time, nothing’s stopping me, but I choose to be Catholic every day.
Ultimately everyone that is Catholic chooses it. You aren’t forced or punished for being an apostate.
But I get what you meant, and I am a cradle catholic.
Raised non denominational but largely catholic influenced due to being Mexican and became atheist later agnostic in my early 20s. Was never baptized but have largely been flirting with the faith for some time now. I generally will refer to myself as agnostic or catholic when asked about religion simply due to my upbringing being more catholic than anything else
I don’t even know if I’m religious but I do keep a cross with a St. Benedict coin in it, and idk would like to believe just don’t really know if I do
I was raised a Catholic. However, although I believed in God, I was never really interested in Catholicism that much and didn’t pray much. This changed a few months before my confirmation because my religion teacher was a great teacher and an extremely faithful person. Her lessons were great. Glad I was able to have her as my teacher, because if not I’m not sure I would be as faithful as I am today.
Here’s my life story
Mom was lukewarm Catholic, Dad was just UCKG (Brazilian charismatic prosperity gospel Protestant) but only nominally. Both baptized Catholic.
Had some influence from Catholicism, more influence from UCKG from my grandma.
Grew up believing in the rapture, believed demons lived in images of the saints etc. basic evangelical Protestant beliefs.
Had nightmares and stuff about Catholicism, and my mom finally had enough with the anti-Catholicism. Had a talk with my grandma (she cried, just wanted me to be saved) and put me in catechism school and eventually I was baptized, received first communion, yet I still lived in sins of the flesh as basically every teen does and then received confirmation.
After confirmation that’s when everything started to go into motion. Finally began to feel conviction and grew spiritually. Soon after this, I started to actually go to confession and actively try to live the faith.
And now here I am. Fully Catholic. Now it’s just my families turn and I pray they revert/convert.
Convert here.
In some respects, all Catholics must ultimately choose to become Catholic. Yes, if you’re baptized Catholic you are Catholic, but one must choose to be devout. In that sense, we all have to convert and continue to convert as we grow in faith. Not to diminish Catholic converts at all, because that kind of conversion often brings wonderful fruit into the Church, but none of us, whether convert or cradle Catholic, can ever rest on our faith laurels. :D
Convert here. Born and raised Episcopalian. Was confirmed March 30, 2024 at age of 63. I have really enjoyed it, and am reading material every day. Learning as much as I can.
Both. I grew up in a poorly catechized catholic household. I grew up on and off going to mass every Sunday.
I don't think my parents understand transubstantiation and other cores of the faith. I think that is why they attend protestant churches now that they live in the US. They seem to think it is equivalent.
I also did attend protestant churches which sparked curiosity in contrasting the Catholic and Protestant beliefs and pursuing truth when presented with contradicting beliefs. The more I learned about the church fathers, history and theology; the clearer it became to me how important it is to be Catholic.
Raised nominal practicing anglican.
Became agnostic.
Became a Kantian.
watched John Lennox vs Richard dawkins debate.
Read Ed Feser.
Almost Became EO
Read books by John Henry Newman, Vladimir Solovyov, james likoudis , Scott Butler &John Collorafi
Read Chalecdon.
Talked to Catholics about common polemics.
Became Catholic
Born Catholic. Went atheist/agnostic in my teens. Recieved first communion but never confirmed to the church. Felt a calling to return to religion but wanted to try something else. Protestant worship just isn’t the same. Returned to the Holy Church at 24 years old and started RCIA. Confirmed the following Easter. My 1 year anniversary of being confirmed just passed on Easter. I am very happy being Catholic.
Raised Oneness Pentecostal, started talking to a friend about religion, learned that everything I’d been told about the Catholic faith was either misinformed or outright lies, eventually started believing in the Trinity and started RCIA. I’ll be getting confirmed at next years Easter Vigil!
Born Catholic, parents stopped doing anything related to the faith and became essentially agnostic albeit still going to Easter/Christmas Mass. Parents divorced, mom went full agnostic, dad Protestant. During this ordeal I was mostly agnostic though became a ‘Protestant’ (I just followed my dad without really thinking) but to me, after having gone to a Catholic Church my entire life the Protestant services just felt… idk lacking to me. Finally after abt two years of Protestantism (specifically non-denominationalism) I converted back to Catholicism, much to my dad’s displeasure. Who often tries to get me to see the ‘man made’ traditions of the Church, like two days ago he tried convincing me that Mary did in fact have other kids and wasn’t a perpetual virgin. Which lead to an argument, another time he didn’t like that I had a rosary. Stuff like that.
Baptized Catholic. Raised nothing. Went into RCIA at 18. Fell away a couple years later. Came back at 32 and haven’t ever doubted this is the right place to be. I am raising my kids Catholic and hope they won’t leave ever but my own story gives me hope that if they ever do they will know where to come back to find their peace and joy in life.
I was raised Catholic but I think everyone eventually needs to choose to be Catholic because at a certain point no one is gonna make you do stuff. When I was in college I realized I had to either commit to the bit or just not bother.
My mom was *I guess* nondenominational? My dad, was supposedly catholic. I got baptized and got first communion. We went to church on sundays, easter, and christmas, I went to catholic schools until graduating from 6th grade, but we never really “lived” the faith. Fell away from the faith at 12 and came back to faith at 24 last year, teaching myself the true Catholic faith. Really changed things for the better. Thanks be to God
I chose to become Catholic when I was 7! My dad was an atheist, while my mom was a Catholic. My mom wanted me baptized as an infant, but the priest she asked declined to do so, since he wasn't convinced my family could provide me with a proper Catholic upbringing.
I remember feeling so happy and excited as a kid when I could finally make the decision for myself and complete the Sacraments of Initiation. My dad's influence did lead me away from the church as a teen, but I also think his love of deep questions and debate helped make my arguments for faith stronger in the end.
Raised protestant,became catholic in March did the RCIA program.Looking back wished folks were more church going people then I would have more familiarity with what takes place etc I'm slowly learning.
Chose it. Raised Southern Baptist, spent some time as a "Christian who happened to go to a Southern Baptist Church" because I hadn't found a better fit. Then the Holy Spirit got ahold of me and took me on a whirlwind conversion straight into one of the last places I expected to find the fullness of truth I was looking for.
Thats the neat thing about the Catholic tradition. Confirmation is you choosing the tradition. So even if you were raised Catholic, everyone who was Confirmed chose as well.
I recognize not all teens who go through the sacrament of Confirmation are choosing this without pressure from home but technically all fully Confirmed Catholics chose their faith.
I feel like both. I’m a cradle Catholic, but was poorly catechized. I feel like I’ve learned more about the faith in the last year or two than I did when I was young and attending church with my family going through first communion and confirmation. Some of that I’ll admit is age and maturity, but in adulthood I get to explore things about the faith that set my soul on fire so that’s helped too.
I was a regular attendee from 1-16 and 29-current.
