Catholics, Are You Saved?
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- Опубликовано: 28 июн 2024
- 0:00 Introduction
1:16 We Need to Saving
4:10 Catholic Response
6:27 My Story
12:35 What about You?
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Best video ever. I may convert to Catholicism this September if my Mother lets me so please keep me in your prayers.
Update: My mother said yes and my first class was yesterday and it went great! Thank you for all of your prayers!
Update: I was confirmed on Easter vigil and I am fully Catholic 🎉 Laudate dominum
Why do you need your mother's permission?
@@georgepierson4920He is probably a kid
@@someperson3883 Even if he is a kid, she cannot prevent him from joining the Catholic Church if he feels called to do so.
@@georgepierson4920 She could stop him from getting baptized as a kid. Not as an adult.
@@someperson3883 Was he already validly baptized?
As someone who was raised Catholic, but subsequently spent many years in evangelical circles, with the full born-again, Spirit-filled experience,, this is by far the most emotionally intelligent, profoundly spiritual, humane and compassionate explanation of what it means to be saved that I have ever heard. Sadly, most evangelicals doubt that catholics are even Christians, let alone saved, and answering them purely from the sacraments and Catholic theology might just reinforce their prejudice in that respect. Bur giving a response such as this, so authentic, Spirit and faith-filled, with concrete examples and a living testimony, would surely convince even evangelical hard cases. Authenticity and a lively faith cannot fail to touch hearts. Thank you, Father, I am touched and humbled by your words.
I'm so glad you wrote this. I too am a born again Catholic. I've tried to explain and give my testimony to other Catholics but I always get rebuffed. I even encounter hostility. I don't let any of that bother me whatsoever. I know what I know because of Christ. Their loss, my gain I guess.
No, they’re not!
@walterlahaye2128 who is not what Walt?
The apostles were members of the church of Christ when they were first called Christian in Antioch singing A Cappella.
THE CHURCH MUST WARE HIS NAME:
(MATTHEW 7:14; MATTHEW 16:18: ACTS 4:12; ROMANS 16:16; EPHESIANS 4:4-6;
EPHESIANS 5:19; COLOSSIANS 3:16)
The Roman Catholic Gospel is a false Gospel.
Read Galatians chapter 5.
Have Roman Catholics peace with God?
If you put your trust in an Alter Christus to give you your last rites,you are not trusting in Christ.
Imputed righteousness anyone? What does the Roman Catholic Church declare about that? Take a look at the Council of Trent on the subject.
I'm a cradle Catholic, and can't really pinpoint any one particular moment in my faith journey as a conversion story or testimony, per se. It's more that I can look back on my life and see all the little stepping-stones, that I didn't know were stepping-stones at the time, that have led me deeper in towards Jesus. I think for me, if I said 'I was saved', I would referring to the Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection itself, but 'I am being saved' is a true description of what is happening in my faith journey right now. Whereas 'I hope to be saved' is a natural consequence of the first two. Jesus is real, and I am constantly being saved by Him. Amen
Either you have eternal life or you just have behavior modification
I disagree with the last comment, and I hear you. It isn't "just behavior modification" if you're modifying for the sake of Jesus and the kingdom. Good for you, for staying close to Him.never allowing yourself to slip away too far.
@@Michael-pw2td Its a GIFT
@user-jd9zm4jf3t I do not understand this comment. Jesus gives the gift of eternal life, and as a consequence of receiving that gift, a believer will slowly grow to become more Christ-like as they follow Him and listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit within them, trust in God the Father Almighty, and do the things Christ instructed His followers to do. If one is growing in faith, one strives to live in imitation of Christ, to love one another as He has loved us, to love the Lord God, with all our being. The 'behaviour modification', as you so insultingly put it, is a result of receiving Christ into one's heart and soul through baptism and the sacraments. It's a symptom of being saved, not the cause thereof.
@silviag3798 Well said. He (or she) is just trying to make it into a "faith or works" argument.
I always say “ I was saved, I am being saved, and hopefully will be saved”
No matter how much doubts, anxiety, scrupulousity tell me otherwise, I will never despair
That is the best answer I heard so far, thank you brother
BARS
Yes we live our salvation.
