Lesson01/26

What Are You Seeking?

Begin the journey in freedom, name your honest questions, and distinguish seeking God from pressure to become Catholic.

Estimated time: 13 min Reviewed
Continue learning

An invitation, not pressure

The Catholic journey begins when a person freely seeks the truth and responds to God's invitation. Questions, hesitations, and even difficult experiences with religion can all be voiced honestly; faith does not mature by hiding them.

Key point

No one may be forced to receive Baptism, even as a condition for marriage. A person who wishes to marry a Catholic can receive guidance about marriage between a Catholic and a non-Catholic; the decision to enter the Church must arise from faith freely embraced.

Scripture

Suggested reading: John 1:35-39. Jesus asks the two disciples, “What are you looking for?” and then invites them to come and stay with him.

Bring your whole story

Your companion needs to know your religious, family, and marital circumstances, including whether you may already have received baptism somewhere. These facts are not used to judge you, but to help the Church guide your journey properly and respect your conscience.

Reflection

If there were no pressure from family, a loved one, or the community, what would I still want to discover about Jesus? What makes me most hesitant?

Practice

Write three sentences: what I am seeking; what I cannot yet believe; what I hope a companion will hear. Arrange a private conversation with a priest or the person responsible for the catechumenate.

References

Path progress

What Are You Seeking?

Sign in to sync this progress

Account

Sign in to sync

Your progress is still saved on this device when you learn without an account.