How Do I Know If I've Actually Encountered Jesus?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ย. 2024
- How do you know you've had an encounter with God? Sometimes it's hard to tell, especially if you were raised in the Faith.
Today, Fr. Mike shares his own conversion story, and encourages us to think of a time or a season where you decided to devote your life to God, because Jesus was there in that time, even if you didn't realize it.
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Father Mike you’ve inspired me to post my experience: some years ago, during Holy Hour, I asked Jesus to help me. I heard a voice right next to me say, “It’s your pride.” I was shocked. I looked around quickly, thinking I had spoken aloud. The person closest to me was across the room. I have been working on my pride ever since then. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for this amazing gift.
Hi, thank you for sharing your experience. I struggle with my pride as well but I don't know how to work it out. Any suggestions? I need as much help as I can get
@@piratekid1I find the Litany of Humility to be a very helpful prayer.
Pride is the biggest sin that trips up many of us, myself included. Thank you for sharing your amazing experience.
@@piratekid1 daily Rosary, fast to bread and water on Wednesday if possible and never miss Holy Mass on Sunday. Try to confess your sins on a monthly basis. He'll make you a new creature! Praying for you 🙏🔥
"Blessed are those who have not seen me but beleive in me"
Jesus to Thomas.
I attend daily Mass. One day I was so tired to attend the 7 a.m. Mass. So I prayed to God asking him to forgive me for not wanting to attend Mass. I heard this internal voice " I will forgive you, but will you forgive yourself." Needless to say, I attended Mass & thanked Jesus for loving me❤
Shortly after my mother died, I was praying in my church in front of a statue of Jesus. It was in one of those little side naves with candles flickering in a quiet darkened church. I was very sad and asked Jesus to help me deal with my sorrow. I then felt an overwhelming sensation of love and gentle kindness and peace. I know Jesus was with me at that moment. It was so beautiful. This experience was not so much a turning point for me but a confirmation of my spiritual path. It enriched my spiritual journey for sure.
I've had something similar happen to me a couple times in 2018. I wasn't dealing with the loss of a loved one, but it was still something that really upset me at the time. It's really cool to see evidence of God's existence like that!
What an incredible story and experience. Praise Jesus.
Ohh I've also had that feeling of profound peace, love, and hope, and in that moment, Jesus feels so unbelievably real and present that it made me realize how much I want to live with God present in my life, forever.
I was a scientist, chemist, and atheist for 45 years. I ran across a scientific publication about dating ancient linen, specifically the Shroud of Turin. This was published April 2022. That study overrides the C14 dating for many reasons. I won’t go into them all. I was fascinated by the new date, and then went looking at all the other tests on the Shroud, convinced it was a proven fake. Well I was completely shocked. The Shroud is a miracle. You have to be a hard core scientist like me, old chemist, then genetic engineering, then biomedical engineering, particle physics even. I even know how to sew, and I oil paint as a hobby. It’s absolutely a miracle and proves Christ’s resurrection. I became a born again Christian and my faith has never wavered. And the weird thing is that I completely changed. I was a good, moral person before, but was totally transformed. I feel 1000 times smarter with God’s wisdom and armor.
Edit: There are no more excuses. All must come to Christ. And I feel it’s last call right now. It’s late in the season.
Amazing testimony! It was the latest developments in particle physics that led me back to the faith
Hope all come into Christs Church❤ happy for your conversions blessings
AAAAAAAMEN
Wow, you’re really gifted on so many talents!
You are an inspiration to many and should share your testimony to others! God bless you and thanks so much!
I just watched something on YT about Our Lady of Guadalupe that you may know about how the lab could not identify what looks like the paint and the fact that it does not degrade. I think it is the obsession in our culture to have proof or be verified scientifically that keeps many from believing in the Glory of God.
I encountered Jesus after reading the Gospels. I was a young adult at the time who despite being baptized Catholic was never serious about my faith. I cried after reading the Gospels and nothing was ever the same again. Feeling blessed!
The exact same, happened to me. I had read the Bible for years, but, one day, it all came to me and could not stop crying. Blessed be God!
I had the same experience after reading the Gospels! Changed me for ever.
Matthew 23:26, light went on and began move me. Jesus is our teacher. I'm glad . I'm a sinner, I am imperfect. But when reading jesus words in the gospels. It strikes me in the heart and mind, and you give up parts of yourself desire and will. Jesus taught me on the meaning of marriage, and not to by or sell in his house of prayer. But it takes takes time to put into practice, and to learn
My enocunter with Jesus was also in confession. I was raised Catholic, went to Catholic grade school, high school and college. Went to mass weekly, but really didn't pray. I was going through the motions and trying to set an example for my kids. I encountered God's grace in confession this year and was freed from decades of habitual sins. After this, I truly experienced Christ's presence in the Eucharist. It's hard to explain, but I know he is present. It took me 48 years to have that encounter, but my life has been transformed. I know I am being called to something, but I don't know what. Pray for me.