Read the book of John and you will KNOW you are saved. No doubt about it, unless you walk out into unbelief.
@@thedynamicsolo4232 We not Protestant, plus that’s not how it works.
Jesus himself said “ not all who call me lord lord enter the kingdom of heaven”
“ he who persevered till the end is saved”
There are many others, but I can’t phrase them perfectly
❤ yes!
There's a line in The Chosen that describes my answer perfectly: "i was one way, then i was another. In between there was Him"
That's a beautiful line!!!
That is the best line from the Chose. Just perfect…..that show is a real blessing to everyone who watches it.
I'm a Lutheran and I've never particularly enjoyed the certainty- bordering on arrogance-of the evangelical answer to "Are you saved?" I like Fr. Cole's answer very much. Thanks for the video and testimony
“ I’m a Lutheran,and I’ve never particularly enjoyed the certainty- bordering on arrogance-of the evangelical answer to “Are you saved?”
“bordering on arrogance “.? Your salvation,being drawn by God, nothing in you that deserves Grace ,is a humbling reality. You have nothing to be arrogant about, it’s all for God’s glory. You have been declared righteous by your Repentance and Faith in Jesus Christ,but they are both gifts from God.
@@chrismachin2166
//You have been declared righteous by your Repentance and Faith in Jesus Christ,but they are both gifts from God.//
Are you also implying that one can't lose faith as in "once saved, always saved" ?
Nothing arrogant about being able to say for sure that you are saved.
@@therealong We can only lose our salvation if we turn against God. I am made righteous and saved through Jesus Christ . Not by my own works. Nothing I do can make me righteous. And all I had to do was repent of my sins and receive Jesus as my Lord and Savior to be saved. It is a gift of God.
@@julienielsen3746 Exactly
I was saved yesterday, I am being saved today, and, by God's grace, I will be saved tomorrow
What if you mess up?
@user-jd9zm4jf3t Even if I mess up, His Grace gives me the desire to abide in Him, thereby leading me to confess and repent. As it is in Marriage to the perfect Husband, He will never leave me and I plan to stay faithful to Him, though my heart is prone to wander
@@foodforthought8308 Do you have eternal life
@@foodforthought8308please pray for me this is bad. Very. I was BORN AGAIN and fine not the way and got SIFTED and stripped. I got back in my feet then Rebaptize and then BACK TO DESTRUCTIVE SINNING bad. It has made me sick. I was this way and wonder why would God let me do this and be worst than anyone. This is not right and the HOLY GHOST CUT ME. I want to be back like I was THIS IS NOT NORMAL I got tricked and now sit on the WRONG SIDE path and WAS IN HIM. I lost everything and don't understand how God would allow this and take the Vaxxx. This is beyond right. Please pray
Oh this is much like me-- back in my early 30s i thought about jumping off the cliff in Kennon Road in Baguio, but then the lil' tiny voice inside me (Holy Spirit) spoke to me n said "U know you know better than that!" Cut to the chase, YES, I was SAVED by the Holy Spirit for not attempting to commit suicide for some reasons I know in my mind commiting suicide is a grave sin n still have to fulfill my mission in this world n I AM being SAVED today n by God's grace I will be SAVED tomorrow.
I was saved from something enormously wrong. Somehow, someway I got away from that situation. Looking back, it was the Lord guiding me. the Lord who saved me from something that would've caused so much distress and displacement. Thank you Jesus.
Pope Francis asked Catholics to offer words of praise which glorifies God. This testimony and acknowledgement of how His power is perfected in our weakness is powerful.
“Be still and know that I am God” that comforts me in all troubles
I've always used the "was/am/hope to be" trichotomy, but I love the addition of the affirmative "Yes!" to each. It conveys the joy befitting salvation that our Protestant brethren have.
I am a Catholic man and an Alcoholic and prayed for sobriety (which I wasn't sure would work at the time). God granted me Sobriety on June 21, 1993 and I have been in Recovery everyday since. In Alcoholics Anonymous and in Gods Blessing. Never ever put limits on what God is willing to do for you.
