I’m loving this series, Matt. Your conversion played a crucial role in my family’s crossing of the Tiber. One night after one of your classes (sometime in 2012 or 2013) you mentioned to me that there was a good chance you might become Catholic. At this point I had never really had a reason to consider the merits of the Catholic faith. However, you had garnered enough intellectual respect from me by this time that I figured the case for Catholicism must not be as easily dismissed as I had assumed.
After your reception into the church I think we had coffee and discussed your reasons for conversion. In the midst of the conversation you had recommended that I read Christian Smith’s book How to Go From Being a Good Evangelical to a Commtted Catholic in Ninety-Five Difficult Steps. While this book alone didn’t move us across the finish line, it successfully unsettled my Evangelical Protestant commitments. It was a book Amanda and I would revisit multiple times over the next seven or eight years while we followed the Canterbury Trail to Rome.
I love to see Montgomery featured so prominently in this essay! Yesterday, I was at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception attending mass and venerating the relics of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. Five years ago, I never could have imagined doing something like that.
One of my signs along the road to joining the Church was your Facebook post sometime around June 2021 inviting anyone struggling with religious questions or doubts to reach out to you. I don't recall how specific you were in listing particular questions or doubts, but I remember feeling like you were speaking directly to me. We had not talked in about seven years, but I had been thinking about reaching out to you for a couple months. So for you to invite me to reach out with my questions felt remarkable.
You generously talked with me multiple times. Less than a year later I was confirmed and received my first Holy Communion.
I’m loving this series, Matt. Your conversion played a crucial role in my family’s crossing of the Tiber. One night after one of your classes (sometime in 2012 or 2013) you mentioned to me that there was a good chance you might become Catholic. At this point I had never really had a reason to consider the merits of the Catholic faith. However, you had garnered enough intellectual respect from me by this time that I figured the case for Catholicism must not be as easily dismissed as I had assumed.
After your reception into the church I think we had coffee and discussed your reasons for conversion. In the midst of the conversation you had recommended that I read Christian Smith’s book How to Go From Being a Good Evangelical to a Commtted Catholic in Ninety-Five Difficult Steps. While this book alone didn’t move us across the finish line, it successfully unsettled my Evangelical Protestant commitments. It was a book Amanda and I would revisit multiple times over the next seven or eight years while we followed the Canterbury Trail to Rome.
Blessings to you, Jen, and the kids!
And with your spirit! Thanks for the kind words, Chuk. We really should hang out more. 😁 #Numenoreans4VR
I love to see Montgomery featured so prominently in this essay! Yesterday, I was at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception attending mass and venerating the relics of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. Five years ago, I never could have imagined doing something like that.
One of my signs along the road to joining the Church was your Facebook post sometime around June 2021 inviting anyone struggling with religious questions or doubts to reach out to you. I don't recall how specific you were in listing particular questions or doubts, but I remember feeling like you were speaking directly to me. We had not talked in about seven years, but I had been thinking about reaching out to you for a couple months. So for you to invite me to reach out with my questions felt remarkable.
You generously talked with me multiple times. Less than a year later I was confirmed and received my first Holy Communion.
Thanks for sharing all that, Joshua! It’s encouraging and humbling — I’m grateful to be part of your story.