Wow, Father, I have been trying to figure out how to share my testimony with my agnostic friend who has cancer, and you just gave me the answer. Thank you, and praise God!
Since everyone else is sharing their encounter with Jesus, here's mine: In 1979, I was 25 years old. A cradle Catholic who had gone through childhood trauma and abuse, left the faith because of the radical modernist/communist priests of the post-conciliar years who preached religious indifferentism, was in the Foursquare Gospel "church" and living a life of sin which they said was ok, as long as you believe you're NOT sinning. At a "communion" service, they passed everyone at long banquet tables a small cracker and tiny plastic goblet of grape juice, and said, "If you believe this is the Body and Blood of Christ, then, for you, it is. But if you don't believe, don't eat! It's sin!" I came to my senses and thought, "This isn't the first century Church! It's PRETEND! How many of the least educated people in the Catholic Church receive the Real Body and Blood of Jesus EVERY DAY? And here I am, starving to death! I will go back to my Father's House." I didn't eat, told my friends I was going back to the Catholic Church and they promptly dropped me. I went to confession on September 15, 1979, and met the Real Jesus, Who transformed me into my best self by His gifts of the Holy Spirit, though I have had to overcome much brokenness and many struggles with the help of God's grace. His Peace and Joy were out of this world. I felt like a new Creation, began going to daily Mass when possible and sometimes to more than one holy Mass on Sundays, sitting in the front pew and smiling all the while. I began to study apologetics and did some prison ministry, and lots of prolife work, and became a catechist, a homeschooler, and did cantoring. Please pray for me, that I'll be able to accomplish all God wants me to do. Thank you ❤
This is really moving. You have done so much. 🙏🙏🙏
Praying for you sister🤍
I dedicated myself to God when I was 3 1/2. I looked up to the skylight in my house and said, "God, I want to follow you."
One of my favorite things to pray is to give thanks for allowing me to be raised in the Catholic faith
Actually, I was raised Catholic, but got into teaching yoga, and got pulled into Buddhism. COVID created some questions in my mind and I decided to find a church. I got a chill just walking in and the gospel was about the prodigal son. I bawled like a baby and knew right then He was glad I came home. ❤ Jesus!
I encountered Jesus during my cancer journey, and it was a true blessing! One day while praying after being diagnosed with cancer, worried about my two youth children and what would happened, Jesus showed me he will always be by my side. I clearly pictured him sitting next to me on that couch as I was crying and his arm around my shoulders. I cried if happiness, because I knew he was hearing my prayers of me surrounding my fears and illness to him. From that moment on, I have not cried of fear for cancer, because I know nothing is impossible for our Lord! I have surgery this Thursday, double mastectomy, and I know he will be there, the surgeons hands will be His hands, the surgeons eyes will be His eyes and I will have a full recovery from this surgery! Jesus I place my worries to you, and I know you will battle this illness for me!
I hope you're better now! I will pray for you and your family. May God be your strength and your peace
I have always felt bad that I don't have a " real " testimony or what I thought was one. I have always desired a relationship with God and grew up in a Christian home where my parents taught me the bible stories and I love the Lord. I never went through a " dramatic " conversion experience of being saved from many demons.I get strength out of doing daily bible reading and the book of common prayer and participating heavily in my church.
Father Mike, what a perfect story! I don't think I ever really had a moment with an actual person that changed my life. However, I remember at the age of 18 or 19 being overwhelmed with my anger and grief over abuse I had been dealing with since I was 12. I was hurting so badly inside and had no idea what to do with it all. Out of nowhere, I just sank to my knees and cried out Please, Lord, take this from me, I cannot do this anymore. And there was a literal weight lifted off my shoulders at that moment. I let go of the better part of my hurt and became a different person, no longer as angry and confused. It still brings me to tears, thinking about that moment and the grace of God.
I’ve had many moments in my life where I believe I have encountered God so immensely, but the moment where I really feel like I came back to Him (after a life of sin and being distant from Him despite being raised Catholic) was at church on Good Friday last year. Seeing the crucifix at the altar for veneration and hearing the story of His life and Passion finally hit me. After a whole life of not really knowing who Jesus was, I was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion and began understanding what He had went through all for us. It was such a unique experience I hadn’t felt before. I still get emotional over this, and I’ve never been the same since then - and thank the Lord for that 🤍
I was raised Catholic and it worked!