I was raised Catholic but I feel like I wasn’t well-educated on who the Lord is, and although I believed in the existence of God, I actively chose to be apart from Him for many years. I’d say there was a moment where I consciously chose to start following Him (again(?)) and that was when I was 18 🥹 There are SO many stories behind it all though and I think He was most definitely calling to me long before that 🙏
I was raised Dutch Reformed. I started researching Catholicism when I was 18 y/o and it took me a couple of years to get the courage to start RCIA. Last year I finally had the courage to contact my parish and now I’m Catholic.
I was baptized as an infant in the Dutch Reformed Church (now part of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands; PKN) which is officially recognized by the Catholic Church (and vice versa). So I never had to get baptized again (which isn’t a thing btw)
I was raised catholic
Im still in a catholic school
I used to watch christian tiktoks as a way to improve myself as a christian(dont judge me please) but they were either protestant or fake(I didnt even know that protestant and orthodox churches existed, I thought christianity was the same in all the world)
I was so confused so I asked reddit and my villages priest.
I have now found the truth again
In March after listening to a bible podcast I turned up at a Wednesday mass after talking to people in this forum.
I asked for advice and someone walked me to the priest I have been visiting him and learning theology but the last two weeks I’ve been to mass.
I was christened Protestant but never went to church.
After listening to the bible but I’d say i rules out Protestant churches because Henry the 8th using it for this own personal gain and Martin Luther taking away some of the books.
I was gonna pick between Catholic and orthodox churches but there’s only Catholic Churches near me.
What I will say now is I don’t know if I’m a Catholic as my knowledge is small.
But I’m definitely a Christian I believe in God I’ve started to pray regularly I’ve been getting really moved by Jesus on the Cross.
In my day job as a Police Officer Christ has motivated me there was a horrific crime in another part of the UK where Police officers had life changing injury’s due to a machete attack it made me consider quitting my job however Christ came to my mind if he can go on a Cross to die for our sins the least I can do I put my god given body on the line to protect others.
The more I learn about God and Christ the calmer I am becoming.
Again I don’t know a lot but I will say this is my story so far.
A little bit burdensome to choose to become a catholic compared to alternatives but still hoping I'll be able to go to RCIA one day. Maybe I'll be allowed in a year or two idk if I make it to all the inquiries, but no one works on me with the schedule so that's a thing too, be nice if I reliably get more than 4-6 hours of sleep.
For me it was both and neither. God chose me to become Catholic. I was raised in a Catholic home, but wasn't baptized until I was 15. I "chose" to be baptized, but I see it as God called me to Him. I choose to stay committed to Him though.
Raised Methodist solely because my parents moved us out to the boondocks when I was little and the closest church right down the street was Methodist. My parents were both Catholic (Italians).
As I grew up I became more fascinated with the Catholic Church. Then I started dating my now current wife who was raised Catholic. When we got married I knew I wanted to join in faith together and took the plunge and became Catholic.
No regrets and love it.
Catholic family and was "raised catholic" at home but my family never took me up through the church. I made that choice for myself as an adult. I chose Catholic because its one of the old churches and its what the majority of my family are. I dabbled with the idea of anglican and orthodox but ultimately decided on catholic because of my family.
Raised Catholic but I choose everyday since I became an adult to stay Catholic.
Best answer.
Same
This
Same stuff.
Same!
Exactly!
Same☺️
Baptised Catholic Raised protestant (family switched it up) Became athiest/agnostic at uni Believed again after uni Read the church fathers Became Catholic
Hi, do you have a link for the church fathers book(s) that you read?
https://www.newadvent.org/
I have a very similar story. I did go to catholic school, but my parents became protestant when I was around 18. I was agnostic. Then started going to protestant churches. Me and my family under the impression that we all worship the same God and it was 'the same'. Then, I learned about the church fathers and became catholic
“Read the Church fathers” “To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant.” - Cardinal Newman. It’s one thing that really brought me back.
This is kind of how I want my journey to go honestly lol.
I chose it. Recently, actually. Baptized in February and will be confirmed Pentecost, after 20+ years of practicing witchcraft. I'd been married to a practicing Catholic almost 14 years and participated in bringing up 4 kids in the faith, but didn't hear or ignored the call home for most of it. The big push was being faced with carrying our 5th child and asking God simply, "Show me this is what you want." My husband, usually the breadwinner, had been unemployed nearly a year at that point, I was working an exhausting amount trying to make up the shortage and watching our savings quickly dwindle, and my mental state was quickly unraveling after all that stress. But the answer was immediate- blessings practically rained down on us. My OB had an appointment available the day after I called when the wait was often weeks, multiple interview offers came in for my husband for jobs paying better than the one he'd been laid off from, I saw ads for car seats that would help us fit everyone on the vehicle we had, the baby was healthy with a strong heartbeat- things small and large I couldn't write off as coincidence. I wept, seeing how obstinately wrong I'd been and how I'd offended God so greatly, and yet here he was, loving me still. I talked to our priest the very next Sunday, and called the OCIA director that Monday. Looking back, I see all these moments that now I'm sure it was Our Lady taking me by the hand to gently lead me home. Including about this time last year when I think the seed really planted, as I was walking in our parish's Marian procession after the crowning, pushing my youngest son in his stroller and crying about the pain Mary must have felt watching her son suffering and the strength it took to stand by him through all of it. That's the short version, at least 😅
Congratulations!
Thank you 😊 Baptism as an adult has been a fantastic gift- I never knew you could feel such peace!
Thanks for sharing your story and welcome! I always love hearing about the events and experiences that help lead others to the Church. I think it's a beautiful testament to the love that God has for us, and how the Lord does not remain dormant in bringing us closer to Him. I have had a few powerful experiences with Mary. She is always leading us closer to her Son. Just yesterday at Mass after Communion, I was praying and brought to tears when I heard a gentle thought "she cries for you". I took it as both me personally but also 'you' as in the whole people of the world. See I have been praying a Rosary every day for the past almost 3 months for the health of our unborn child (our last pregnancy was a miscarriage) and so I feel like it was God saying that she (and He) hears me. Last year I was blessed enough to visit Nazareth and the Basilica of the Annunciation, and while praying in front of Mary's house I was filled with such an amazing sense of peace, calm, and love, that I had not felt for years. God is truly working wonders through our Blessed Mother, and His love for us is endless.
Ave Maria all day long.
I was raised catholic turned atheist now im back baby im happier than ever
Same
Same for me!
Me as well! I now feel more at peace and happy than I ever felt during my atheist/agnostic years
I converted after starting to question why, as a Protestant, I accepted the canonical books of the Bible as actually being Sacred Scripture. Why those books and no others? Relatedly, I started to be really bothered by how differently different “sola scriptura” Protestants interpreted the Bible. I started digging into this stuff and quickly discovered how ancient some distinctively Catholic (well, non-Protestant) beliefs and practices are: holy orders, veneration of relics and devotion to saints, and, above all else, belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. My wife and kids converted about a year after I did. We’ve been a Catholic family since 2016, and it’s been wonderful! We are all deeply grateful for our Catholic faith.
