Well, the biggest challenge of all was of course to make the selection of Church and tradition. Something was wrong, I did not get what I want from the Orthodox Church. The splitting up of churches in 1054 instead of ending there and getting the dialogues going, it had gone further down in the East. With the split of the Bulgarians and others each and every country forgot Constantinople and decided not to recognize the surpemacy which used to belong to "the New Rome" in that period after the split with Rome.Now this is something huh? Suddenly all that I had been hearing of having something "ortho-dox" (right way) in your church. And there had been a talk going on against Catholicism. There's another problem. There are Orthodox Churches that don't recognize each other. Each country has its own Orthodox Church, but there isn't a THE Orthodox Church anywhere.
During my reading of the Bible I stumbled upon Matthew 16:18:
Thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Now who and where's Peter? Of course as the more informed amongst you already know he resides and is succeeded by means of Apostolic Succession in the Holy Father - the P0pe.
So I said to myself: What am I waiting for? I never realized the wealth of the Internet before. Being able to inform yourself is something wonderful. I started gradually building up my knowledge and reading everything I could. With the help of a wonderful person from the USA, I could even receive books and read them in hard copies:)
After much reading and self-preparation as well as a great support from my friend, I decided to visit my local diocese. I was welcomed as a friend and was not scorned but instead I was listened to very carefully and I received the explanation. I was given a choice to either join or only participate within the Church. My inner-self knew that just participating would not help my need for God. I had to enter into full Communion. It is something deeper than you have ever felt before, you just know that it's there, waiting for fulfillment and nothing you can do can stop it in any way. You're not aware of how strong this feeling was! I just had to keep going and it gradually developed into something greater. Fortunately I had a great guide and received, God willing, an even greater father and brother in Christ.
Developing into a Catholic took a great courage and strength, which I have never believed nor expected to happen. Courage because you are getting into something new and partly unknown and strength because you're facing up a community and an outer world that might not accept your decision with open arms. But there is only one way to go by it. Accept what you want and more importantly accept God with all your heart and with all your mind.
After I have converted, I changed. For the better. And people noticed it and are still noticing it. Conversion is only the beginning. After my conversion I grew and am still growing spiritually.
So therefore I have proudly entered the Catholic Church in 2007.
My next posts will concern my growth, I'll try and recommend books and sites as well as practices I've found helpful.
Semper In Christi