My testimony is not finished. I thought it was finished in 1992 but it's been more of a journey since then. Thank God He didn't leave me where I was in 1992 because I was wallowing in heresy. In 2009 I came to full communion with His Church and it has been wonderfully freeing learning the truth all these years now. I still believe I have an inexhaustible ways to go learning but Jesus has made a way for me through His sacrifice and graces he sends me in the Sacraments.
My conversion has taken 48 years to tell so far and it's not done yet ♡
I believe it is a life long journey. I just need to keep fighting for God to be in my life.
Not because God leaves me, but because I leave God.
A lot of us wish we have a simpler story😅 but God has a plan for us all individually ❤
Pope Benedict XVI was a fantastic writer and theologian. His God is Love was so enlightening and inspiring to me, that it really redirected my life at a time when I really needed it (as I came to find out soon after).
"... I was raised Catholic ... and it worked ... " This!!! Such a genuine perspective. Thank you for giving me helpful language.
Fr. Mike thank you for sharing your testimony. I turn 63 next month and left the Catholic church when I was 26. Never in my 26 years as a Catholic did I here about an encounter or relationship with Jesus. God however miraculously introduced himself to me while I was still a Catholic. The problem was that my spiritilual hunger was never satisfied in the Catholic church. For the past 39 years I have been firmly rooted in bible teaching chuches. I have led bible studies and women's ministires, been a youth group leader and given messages at womens events. I praise God that He spoke to me at the youth event when I was 14 and said, "I have plans for you." Oh boy did He have plans for me and as I have recently retired, I look forward to what God has next for me. To God be the glory!
I converted to Catholicism last year. Jesus saved me.
I was raised Catholic and never hated going to church or CCD classes, but it was expected of me and felt mostly like a habit in my family. Then when I was 20, there was a combination of a new priest at my parish who had a very different preaching style along with a very unique television series that came on at about the same time. I was just overwhelmed with the feeling of God touching my life. It was intense. I felt like I really understood my faith for the first time. I suddenly wanted to know God better and follow His plan for my life. That feeling has never really gone away, and I am now 56. But I have always felt that people don't see my story as a big deal because of the raised Catholic part. Like it was not a big change. But, to me, it has always felt HUGE. Thanks for this, Fr. Mike.
GOD IS GOOD 🙏🏻 Jesus I Trust in You..
Amen, Jesus is King, you’re on the true path to eternal salvation 😇🙏✝❤
I was in my 50s. My wife and I never had children. My friend came to work with me and he was Catholic, as was I. He got me going to Mass. My wife started RCIA classes and I was her sponsor. The person staying at my house was my niece and pregnant doing drugs. She left after her son was born and we were left with a screaming 1 month old baby boy. My wife is now Catholic and we go to Mass with our son. He is now 5, In Catholic school, and it is all a gift from God. Thank you almighty Father!!!
What a beautiful story I read today, thanks for sharing James. Love and regards to your beautiful wife and lovely son. Praise the Lord, a fellow Catholic friend from India.
I was quite a good "sunday to church" catholic, until I met Jesus in a priest, and I thought: "I wish I could be like him." Today I preach. I don't know what's next, Jesus is full with surprises.
Salve Maria ✝️ we are blessed you followed the call😇
The Chosen series, scenes with Jesus brought me back to my life in Christ 🙏🏻
Father Mike, Jesus has called me to follow him twice in my life. I will not lie, but following His word is not easy at times. I to have been raised in a Catholic Family, but when I heard him actually say (more of a whisper) “follow me” I wasn’t sure if I was actually hearing it, not doubting it, but doubting myself. The second time Jesus said “follow me”, several days later I knew in my soul, it was Him. Not dramatic, no burning bush, no thunder, just a whisper. From than on, I do my best to do what is asked of me. Peace be with you Father “Iron” Mike.
Just 33 seconds in and... I love your confession to a priest when you needed it, testimony. That matters on so many levels.
@5:30 yes, exactly... so good, this is Christianity. Thx bro.
Jesus has saved me from so many earthly attachments , desires ! And I want to Thank Mother . Mary , Mother of Jesus for interceding my prayers and intentions . " Jesus , son of David , have mercy on us " .
Amen .
Alleluia. 🙏💓
AMEN. GRACIAS Father Mike, keep doin what u Do. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. ☝💯💯✌💯
I also was raised Catholic and it worked😊
That was so beautuful, Father Mike. Thank you! God Bless you❤
I started out as a Methodist, and then my mom and dad fell in love with the Catholic Church I became Catholic at 18 I am the last of my family That is Catholic It is sad, but the protestant reformation has stolen so many souls. I love my faith.
