My Faith Was Coming Alive

I was a practicing Catholic, invited to Lakewood Church in Houston by a friend. That night the speaker asked if anyone would like to come up front to be prayed for to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit where you will receive the gift of speaking in tongues and an abundance of joy. I thought joy....I wanted joy. I went down to the front and they prayed a simple prayer asking the Holy Spirit to fill me. Afterwards A lady came to me and told me that tonight I received the Holy Spirit. I told her that I was Catholic and that I already had the Holy Spirit in me from my baptism.

The next day I was at a Bible study class at St. Bernadette's Catholic Church in Houston. After class I waited for everyone to leave and then went up to the teacher and told her what I had done. I thought she was going to tell me I needed to go to confession. Instead she told me that she received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gift of tongues years ago. I had never heard of such a thing and now I heard about it from a Catholic. She asked me if I would like to receive this gift and I said yes! I was very excited because I now had peace that it was for us Catholics too! She prayed over me a simple prayer asking Jesus to baptize me with the Holy Spirit and then gave me a book she had with her on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit written by Father DeGrandis. She also told me that she recommended for me to go and visit the Catholic Charismatic Center Church in Houston. After she prayed for me, I had never felt so in love with God before.

The next morning I woke up wanting to go to morning Mass. I went that morning and during the consecration I wanted the priest to talk slower because every word spoken was as if I was hearing it for the first time. It was so beautiful. I then went to Mass each morning that week, I was given a great desire to go to Adoration. I had only gone once in my life and it was about 10 years prior. The next morning I went to confession and experienced a confession with a contrite heart.

Before, being a cradle Catholic, I felt very comfortable picking the teachings in of the Catholic Church I agreed with while many I thought went overboard.  Now God had opened my eyes and gave me a great desire to be obedient to the Magesterium of the Church. I had a great love for our Holy Father and a love of my Catholic Faith. While in confession I opened my heart and told the priest all that had happened and how sorry I was for my sins. He told me about the Catholic Charismatic Center in Houston and said for me to go visit and meet some of the priests there.

I went to the Catholic Charismatic Center the following morning for Mass and met the priest. I was always afraid of priests for some odd reason. But I wasn't afraid anymore. I asked if I could meet with them to tell them what was going on in my life and have some direction. They said yes and helped me grow in my faith. I started to go there twice a week for Mass and felt I was surrounded by family. The Center was a place for me to grow in my faith. The Holy Spirit was changing me and making me grow in holiness. I was given a desire for frequent confession, daily mass, adoration, the rosary....my faith was coming alive and the priests were there to encourage and teach.

When a person’s faith becomes alive it becomes contagious! My husband who was going to mass only once a month started to go to mass faithfully and went to confession after many years. My two sons are now in college and are both strong in there Catholic faith. God started with me and I thank Him for changing me and my husband so that we could pass our faith to our sons. The Companions of the Cross priests have been a blessing to my whole family. I am so grateful to the priests for their friendship, spiritual direction, time and teaching. They have been a blessing to my entire family and would be a blessing to any community.

Marsha B.
Clear Lake, Texas

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