In my book I explain the factors that caused me to leave the Catholic Church. I never expected to go back to the Catholic Church after being in and out of Protestant churches for over 40 years. So how is this happening?
I have tried to share the Shroud with protestants, and I have found it difficult to do so. This led me to take a closer look at the Catholic versus Protestant belief system which is something I had never done. What I learned is that Protestant’s believe in scripture alone and this has caused them to abandon Christian traditions that were part of the early church. This is a huge issue since both the Catholic and Orthodox branches of Christianity do include tradition in their belief system. Also, images shown in Orthodox and Catholic Churches are looked at as idolatrous. Because I grew up with images in the Catholic Church, I subconsciously am not against them. I think it is more of a challenge for the Protestants to accept an image like the Shroud especially given the history of fake Christian relics. The Shroud also is under the control of the Catholic Church, and it gets much more favorable press from them. Therefore, Catholics are much more open to it.
Since I have been both a Catholic and a Protestant, I know they both include people that genuinely love God. My heart says they are both my brothers and sisters. I do not know any Orthodox Christians, but I regard them as the same. We are all part of God’s Christian family.
I have not found a Protestant Church close to home that I connected with. So, I have not been going regularly to Church for a long time. I decided to go to Church recently in the weeks leading up to Easter and I went to a Catholic Church and an Assembly of God Church on the same day. They were so different that I found myself thinking about it for days afterward.
I was stunned by what I experienced in that Catholic Church. It was the reverence for God. I had been searching for that reverence and I found it in that Catholic Church. I am not putting down the Assembly of God Church. I just really connected with the Catholic Church.
On Easter, I thought about going back to that Catholic Church. Should I or should I not? Would their Catholic belief system somehow negatively impact me? I really felt a need to go, so I went.
The Church is moderate in size but not huge. The choir is in the corner in the back of the Church. I sat near the choir. They didn’t sing music I was familiar with. All I know is it was beautiful and glorified God.
Part of the service included a renewal of baptismal vows, which was something I did not expect. The Priest would make a statement and asked everyone to agree. I had wanted to renew my baptismal vows, but this caught me totally by surprise. I struggled a little understanding the Priest, but I responded affirmatively to most of what he said. I regarded it as a blessing to be able to renew my vows with them and I felt blessed by that Priest.
Everything about the service was reverent and focused on God. I did not partake in communion, but I was so happy I came. It was really a blessing.
I have now been going to this Church every Sunday. I am examining the Catholic faith and trying to determine if God is leading my heart there. I feel a need to help others defend their faith. I am inseparably connected to the Shroud because I know it is Jesus and it was the key in leading me back to Him. Maybe I can share it there?