I was raised Catholic and it worked ! Amen amen amen thank you to my parents grandparents great grandparents that instilled the faith in my blood and now I’m here ❤❤❤❤❤
I often wish I had a testimony that was not so profound, and very simple- “It Worked!” I love that! Tho, seems those that have that want my “story filled life” ongoing crying out to God for help in desperation… God has certainly made us all quite a bit different for reasons likely He only knows and understands fully! ❤
Only fr mike makes me set my video speed to .75x here in youtube….
😂😂
Beautiful, thank you father Mike!
There is a moment I was created, and there is a day I was born. At some point I accepted Jesus and I've been maturing ever since.
AMEN AND AMEN 🙏 THANKYOU. PTL
Amen, we all must live a life like Jesus, for eternal salvation. 🙏😊✝❤
THANKYOU 🙏
What about backsliding and returning? I gave my life to Jesus several times in my youth ( having been brought up with parents who were positively anti Christian)
Had massive backslide in my 50s then trauma in 60s which has driven me back to Christ again. I was in evangelical Protestantism ( of several types ) but am now drawn to the seemingly deeper Catholic Christian life appreciating Aquinas talks and TBIOY with Father Mike. For which Thank You and Ascension.
I believe I’ve encountered him multiple times in mass, in nature, seeing him in my niece and nephew as I would break down and cry in joy for no reason at all. It’s just frustrating how fleeting it is. Like I feel if I could live in that space where I had unconditional joy and nothing else mattered that where we are supposed to be, but sadly it was only for a short period of time
Always inspiring Father Mike.
This was a good listen and I think I really needed to hear this today, I also encountered Jesus in confession but never really thought about it that way, I’ve been kinda jealous in the past when I’ve heard people tell these sensational stories that make me wonder if I’m even in the same boat with these people. A recent episode of the chosen also pointed out that having faith without seeing anything spectacular can also be a great blessing, God bless
Yess there is a Bible verse where is days blessed are those who believes without seeing , it’s a beautiful things John 20 ; 29
I love You Jesus 🙏 Our Lord and Saviour, You are the way, the truth and the life 🙏
Thank you Fr.Mike for your Leadership and Guidance
Glad you accepted God 's call ❤
You are so inspiring to us!
Greetings Father Mike,
Memoir :-
-> After Brief Bedtime Prayers before Lord Jesus Christ during Broken hearted Period,I have been guided in Spiritual Way towards yourself Father Mike and Ascension Presents TH-cam Channel few years ago.
-> Glory be to Lord Jesus Christ on brief Spiritual Encounter..Amen..
With regards and Prayers,
Ranjith Joseph (R.J)
I encountered Jesus in 1991 the Saturday before Palm Sunday. I was 32 years old. Growing up my family never attended mass so I did not go but I did receive all the sacraments. When my children were 2 and 4, I began bringing them to church every week. I thought if I am going to raise them Catholic and have them receive the sacraments, I wanted to bring them to church. It was confusing growing up the way I did.
After attending Mass for a few months with my children, I began to really enjoy it. The priest was very good and spoke at a level I understood. I did feel like, as much as I was enjoying going to Mass, something was missing.
I spoke to a priest who told me I needed to go to confession. Mind you, I only had one confession in my life and it wasn’t even before I received first Holy Communion. It was right before Confirmation. The priest came to our classroom and heard our confession outside the classroom where there was two chairs set up.
So I decided to take the priests advice (in 1991). I went to confession and confessed a few things that had bothered me over the years. I was given absolution. I was just amazed and so overwhelmed. I walked into that confessional one way and came out born again…a new creation. I began to say Jesus is Lord. Before, I knew the story of how Jesus died in the cross for us so we may have eternal life. Yes, I knew that but now for the first time, it all came together. I believed in my heart now. I cried and cried for weeks. I began to say the rosary every day. I purchased books to learn more about my faith and that’s all I read for years after this experience…spiritual books. I remember when my eyes were closed I could see a bright bright light in the distance. I began to realize…wow, if God loves me this much, we are all his children and this is how he loves all of us. I was able to forgive those who had hurt me. I gave my life to Jesus and have never been the same since. Faith is a grace which I have been granted. God never forces though and waits for our yes. Praise be Jesus Christ now and forever ❤️✝️❤️✝️
You’re awesome. I just love listening to you. Thank you !
Fr. Mike Schmitz!!!! I had no idea I could comment!!! I’m so excited right now!! Fr. Mike Schmitz, I have been listening to your homilies, Catechism in a year, and Bible in a year, and watch your talks and videos!!! I am not Catholic but you have been teaching me so much and I would so much love to be at one of your talks!!! Please, I ask if you could come to Ohio or if I could come to one of your conferences. You have helped me get through so much and I listen to you for 8 hours a day at work.. you have sparked my curiosity of Catholicism and I would love to ask you a million questions!!! I love the love you have for Jesus!!! I can relate… I would love to be a fisher of men and evangelize.. God gets the Glory!!!…and the last thing lol.. God bless you for all the Jesus you spread in the world!!! The world definitely needs more of it!!!