Yes I had the holy Spirit but didn't use what I had. I got tricked bad. Why would U go off and need everything back I was well made and now DISASTROUSLY and want heaven not be this way. SINNING as if I was mot saved this whole experience has been SPIRITUALLY dead
Jesus told me HE DIED FOR ME.
I am still struggling please pray for me!
Awesome!!
Same..exactly the Same
The Holy Church gives us EVERYTHING we need for our Salvation: the sacraments, the teachings, the communion and prayers of the Saints, the Bible and above all a full knowledge of the person of Christ made freely accessible to all. So we are not alone on our path to salvation. Please, let us pray for the Church and for our priests.
I believe this video has helped me be saved from the grips of pornography. I've been "clean" for about a month and a half now because dearly beloved friends, community, and the Holy Sacraments have sustained me and given me respite. Temptations have crept in like weeds today and I was terrified that I'd lose this time of spiritual growth and be chained once again into a cage. Hearing of Jesus being the one who saved me, is saving me, and will save me has reminded me of all the good he's done in my life and his constant and gentle presence. Thank you. I pray that God blesses you and all others who struggle in this valley of tears.
Fantastic explanation!! As an evangelical convert into the Church this was so good to hear!!! Just like that!!! Jesus saved me! And he continues to save me every day!! Again and again he has proved that He is my SAVIOUR and always by my side and will never leave me!!! Oh my beloved Jesus! You are everything to me!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
My issue on this is when will meaning people will say something like "I was raised Catholic but then I got saved and I'm a Christian now" implying that Catholics are neither saved not Christian.
Yeah, that's always sad.
I have seen that almost word for word on a Christian dating app
I think/hope that's more like "the issue of American Protestantism". It's truly very sad. I never understood such a claim when I was a Lutheran, and still don't understand it as an Eastern Orthodox... Catholics might be Heterodox, but you are Christians nonetheless.
@@HomoEucharistica I have usually only ever seen it from the baptist/non-denominational crowd
@@HomoEucharistica I think it's very cultural and like you said American. Appalachian evangelicals are not really as you pointed out protestant they are American. These are people who fled Europe which was ruled by divinely appointed monarchs in an odd alliance with a multi-state church to govern themselves in a democracy. So naturally they decided they didn't need institutional sacraments to be saved just their own salvation moment. Then a hundred years later a bunch of Europeans showed up speaking weird languages with an alegence to institutional church from the old countries. To them it probably seemed a bit unAmerican.
My mother and relatives never “prayed the sinner’s prayer” as Catholics but loved the LORD and lived for Him! They were being sanctified every day!
The Protestants' "Sinner's Prayer" is in fact not biblical.
@@theadventurer1602 Please do post the words of the sinners prayer . I dont think you will
@weaponofchoice-tc7qs Enough what?
❤ Thank you, Father. I’m a convert and I’ve always loved this question. It shows the care and concern that our Protestant brethren have for us.
so very gracious
The demons were trying to kill me, so I prayed to GOD that HE would save me. So Michael the Archangel came, thats when i got saved :)
The day I made a conscious decision to be a boy of faith. That moment was the first truly adult decision of my life. I've never looked back nor questioned that moment.
Thank you! I was a priest for 14 years. It happened for me when I was 39! It has given me deep down peace. Not every day is good But I can now see that there is good in every day. I still struggle with sone things, I realize that Jesus is not just a religious figure, but He is love. And since then, it has never been the same as it was.
What do you mean you *were* a priest, but without realizing who Jesus is?
@@therealong I was a priest for that amount of time when I had the experience. I AM a priest now for over 50 years.
@@charlesmcdermott6139
Ah, OK! You phrased it as if you had left the priesthood after 14 years! :-)
Hey Im 14 and i struggled a lot recently with lust and scrupulosity. I thought I was saved but I never truly had a relationsbip with God, although me being very religious, even to being an altar server starting last October or September (dont exactly remember). I was religious on the outside but never had the Holy Spirit and never was truly saved on the insude. I was worried and started crying after Mass at our house (the day after my sister's First Communion), with my abuela and tia standing next to me and I suddenly heard God saying to me thru my heart and other means "I love you my son, and I always will." That day, Pentecost Sunday of 2024, I actually started to know Jesus and even when I fell into mortal sin a few days after I got back up and went to confession this last Saturday. That moment changed my life forever and it always will. Amen
Hello, I have the same scrupulocity as you and I got it around your age. I am now 26. My only advice is to get counseling, pray, and be so hard on yourself. Try to manage obsessive thoughts instead of getting rid of them.
