I grew up in the Church of God 7th Day, the church of my father's family for several generations, and where I had many relatives in high places. Despite eventually coming to have more than a few disagreements with the beliefs of this church, I nevertheless owe it a great deal for giving me my first instruction in Christianity as well as a great appreciation for the Old Testament and traditional Jewish laws and customs. Still, over time, and after considerable study and surveys of my own beliefs as well as others, I was forced to conclude that I had to 'go Catholic'. Yet, were it not for the upbringing I had, I never would have had the desire to reflect on these matters more closely to begin with.
After a lengthy period of procrastination and 'independent research' I called our local parish (Sacred Heart Church), made an appointment and put myself in the capable hands of Father Van Lare, a veteran of the Nazi concentration camps and a 20 year veteran of the mission work in Communist China. After five or six months of private instruction I was baptized into the Church, taking as my patron Pope St Sixtus II. Needless to say, not everyone around me was overjoyed by these events, but I was, feeling for the first time I could remember that I was truly doing what God desired of me.
Particular devotions of mine are numerous and come from a variety of sources. First would have to come my devotion to Christ the King. Also, to name a few, the Sacred Heart, the Royal Infant of Prague, the Crown of Thorns, the Blessed Virgin as Empress of the Americas (Our Lady of Guadalupe), Our Lady of La Vang and the Immaculate Heart. Just a few of my favorite saints are: St Joan of Arc, King St Louis IX, St Thomas Aquinas, St Dymphna, St Jude, Pope St Pius X and St Michael the Archangel (again, keeping the list short of the multitude of great saints there are to admire).
Lefebvre & Canons 1323-4
History of the SSPX schism
Agenda of the SSPX
Holier Than Thou
Mission, South