Blessings, you might want to find a local Catholic Church and contact the priest to start RCIA classes:)
I was raised Catholic and it took. I love that. That's my non-exciting conversion story. And I'm so thankful for it!
Why it's not exciting? God kept you all your life from sin and you walked with Jesus, many people who got converted later in life wish to have that life.
@@romaslivIt is exciting to me but its not attention grabbing in our modern world. I love my story but its not headline grabbing.
You bring tears to my eyes Father Mike on your story in the confessional! That, is Jesus.
Thanks for sharing such a personal and interesting insight. Jesus appeared to me in a dream and told me something very personal about myself, even though I didn't come to know the full meaning or have understanding of it until years later. It's something that has been difficult for me to deal with but does explain a lot of past difficulties. I now have a sense of peace that I have a sense of calm and peace that I have never known before.
Unfortunately, the Churches near me have become more and more toxic and as a result I have moved further and further away from the Church. Yet there is still something there between Jesus and myself somehow. I once made enquiries into the priesthood myself, but I held back. I don't know whether that is what God wants me to do or not. Years of bad experiences in the Church have made me think that, and I know this is an odd way to put it, that priesthood was the biggest mistake I never made. Yet for some reason I've never closed the door to the priesthood or the church.
Maybe God does want me for something but I've got some more 'life lessons' to learn or it's not my time and events that have not yet occurred need to happen. At the moment I feel totally isolated and alone.
Stay strong. God has a time and a place for everything and everyone. He uses every decision you make, good or bad, for the good of His plan. I’m also struggling but we just have to lift each other up and stay strong in our faith. I’ll keep you in my prayers, God bless.
@@xrocket1312 I believe that EVERYONE..no matter who or what, big or small...the LORD wants us ALL to BEAWARE that EVERYONE is WORTHY OF HIS ETERNAL LOVE!!! And no matter what you have been through, no one has the RIGHT to tell you otherwise. GODS ETERNAL LOVE, GIFT, AND balance. May the GOD and the ANGELS bless you ALWAYS!!
Thank you Fr. Mike, for reminding us of that precious moment when our Lord came into our lives and shook everything as we knew it🙏
Hi father mike great video thanks god bless ✝️🙏😇
Your videos are amazing Thank you
Aren't they great?
@@MorreHope They are truly inspiring, Father Mike is my favorite Teacher of Christ. God loves you.
@@CreedB4Greed Oh, How He loves you and me.
There have been many people in my life that have contributed to the growth of my faith but I don’t know if anyone has led me to as profound an understanding of my faith and God than you, Father Mike. You’re one of the most significant people I’ve had encounters with, without you even knowing it. Thank you. God bless you and your ministry to the world. The Holy Spirit is using your gift of being a dynamic teacher to help so many people. I’m praying for you.
For me the most memorable moment was during my first confession when I was in Sunday school, I didn't know what to expect I just remember memorizing the passage that our teachers advise us to say because they made it sound so serious and that you cannot mess it up so I was worried for messing it up and getting it wrong and especially to God, didn't thinking too much I went in and did well, struggled a sentence or two and I just confess the sins I had done like disobeying parents that week and maybe not helping much around the house, you know simple child thoughts xD Then the priest blessed me and said my sins have been forgiven, I just thank him and the moment I got up to leave the room at the doorway, literally when I step one foot out I felt a weight being lifted off my shoulders, it felt nice, relaxing and refreshed. I felt like the slate was really wiped clean at that moment, and its not the same feeling of relief as I finish an exam and now I don't have to worry about memorizing the answers anymore it was a feeling I couldn't really explain but believed it to be God who did His work on me, His peace came upon me and my sins really felt like it was forgiven, nothing was held against me, I guess in a way I felt free. Such peace that is hard to explain because there is no reference to it in my head, it was one of a kind. Thinking about it now, God had been showing up in my life more than I expected so thank you for this, it was starting to worry me when I hear people telling me they have such amazing encounters with God or that they can hear Him speak, as someone who doesn't experience those kinds of things at all, it made me questioned if I was doing something wrong in my prayer life. It's nice to be reminded God is with us in His many wondrous ways
I love your story. It helped me verbalize thoughts about my own encounter with Jesus that I was unable to express. Thank you for sharing ❤
My spiritual journey started when I was 17 and going through a difficult time. I was mentally ill at the time due to circumstances happening in my life, and one night I was so ridden with anxiety I couldn't sleep. When I did drift off to sleep, I dreamt of Heaven and I was wearing white robes. Even though nothing significant happened in the dream and I didn't see God or Jesus, I woke up feeling more peaceful. After that, I looked into spirituality, then NDEs, and in almost every NDE they talk about Jesus and Heaven, and that's what has led me to rediscover Christianity. It's been a long journey but I'm glad I'm finally here now learning more about God and Jesus.
