henry
Level 1
Group: Members
Posts: 137
Joined: Jul 2, 2010
|
This question is mainly directed at Catholics who converted in adulthood and had not been previously baptized.
Did you feel any different? Did you notice that answers to your prayers were more powerful? If you asked for a sign from God did He give you one.
I think what I want more than anything is to have a sign from God, and I wonder if I need baptism before He will give me a sign that I can see. He's undoubtedly given me signs, but I'd like a sign that is so powerful that it is unmistakable.
I don't live a very Christian life, and my mind is muddy. I'd like clarity, but I think I may need baptism before I will receive this clarity.
|
|
| Posted Jul 29, 2010, 11:29 pm |
|
Ignored by: 0
|
|
|
MyrnaM
Level 3
Group: Members
Posts: 1,170
Joined: May 10, 2010
|
So what is keeping you from this saving sacrament, henry?
|
.........................
2 Paralipomenon Chapter 7 Verse 14 And my people, upon whom my name is called, being converted, shall make supplication to me, and seek out my face, and do penance for their most wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land.
|
| Posted Jul 29, 2010, 11:31 pm |
|
Ignored by: 4
|
|
|
henry
Level 1
Group: Members
Posts: 137
Joined: Jul 2, 2010
|
Confusion about who to trust. That's it in a nut shell.
|
|
| Posted Jul 29, 2010, 11:35 pm |
|
Ignored by: 0
|
|
|
wallflower
Level 1
Group: Members
Posts: 132
Joined: Jul 13, 2010
|
I can't think of the verse now but I am sure there is one about not asking for signs, or maybe that God isn't pleased if we only believe through signs, not to test God's patience, etc... Maybe someone else knows it by heart? I'll try to look into it. I may depend on what sign you're asking for and why though.
|
|
| Posted Jul 29, 2010, 11:36 pm |
|
Ignored by: 1
|
|
|
henry
Level 1
Group: Members
Posts: 137
Joined: Jul 2, 2010
|
| wallflower said: | | I can't think of the verse now but I am sure there is one about not asking for signs, or maybe that God isn't pleased if we only believe through signs, not to test God's patience, etc... Maybe someone else knows it by heart? I'll try to look into it. I may depend on what sign you're asking for and why though. |
That's unfortunate. St. Paul received a great sign, but maybe God only gives signs like that to those who He is grooming for great things. St. Paul received this sign while he was persecuting Catholics, so I can't imagine he was living a holier life at the time than I am now.
|
|
| Posted Jul 29, 2010, 11:39 pm |
|
Ignored by: 0
|
|
|
MyrnaM
Level 3
Group: Members
Posts: 1,170
Joined: May 10, 2010
|
I was thinking that same thing, I believe the verse is in a prayer. My mind is a blank today! (left myself wide open for that remark) 
If God gives you a sign henry, you also have so much more to answer to Him for.
What do you mean, you don't know who to trust, anyone can Baptise, don't you know of a traditional priest anywhere?
Just think if you're disposition is pleasing to God all your Purgatory is wiped clean.
Make a novena in preparation for a proper disposition, and make an appointment. What exactly are your doubts and fears? You don't have to answer if you would rather keep that private.
|
.........................
2 Paralipomenon Chapter 7 Verse 14 And my people, upon whom my name is called, being converted, shall make supplication to me, and seek out my face, and do penance for their most wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land.
|
| Posted Jul 29, 2010, 11:45 pm |
|
Ignored by: 4
|
|
|
henry
Level 1
Group: Members
Posts: 137
Joined: Jul 2, 2010
|
Are all baptisms valid? Can I go to priest who doesn't have the Faith and the baptism still be valid?
Could I go to a priest and request baptism while being noncommittal on his particular POV (e.g. CMRI, SSPX, Slaves of Immaculate Heart of Mary, etc)?
|
|
| Posted Jul 29, 2010, 11:59 pm |
|
Ignored by: 0
|
|
|
|
|
henry
Level 1
Group: Members
Posts: 137
Joined: Jul 2, 2010
|
| Matto said: | I was baptized as a child, so I cannot answer your question as to whether baptism makes you feel different. I sometimes wonder that myself. I know some people get signs from God before they are baptized.
Do you really want a sign from God? I can tell you about an unmistakable sign that God gave me. When I was new to traditional Catholicism, once during Mass, when the priest was holding up the host after the consecration, the host started glowing like a bright light bulb. This lasted for a couple of seconds while the priest was holding up the consecrated host and stopped when he put it down. So I know that these signs do happen sometimes.
Anyone can baptize, as long as they use the proper form and have the proper intention. Some priests without faith might not have the proper intention when they baptize or may not use the proper form, but I am not an expert on this. |
Yes, I'd like any sign that is unmistakable, like your experience, but it isn't a precondition for my entering the Church, of course. But it would help.
That's a worry, that the priest won't have the proper intention. I can learn the proper form and catch him if he is doing it incorrectly, but I can't read his mind.
|
|
| Posted Jul 30, 2010, 12:34 am |
|
Ignored by: 0
|
|
|
roscoe
Level 5
Group: Members
Posts: 4,047
Joined: Jan 6, 2008
|
My understanding is that the most important element of a Baptism is the intention of the subject-- not necessarily that of the one performing the sacrament.
|
.........................
No one has ever presented Any evidence from the Bible, a Pope, Church Council, Father, Doctor, Saint, historian, INQ, Bps Pastoral Letter, nor Catholic Encyclopedia or Dictionary that there is or ever has been such a person as a 'sede vacantist' or such a state of affairs known as 'sede vacantism' before the V2 era.
|
| Posted Jul 30, 2010, 12:39 am |
|
Ignored by: 8
|
|
|
MyrnaM
Level 3
Group: Members
Posts: 1,170
Joined: May 10, 2010
|
| henry said: |
Could I go to a priest and request baptism while being noncommittal on his particular POV (e.g. CMRI, SSPX, Slaves of Immaculate Heart of Mary, etc)? |
You will never know till to talk to a priest.
|
.........................
2 Paralipomenon Chapter 7 Verse 14 And my people, upon whom my name is called, being converted, shall make supplication to me, and seek out my face, and do penance for their most wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land.
|
| Posted Jul 30, 2010, 12:42 am |
|
Ignored by: 4
|
|
|
MyrnaM
Level 3
Group: Members
Posts: 1,170
Joined: May 10, 2010
|
Matto, I had a similar experience with the Blessed Sacrament, but only at Benediction, when I looked at the Blessed Sacrament I could see it pulsating, this went on for several months, and one day I begged God to take it away, because I believed it was not of God, but the devil himself.
I remember praying to God, at first I looked around the Church to see if anyone else saw it, then I looked all around to see if there was a reflection from the fans above, but it would happen when the fans were off too. After several months, I begged God to take it away because it became nothing but a distraction for me, trying to figure it out, and also it was starting to make me feel special, that was when I realized it was the devil.
After I begged God, it disappeared and never again happened to me.
So be careful what you ask for.
|
.........................
2 Paralipomenon Chapter 7 Verse 14 And my people, upon whom my name is called, being converted, shall make supplication to me, and seek out my face, and do penance for their most wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land.
|
| Posted Jul 30, 2010, 12:53 am |
|
Ignored by: 4
|
|
|
|
|
