Once again, The Coming Home Network International will be hosting a Friday night social at this year’s Defending the Faith Conference at Franciscan University of Steubenville. The conference is being
Read More
My Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Years He who believes and is baptized will be saved. It wasn’t until I was a cognitive seven years old that the soul-altering waters of
This well-known proverbial saying is how I must begin as I consider sharing the Scriptures that God has used to open my very hard heart and stubborn mind. Whenever I see someone lost in sin, ignorance, bitter anger, abhorrent poverty, or addiction to false gods, I know that my on-going salvation has little to do with me, my intellect, or my will, but mostly God’s love, grace, and mercy. Even the little that has to do with my efforts—and continues to be my responsibility—is still only an active response to His grace. It’s all a gift. All of it. Thanks be to God.
The holy season of Lent is approaching — or may already be underway — as you read this article. Lent: that 40 day period (excluding Sundays) leading up to the celebration of Christ’s victory over sin and death. Traditionally these 40 days are a time when holy Mother Church calls her children throughout the world to an intensification of the usual disciplines of the Christian life: prayer, fasting and alms-giving. What follows are several examples of how we might intensify the spiritual discipline of prayer during this Lenten season and beyond.
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Every one who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show
I was baptized in the United Presbyterian Church but left the practice of Christianity as a teenager. I had a spiritual awakening in my early twenties and returned to the practice of Christianity. By the grace of God and out of a deep love for Jesus Christ, I “came home” to the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil in 2000.
Here at The Coming Home Network International (CHNetwork), we spend a lot of time thinking about and praying for conversion. We share a sense that our faith is a profound gift… and that it’s perfectly suited to re-gifting.
Written by Kenneth J. Howell (former Presbyterian pastor), Director, Pastoral Care and Resident Theologian. “When I converted to Catholicism in 1996, my wife could not in good conscience follow me. She became a Missouri Synod Lutheran. Both our new affiliations were a change from our Presbyterian heritage but at least the Presbyterians and Lutherans hold the doctrine of justification by faith alone in common.”
I’m a grateful convert, but no one converted me.
You may have read about Pope Francis and his recent dialogue with atheist Eugenio Scalfari, founder of La Repubblica. In the published article, the Pope and Mr. Scalfari exchanged comments about whether they would attempt to convert one another. The Pope’s comments on the matter were decisive:
by JonMarc Grodi. Is the familiar colloquialism “I have better things to do” ever really true? When we say, “I have better things to do,” we assert that the present frustration or inanity is keeping us from something more important – something “better”. But is this really the case? What does the word “better” mean here?
by Marcus Grodi. Admittedly, my interest in devoting too much of my time and energy to this “farm” has waxed and wained. I fully realize that I’m not a natural farmer, and not having grown up on a farm or around farmers is an insurmountable weakness. The FFA kids that I, as a city dweller, used to lampoon growing up have more usable knowledge about farming and living in the country in their little fingers than I will ever gain in this short life. Mea Culpa! The constant message I receive from the Communion of Saints, whenever I pray for assistance with some farm task, is “don’t give up your day job.”
by Dr. Kenneth Howell. I am deeply grateful for how I grew up. I was baptized into the Presbyterian Church when I was an infant, grew up in a good, solid congregation that had a vibrant youth group in my teen years. I attended a Presbyterian college, a Reformed seminary, and taught in a Reformed seminary before becoming a Catholic. As I look back I can now see three ways in which the Reformed Faith prepared me for becoming a Catholic.
Free Downloads