I feel seen 😅 I was raised Catholic and I say that I've been given the gift of always believing
Well, Father Mike is part of the story of how I came back to Jesus. I went through a period during my teens when I was very disappointed and skeptical about religion, and I remember a time at the beginning of the pandemic, I was very depressed, I had just graduated from University and I was terrified about the uncertainty of where my life was headed, and so hopeless.
One day, I casually came upon and watched this video from Ascension Presents about suffering and allowing Jesus to enter into one's pain, and it gradually gave me a whole new outlook on my Catholic beliefs. I opened my heart again and prayed for faith. My faith grew, and my life's purpose got clearer: work for the conservation of nature and let my work be a way to praise the Lord and serve Him by protecting His Creation.
And ever since, I sometimes get this profound feeling of the Grace of God, and Jesus being with me, being my strength and my hope. And it is probably the most beautiful feeling I have ever experienced. It is so powerful that it moves me to tears out of nowhere.
Thank you, Jesus, for bringing me back to you, and thank you, Mary, for helping me get back to my beautiful Jesus ♡
Beautiful
This is so real for me and I think for many because yes I have heard the amazing almost Damascus road stories and thought exactly that well whilst I have wandered off the path from time to time I have walked with Jesus (quite literally sometimes) since as far back as I can remember he has been and thankfully still is as real to me as any human being - more than some - and yes there have been times when by the power of the holy spirit in me I have had various 'encounters' but not one that I could have said was the conversion experience of some but then when Jesus spoke to the crowds on the mountain they all heard what they needed to and so therefore we are not all meant to experiencehim in the same way it is always going to be different because he calls us by name and leads us by name so we are all going to have different experiences/encounters/stories to relate to others that will help them in turn in their journey with the lord................
I would love to hear your take on how to help someone who loved Jesus deeply, baptized, went to church twice a week read the bible daily, and now he no longer believes because Jesus wasn't answering any of his prayers among other reasons
I encountered Jesus through one of his disciples. I'm praying to be one too
as a convert I always think it’s so incredible that Catholics got to go to confession their whole entire lives. I feel like that would have helped me so much when I was younger. It’s helping and healing me now though and I’m so grateful for that sacrament it’s so incredibly special. not at all what I thought it would be like.
I'm a Hindu by birth and in our stories god/goddesses punish evil doers, there is no room for forgiveness, very few people redeem themselves. I've been suffering since I can recall from various things which I feel resentful about, it feels like a universal plot to keep me down. I have done and keep doing things that hurt the people who claim to love me to the point where they want to boot me out of the family. I've been put in rehabs 5-6 times. I pray for a miracle since I do not know who is right and who is wrong and how to live happily in peace. I have always been confused as to what is gods will and if I should listen to principles or my desires. I had been following my desires as opposed to what I am supposed to be doing. Thanks to father Mike I am learning stuff which I can hopefully apply. Our religion preaches duty over personal feelings and I haven't been doing so. I can't say that i am very knowledgeable about my own religion either because my family is not learned in it. I hope i will be able to put my selfish desires aside next time.
Any encounter with Jesus, your personal testimony, is generated in your mind. Now you have work to do.
I was raised Catholic and it didnt work. I took on the message that I am sinful, imperfect, unloveable, not ok with myself. I lacked idenity. I clung to the church though because I didnt know what else to do. Then I fell away. First to mainstream christianity. Then to Judaism. Then to Kemetic belief, or Egyptian gods, then to Shintosim. I became very ill and unwell. But by the grace of God he found me and brought me home. And he showed me that what I had learned growing up was not his true church. He showed me his love and his mercy. Now, finally, I am a Catholic. I love Jesus and I love his church. I still struggle. Im still trying to figure out who I am and what my idenity is. I am still being healed. But now Jesus is in my boat.
I lived during Communism/a little into post-Communist time and our access to church was restricted. I am an Orthodox Christian and our churches are full of icons. I remember my parents took us to visit a monastery (because they wouldn't be followed by the regime there; one could lose their job if the regime found you were attending church often) and I, at age 6 I believe, started venerating all icons, not knowing what saints were there (at that age I couldn't read well). Not long after that I was trying to fall asleep at home and I saw an angel at a window, through a transparent curtain. I rubbed my eyes and it was still there, so I wasn't dreaming. It was made of light and looked about 33 cm/1 ft. tall, with wings up to the feet and a forehead so bright, I couldn't see the angel's face well. The thing is I could see the curtain through this angel, so he was pure light. Much later in life, when I was 18, I knew I wanted to leave my home country, Romania, due to the corruption and now I know, due to the economic situation as well and I chose to go to the US. I heard a girl did extra-curricular activities, like singing in church, so that's how God got me in church and since then, unless ill or I have a very good excuse, I haven't missed church and the choir/chanters. So, the second decisive meeting in my life was the extra-curricular activity of singing in the church. It's as simple as that. May God bless everyone here!