Here in Qc, evangelicals tend to say something akin to, "the catholics say you're saved through works, but we evangelicals say that we are saved by faith, like the Bible says we are!" I usually reply that "Catholics believe we are saved by Jesus."
I think many Christians believe that we are not saved by works alone.
JAMES 2: 17 So also faith of itself, if it does not have works is dead.
@@acevers The faith and acceptance of the grace should produce good works. Often in the Catholic church focuses on works to the detriment of the faith in Jesus message.
I grew up in a devout Catholic family and am now evangelical. The issue I have with Catholics is not necessarily official church doctrine but the fact that most Catholics simply don’t know the gospel or have been led to believe they are saved by works or by the sacraments… I love Catholics and Catholicism but I can’t in good conscience raise my children in a church where the majority of parishioners are so uneducated on the gospel and what the Bible says and the majority of priests don’t seem to do anything to correct these misunderstandings.
Here's the thing, faith is not a magical formula that you wave around that makes God save you. Salvation comes from God, through His love that was made known to us through his Son.
Hence, Fr Casey is in good faith correct when he says, "I was saved, I am being saved, I hope I will be saved." He's basically summing up the whole Biblical message on salvation. It's no good focussing on one subset of biblical verses and clinging to that, we need to focus on the bigger picture of the whole message.
Thank you Father for sharing your testimony. I was baptised in Presbyterian church when I was 5 following my parents. Growing up, facing similar situations where I felt like an outsider. Then led me to have many psychological and emotional struggles. After watching your video and some thoughts, I feel I was saved from very young, that deep down I'm always so interested in Catholicism. So, in recent months, I decided to go for Mass and had persisted to go Morning Mass for a month. Jesus is calling me from that moment, and now I'm in RCIA class. I feel the closest to my Saviour than I ever did. I need prayers :) God bless.
Best video you have every made...imho. Thank you brother for sharing. As a christian with a catholic and protestant past, we all need to hear and heed your words. God bless you.
I’m not the type to leave comments on RUclips videos, but I really have to thank Father Casey for this video-and his entire channel for that matter.
I am 26 years old and a professed Catholic, having attended Catholic school up until high school, and I’ve actually been an altar server in parish since I was 9. (I still am today!) Religious and spiritual formation as a kid was a good foundation, but I realized that as we mature in life, our faith and relationship with God also evolves, and we ought to be more conscious of how God manifests himself in our daily lives. Everyday is an opportunity to (re)discover God.
During this year’s Holy Week, I felt a call to reexamine my faith, so I’ve since been on this slow but gradual process of spiritual introspection. Father Casey’s videos have helped me along this path towards understanding God in a more mature way. Thank you so much, Father.
I appreciate your honesty and transparency. Non-Catholic Christians need to be more gracious in the asking.
More gracious in the asking? I missed that.
Jesus saved me and led me to His Church, praise the Lord! ❤🙏🏼❤️
A lot of Protestant salvation stories have a lot of things in common with this.
People who grew up in mainline churches and were baptized as infants will frequently tell similar stories.
My parents made the choice for me to be baptized as an infant. I’ve always felt the presence Christ with me my entire life. I participated in the sacraments as much as I could as a Protestant. I still remember my first communion. I was attending a Lutheran church at the time. I had many moments where my faith was weak. I’ve also had some pretty incredible experiences that I can’t completely explain.
I actually grew up primarily Pentecostal in churches with a strong emphasis on singular conversion experiences that magically make you a Christian. It did have a tendency to make my lack of a distinct conversion experience feel a bit less spiritual than some of my other peers who sometimes had dramatic conversion experiences.
I’m learning to accept that Christ is not limited by our human experience. I don’t need a dramatic, singular moment to draw me to Christ. I have a lifetime of connection to him in moments both big and small, even though I cannot remember a moment before knowing his presence in my life. If that isn’t the essence of salvation, then none of us can be saved.
