First Name: Lori
Your Story: I am not known for being brief, so I will try my best to condense this! I was born and raised in PA. I lived (and still do) in an area that is mostly German and Protestant. My mother was raised Lutheran, but her family was actually Irish Catholic. When they moved to this area, there were no Catholic Churches near their little country home. BUT until her dying day, my Irish grandmother identified herself as "Irish Catholic."
They were a huge military family (WW1 and WW2 veterans). My dad was raised Mennonite. It was a very strict order of the Mennonite faith. They looked more like Amish, but they did drive cars and have electricity. Their religion forbid them from carrying a firearm for any other reason other to hunt for food, so my dad was not permitted to be an active soldier. My parents' family's properties bordered each other while they were growing up. My maternal grandmother was a country midwife (with no formal training), and she actually delivered all my paternal grandmother's children (except for my dad, he was 10 pounds and born in the hospital). They were "friendly" in passing, BUT the Mennonites would not be allowed to marry or date anyone not from their religion. They were considered "worldly."
If a Mennonite married outside their religion or joined the military as an active fighting soldier, they would be shunned. And of course, my dad did all of the above, and he was shunned by their church. Eventually his family came around and reluctantly accepted my mom. She even lived with them while my dad was overseas. She remembers bringing her t.v. to their house. My paternal grandfather and great grandfather LOVED Lawrence Welk's show! An Elder in their church found out about the t.v. and came to the house and told them about it. My mother and father think that is when his family left the Mennonite church.
I was born, baptized, and raised (at least in my early years) as a Lutheran. My mom would try to take us all to her little country church. It was a very quaint church, and I have fond memories of it. I remember my dad came a few times with us. One time, some man yelled when he saw my dad, "Holy cow, it is going to snow! Bob is here!" My dad never set foot in a church again unless it was for a scheduled event (baptism, marriage, funeral etc.). Both my parents came from VERY strict religious backgrounds. They never forced any sort of religious practice on us, and they blamed their childhood experiences for that. I remember praying at meals and at bedtime. I had a great sense of God and Christ, but I did not have a good sense of family community in a church.
When I was a child, we had new neighbors who invited me to attend a service at their church. It was a Pentecostal service. My mother insisted to the people and to me that I would not like it. I was headstrong and insisted that I be able to go! I cannot believe she actually let me go. I have NEVER seen anything like it in my life! Well, they started ranting and raving and speaking in tongues and rolling around on the floor! I remember screaming and someone taking me out. They called my mom to pick me up, and she did! I purposely never set foot in a church like that again!
When I was a bit older, my mother took "lessons", and we joined the Episcopal church. I attended their Sunday school, and my next sister in line was baptized there. My dad never really went except for at Christmas time. I have very fond memories of that church. It was identical in service (except for the Consecration and Apostolic Succession not being there!) to the Catholic Church that I know now! They prayed the Rosary, genuflected, blessed themselves etc. Their "Mass" had close to the same order as the Catholic Mass (from what I can remember). We eventually fell away from any church.
I was in my Jr. High School years. I was doing things that I would die if my children did at that age! I had a steady boyfriend, drank socially, and smoked marijuana if available (my parents to this day do not know that I smoked that!). I also was addicted to cigarettes. I had a very good friend at the time named Beth. Beth's parents were divorced (that was also foreign to me). Her mother was "saved" and was going to a Baptist church. They wanted to take me one night. I was about 14 years old. I cannot believe that I went, but I did. They showed us "The Rapture" movie and really scared me half to death! When they asked if anyone wanted to be saved, I ran up to the front. I really think it probably saved my life, kept me from getting pregnant and married at a very young age, and probably kept me out of jail! For a long time after watching that movie, I freaked if anyone was out of my sight, and I did not know where they were.
In school, I remember learning in History class how the Catholic Church affected History, literature, language, music, art, and other things. I clearly remember the teacher explaining how there was no other Christian denomination but the Catholic Church until Martin Luther. I NEVER knew that! I was shocked and wondered why all those people followed a mere mortal. THAT is what triggered my curiosity in the Catholic Church.
I started reading here and there, but nothing substantial. I was not ready to make any sort of a commitment to any Church. My parents had best friends who were Catholic. I started going to Mass with them. I grilled them like cheeseburgers with questions. I was shocked at how little most Catholics knew. No one could really answer my questions. There were a lot of traditions and customs and actions, and I wanted the rationale behind all of them.
Then I went to college and put everything on hold. I had made up my mind that I was going to join the Catholic Church, but I also knew that it took time! Looking back, it sounds so foolish, but I wanted to wait until I was done with school, and then I would take the necessary courses. I could not believe it would take 9+ months to join a Church! My joining the Church at this point was based on obedience. I wanted to be in Christ's Church and none other. I had no real clue about anything. I knew nothing. I also did not know that I did not agree with some of her teachings!
I dated some real schmucks. They were bottom of the barrel. I remember praying (I usually only did this when I was in really big trouble or needed a huge favor!) and asking for a good man to marry and have kids. I just wanted him to be Catholic. Looking back, this is so ironic because I had not even enrolled in any RCIA. I met my husband shortly after that. He WAS Catholic (not really good at practicing at the time), and he wanted to raise his kids Catholic etc. I ended up attending RCIA and getting married Catholic. When I said that I did not agree with some of the Church's teachings, I was referring to Confession, abortion, and annulments. I actually joined the Catholic Church being "pro-choice", and I had no intentions of going to Confession after my first one! Annulments, well I had no clue! We were both Cafeteria Catholics for many years. I had a terrible time getting pregnant. I finally did get pregnant at age 30.
I read a quote once, "While raising my children, I lost my mind but found my soul." That best describes what happened to me! How in the world could I be pro-choice after being pregnant? I wasn't! Of course, I became staunchly pro-life. And, I wanted to raise my children Catholic, but I did not really practice my faith so I had some work to do! Everything was pretty normal for many years. We did the bare minimum: Sunday Mass (most times), and I still hadn't gone back to Confession. I actually did not really learn until 1999 (10 years after I joined The Church) that it was a mortal sin to miss Sunday Mass!
When my one sister-in-law left The Church and started attending some fundamentalist church that was extremely anti-Catholic, I was not prepared for her attacks on The Church. She came after me full force. I had no clue how to defend my Faith. I knew what she was saying was not true, but I could not put anything together to intelligently defend The Church! This infuriated me! I found a local Catholic bookshop and bought about $300 worth of Apologetics. I studied, and I studied. I was armed for bear! My sister-in-law never said a word to me again about my religion. Doesn't God have a great sense of humor! I learned all of that, and now I knew more about my religion! I was sitting on a gold mine and had no clue!!!!! It was beautiful! There is so much more to learn, but it is an ongoing process.
I have since become active in a Movement and started home schooling our children (we currently have 3). I am actually living my Faith (most days!). AND I am teaching it to my children. I actually try to go to Confession every 2 weeks! AND I actually look forward to it (most days!). My 2 younger sisters and their children are all Catholic. But my parents have no desire to join the Church. One time after Monsignor gave my youngest sister the Holy Grand Slam (his term for everything all at once-baptism, confession, confirmation etc.), he said to my dad, "Well, Bob, you are next!" My father said in a John Wayne style, "I wouldn't hold your breath!" You never know though...... God works in mysterious ways! Please pray for my family and my parents! God bless!
Love in Christ, Lori