I was not raised Catholic but encountered Jesus when I was unaware I was living in sin. He brought me to awareness and slowly I embarked on the journey of becoming Catholic. The first thing that drew me in was reading the bible and learning about how very much God LOVES us. He also sparked my curiosity by showing me His mother, Our Lady, through the rosary and Ave Maria. Mary always points us not to herself but to Jesus, Our Lord and Saviour. ❤
I hope that you are at peace.
I had gone through anxiety and panicatacks for about 6 years when i started studying.
I ofc was not in contact with god in any way back then, or so i thought...
During my studies i found out that i had a neck for psychology, and completed my studies with highest grades.
During the end of my studies i wanted to create a model where one could see the correlation between a mentalhealth issue and what is missing within that human.
I hate mentalhealth problems, they ruin so much and i cannot stand for it.
To make a very long story short,
i one day was looking out the window on some trees while it was raining because what i found out was horryfying and nature allways soothed me.
Right then i saw in my mind the trinity and things just started to fall together in every way possible.
I made the model, then i research the trinity that i knew nothing about atall back then(i thought it was some witch sign or celtic thing).
when i saw it was NOT some celtic thing or witch sign but rather THE trinity, it melted PERFECTLY with "my model" and i saw everything anew.
I cannot even describe the peace that came over me, the wisdom i recieved wich even today makes me see things totally diffrent.
You can believe me or not, but 4 days later i had no more anxiety or panicatacks and i have never had them since.
In fact, i am better in every way possible and i have a burning fire that drives me through anything with ease.
But most important of all, i am at peace and i am so humbled to be at this place within myself.
I praise god every day.
I am far from perfect, but today i want to be and strive to be for him. And it is good.
Peace and blessings upon you all, praise be to the most high.
The remarkable thing about my "conversion" was that I was surprised by it, I felt that "I" had nothing to do with it - I had the experience of being "found". I was brought up in a Catholic family and went to Catholic schools but in trying to grow up, I rebelled against certain things that I had conflated incorrectly with Catholicism until, in my late 30s, through trying to work through some life decisions, I had a sudden and profound sense of the truth of the faith I had grown up with and its beauty. I had a heightened sense of the beauty, goodness, and truth of the faith and of the love of God. I was surprised. I felt a kind of glow for some time afterward which I have not felt since with the same intensity but I remember vividly.
I love Father Mike videos. As a side note, he bears a resemblance to Jon Hamm, the actor.
Was hoping to get more info on father Mike's conversion story and his early days of knowing God!
Word.
I wasted many years working 6 or 7 days a week and not going to church. Then one morning I woke 40 years had passed and I realized I lost 40 years. I started going to Church every morning be I did anything else. Now I would like nothing more than to go to Church every morning but health has changed and I don't drive anymore which leaves me no way to get there. Now that I want to go I can't. And I miss it. I watch it on the internet but it's not the same as being there. 😢
Mine could have turned out similar to Fr. Mike's, but I've been thinking lately about how if small events in my life had been different, my life now would be entirely different.
I was raised Christian and became Catholic on my own GOD!
Thank you! :) for sharing this! Fr. Mike :)
Someone needs to fight this! I just tried to share this video on my Facebook today December 30th at 6:41a.m. Mtn time and it says this-Your message couldn't be sent because it includes content that other people on Facebook have reported as abusive.
My conversion was a bit funny, I wanted to get my ex gf back by praying the Rosary, I never got her back up I kept on praying the Rosary, 4 years later the Rosary is still going strong and the Ex is long gone!
I had been really angry at God for a long time. And I finally broke down, and came back. When I was 20 ish. I had a vision, and saw every cloud in the sky turn into a dove and a fish. I had asked which religion was true. I knew from that, Jesus was true, and ever since, although it's been so overtly difficult.. I mean really really really hard, and went through so much craziness in my spiritual life, but it always brings me back to Christ. If I push him out, he tries to pull me back in.
You are correct. All church life is of God, or directly from Christ. His grace. His sanctification, his life, love, working through everything he has wanted us to do. If we follow him, and try best, he is there. And he does reach us as we follow him.. the more we follow him, the more we open ourselves to his life, and grace, and love. Jesus was God come in the flesh
God Bless. Claire.
