Bob Rice: "How the Catechism Made Me Catholic"
Here is a witness from Bob Rice about how his life was changed by reading and praying through the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
"I remember looking down and seeing blood on my hands. My head was still spinning from the line of cocaine that I snorted in the bathroom. The prostitute I just had sex with was face down on the bed, murdered. Did I do it? I couldn’t remember. I heard sirens outside and footsteps running up the stairs to my apartment. That was the moment that I realized I needed a Savior. I needed Jesus.
Okay, none of that is true."
"Truth be told, I have a very boring conversion story: I always loved Jesus. And then I loved Him more.
I was the good kid. Never drank. Never did drugs. Knew to save sex for marriage. In fact, I lived in fear of letting others down: my parents, my teachers, or even God. I was a straight A student and prayed every night.
So it might not be a surprise when I tell you that one of the most exciting moments in my conversion is when I did something that many consider boring:
I read the Catechism."
-->Read the rest of the article here, and then go read the Catechism.<--
Two practical takeaways from his post:
+ If the Catechism seems overwhelming, try committing to reading one "In Brief" summary at the end of each section in the Catechism every day.
+ If you need an easy place to start, the fourth pillar of the Catechism on prayer is a good place.
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Bob was my professor for many many classes while I attended Franciscan University, and I have to thank him for forming me as a Catholic, catechist, and youth minister, (and actually as a father too) through his deep love for Jesus, his witness as a father, and his love for the Catholic Church. Maybe one day I will write a post about all the ways he has so tremendously impacted me, but it would be too sappy.
Thanks Bob.