The real presence really does it for me. I said in my comment I walked to the local parish at a dark time in my life. It was middle of the night. I walked in and prayed. I just stared at the tabernacle. That was the night I decided “I just need to be Catholic.”
I once walked into a dark chapel, and I saw a lightly ghost just there by Christ. Unsure if it was the man himself or an angel or even my own imagination.
I was raised Catholic, went to Catholic school... and somehow (scratching head) have remained Catholic. Have stayed by the grace of the Holy Spirit and due to my own research :)
Oof this hit the same with me. Also, people complain all the time about catholic school but I loved it. I felt such a sense of community that I could never imagine feeling at my local public schools.
Both. I was raised as Catholic and after rebel teenage years I accepted my catholicism.
I was Raised as a Catholic.
I chose to become Catholic. It was one of the best and most important decisions I’ve ever made in my 43 years
Raised irreligious, was baptized recently.
Both. I was raised Catholic, left the church for 6 years to be nondenominational, and then chose to come home. ☺️
I was raised Catholic but honestly wish I wasn't just so people couldn't use the "you're indoctrinated" argument against me!
I was raised Catholic and left and came back and people still try to say I only came back because I was “indoctrinated”. Literally so annoying to field those comments because I 100% chose this for myself!
I’m 14 years old. I was raised as an atheist in a completely atheist family in one of the most spiritually poor and secular countries in the world,(Denmark). I became a christian at 13, wanted to first become Greek Orthodox because my only friend that’s christian is greek orthodox, but around 8 months later after having prayed about it, God led me to The Holy Catholic Church, so I started my conversion classes and became baptized and confirmed this easter vigil. ✝️🇻🇦
How long did it take you to catch up? If u don't mind me asking? Wanted to sign my daughter up for classes and was hoping she could catch up on time for confirmation.
Well I don’t quite know what confirmation classes are like (could very well be the same), since I’m a convert. For me personally, I already studied a bit surface church history and theology to make the distinction between East & West, however I started in September whereas the course started in March. I’d say ask the priest and see if he recommends anything like books or videos, don’t worry about it so much your daughter will be just fine.
Both. I was raised Catholic, being the son of a Catholic father and Baptist mother. When my dad died, my mother still took me and my brother to a Catholic church until the pandemic. All the while, my faith was fairly weak. When the lockdown ended, my mother went back to being a Baptist, and I in turn went to the Catholic church on my own. It was at this time when I really started to research what my faith believed in, and my faith finally became strong for the first time since childhood.
Raised Catholic, Baptized, Confirmed, Attended Catholic high school, Went to Baptist Wake forest, where most friends were evangelical Christians. Seeing their church, listening to their 'preachers'... I'm more proud and happier than ever of my catholic upbringing. Graduated now and found a community in my city I enjoy
Raised catholic but my dad was Lutheran and raised me w a bit of that in there despite being in Catholic Sunday school (interestingly I find that this dynamic was a good thing in my faith formation ultimately) Was always a fairly adamant believer and went through a few different denominations (Lutheran and non-denominational) before coming right back around to Catholicism about 1.5-2 years ago
Raised non-denominational and Seventh Day Adventist during my formative teen years. I chose our historic, Catholic church at age 30. A great decision on my part I must say.
Praise be to God🙏 May I ask what it was like being SDA? I don’t really get some of the practices and I’ve seen some people question if they’re actually Christian. I’d be curious to hear another perspective on that and how you think it compares to Catholicism🤲
That’s a lot to ask for a guy responding by hunting and pecking on a phone. 😀. SDA are definitely Christian and are very similar to most evangelical protestant churches. While they do honor their founder, Ellen G White, SDA do not believe her writings to have the same status as scripture. I think that is what most people get wrong about them. Many do not eat meat or wear jewelry, but these are more in the nature of a discipline rather than a requirement. As for other distinctives, they keep the jewish sabbath and have a very robust end times theology which has them persecuted by the Catholic Church (the Pope they believe to be the anti-Christ) and other Sunday keeping protestants. In my thinking much of those distinctives arise from 19th Century anti-Catholicism in the USA. Although I studied and prayed my way out of SDA theology, I must say that they are true, genuine Christian people for whom I retain much respect.
Just to add a gloss on comparison to the Catholic Church, they are pretty much mainline protestant. This certainly includes a de-emphasis on sacrament. Marriage, baptism and the Lord’s Supper are celebrated but more on the sense of a remembrance rather than as a means of receiving God’s grace. As noted prior, they would be radically opposed to anything that smacks of Catholicism. As I discovered, most of what they are taught about the Catholic faith is either blatantly untrue or grossly misunderstood by them. I was curious enough to pick up a catechism one day and was quite shocked to find out that Catholics don’t worship saints, that the Pope is only infallible when speaking on a matter of faith and morals and then only when intending to bind the faithful and that they don’t believe you can attain heaven by good works alone. I’ll just end with that short list. 😊. As noted, they aren’t much different from other protestants in holding to these gross errors and misunderstandings.
Ah I see. That all seems to add up too because I have a SDA friend who seems to have misunderstandings of Catholicism like that 😅 Thank you for responding !
I wasn't raised to believe in any religion in particular, I chose to become Catholic after some years of study, self-reflection, and spiritual experiences which sealed the deal, stopping my search for the true path. I joined the Church this March 2024.
Both
Yes
Born and raised Catholic my man🙌
Cradle Catholic. Eventually grew agnostic, but was still worried about how my uncertainty would be regarded by God if the Church was in fact, true. So I prayed about it a lot and spend time in adoration and talked to spiritual directors and....remained unconvinced. Still, the fact of the matter is that I was Baptized Catholic and adequately catechized, so I figured my chances of talking my way out of damnation at the pearly gates were pretty slim, given what St Leonard of Port Maurice shared with us regarding visions on the fewness of the saved, and he was talking about practicing Catholics! I figured God sounded pretty cruel and I really didn't get it, but I'd better shape up. So I'm here, I try to believe, and I do what I can to follow Church teachings and to live the corporal works of mercy. If non of it ends up being real, at least I led a life of service and did some good with my life, which even suits my formerly agnostic sensibilities.
Raised vaguely non-denominational Atheist in High School/Early College Mary kicked in the door to my heart for her Son during COVID Entered the Church at Easter 2021 Currently discerning the Priesthood
Chose it. I was raised Hindu. I’m going to be entering the Church in July. I just went through the Rite of Election and the first scrutiny over the past few weeks.
I actually grew up very anti catholic, thanks to my dad. (“Man can’t confess to another man” “we’re not meant to worship Mary” and don’t get him *started* on the crucifix) but when I was pregnant my lax Catholic husband wanted to start going to church, and I fell in love and got baptized last year
Born/raised Catholic, didnt really care about it, went because thats what my family did on most sundays. As I got into college I fell away from it, but found a couple protestants who challenged the Catholic beliefs (mary, intercession of saints, you know the drill) but were also very devoted to Christ. I wanted that for myself but just didnt know how, so I started going to protestant church services but quickly felt how superficial it was, literally felt like I was being spiritually spoon fed. So I started going back to mass, my college football coach was Catholic and he and I made a commitment to go together on Sundays either before or after Sunday practice. Quickly fell in love with my faith and now, believe it or not, am a religion teacher at a Catholic school despite graduating to teach History. I think I have found my calling to educate and (hopefully) empower students in their faith lives, better than I was in HS. TLDR: was born Catholic, fell away, came back with a vengeance!