I can't tell you many times I've heard someone explain how they found Jesus and I'm trying to keep a straight face while my brain is like 'HOLY COW you've been through a lot!' And then the question: What about you? Yep same answer. I was raised Catholic and it stuck.
I cannot like this enough
Watching the towers fall on 9/11, and thinking, "This is evil, pure evil, if evil exists so must good. Where is the good, I want the good", which of course leads one to God. In my case, back to the Church I was raised in (culturally at least, felt banners and all), after a brief detour in evangelical mega church world. Thanks Fr. Mike for all you do.
It's not my life after Jesus: it's my life IN Jesus
Its a beautiful feeling when the peace of christ falls upon you and you don't realize it until afterwards and you feel like the 10 virgins (5) who forgot the oil and went out searching
My dad was born and raised Catholic and he hated it. He met my mother and my mother got him out of Catholic high school. His parents couldn’t stand her because of what she done but they got married anyway In pretty short order five children appeared. The rules were simple. All you had to do was go to CCD until you were confirmed and then you didn’t have to go anymore. It worked well for my brothers. They want as long as was necessary. I’m the oldest and I stayed and join the teen club and did a lot of cool things and, really enjoyed it. My sister at one point was contemplating being a nun, but our parents didn’t make religion important except maybe first through third grade when three of us the first three of us were learning all the prayers we all lay on the bunkbeds and mom would listen to us prayers, otherwise unless we were receiving sacrament or it was Easter or Mother’s Day. My parents didn’t go to church. We had the kids mass on Saturday afternoon after CCD. The young father said the mass was just the best. One of the things I hate about moving was that I knew I wasn’t going to get to be in his team club, and you were always hearing about all the cool things then went on with father Hughes. I had no problem at the one that I ended up in my best friends. Aunt was the leader. She was a nun at the time she has since left, but my parents they didn’t care, they didn’t care if we were married and Catholic churches in fact, they preferred that we weren’t. When my children were old enough to go to a CCD type program, I had no support from my parents and I was just beat down by my ex-husband and his mother, so instead of learning Catholicism, they learn their meaning in line language because that was more important. No prayers no religion. Just learning the language and the history of Armenia and how the Turkish people were our sworn enemies and we were never to have any contact with them. excuse me I have to take myself out of that I never gave up being Catholic, no matter what the woman said, she would say I was Armenian orthodox because of marriage. No, I wasn’t. I had any idea what was involved in an Armenian marriage ceremony there would not have been a wedding and I’ve been a lot better off. I’m the only member of my family that’s alive that is still practicing and even if that I came back after decades of neglect. I look forward to weekly adoration and my mass. I know that even if I’m trying to do things as best as I can, I’m still gonna flood up so I’ve got confession penciled into my calendar every two weeks so I know it. I know I’m going, but I just wanna make sure I remember unfortunately they’re very few things that bring me joy right now, but the one that does is the church. I love the way I feel when I walk out of confession. I love the feeling of walking through the big doors. I attend a very old church and there’s something really special about that. It took me a while to come back because I didn’t know you could but once I found out that you could, I was there in a heartbeat, and I don’t look back. It is unfortunate that my children do not actively participate in any religion. I worry about that being handed down to my granddaughters, but it’s not a topic that I am allowed to discuss. I just have to keep my mouth shut and pray so when religion is part of your family it makes a big deal. It’s a great deal. And when it isn’t, it can really be heartbreaking..
I was an atheist once until I was in jail. There was a dude in there with me who's was reading the Bible and quoted a passage in Romans (I think) where it says that suffering is what bulids character. At that moment, I felt like the almighty had came and intervene through him. It's funny because later he beat up another inmate for touching his Bible, hahaha.
Sadly when my 12 years old son passes away 3.7 years ago. I struggled with the "religious" life now. why it has to be that way :( whyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
I don’t know that I’ve ever had that moment, or that season, happen to me.
“I once was lost, but now am found.”
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Christus totus: “we have become not only Christians, but Christ himself...we have become Christ...Head and members form as it were one and the same mystical person...I simply know they're just one thing, and we shouldn't complicate the matter.” (CCC 795)
My most profound personal encounter came from reading 'Orthodox Psychotherapy' by Met. Hierotheos Vlachos. Besides that, I would include a series of Christians in a season of several years especially (aside from family and baptism in early life). I would also distinguish between change, transformation, and transfiguration - the latter being most important - and also between the inner, outer, and emotional life. (I am still thinking about this...)
God bless
I was raised Catholic. I hate the fact that I know the truth. I'm not happy nor at peace due to knowing the truth. I try very hard to live the truth because I know the outcome of I don't. And I will continue to try my best but it will be with a heavy heart. And that's just life sometimes. Good luck everybody and God speed
🙏 for peace and relationship that brings you beyond those feelings.