In Understanding, Be Men

"Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men." (1 Corinthians 14:20)

In this final article of this series I will try to explain the reasons and sources researched that led to my reversion to the Catholic Church. As I stated before this account is, by nature of size limitations, a snapshot and not a thorough examination of the facts. The title of this tome really reflects part of the reason, but I’ll talk more about this point later.

I should talk about my relationship to the Catholic Church at that time. If anyone were to ask me I would have not said I was “Catholic”, but at no point did I ever renounce the Church. I strictly called myself a “Christian” and was non-denominational. Deep inside me, however, there was a certain nostalgia for the things of the Church. For instance, the smell of incense always tripped kind memories of my upbringing.

I also had a love for the Blessed Virgin although I would have called her that in talking about her. When I was an over the road truck driver, which was my final occupation before retirement, when I was in a scary situation (very high bridges, tornadoes, dense fog) I would pray a “Hail Mary”. It gave me a sense of peace…even though I didn’t understand why. This stuck in my mind as further developments led me down the path toward reversion.

My wife, Rose, and I met online in 2010. We hit it off very quickly and spent time chatting on Skype and Yahoo Messenger using our webcams whenever we had free time, connection and electricity (those familiar with the Philippines understand that final point). We determined that we would marry when I came to the Philippines, but I made one point very clear: I would never become Catholic again. She understood that, but I’m sure I was the subject of much prayer for she is a faithful daughter of Mama Mary.

I arrived in the Philippines in January 2011 and we started our true courtship. Part of that was going to Mass on each Sunday with the family (usually at 5 AM). In doing that I saw something that I never saw in this Catholicism in America. The entire congregation participated in singing the songs that are part of the Liturgy in this country. Much of what is spoken in America is sung here. Of course, I didn’t understand a word of what was being said, but the spirit was unmistakable…joy. A funny story: because I wasn’t that familiar with the order of the Mass at that time I didn’t always know where we were in the Liturgy. At one point a lady got up to the lectern and sang this beautiful song. I kept asking Rose what it was and she wasn’t sure what I was talking about. But later as I became more and more used to the Liturgy I realized what the song was…the Responsorial Psalm.

We married on March 10, 2011. But there was something that wore on my conscience. Because I was not a Catholic then and because we wed outside the Church she couldn’t take Communion. I returned to the States at the end of March and began working on Rose’s immigration paperwork, but this was constantly on my mind.

Now, as an Evangelical Christian who believe that Communion was merely a rite which commemorated the Cross and nothing more why should that bother me? But it did…and it started me thinking about I truly believed in my heart of hearts.

This article is titled “In Understanding Be Men” because so much of my knowledge of the Church at that time came from my memories as a child, not serious study as an adult. So I began to research what the Church believed not only through the Scripture but by studying the Ante Nicene Father. They are the disciples and successors of the Apostles.

I also listened to The Catholic Channel on Sirius XM 129 every day. One of the hosts, Gus Lloyd, dealt a lot in Catholic Apologetics on his show “Seize The Day” and helped to resolve some of my concerns about doctrines such as Purgatory, Mama Mary, the Assumption and others.

When I returned to the Philippines in December 2011 for a visit, since Rose’s immigration wasn’t through yet, I told Rose I wanted to revert. We got with Father Ronnie, who was the parish priest at that time. Through him I did Confession and completed my reversion. A couple weeks later after New Year’s 2012 we had our marriage blessed by the Church. I haven’t looked back since. I love the Church and her people. I was overjoyed when Pope Francis was elected and think the world of that man.

In another article I’ll deal more with the reasons why I love the Church so much. I hope this series, as limited as it is, helps someone else to start thinking about coming home to the Church. God bless you.