Baptizing a baby does nothing. It only blesses you when you are old enough to know what you are doing, and doing it in obedience to God. Yes. All we need to do is to truly repent of our sins, and truly receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior to be saved. God made it so easy for us. I know I was saved on April 16, 1986. Not all keep track of the date. But, the know when it did happen. After I did, I thought to myself, I should read the Bible. I've been reading and learning from His Word and growing in faith ever since then.
@@julienielsen3746 Infant baptism does in fact do something. It washes away original sin and infuses the Holy Spirit into that child. Jesus commanded, and Peter proclaimed on the day of pentecost that baptism was necessary for salvation. The parents of that infant make promises on behalf of their child to reject sin and to instruct them in the faith. It's a beautiful sacrament.
@@MariaGarcia-el6ph Adults need to be baptized. Not small children. When we dedicate children in our church, Assemblies of God, the pastor and the congregation pray over the child and family for God's protection and their guidance of the child in their faith until the child is old enough to make the decision to receive salvation themselves. The Bible says nothing about baptizing babies and children.
@@julienielsen3746 Whether one is an adult or an infant, in baptism their sin is forgiven, and they receive the Holy Spirit, if the baptism is validly performed. There is more than one example in scripture of a convert coming to the faith, and then being baptized together with "their whole household". It does not specify whether there were children, but it does not exclude them either. If you are interested I can explain about confirmation.
An evangelical friend of mine asked me if I was saved. My answer: Salvation is part of my identity.
Yes ! Very true because The Holy Church gives us EVERYTHING we need for our Salvation: the sacraments, the teachings, the communion and prayers of the Saints, the Bible and above all a full knowledge of the person of Christ made freely accessible to all. So we are not alone on our path to salvation. Please, let us pray for the Church and for our priests.
Amen! I am so impressed to hear this young man speak so clearly, so passionately, and so truthfully. He knows exactly what he's talking about. And, he's got it right. And, as a life long Protestant, I must admit to being surprised and impressed to hear a Catholic priest propound the gospel in such a direct and meaningful way. When I hear this, I have hope for the world after all.
Thank you Father! I just got confirmed in May, but I also love my evangelical heritage. Getting saved as a child and being called by God as a teenager are two major milestones in my faith, and they happened in my evangelical churches.
You made me nearly cry.
13 But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
Matthew 24:13
We are being saved, we were saved, and we will be saved.
Thank you Father Casey, moved me to tears. Mine was at eighteen. And as you said the transformation from being obliged to go to Mass to wanting to be there. God bless.
Casey, I just want to express deep and sincere gratitude to you for all the work you're doing on You Tube. I love watching all your videos, and am cheering for you in life. Sending positive vibes your way!!!
I feel light and exhilarated after Confession. And daily Mass got me through everyday of highschool
From an evangelical friend, I love this discussion it's a glimpse into the differences we have and how we can meet in the middle in a healthy manner.
Jesus will vomit the lukewarm from His mouth". Meeting in the middle is a Protestant idea.
@@carolynkimberly4021this "meeting in the middle" is an interesting idea, but I have this hunch that too much Protestant ideology in surrounding American culture has somewhat poisoned the proper Catholic quest for God. And I'm not "bad mouthing" Protestantism by any means. They preach a powerful conversion experience, and I've seen it change lots of lives. Problem is, it encourages this belief that salvation has "already happened". Once regenerate, they have this doctrine that they're now eternally clothed in the righteousness of Christ, and depending on how you interpret Sola Fide, they make it look like it's actually BLASPHEMOUS to continue to pursue Justification tooth and nail as if their soul depends on it (ie, because in their mind, Justification is a strict 100% yes or 100% no matter, and either it's already happened or it hasn't, and if you try to become more Justified, they say you are self-righteous and are trying to add to the completed work of the Cross). And unfortunately, I'm convinced that our attempts to "meet in the middle" can do nothing for us except encourage spiritual laziness
If we could meet in the middle there wouldn't have been a separation in the first place?
@@br.m The Catholic Church cannot compromise the Truth. "Error has no rights". St. Thomas Aquinas
@@carolynkimberly4021 I guess it can't compromise what it does not have?