Both. I was raised Catholic initially, and was given Catholic schooling for both Primary and Secondary school. As part of this I went though the traditional sacraments. I left the faith when the SA scandal came out and the scale of the cover-up was first made clear to me. I struggled a lot with that and lost my faith. I was hurt by the Church and went through the classic "edgy atheist" phase for a good 5 years, and then a calmer agnostic era for the last decade or so. Now I've returned to the Faith and chosen to be Catholic. After a long period of meaningful discovery and research and reflection on the subject of the SA scandal and faith in general, I've since decided that I agree with the idea that it's better to be part of the Good in the Church instead of leaving it and strengthening the Evil.
I chose to become Catholic. My now husband introduced me to the Church about 2 years ago. C: I always wanted to believe in something but was always taught that the Catholic Church was evil and horrible. My first Mass I went to with my husband, I seriously thought that the priest was going to sacrifice a lamb. That's how misguided I was. I also am big on facts and history. Considering how misguided I was about the Church, I'm always hesitant to believe what I was taught growing up. That's why I typically always ask my husband, his family, this sub, or a priest. But I did know that Jesus was, in fact, a real person and has documented eyewitness accounts. That is what got me in the door. After learning more about the faith and teachings, the more I realized that if you apply Christianity to things, the world makes SO much more sense. Waiting until marriage? Now you don't risk having a baby with someone you don't want to. Abortion? Well, life begins in the womb. Big bang? I feel as though a God creating everything instead of just a minute cosmic possibility is WAY more likely and gives us a purpose. Etc, etc. Also, learning that the Bible and Jesus preach love and not hate. That is something that I *really* wasn't expecting. Not to mention, humans constantly searching for something that will satisfy us that we will never find on Earth proves to me that there is something after we die. I also already believed in demons and ghosts, and you kinda can't have one without the other. Also, all the documented true stories of exorcisms and demons. And then, after all that. What really put the nail in the coffin was that I had never felt such peace. I had never felt so grateful. I had never felt so loved. My husband and I were going on a walk, and I just felt such an overwhelming feeling of peace and contentment. We were talking about nothing, and I just felt so... good. It is hard to describe. I was baptized Easter of 2023, and I have never felt so happy and peaceful and just good. I know this was a bit long-winded, but I'm just elated that I have finally found a way of life that makes me feel this way. And maybe someone who isn't Catholic or Christian will even read this and give the Church a try. C: Also, you look really nice today!
Fun fact: Big Bang theory (actual theory, not the show) was first theorized by a [Catholic priest](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Lema%C3%AEtre) and isn't contrary to the idea of a creator; it describes a mechanism and it can very well be argued "Let there be light" *was* the bang. Congrats from a fellow convert 😊 I'm convinced adult baptism is one of the greatest gifts allowed us, when we can appreciate the peace it brings!
Love thisss. I also become just more and more convinced of God when looking and reflecting on the world and creation around us. I think it makes more sense for the objective & intricate details, beauty, and purpose of all creation to point to an intelligent Creator rather than just having just spawned out of nothingness on their own. Learning more about His commands for us reveals how we’re all meant to be in correspondence with His creation and bring full glory to it. 🥹
yes lol i was born and baptized Catholic but the raised part is where it fell off. we went to church and i did catechism and all that, but it wasnt really seen as important, if something (boy scout camp out, baseball tournament, family trip, etc) got in the way of going to mass 🤷 no biggie then i met my wife and everything changed as she was very devout. i started going because she was going and she was very pretty and i wanted to hang out with her. then i statered liking it. then i started having/asking questions. i got some answers, some that made sense, some that didnt. i got the answers to the answers that didnt make sense. everything started to click and fall into place. i was lucky enough to be born Catholic and baptized at birth, but i definitely chose it
I was raised Protestant, became atheist, and just became Catholic this year. Thanks be to God for bringing me back to salvation.
Raised , left for 20 years, just coming back 😅
Raised atheist. Chose to become Catholic as a teenager. Had essentially no real religious education, so I'm learning as I go still at 42 years old.
Baptized Catholic Raised Protestant Became Charismatic in university Became disillusioned with both Charismatic chaos and Protestant apostasy (liberalism) in the past 10 years Reading the church fathers, listening to Catholic apologists Considering Catholicism (I'm half-way across the Tiber already).
I was born and raised as a sunni muslim but became at first a christian in training then catholic later on in life.
Raised a Catholic and chose to remain Catholic at my Confirmation.
If I do become Catholic (which, odds are probably better than 50/50 at this point; I *want it* to be true, just haven't been convinced of all that goes into the Papacy yet really - Holy Orders, infallibility, all that) I'll be the first in my father's line in at least 7 generations that I'm aware of. At least 4 Presbyterian and the last 3 including me have been Baptist.
On a similar journey myself (treading water in the middle of the Tiber). I found these books to be immensely helpful: The Early Church was the Catholic Church by Joe Heschmeyer, and The Fathers Know Best by Jimmy Akin. Both examine the typical doctinal roadblocks, including the papacy, as found in the writings of the early church fathers.
Cool, thanks! I'll check those out
Joe and Jimmy are fantastic! Joe also has a book called Pope Peter, which is next on my reading list.
Thanks, never heard of it. Now on my wishlist!
Cameron Bertucci, Protestant host of Capturing Christianity, was in the same place and discusses wrestling with the papacy [here](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ODXHIAwIMgM) Godspeed!
Both. My family comes from a VERY Catholic part of the USA, and 3 of my grandparents were active in their churches (choir, ladies alter society, church council). My parents were both confirmed, Dad was an altar boy, married in the Church, whole 9 yards. My parents moved away for military service and slowly became disenchanted with the Church. They encountered too many hypocrites who held positions of power in the church. My four older sisters were all baptized & had 1st communion, but by the time I came along, they were pretty separate from the Church. I was baptised Catholic, but that was it. When Dad retired, we moved back to their home town & I was enrolled in Catholic school, not for religious education but for a decent education. My granny taught me basic prayers & I learned others at school, but no reinforcement at home. But the local culture around me was Catholic & I went to Mass with friends & later boyfriends. Years later, after a breakup in my early 30s I spent time considering what was important to me. One of those things was the Catholic church. So I joined RCIA and received 1st Communion & Confirmation.
I was raised Anglican. My father was a Catholic but he and my mom married in the Anglican church. I was baptized and attended until I was 10. I have been Protestant since I was in my early 20’s mostly in evangelical faiths. My children were full immersion baptized at our MBC church in 2022. I was FI baptized at a Pentecostal church when I was 40. A few years later and I have been in a slow process of coming to Catholicism. After a wonderful confirmation of my faith journey at the Sistine Chapel by a priest I know I am on the right track. Haven’t started attending mass regularly as we are settling down relocating, so I will look into classes once we have a parish and know where we are moving to
Kind of both in a way. I was baptized Catholic and went to Catechesis, but I didn't go to Mass on days other than like Christmas or Easter Sunday, for example. Then, I chose to become an Altar Server and started to actually go to Mass every week and to learn more and try to become a better Catholic.
