I listen to a lot of Catholic radio since I spend most of my day in a truck and I have noticed that something. Most of these programs are wither hosted by or have guests who are converts to the Catholic Church. And they are all happy, all the time. I have nothing against happy people, I even consider myself as one of them, but I have to wonder why these converts just seem to be so “over-the-top” happy. Are the faiths they convert from so oppressive that they are finally free from the bonds? Or, is it something else?
I’ve realized it isn’t the converts which are the problem, it’s me and so-called “Cradle Catholics” like me who have been away from the church for a long time and are journeying back. Why would that be a problem, shouldn’t I be happy I am coming back to the faith as well? Yes… and no.
Here’s the problem, I have been away from the church for a long time, over forty years. In that time I have done a lot of things which the Catholic Church surely wouldn’t approve of. And while I knew I was doing these things, until I began really learning about Catholicism, I didn’t really know how bad. Now that I know, and realize how my un-faith (okay I may have made that word up) affected my life and more importantly the lives of those around me it tends to make me pretty sad.
I can’t go back, I can only go forward and maybe I’ll be able to right some of those wrongs, especially the ones done to those around me. Time will tell. In the mean time can you converts lose the attitude?
The Wayward Catholic 
Hey Wayward Catholic,
Well I am glad I do not make you sick!! I was beginning to wonder there for awile:>)) To give you some light as far as myself only, one reason I was/am so happy as a “convert” is because I now know the “truth.” “The truth wll set you free” and it did me. Another reason as converts Wayward, sometimes we give up a lot. I lost a sixteen year friendship. A girlfriend of mine never spoke to her family again as they disowned her. That was 40 years ago. One thing many Catholics who were born into the Church do not understand most of us truly know what it is to give up everything for Christ. We give up friends, family, beliefs, a Church family, and our Church on the whole. We do not just wake up one day and say, “I want to be a Catholic. Yeah, that sounds good!” For me it was a daily struggle for a year. I as all Protestants do believe Catholics are pagans. So I felt my soul would go to hell, even though I knew this is what God was wanting me to do! It was hard and one of the greatest battles of my life. Then the night came, I received our Lord in the Holy Eucharist, from that moment that became the most important thing in my life to this day. I knew then why it was all to be. The Blessings of that Blessed Scarament have never ceased. That makes me happy! We also know what it truly is to finally be “home!” How blessed those who are born into the Church are. You have been “home” all of your lives! So just some info here. Good post and I am glad I do not make you sick:>) God Bless, SR
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I think those of us born Catholic, tend to take it for granted sometimes and drift away. Even though I can’t, I wish sometimes I could go back forty years and make some different choices.
Thanks for the comment. 🙂
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As a convert I here about “taking for granted” a lot! Don’t we all wish we could go back??? God Bless, SR
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