Thank you, Father Casey! That was wonderful!! ❤🙏🏼🕊️😇🔥✝️
Hallelujah!
After your testimony I felt like I should also speak about my expierence about one time that completely changed my life
So I am from Poland, now 19 years old, an animator in church movememt known as Light Life more specifically Oaza, the movement organizes retreats in summer, a fiveteen day camp focused on building relation with God and brethrens, on the forth day, at the end of it we accepted Jesus as our lord and savior... To this point I always felt blind, thought noone could love me, so I opened myself to Jesus and begged him to give me sight, a sight of heart.. a week later, after a long day devoted to ressurection of our Lord, we were blessed through holy sacrament by priest individualy, In monstrance I saw scene from last supper, Jesus and thirteen apostoles, one of them was me, I broke into tears, there is no love like His. God saved me and gave me sight of heart to love and be loved!
Thank you Jesus for everything!
Hallelujah!
Wish I could memorize the answer on 'are you saved?' question. My memory is failing me already. I will take note of that! I took note of it by repeating it again and again and wrote it! Thank you, Father! God bless you!
I remember my parish priest telling about an incident in a local shopping mall. While he was in a hurry and wearing civilian clothes someone tried to stop him and they said, “Have you found Jesus?”. Being Irish and a former longshoreman, he said, “Hell, I never lost him”.
It did upset him enough to relate the story. He wanted to talk with the individual but he had to get to where he needed to be.
I'd reply....um is he lost?!?!
There is a cartoon out there with missionaries on the door asking “have you found Jesus?” and we see Jesus hiding behind the curtains.
@@ModernLadyI love that
"Have you found Jesus?" I always feel like explaining that it's not about me finding Him. He always knows where I am at all times.
The best answer is always, "Excuse me," and then moving away. These people are annoying because they're always trying to talk to someone who is obviously in a hurry.
Thank you Fr. You are so right...as a Catholic...and full disclosure...I'm a Permanent Deacon...it is easy to get caught up in our own morality and guilt over our shortcomings. A real challenge to us as clergy...is to help people fall in madly in love with Jesus vice just following obligations. After all, once a loving relationship develops, these things we call "obligations" are no longer that...they become things that we do naturally out of love. God wants, and in fact commands, that we come home to Him...for loves sake. God will neither deny us or truck us out of Heaven...in fact just the opposite...He will use any excuse to convince us to choose Heaven...to choose salvation. Nothing...dying, sin, bad habits, human imperfection, selfishness...absolutely nothing...will keep God from keeping His own command...keeping His own covenant...and welcoming us home to Himself...Heaven..if we make the choice to go. The Church, the Sacraments, and Jesus Himself make no sense if this isn't true. Only the Devil tries to trick us out of God and Heaven...because he hates God and Humanity.
I struggle a bit with that right now. I had a very big stream of horrid news (losing people , projects to get my kids back destroyed, rejection, getting burnout at work). And I feel really really bad.
But I BELIEVE Jesus is here for me. I can see little signs of "hey, fret not, I got this".
But still I'm terrified and feeling lonely, except when I find the strength to sit down and watch something like your video or do a bit of rosary. But finding the strength is hard, and I feel unworthy, but (as i should i guess) but I keep faith that Jesus loves me, and that His mother prays for me and my dear saint Theresa.
But still sometimes it's just awfully bleak and if it weren't for that faith I would probably off myself already.
And I'm not sure what to do. Except try to stick to that hope.
Sorry for the rambling, I had to get this off my chest.
Thank you for sharing your story, father!
After the loss of my father and grandparents, I was deep into alcoholism, drug abuse and promiscuity, a corrupt life full of sin, then I started going to the local Catholic church. And I can confidently say I am saved now through my baptism, and found the right way through life; I no longer feel nihilistic, lonely and bitter. I am getting confirmed next year, too!
We all need a moral compass, a sense of belonging and duty in Christ. Without something to live for, we are no better than walking corpses.
Ave, Ave Christus Rex!
Deo Gratias
Father Casey, this is a beautiful conversion testimony. God revealed himself to you at the campfire and you believed.
