www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Converting to Orthododoxy

p.s. Everyone on the Catholic side trying to keep me from this conversion have been pretty rude, IMHO. Though I hold no grudges, I just wish there would be some mutual respect here for the decisions and the lives of others. We're not all in the 11th century still, you know :rolleyes:

Dear Friend in Christ,

I am sorry for anything my Catholic colleagues have said to upset anyone.

I can't speak for my Orthodox colleagues though!

As an Eastern Catholic, I've been approached many, many times by individuals who wanted to become Orthodox.

They've asked me for resources and assistance in terms of parishes and good people to contact.

And I've always been privileged to assist them with all this.

The decision to become Orthodox or Catholic is a personal one, between the soul and God.

No amount of "factual" material, on either the Catholic or Orthodox side ultimately clinches the decision by an individual.

I myself have thought about becoming Orthodox and I've even spoken to Orthodox priests and bishops about it.

In all cases, I've been told to stay where I am, even though one bishop did tell me he'd be happy to receive me to the Holy Mysteries "just as I am."

Now if we could all learn to live together in the love of Christ, each in our own Church, then perhaps we might stand a chance of starting the process of coming together, no?

Just a theory on my part, anyway . . .

Alex

Justin,
No where have I seen, except for one case, any Catholics trying to stop you from converting. Most of us are saying wait, as I believe any Orthodox priest would do because you are a minor.

I asked you before and I will do so again, do you currently have a spiritual father? I believe that one is necessary for the path you have chosen to follow, you should not do this alone.


Your brother in Christ,
David

Dear David,

Why can't we, as Catholics, acknowledge that the Orthodox Church IS the Church of Christ with valid Mysteries etc. and we can't we support our friend's decision to become Orthodox without giving the impression that we want to place roadblocks along his journey?

It SOUNDS as if you are saying that Justin needs a spiritual confessor to help him get things straight in his head lest he jump into schism or worse!

I know you don't mean to, Big Guy, but you do come across as saying that.

If someone wanted to become Catholic, wouldn't we just tell them to join a parish etc.?

Certainly, he can use a spiritual father. Do you have one? Do other BC's here have one?

I'll speculate and say the majority of us don't have one.

And yet we insist on Justin having one as if his move into Orthodoxy is a bad one.

Why?

Alex

Alex,

I do see what you are saying and you do know I don't mean that.

I think everyone should have a spiritual father and should not proceed with any major thing within their spiritual life without assistance.

The reason comes from my background. You may not be aware, but there was a time when I was a pentecostal. Now that I look back upon this, I know it was mostly emotional based.

Our emotions get the better of us, especially when we are young, as Justin is, and do not have much past experience to look back on to know how we "feel" at any moment.

Just becuase we do not get any "feeling" out of prayer at some time does not mean that the prayer was not fruitful.

As far as things go spiritually, we need assistance. That is what I am getting at.

Did I make any sense here?


David

Dear David,

Yes, we are all "young and restless" in our lives .

And Justin is a bit nervous - just take a look at how he stammers "Orthododoxy" .

And the Eastern Church is the original Pentecostal Church, to be sure, Big Guy!

Do you see how wonderfully congenial I really am?

I can just sense that Angela wants to come on right about now and say something complimentary to us both!

Hey, it's the summer . . .

Alex

Aargh I just had an accident with this and lost the whole post

What I had said was [ I think] that I had been trying to avoid this thread and now Alex has landed me right in it

I think that we have all been on journeys - some longer than others and for some the journey is not yet over [ being totally honest is it ever over ?]

Some 10 years ago when I was having problems in Prayer it was suggested that I read a book [ and practice its content] by Mark Link SJ entitled "You - Prayer for beginners and those who have forgotten how " The book is now out of print and my copy is in umpteen loose pages as the binding gave up - but in it is something which I think applies to us all


My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think
I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire
in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything
apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
you will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it

Therefore will I trust you always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and will never leave me to face my perils alone.


Thoughts in Solitude
Thomas Merton

Dear Angela,

Sorry for bringing you back into this wading pond, but it's clearly worth it to us all!

That book you mention was a great help to me and thanks for quoting from it!

Alex

[The more I think, yes, my age is a factor, but I know what I have always believed and what I have believed when I embraced Roman Catholicism, and it is the same as that which Orthodoxy teaches, so in truth I do not see this as a conversion, merely a coming home.]

