You'll Find God's Love

God’s Fingerprints on My Heart 

I wasn’t sure there was anything spectacular about the story that brought me to the Catholic Church, but any time God is involved the story takes on a new dimension.  In my life, I noticed that God has led me gently along from the time I was a child, even when I didn’t realize this is what was happening.  

Today I am a different person than I was a number of years ago or even just six months ago.  Part of what makes my life different is that Christ called me to a new life of faith in the Catholic Church. I was baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church. My parents and grandparents were faith-filled and an example for me growing up, but I don’t think I understood completely what my relationship with Christ should be.  

I met my husband, John, when we were in grade school. As we grew into young adulthood, our relationship deepened; John shared his strong Catholic faith with me.  We were married after I graduated from college.  I had promised our children would be baptized in the Catholic Church.  At first we did not attend church regularly. That changed when I met a neighbor down the street who became a very dear friend.   

My friend did not hesitate to invite us to the Catholic Church she and her family belonged to.  It is still fresh in my mind more than twenty-five years later.  I enjoyed going to church as a family, but wished I could take part fully in the Mass. I felt a longing for a more personal experience with God and desired a more intimate relationship with Him.  My husband and friend encouraged me to participate in the RCIA program at our parish.  The weekly RCIA gatherings were enlightening, and my faith began to permeate my whole being.  I came to know a new awareness of myself, my relationship with God, and those around me who were guiding and caring for me just as I imagined Jesus would have.  As I let go of my old self, Jesus poured Himself into me.  Participating in the RCIA rites as I prepared to join the Church, moved me to tears as I felt God’s presence in and around me.    

During this time, I experienced what I call an encounter with God at a parish mission through the speaker, a Capuchin Franciscan monk.  I remember asking him how Christ could really be there in the bread and wine.  Honestly, I don’t recall his exact words, but I vividly remember a calmness and realization washed over me. I knew Jesus was really there somehow hidden in the small round host and wine.  The message was loud and clear to, “trust in the Lord with all my heart and not my own understanding!”  Throughout the RCIA process, I began to understand my faith and felt Jesus in my heart.  Each step of the way, I felt closer to God.  His presence was almost tangible.  I started to realize how great God’s love is for me.  In all these experiences, I realized my faith did not result because of my experiences alone, but because it was God’s desire for me to know Him.  

With my husband John and my friend as my sponsors, I stood before my faith community ready to join the Church and share in the Eucharist on Holy Saturday all those years ago.  I waited with excitement and great anticipation to join totally in the richness of the faith of the Catholic Church.  Jesus had powerfully revealed Himself with the help and unconditional love of my faithful family and friends in Church.  God’s revelation and invitation were irresistible and my response overwhelming; I hungered for more!  This was a milestone in my faith journey and one of the most important commitments I have made as a Christian.   

Receiving the Sacrament of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church was life changing for me. It was the capstone of my faith experience and expressed my total acceptance and commitment to my Lord and my God in this community of faith.  Yet it was not the end, but a new beginning. 

God keeps knocking on my door.  For me the rewards of living the life Christ asks us to are limitless. I know He will carry me through the low points and will understand my struggles and doubts.  I am not perfect, I'm a sinner, but God just wants me to be with Him to celebrate with joy His gift of new life and our relationship and especially in the Eucharist.   

By telling my own personal revelation story of coming to accept Jesus in the Catholic tradition, I hope others will understand the enduring faith of the Catholic Church.  Jesus is a living reality for me and I meet Him again and again in the Gospel stories of how He loved those who were seeking Him.  My longing for Him is akin to that of the sinful woman who boldly came to Jesus with a jar of expensive perfume to anoint His feet.  She knelt before Him sobbing.  Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”  This is the transforming love, the living reality of the Catholic faith, I want to be able to share with others in our faith community.   

The journey through the RCIA process is only part of my faith journey. This faith journey lasts a lifetime but looks different for each one of us. For me, the CRHP experience was another pivotal event which continued to nourish my faith, relationship with Christ, and help me become more a part of the parish. I was inspired to dig deeper into scripture and to continue learning more about our beautiful faith. This led me to coordinate the Welcome-CRHP ministry. 

God answered my prayer to know Him and be with Him. Sometimes it takes my breath away to think what my life would have been like if my friend and especially my husband John, had not shared their faith.  God has called me to this beautiful faith and left His fingerprint on my heart.  I have surrendered myself to His love. In this life in Christ in the Catholic family, I have promised to follow Him and be His hands and feet.  The rewards so far, have been boundless and everlasting.