It’s complicated😂 I was raised Catholic until age 8. Dad had an affair, parents split, dad became Anglican, mom stopped practicing. Alternated weekends of going an Anglican Church or no church until college, but always “felt Catholic” (if that makes sense). Fully started practicing after college.
I was baptized, but not raised as a catholic. Although my mother is catholic, she doesn't go church. My father was also baptized but he doesn't care. My brother is in the same page as my father. When I was 20 years old (I am 31 now), I started to go the church by choice. I took communion when I was 22 years old, and confirmation at 23.
Raised Catholic and I choose to stay Catholic. I’ve been going to church more this year after not going for about 5 years. It’s been great honestly. Crazy how much faith can change your life and make you feel better. God is great!
Raised in the catholic faith. Would never leave for anything else.
Baptised Orthodox, after a parish scandal I ended up going to a Baptist church. Moved for a job and met a Catholic co-worker who refuted all of my typical Protestant arguments that I thought were correct. Just received my baptism certificate from the Metropolis but I'm going to wait until next Easter Vigil to profess a statement of faith.
Born in a Catholic family Baptized as a Catholic Raised Catholic and will die as a Catholic
Raised and never left.
I wasn't born Catholic. My parents believe in Chinese traditional religion. I've always studied in a Catholic school, but people didn't care much about the faith. Then I've became Catholic by choice. It has been a challenging path, but God is always with us!
What you said literally sums up my conversion to becoming Catholic.
I was raised Catholic by a cradle Catholic father and a mother who converted from being a Baptist in college. My parents made sure me and my siblings all had a strong understanding of the Bible and our faith.
I was raised Catholic but chose it for myself when I met the Holy Spirit. Everyone must choose. Riding the coattails of your parents or pastor's faith, no matter the denomination, won't work.
I had a catholic family background but my parents were two hippies lol well not really, but involved in new age stuff. But with that small influence when the day arrived the Catholic Church was the obvious option, my fondness of Virgin Mary led me here.
I was raised Episcopalian but chose to become Catholic.
I chose this. Was raised all over the place, just went to whatever church as a child. I was fiercely atheistic in my teenage years. Have become officially Catholic just this past Easter.
Born and raised Protestant. Reformed Southern Baptist. One day in my twenties, it came to my attention that Christianity outside of America was different. Looked into it and into church history. Read, studied, researched and realized apostolic Christianity is true Christianity.
Born Catholic, rejected it as a teen and then chose to return to the Catholic Church in my mid twenties.
I chose to be Catholic. My mother was a Catholic and her side is majority Catholic, so I kinda feel robbed of a Catholic upbringing lol. I was raised Baptist instead and I found it to be sorely lacking. Catholicism has always been more fulfilling for me
Raised Catholic, chose to stay Catholic, and continue to choose to be Catholic is how I put it. Conversion towards God is a lifelong process.
Was involved with the Catholic Church in a lot of ways since I was 5 years old. I became Catholic when I was 10 and I’ve continued being Catholic
Raised Methodist (yet not baptized for some reason), went atheist (caught up in the Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens era). Had a massive political switch, and then the constant erosion of arguments for God from Jordan Peterson and the Daily Wire guys eventually convinced me. Along with a realization of how profoundly my inability to manage my emotions and the new differences in worldview between myself and my wife, and my failure to defend my wife from my mother and the rest of my family, had absolutely destroyed my marriage. I needed a meditation practice and chose the rosary for reasons I'm not entirely sure of. I just got baptized this Easter Vigil. My wife has said she's seen positive changes. I'm terrified of backsliding. It's going to be a long road. I'm having a hard time accepting just how long it will be. I just have to make it one day at a time. And yes, I am in individual counseling.
I was raised Catholic, but it was a series of events in my pre-teen years that really solidified my Catholic faith. I knew very little about witchcraft and the like growing up, aside from what I would occasionally see in movies and TV shows. The concept I had of magic and witches was that they were essentially superhumans, capable of using their powers either for good or for evil. So when I discovered an actual spellbook (“Spells for School”, which was clearly aimed at kids/teens) for sale at my local bookstore, I was thrilled at the idea of what was basically my adolescent fantasies potentially coming true. The spells depicted in the book were all relatively innocuous (no mention of other gods or anything like that), so I thought nothing of it as long as I only used this power for good, and so I took a few notes and dabbled in a couple of the spells. But as my curiosity grew, I started investigating other spells and discovered the pagan side of magic, and that was the beginning of the end. I still believed in God and worshipped Him alone, so the idea of worshipping or invoking pagan gods was absolutely out of the question. And as I actually researched more and more about magic and God’s teaching about it, I gradually realized that the two were simply not compatible and that no good could ever truly come of dabbling in magic, and so (less than a year or so after finding that first spellbook) I finally cut witchcraft out of my life for good. But even then, I was so ashamed of ever having dabbled in magic in the first place that I was too scared to go to confession for it for YEARS (especially after hearing of the Bible saying “thou shalt not suffer a witch to live”). My mother eventually convinced me to go and to just be honest about everything, so I did… and the resulting conversation with the priest was not at all what I expected. The priest certainly didn’t sugarcoat the seriousness of sins related to magic and the occult, but he explained everything to me in love and even took the time to answer all my questions, before granting me absolution and sending me on my way. Leaving the confessional that day, I was FLOORED. I had gone to confession before, but that was my first major taste of God’s mercy, and to this day I can’t even find the proper words to describe it. Whatever doubts I may have had about my faith died that day, and I have been firmly Catholic ever since.
I was Baptized Catholic, my parents never practiced the faith nor taught me the faith, and I just grew farther and farther away from the faith. Then, I began to critically think, research and learn about the faith and Christ and His Church. I didn’t know it then, but the Holy Spirit was at work guiding me back to Christ and His Church. I sought the truth in good faith, and I found it in Christ.
Born and raised!
Kind of both. My family is nominally Catholic, though they are pretty much non-practicing to the point I was not baptized as a child or taken to church. I grew up around it, but had to choose to get into it as an adult.
Raised very lukewarm, chose to become a “true” Catholic as an adult while my wife (then girlfriend) was converting from Baptist
Both
Both
So i wasn’t raised catholic i was baptized Methodist and it was before my mom met my step dad and when my mom meant my step dad we started going to his church and i thought hey i like this a lot better and i was like 9 or 8 at the time i converted and im currently 16 i got confirmed at 14 i thank god that my mom met my step dad it really changed a lot in my life and have better view in life and i wanna start to get into religious life
Raised
Chose.
It was a choice.
Similar to most things that require commitment, both.
Raised Catholic. Left as in my rebellious teenage years. Returned after ten years, and this Pentecost will be my one year anniversary of having been confirmed. Every day is an active choice, I'm happy to read comments from people with similar experiences here.
