I was confirmed at the Easter vigil. It was a beautiful service at the Naval air station. It started at 8PM with a bonefire and lighting of the paschal candle outside the church. We then entered the darkened church and father sang the exultate. My wonderful wife was my sponsor.

I made sure to do reconciliation prior to my first communion. I did my first confession 3 weeks ago and went through 36 years of transgressions and then went again yesterday. I sure hope it gets easier. It is very difficult to do as an adult raised as an Episcopalian but I think I will get the hang of it.

I have learned a good deal here at this site and hope to continue to do so over the years. I will be moving at the end of the month so I may disappear for a time but I will return.

-- David F (notanaddress@nowhere.com), April 11, 2004

Answers

Congratulatins.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), April 11, 2004.

Welcome, David!

In Christ, Bill

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), April 11, 2004.

SO I sppose you will no longer type in "Non Catolic Christian" at the end of thy posts?

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), April 11, 2004.

Zarove,

The non-catholic christian is another David. I am David F. I had a real email posted in the past but unfortunately some less than charitable folks started sending me foul links so I closed my email and now post a fake address.

-- David F (notanaddress@nowhere.com), April 11, 2004.

David F,

Congratulations! I am so happy for you. I long for the day when I too can say the same thing. It must be such an honor and blessing to now be a part of the original Christian Church. By the way, I asked you a question on this thread about what you think of the Eucharist now that you've had it for your first time: http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl? msg_id=00BuHm

God bless! I am so happy to hear about this wonderful news.

-- Emily (jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), April 11, 2004.

God Bless David F

Welcome to the Flock.

-- D Joseph (newfiedufie@msn.com), April 11, 2004.

Emily,

Thanks for your kind words. The David in that thread is also another David. I will answer the question though. I was baptized, confirmed and took communion in the Episcopal church at age 12. The church I belonged to as a youth was very very conservative and it appears the diocese I grew up in will split away at some point from the majority side that supports Bishop Robinson.

The real presence was never discussed during my classes as a child. My mother who remains an Episcopalian thought she was receiving the real presence in the Eucharist as our church was whats called high church Episcopalian and appears very similar in form to the Catholic Church. We knelt at the altar in the sanctuary and very respectfully took communion after what appeared to be a consecration. I now know that it wasnt the real presence as does my mother.

I honestly didnt investigate my previous faith until recently. I attended Catholic mass at times with my wife and children. I even took the Eucharist because I thought I was cleared to do so due to my real presence ignorance (I stopped doing so years ago when I realized the error).

As an adult, I have been able to investigate all faiths including my previous Episcopal faith and I have found all but the Catholic faith wanting. I have now taken the real pressence twice and look forward to doing so in the future.

-- David F (notanaddress@nowhere.com), April 11, 2004.

David F said: As an adult, I have been able to investigate all faiths including my previous Episcopal faith and I have found all but the Catholic faith wanting.

Me too, David. It appears we are similar, as I have attended an Episcopal church for several years. I think Bishop Robinson's ordination as an Episcopal bishop did the Catholics more good than anyone else, by waking people up and inspiring their conversion.

Did you feel that there was any difference between taking the Eucharist and previous non-Catholic experiences with it?

God bless,

-- Emily (jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), April 11, 2004.

Congratulatins David and welcome to the fullness of Christianity!

-- Scott (papasquat10@hotmail.com), April 12, 2004.

David..I am so happy for you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- lesley (martchas@hotmail.com), April 12, 2004.

Emily,

I do feel the Eucharist is different to me. I have taken communion at my grandmother's (years ago) Presbyterian church and found it to be shocking. You take grape juice and levened bread there and it is passed around so that you eat and drink in your pew. Pretty uninspiring. My Episcopal communion however had the appearance of reverance as we took wine and unlevened bread while kneeling at the altar but in reality it was not consecrated by the priest.

The sacrament that I actually am most awed by is reconciliation. I have always confessed to God directly and have found confessing to a priest very very humbling.

-- David F (notanaddress@nowhere.com), April 12, 2004.

Sorry for my confusion on the name.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), April 12, 2004.

David, congratulations. To be confirmed in such a night is a privilege granted to you out of Our Lord's mercy and love for you!

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), April 17, 2004.