Counting the cost

If you do begin to consider entering the Catholic Church, what obstacles and difficulties are you liable to encounter on your way "home"?

Becoming Catholic has a cost. You will need much humility, an open mind, possibly the willingness to let go of old prejudices, and a deep and prayerful desire to receive the fullness of what God has for you. You will need to pray much and study diligently. You will need courage, patience and perseverance, both before and after your baptism and/or formal reception into the Church, to "endure until the end." You may encounter a lack of understanding and possibly rejection and persecution from your family, friends, and current faith community.  Or, you may be faced with a lack of encouragement and even apathy coming from Catholics who don't understand your journey of faith and the price that it has cost you. 

The journey to God is paved with difficulties, but it is also surrounded by God's infinite grace and all-encompassing love for you.  He is calling you to a life of self-giving love. He is calling you to Himself.  Will you answer the call?

What should I do now?

If you feel that God may be calling you into the Catholic Church:

• Build your relationship with God. Pray daily - speak with Him and ask Him to lead you and guide you into His truth and light.
• Study the Catholic faith, either with Catholics for Israel, or through other Catholic resources (see links).
• Find a Catholic Church in the area and begin to attend Mass and to learn about Catholic prayer and liturgy.
• Get together with faithful Catholics who know and love their faith so that they can help you progress on your journey to God.
• Speak with a priest about your desire to become Catholic.  Pay close attention to what he says, and make sure he is faithful to the Church.  If you find that he dissents from any of the Church's teachings as taught in the Catechism, or tells you that you don't really need to become Catholic, leave and find another priest.

For further reading

If you are not a Christian or do not believe in Jesus you may want to read:

• God's Plan of Salvation in a Nutshell
• Why Jesus? God's Love for You
• The Gospel Message* (PowerPoint)
• The Story of Salvation
• God's Story, Our Story* (PowerPoint)
• God's Love for You (Catholic Answers)

If you are Jewish, check out the following articles and resources:

• The Messiah in the Tanakh (the Old Testament) in the Light of Rabbinical Writings
• Messianic Prophecies* (PowerPoint)
• Can a Jew believe in Jesus and still remain Jewish? [coming soon!]
• Can a Jew become a Catholic while still remaining Jewish and living an observant Jewish lifestyle? [coming soon!]

To find out more about the Catholic Church and on how to become a Catholic, see also:

• Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth (Catholic Answers)
• Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth* (PowerPoint)
• How to Become a Catholic (Catholic Answers)

Are you an Evangelical Christian or Messianic Jew? If so, is your faith tending towards unbelief, liberalism, fundamentalism, or Catholicism? Read more: The Tendencies of Evangelicalism