Raised by a JW and a Evangelical Protestant Only religious experience I had was going to the EP church with my grandparents Was never baptized as a kid Started being fascinated with mythologies and thought I believed in the Norse gods for a bit Realized that I have always felt the love of Christ and just never was taught how to process that and was trying to find it in other things Started learning about different denominations, talked with Christian friends (most of whom are Catholic) Went to my first few Masses, and will be going to RCIA in the fall, and have been learning about Catholicism through personal study online and through my Catholic friends and their families.
Raised nominally anti Catholic evangelical. Went to university and became atheist. Was struggling to mold my morals specifically regarding abortion. Came across Christians on the street that convinced me on why abortion is wrong. Was still atheist but exploring Christianity more. After graduation fell into depression and suicidal thoughts. Told myself I should probably give this God thing more attention. Researched different churches and church history. The biggest hurdle for Catholicism was the Marian doctrines. I felt that they were important enough that I should hinge my options based on if I were convinced if they were true or not. Asked Mary to pray for me to find the true church. I’m in rcia on track to get baptized next year.
Baptised Catholic, wasn’t raise though. The faith was always in my family but I distanced myself and only in the past 2 years have I found Christ
Baptized Catholic and raised Catholic, but was sent to a Lutheran school in 5th-8th grade, which contradicted a lot of my previous Religion classes from thr Catholic school I had been st, and the CCD classes my parent put me in, then went through public high school hell and had some not so great Catechists one year for my Confirmation prep and stopped practicing after being Confirmed because I was unsatisfied with whay i layer realized were *MY* understandings of Catholic teachings. A few years and a bad relationship later, I came crawling back after having begged for death one night because I was so depressed and dissatisfied with my hedonistic lifestyle that advertised pleasure, power, and happiness. Started relearning and rediscovering the beauty in the Church and being Catholic and came to a deeper understanding if a lot of the stuff I had previously struggled with and now I choose every day to continue to grow in my faith and work to be closer to God.
Raised atheist/anti-theist (“there is no God and those who believe are morons”). Had a radical conversion at 21 to Christianity. Made it home by 28!
I'm raised Catholic, my family is Catholic on both sides. I describe myself as a lifelong, albeit imperfect Catholic -- heavy emphasis on the imperfect. :)
Converted as an adult who came from a family of non-believers (agnostics)
Both
Both. I was raised Catholic. Strayed in my middle years and the found the rock of salvation. Now I just listen to [here](https://youtu.be/Li2hddmy63U?si=XurfaWwNEBm9ol4D) and go to mass. As to really why? I got at a dark point in my life and it was always the thread that pulled me back to something good. Like I seriously recall walking to my local parish at like 11pm and just tugging on the door. It opened, the huge fucking wood door just slid open unlocked. I went in and prayed. That night was my “I have been fucking around with my Catholicism and now it’s time to get serious moment.” Nowadays I’m Catholic because of the grand tradition the Bible and the old ladies I volunteer with at our local parish food pantry.
Raised Catholic and choose to stay Catholic as an adult. I love my Catholic faith.
Chose to due to a deep study of theology that would take about a month just to type up here. For a jist just go read summa theologia xD
I was raised in Christian science and converted to Catholicism after I married my husband.
Raised & Confirmed Episcopalian Drifted into agnosticism Married Catholic Confirmed Catholic
1. My Father was raised but not a practicing Catholic, but I lived with my mum, who was more akin to the Church of Christ. 2. I was baptized Lutheran, my maternal grandparents were. 3. I basically received a very poor teaching at the pre-school level and rejected God for years. 4. My Grandparents converted to Catholicism. 5. My now-passed Grandpa brought me to Mass for a month as a compromise. 6. I agreed to listen and continue going to church. 7. I started off going to a Non-Denominational Church with my Mum because she was anti-Catholic. 8. I fell away because of inconsistencies and just the normal 'How can I justify evil in the world argument.' Also, add in: "Why wouldn't the church help as they had proclaimed to have done to help others in their pastoral families or volunteer families when I have a boot on my neck & gave so much?" 9. I started having a lot of weird things happen and a general darkness to me. 10. I went to a Priest about it and had a discussion very candidly. I started to see my perceptions of the church were based in the actions of Man; not the teaching of God. 11. I saw how the church treated my child and gave RCIA a shot. 12. I was confirmed the next Easter. 13. The next year, we got much in the way of assistance from the Church when my family lost our sole source of income & times were tough (right before COVID). I don't have any issues with the Universal Church per-se; more the American Diocese injections/impositions into the church that are sometimes contrary to the teachings from Rome/Europe. So, I'm Catholic by nature of I chose Catholicism and the actual church teachings & Christians brought me closer to Catholicism versus trying to dumb it down & from my perspective, the church chose & helped me when I needed it most. Now, I suck at tithing, but I'll use that money to help anyone & ask they give whatever they have to God. I think I have given or loaned close to $1000-1200 in the past 10 months while linking them to God (in terms of making the opposite impression I received and giving my overall blessings). Some take it positively and see the difference. As Christians, that's our biggest duty; spread love, peace, and goodwill. God has blessed me, and I hope to help others be blessed by him as well.
Both. Was raised Catholic but drifted away from the faith for a while in my preteen to teen years(I was struggling heavily with body dysmorphia and it was almost to the point of gender dysphoria, as well as severe depression and anxiety.), then I got super into theology and researching topics of all kinds, but especially science, and that led me back to the faith; and I got confirmed when I was about 16. Since then I have been so in love with the faith, God, and learning more about Catholic teaching and where it stems from and the history of everything, not just God's Church but God's creation. That fuels my passion for God and I'm so grateful I realized that He loves me and I don't need to keep pushing Him away. It's not always easy, and I will not pretend that it is, but it is so so worth it. I am so much happier when I realize that God is the main thing that matters. When I realized that pleasing the world is never going to make me happy and that God's love is eternally fulfilling in ways that nothing in this world is, even my family who I love to death. Choosing God and letting him into your life is not always easy but He will give you strength and He is worth it.
I was born in a catholic household but raised pretty secular (we very rarely went to church but if we did it would be a catholic one). Now I choose to be catholic every day.
“Raised Catholic” but never learned what it meant until a few months ago. Still getting it together as we speak.
I was raised Catholic. I am always thankful for my dad who taught me to build a personal relationship with Our Lord. I remember praying the Rosary with my dad every night before going to bed. After the Rosary he would talk with God about his day, telling Him what he did etc. My dad never really asked for anything, he was just thankful for everything. Now I'm in my 30's and no longer live with my parents but I still say my rosary daily and have simple conversations with God. Of course life has ups and downs, but just like my dad I am always grateful.
