Finding Hope

Update on my journey

I'm sorry for taking such a long hiatus on this book lol, I forgot about it and was busy.

So, I'm officially Catholic (technically by baptism but I've rediscovered the faith) and I could not be happier with this decision. I absolutely love the rich teachings and history of the Church. I could go on about all the things that I love that are unique about the Catholic Church, but I'll save for future episodes too.

Longevity: the Catholic Church has existed since Jesus gave his apostle Peter the keys to his kingdom (Matthew 16:19) and has been teaching the same sacred doctrine since those days. The age and originality of the Catholic Church is unbeaten by any other denomination.

Doctrine: the Church has a very specific doctrine and interpretation of the Bible that I personally love, and the key points of the doctrine that I love that aren't shared in Protestant churches is the emphasis on spiritual discipline (such as fasting, penance, lent sacrifices) it is taught that discipline is a crucial component of Christian life, as it strengthens us to fight against sin. Another example is the emphasis on reverence. Protestants in particular are severely lacking in this area. The Church is full of reverence, veneration and the fear of God. It's truly an environment that feels closest to heaven when you go to a Catholic mass; a feeling that you'll never get close to in, for example a Lutheran or Nondenominational church (no disrespect to those denominations, it's just a vastly different setting)

Sorry that was such a long section lol. As you can tell I've learned a lot and grown in my faith, and I'd love to share that with you. I hope this blesses you and helps you understand my decision.

Here's some book recommendations if you'd like to learn more about Catholicism. I'd recommend The Catechism of the Catholic Church and Rediscover Catholicism. Admittedly I haven't read too many Catholic books yet but these two have immensely helped me in understanding what the Church teaches and why, and answering general questions about Catholicism. I can't tell you enough how good these books are.

Also, apps I'd recommend are Abide (technically Catholic but not exclusively), Ascension which is made by Father Mike Schmitz, a well known Catholic priest and author. Also the Hallow app is great with Johnathan Roumie, actor from The Chosen also with Mark Wahlberg, another famous actor.

I'm considering making a separate book based on debunking Protestant beliefs on Catholics, as Protestants often have very misguided and limited knowledge of what we believe. You can let me know if you think that's a good idea or not.

That will conclude this chapter, please give me feedback! I really appreciate it, tell me if you like it and what I should change.