HOW I become Catholic
I grown up in rural parts of Japan, it is mixed of light and heavy industry, some small scale farming and fishing near ocean.
Traditionally, the town I grown up are Shinto and Buddhism being main religion, however most are not practicing or not know much about either of their religions, so in practical sense, they are atheist with some interest in those 2 religions.
in the history, about 400 years ago, town was once mostly Catholic , but due to severe persecutions Catholic religion mostly faded away, and it did not become legal religion until about 150 years ago. ( story about this in 2013 Latin Mass Magazine over 4 issues )
that is simple back ground of culture at the location I was grown up.
my family were typical family in this town as long as religion are concern, not so particularly practicing any religion even though they claim Buddhist and Shinto as their traditional religions.
I , as many others people at my age group, I was pretty much atheist, during my childhood, until the incident made me realize , there are more than what we see in this world.
I was Atheist in the way, I did not believe any superstition. I did not believe in anything like Japanese saying particular direction of house, direction of front door bring in good luck so on.
around when I was 16 years old, I watched the movies "The Exorcist" 1973 version directed by William Friedkin.
after I watched that movie I had very heavy feeling , that it feel that air got heavier than usual, felt something heavy around my back of heck area. then I forgot about it and try to ignore it. and I was thinking it is just my imaginations.
1 or 2 days later, I visited friend of mine , who are more spiritual naturally. He immediately said , there are some shadow behind me. as soon as he said that , what I was trying to ignore getting heavier and heavier. and My friend notice that shadow is getting darker and darker and bigger. He starts to scare and saw fear in his face.
Then, that darkness become much bigger now, it surround all over us. Same time, I start to feel some being around us, many of them, probably hundreds.
as we were surrounded by those spiritual beings. leader of those spiritual being appeared and talking to us.
The leader of spiritual beings are large in shape, and dark, appear as if wearing dark coat covered head to toe.
He said "I am in control of entire Earth" , "Many has already joined me" , "everybody who die, their soul come with me" , "there is nobody stronger than me" , "so give up, join me, since you have to join me after you die" , "if you don't join now, I will torture you , so you wish you would die" , "now, join me, hand over your soul to my control"
me and my friend who are there, we both heard his voice and saw exactly same way.
we got very scared. and my friend told me "join him now, we must join him, we are not strong as he is", " nothing or anyone can beat him"
however, I knew naturally very well, if I give up my soul to him, that would be my end of my soul and it is bad idea, and wish , and hoping something must be better, and had hope this dark entity may be lying.
at that moment , I remember very little bible verse I have read. it happen to be one of the exorcism prayer. so I prayed probably in first time in my life.
then, woman appear on my mind. some how, I knew that woman is Blessed Virgin Mary. and moment , my thought went through that "Woman ? what she can do ? against this monster dark being in front of us?"
then, monster spiritual being start to say in loud voice. "you guys have no power, over me" , then we got very scared, then after that he left completely, also other spiritual being belong to him also gone.
Suddenly, atmosphere become quiet. as nothing happened.
I told about woman who appear on my mind to my friend. his reply was "there is nothing stronger than him" , "no one can help us"
I told my friend that I think that woman is Virgin Mary. but, he denied she was. and my friend told me, if she was Virgin Mary, she has no power over that monster. and he did not see the woman or heard her voice on his mind.
( at this time, I had no knowledge of Catholic belief , but, it is much later, I learn why it was Virgin Mary. )
That night , me being Atheist is over. I am no longer Atheist. it is not about believing evil or good, it was more seeing and experiencing evil and good.
after that incident, the fear of that dark evil entity come back hunted me, and it continued for many years. I figured best thing to do is forget about it.
so I did not talk about it, nor think about it, for many years.
as time pass, I never forgot about it, but I did not think about it much anymore.
then, slowly , I start to study and Christianity. then I realized there are many Christian sect.
at that time, because lack of my knowledge , I was not able to connect (Virgin Mary = Catholic ).
my first goal was at that time , not so much look for religion or church , but trying to forget what happened.
so it actually took many years, start to learn about Christianity. learning about Christianity for me were long and slow process.
then, I went to Catholic Church out of nothing. asked that "I want to become catholic, what I need to do ?" Woman at the office told me to attend the class and if I still want to be Catholic at the end, I can choose to be baptized. she also said there is no fee for the class.
so I attended all of the classes in USA, then about same time I graduated school, then went back in Japan got baptized in Japan in 1995
at that time, I was believer of God and Evil. however, I did not know all about Catholic believe . just thought it is better to be Catholic than not Catholic.
shortly after becoming Catholic. several weeks after baptism, I was sort of day dreaming during a mass. I saw group of people in jail ( water jail, under ground jail fill with water about 2 feet ) . I immediately knew , Catholic from period around 1600 in Japan, persecuted and just about to put to death, if they don't reject Catholic religion. and They are actually praying for me. First thing come to my mind is that Why they are praying for me ? because I live in time persecution of Catholic no longer exist. so I told them, do not worry about me, however in stead you all should pray for your self, and I will pray for you also. after I told them that they pray even much more strongly for me. I did not understand the meaning of it at that time, but later much later in 2012 or so, I got the meaning, I was thinking I live in much better time now in 20 th century, when we have no persecutions of Catholic in at least Japan, US and most of the countries. so I was not sure, why I need more prayer from those who are just about to be executed. Now I realize, those people who are executed because of their faith are called martyr. I am living in much more spiritually dangerous time.
before I become Catholic I tried other Christian religion, but due to my luck of commitment it did not worked out well, such as I did not go to church every Sunday, did not do what I suppose to do, so on.
Catholic religion allowed me to become more Catholic and believe one piece at the time at my own pace. so it worked out well. Catholic seems to be easy going. that if I missed church for several months, did not go confession for months, I am still consider within the church.
Now, I learned more about Catholic teaching, and I appreciate all of the very much. Attending Latin Mass. but, getting to where I am now were very long process, because interest of learning or practicing Catholic religion were not there all the time even after I become Catholic.
in year 2013 of Good Friday mass, I heard group of people who were Christian 400 years ago, looking over my shoulder , saying we remember those mass , and it is very similar mass as we had 400 years ago. church was over flowing, so I was sitting outside, nice warm wind were blowing gently, they said that scene remind of them 400 years ago. I was attending older pre 1955 Latin Mass on Good Friday.
I would have to conclude saying, experience I had in my teen age year encounter to devil certainly changed my prospective about religion. Before I thought religion are non sense centuries old superstition. Now my brief become there are something substantial about religious teaching.
I must say God , Guardian Angle must watched out for me all the time, so I will go to correct direction.
I can tell to you all, Devil want everyone to join him preferably while you are still living, but you want to join God instead for your own good. Don't listen to those who say Devil does not exist, or there is no life after death, I can tell you Devil is there and his fallen angels are with Devil. keep holy it is best defense against devil. Devil is afraid of Virgin Mary. Catholic church associate themself with virgin Mary, that is good sign.
Topic: HOW I become Catholic (Read 5247 times)