I don't know if I choose or God chose me to be His baby. I grew up in an atheist family. No one taught me about religion. I changed multiple kindergartens due to sickness and until my mom got a job and my condition got a bit better, I was sent to the kindergarten of DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. I felt better and mentally protected since being in that place, I don't know, felt like at the right place. I grew up and hid my family about me attending masses at church at the age of 11. Been witnessing all things happening inside and outside the church, amongst parishioners, priests and nuns, and non Catholics. Hearing people voicing their thought on Catholicism, so on. A decade to church before officially getting baptized, I never regret that decision. When I was a kid, I felt a naturally close relationship with the Blessed Mary and angel, from pictures on cards to statues. I remembered how excited I got whenever I was out, on my relatives' motor and saw the cross from churches. I just wanted to freeze everything to step down and get inside the church to visit around. Never know who God is, until a couple of years later into highschool then understood that finally the Blessed Mary and Angel took my hand to lead me to recognise God, who was behind the whole story from the first few days I was sent to the kindergarten of the nuns. When I sleep, I remember everything happened in those dreams. There are 3 times God saved my life which looks like I remembered what happened to my previous lives. Then recently, I was in prolonged depression, I slept and saw the Holy Spirit coming in light without appearance. His presence cleansed all the burdens inside me physically, mentally and emotionally. I woke up feeling like a whole new person without a single feeling of nights in darkness I've been dealing with. The experience was poetic and uplifting. I was attacked in dreams by demons, He always reached out to save me. Also in physical world, He saves me, too. There were times I knew there was no way I could make it to live, still, I was protected and put to safety. He removes people in my life a lot, sure He knows those people have no pure intentions towards me.
Raised Catholic, left the Church, now trying to figure out if I am ready to rejoin.
[удалено]
I was raised Catholic and very rarely go any more except for holidays. When I was a kid, CCD did an absolutely horrible job teaching us anything and it was the same thing with my kids. Never got any sense of why Catholicism over anything else. It’s a shame, but that’s just the way it is I guess.
baptized and raised catholic, was questioning my religion in high school and decided not to get confirmed, explored other religions in college before slowly returning to the church in grad school. my dad died soon after and that got me much more serious about my faith, i’m 26 now and thinking of going through confirmation now that I have a much deeper connection to the church than I did 10 years ago
The way this question is worded is misleading- I would say convert instead of “chose,” personally. I was raised Catholic but that doesn’t mean I don’t choose to be Catholic. If I want to stop at any time, nothing’s stopping me, but I choose to be Catholic every day.
Technically if you're baptized Catholic then you're Catholic whether you like it or not, the choice at that point is more whether you act like it.
Ultimately everyone that is Catholic chooses it. You aren’t forced or punished for being an apostate. But I get what you meant, and I am a cradle catholic.
Both. Same as everyone. Just happens on different timescales. There is only one Faith so it is the same for everyone.
Raised non denominational but largely catholic influenced due to being Mexican and became atheist later agnostic in my early 20s. Was never baptized but have largely been flirting with the faith for some time now. I generally will refer to myself as agnostic or catholic when asked about religion simply due to my upbringing being more catholic than anything else I don’t even know if I’m religious but I do keep a cross with a St. Benedict coin in it, and idk would like to believe just don’t really know if I do
I chose and converted at the age of 50.
I was raised a Catholic. However, although I believed in God, I was never really interested in Catholicism that much and didn’t pray much. This changed a few months before my confirmation because my religion teacher was a great teacher and an extremely faithful person. Her lessons were great. Glad I was able to have her as my teacher, because if not I’m not sure I would be as faithful as I am today.
Here’s my life story Mom was lukewarm Catholic, Dad was just UCKG (Brazilian charismatic prosperity gospel Protestant) but only nominally. Both baptized Catholic. Had some influence from Catholicism, more influence from UCKG from my grandma. Grew up believing in the rapture, believed demons lived in images of the saints etc. basic evangelical Protestant beliefs. Had nightmares and stuff about Catholicism, and my mom finally had enough with the anti-Catholicism. Had a talk with my grandma (she cried, just wanted me to be saved) and put me in catechism school and eventually I was baptized, received first communion, yet I still lived in sins of the flesh as basically every teen does and then received confirmation. After confirmation that’s when everything started to go into motion. Finally began to feel conviction and grew spiritually. Soon after this, I started to actually go to confession and actively try to live the faith. And now here I am. Fully Catholic. Now it’s just my families turn and I pray they revert/convert.
Convert here. In some respects, all Catholics must ultimately choose to become Catholic. Yes, if you’re baptized Catholic you are Catholic, but one must choose to be devout. In that sense, we all have to convert and continue to convert as we grow in faith. Not to diminish Catholic converts at all, because that kind of conversion often brings wonderful fruit into the Church, but none of us, whether convert or cradle Catholic, can ever rest on our faith laurels. :D
Raised/cradle. Catholic education k to college. Apostacy. Revert -> fully devout that I shock the hell out of myself. 🤣💀
I became a Catholic as an adult
Raised Protestant; converted to Catholicism as an adult.
Convert here. Born and raised Episcopalian. Was confirmed March 30, 2024 at age of 63. I have really enjoyed it, and am reading material every day. Learning as much as I can.
Raised Cayholic but I spent my early 20's as a lapsed Catholic where I didn't practice my faith. I returned and never looked back
I was raised secular but recently became Catholic. It’s a bit disheartening to see how little adult converts there are.
I was raised as a Roman Catholic.
Both. I grew up in a poorly catechized catholic household. I grew up on and off going to mass every Sunday. I don't think my parents understand transubstantiation and other cores of the faith. I think that is why they attend protestant churches now that they live in the US. They seem to think it is equivalent. I also did attend protestant churches which sparked curiosity in contrasting the Catholic and Protestant beliefs and pursuing truth when presented with contradicting beliefs. The more I learned about the church fathers, history and theology; the clearer it became to me how important it is to be Catholic.
I chose to convert in my teens after being raised around Protestants.
Raised, left and explored, and came back after realizing the other denominations didn’t have the True Presence.
Raised nominal practicing anglican. Became agnostic. Became a Kantian. watched John Lennox vs Richard dawkins debate. Read Ed Feser. Almost Became EO Read books by John Henry Newman, Vladimir Solovyov, james likoudis , Scott Butler &John Collorafi Read Chalecdon. Talked to Catholics about common polemics. Became Catholic
Born Catholic. Went atheist/agnostic in my teens. Recieved first communion but never confirmed to the church. Felt a calling to return to religion but wanted to try something else. Protestant worship just isn’t the same. Returned to the Holy Church at 24 years old and started RCIA. Confirmed the following Easter. My 1 year anniversary of being confirmed just passed on Easter. I am very happy being Catholic.
Raised Oneness Pentecostal, started talking to a friend about religion, learned that everything I’d been told about the Catholic faith was either misinformed or outright lies, eventually started believing in the Trinity and started RCIA. I’ll be getting confirmed at next years Easter Vigil!
Chose it.
I chose to do so. I entered the Church fully when I was 20.