Justin: If what you believed when you embraced Roman Catholicism is what Orthodoxy teaches, why did you embrace Roman Catholicism in the first place?
Can you explain what you mean by 'embraced Roman Catholicism'. Do you mean returned to the RCC that you were baptised into, or converted to RCism from another faith?
Anyhow, your comment tells me that you found out the RCC wasn't what you thought it was and are therefore leaving.
Please don't make the same mistake with Orthodox Catholicity. Study it, learn it, practice it, pray about it, and let those you have gone to you nuture you in the faith before you make that final decision. Make sure that Orthodoxy is all that you think it is before converting. If you think that Roman Catholicism and Orthodox Catholicism are just two different sides of the same coin then you have a long study ahead of you. Believe me. Because it is not in spite of what you read here and elsewhere. And the day that you realize that will be the day you either embrace Orthodoxy for the rest of your life or leave it to either go back or forward to something else.
Prepare yourself so that the decision you make will be the final one.

OrthoMan

Dear Orthoman,

Excellent advice and guidance, Big Guy!

I've known people who have moved from RCism to Orthodoxy to Oriental Orthodoxy to . . .

So you and David aren't really that far off after all.

I now see the point you are both making.

Study AND a spiritual father.

I guess I should do more with both myself

Do you know I'm thinking of starting an on-line "Orthoman Fan Club?"

That's the inspiration you emanate!

Alex

OrthMan writes to Justin:

If you think that Roman Catholicism and Orthodox Catholicism are just two different sides of the same coin then you have a long study ahead of you. Believe me. Because it is not in spite of what you read here and elsewhere.

Maybe Justin can solve this dilemna:

he could become a monk at New Skete (OCA)!

Dear Gerard,

Now was that necessary, Friend?

And I now of what I speak. Late last fall, I poked fun on the same topic and offended a number of my Orthodox Christian brothers here.

New Skete is truly Orthodox and they can't help their former Catholic background .

No one's perfect, you know.

People are entitled to change Churches at least once in their lives, I believe.

Any more than that, and you've got to start wondering . . .

I would refrain from igniting fires with our Orthodox friends in future.

Or do you pick on them because you want to become Orthodox?

I had a friend like that, someone who went after the Orthodox every chance he got.

He is now an Orthodox priest.

Alex

Hello everyone, peace be with you all!

In response to David's inquiry, no, I do not have a spiritual father, I have never had a spiritual father and the closest I have ever been to someone who can be described as "spiritual father" was someone who was Orthodox (who, by the way, did not try to convert me, if you were going to try to use that against me) . If you do not respect my decision, fine, but you are not I, and my words cannot fully express that which I feel since this decision. And also, I said you people were rude because the only legitimate thing so far you have said is that I am a minor. And even this was addressed to people other than me, like you were speaking right through me in a condescending tone. "He is not important, nor is his decision" is what I get from your attempts to "help". If you reply to this, know that I do not say these things in anger, but that I am explaining the way it seems you have spoken to me. Peace be with you, humble servant of God.

As for Orthoman, I rejoined the Church I was baptised into (Roman Catholicism) because I thought that it taught what Orthodoxy did, even though I have never heard of Orthodoxy before. And why do people insist this is the result of a single feeling or the response of God to a prayer of mine or something? The fact is this: I am converting to Orthodoxy, the church which seems to be historically the very same one christ established, along with the Catholic Church. Differences? First comes first, Orthodoxy preserved the original Tradition as part of it's faith, recognising the fathers as part of the present faith, not some type of stepping stone into "devellopped" liberal doctrine. I realise there is much difference between the Catholics and the Orthodox, that which I am learning now by reading the book "The Orthodox Church" by His Grace, Bishop Kallistos Ware.

I assure you, my Orthodox brethren, there is a long road of learning to be traveled for me, but in the end, the truth shall prevail. As for the Catholics who have no major problem with this fact, I thank you for your kindness. Those of you who do not respect my decision or spit at me for making it, all I say is this, Glory be to God! Amiin.

Thank you all, I will be ending this thread now. If you are an Orthodox with more questions (Orthoman, if you would like me to clarify anything else) feel free to send me a private message or you can e-mail me at Catholic_servant86@byzantines.net . If you are a Catholic trying to convince me I'm wrong in a condescending way, using the fact that I'm a minor as your only excuse, I will probably delete your message, because I simply do not have time to repeat the same things over and over like a parrot. Thank you all for your time, and in all things, Glory be to God!

End of thread (please)

-Justin, sinner, catechumen to be

Come, Holy Spirit!

Alex,

No big deal.

Just indicating there is a wide range of opinion in Orthodoxy itself regarding the Catholic Church.

Very wide...

p.s. for the last time David, this has nothing to do with some misplaced feeling at the time I made the decision. This is the result of much prayer and study, also partly due to a stay at a monastery.