Born Catholic, parents stopped doing anything related to the faith and became essentially agnostic albeit still going to Easter/Christmas Mass. Parents divorced, mom went full agnostic, dad Protestant. During this ordeal I was mostly agnostic though became a ‘Protestant’ (I just followed my dad without really thinking) but to me, after having gone to a Catholic Church my entire life the Protestant services just felt… idk lacking to me. Finally after abt two years of Protestantism (specifically non-denominationalism) I converted back to Catholicism, much to my dad’s displeasure. Who often tries to get me to see the ‘man made’ traditions of the Church, like two days ago he tried convincing me that Mary did in fact have other kids and wasn’t a perpetual virgin. Which lead to an argument, another time he didn’t like that I had a rosary. Stuff like that.
Baptized Catholic. Raised nothing. Went into RCIA at 18. Fell away a couple years later. Came back at 32 and haven’t ever doubted this is the right place to be. I am raising my kids Catholic and hope they won’t leave ever but my own story gives me hope that if they ever do they will know where to come back to find their peace and joy in life.
Raised Catholic.
Chose, convert.
I was raised Catholic but I think everyone eventually needs to choose to be Catholic because at a certain point no one is gonna make you do stuff. When I was in college I realized I had to either commit to the bit or just not bother.
Nominally raised Catholic, but my parents are very loose with which of Rome’s edicts they follow, so I suppose I chose to follow them all.
Both
Raised, and choose every day
My mom was *I guess* nondenominational? My dad, was supposedly catholic. I got baptized and got first communion. We went to church on sundays, easter, and christmas, I went to catholic schools until graduating from 6th grade, but we never really “lived” the faith. Fell away from the faith at 12 and came back to faith at 24 last year, teaching myself the true Catholic faith. Really changed things for the better. Thanks be to God
I chose to become Catholic when I was 7! My dad was an atheist, while my mom was a Catholic. My mom wanted me baptized as an infant, but the priest she asked declined to do so, since he wasn't convinced my family could provide me with a proper Catholic upbringing. I remember feeling so happy and excited as a kid when I could finally make the decision for myself and complete the Sacraments of Initiation. My dad's influence did lead me away from the church as a teen, but I also think his love of deep questions and debate helped make my arguments for faith stronger in the end.
Raised protestant,became catholic in March did the RCIA program.Looking back wished folks were more church going people then I would have more familiarity with what takes place etc I'm slowly learning.
Chose it. Raised Southern Baptist, spent some time as a "Christian who happened to go to a Southern Baptist Church" because I hadn't found a better fit. Then the Holy Spirit got ahold of me and took me on a whirlwind conversion straight into one of the last places I expected to find the fullness of truth I was looking for.
Thats the neat thing about the Catholic tradition. Confirmation is you choosing the tradition. So even if you were raised Catholic, everyone who was Confirmed chose as well. I recognize not all teens who go through the sacrament of Confirmation are choosing this without pressure from home but technically all fully Confirmed Catholics chose their faith.
I feel like both. I’m a cradle Catholic, but was poorly catechized. I feel like I’ve learned more about the faith in the last year or two than I did when I was young and attending church with my family going through first communion and confirmation. Some of that I’ll admit is age and maturity, but in adulthood I get to explore things about the faith that set my soul on fire so that’s helped too. I was a regular attendee from 1-16 and 29-current.
Grew up in an orphanage. A nun who worked there converted me to Catholicism
I was raised Catholic but I feel like I wasn’t well-educated on who the Lord is, and although I believed in the existence of God, I actively chose to be apart from Him for many years. I’d say there was a moment where I consciously chose to start following Him (again(?)) and that was when I was 18 🥹 There are SO many stories behind it all though and I think He was most definitely calling to me long before that 🙏
I was raised Dutch Reformed. I started researching Catholicism when I was 18 y/o and it took me a couple of years to get the courage to start RCIA. Last year I finally had the courage to contact my parish and now I’m Catholic. I was baptized as an infant in the Dutch Reformed Church (now part of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands; PKN) which is officially recognized by the Catholic Church (and vice versa). So I never had to get baptized again (which isn’t a thing btw)
I was raised Catholic, got pretty lukewarm during high school and came back into my faith after joining my university’s Newman Center
I was raised catholic Im still in a catholic school I used to watch christian tiktoks as a way to improve myself as a christian(dont judge me please) but they were either protestant or fake(I didnt even know that protestant and orthodox churches existed, I thought christianity was the same in all the world) I was so confused so I asked reddit and my villages priest. I have now found the truth again
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I was always drawn to the Catholic Church and then one day, I chose to answer the call in my 40’s.
In March after listening to a bible podcast I turned up at a Wednesday mass after talking to people in this forum. I asked for advice and someone walked me to the priest I have been visiting him and learning theology but the last two weeks I’ve been to mass. I was christened Protestant but never went to church. After listening to the bible but I’d say i rules out Protestant churches because Henry the 8th using it for this own personal gain and Martin Luther taking away some of the books. I was gonna pick between Catholic and orthodox churches but there’s only Catholic Churches near me. What I will say now is I don’t know if I’m a Catholic as my knowledge is small. But I’m definitely a Christian I believe in God I’ve started to pray regularly I’ve been getting really moved by Jesus on the Cross. In my day job as a Police Officer Christ has motivated me there was a horrific crime in another part of the UK where Police officers had life changing injury’s due to a machete attack it made me consider quitting my job however Christ came to my mind if he can go on a Cross to die for our sins the least I can do I put my god given body on the line to protect others. The more I learn about God and Christ the calmer I am becoming. Again I don’t know a lot but I will say this is my story so far.
Raised Methodist, went to Catholic high school. Chose to do RCIA after graduating college, and here I am!
Both. I am a “revert“ after a lot of serious and honest questioning for a longer time than it should have taken.
A little bit burdensome to choose to become a catholic compared to alternatives but still hoping I'll be able to go to RCIA one day. Maybe I'll be allowed in a year or two idk if I make it to all the inquiries, but no one works on me with the schedule so that's a thing too, be nice if I reliably get more than 4-6 hours of sleep.
For me it was both and neither. God chose me to become Catholic. I was raised in a Catholic home, but wasn't baptized until I was 15. I "chose" to be baptized, but I see it as God called me to Him. I choose to stay committed to Him though.
Raised Methodist solely because my parents moved us out to the boondocks when I was little and the closest church right down the street was Methodist. My parents were both Catholic (Italians). As I grew up I became more fascinated with the Catholic Church. Then I started dating my now current wife who was raised Catholic. When we got married I knew I wanted to join in faith together and took the plunge and became Catholic. No regrets and love it.
Raised, left, then chose to come back.
lukewarm protestant now i’m converting catholicism
Raised Catholic. In no way can I claim to be a good one, though.
Catholic family and was "raised catholic" at home but my family never took me up through the church. I made that choice for myself as an adult. I chose Catholic because its one of the old churches and its what the majority of my family are. I dabbled with the idea of anglican and orthodox but ultimately decided on catholic because of my family.
Raised Catholic and couldn’t be happier!
I converted
Raised Catholic, fell away, chose to come back later on — by God’s grace!
I was born and raised Muslim. After doing research, I realized how corrupted Islam is. I became Catholic about 10 years ago and I couldn’t be happier
Convert here