Thank you Fr Casey for this testomony. As a convert and not knowing enough of the Catholic Faith Ive been a bit stuck in answering that question. In 1977 when I finally asked to be accepted into the Catholic Faith I had 6 months of instruction. I could hardly wait for it to be over, I wanted so much to receive our Lord. Christmas Eve and the day had arrived. I had been baptised as an infant in a C of E church. My Parish Priest said he would give md a just in case baptism? Many years down the road and many many sessions in the confessional Ive had 2 years of release from a bad habit. Now I feel Im being Saved. I was one way and now Im another and it was Jesus who helped me. And Yes Im binging Jesus watching The Chosen over and over since late 2020. Also on my third reading of The Gospels since then. And started reading Bible in a Year.
Thanks father for sharing your story. Its powerful and source of inspiration. I must say that Personally I experienced God in my life in 2013. I desired the devoted and changed life that my catholic and protestants friends lived. I wanted the Lord to change me like them. When I asked the Lord consistently in my prayer that i was seeking him with my whole heart, he indeed answered my prayer. Within a space of approximately three weeks my life was completely changed, i could note that from my behavior, my passion for the lord and the desire for prayer everyday. That was my turning point, and yes i can say i was saved and God continues to save me and will finally saved me. I'm assured of giving a right answer to my protestant brothers and sisters when they ask me if I'm saved. Like Peter I say that I have seen the Lord myself in my life and i am a witness of his majesty (2 Peter 1:16). With this I share my catholic faith confidently with them.
I was saved 5 years ago and today at confession.
NO!!
Thank you for sharing your testimony, Father. Being in a country where 80% profess to be Catholic, there is a real need for a deeper, more mature conversion, rather than just people going through the motions. I believe that Jesus is always inviting us and is working to bring us to that place. And I think that we all have that obligation to help others get there. Save us, Lord Jesus!
One of your best videos Father! Thank you.
That was a lovely story! Your friend really exemplifies the importance of peer ministry! He probably didn’t think much of it, but that little gesture made such a big difference! And here we are years later, still learning from it
I was raised and baptized a Catholic. As a child, I definitely knew Jesus. Like many I lost Jesus along the way, but He never gave up on me. Nor did He ever truly leave me. He was patient and led me back eventually. Renewed faith was what saved me. I need to work on that faith daily. Works are a natural out growth of that faith in the grace of God.
If you are in a state of grace, then you are saved. And we should have confidence and assurance about that!
My assurance comes from the finish work of Christ at the cross. Not whether or not I’m in a “state of grace” whatever that stupid unbiblical term even means.
@@notyouraveragecentrist4536 The Bible clearly teaches that a saved person can lose their salvation if they fall away
@@notyouraveragecentrist4536 Romans 10:9-10
And Father Casey, this title made me remember a certain experience...
It happened in approximately 2001 or 2002 when someone tried to "explain the Gospel" to me.. I told him "I'm Catholic". Then he did the same question... " Are you sure you're saved? are going to heaven? Or hell? " And I told him "if God send me to hell, that means He believes in me to bring the light over there" and that somehow made him speechless...
And yes.. I have few experiences like what you've said as well, Father Casey
Great testimony Father Casey. Going back to the question "are you saved" - I answer - "yes, I am saved - by grace through faith and I'm not currently in a state of unrepentant mortal sin and therefore in a state of grace". I give the same answer when they also ask "if you die tonight do you know if you'll go to heaven" (although here I like to rattle them a little with Purgatory tagged on the end and quote Paul in 1 Cor 3:15 "you will be saved but only as through fire"). I've often dreaded these questions but it has actually led to a couple of interesting encounters where people have asked deeper questions so now, I'm more open, more giving.
“.. in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you;” (1 Peter 3:15)
Thank you Fr. Casey for sharing your personal account, sure enough some of the theologizing you mentioned was what started running through my mind when I read the title. In my case I can easily point to 2 moments in my life.
1) While I was brought up as a Catholic I never did the sacraments or anything during my childhood and formative years. Then I met a friend, who after a while then became very involved with some other Christian denomination and was pushing me to join her denomination, I never felt comfortable with those interactions, and sought some advice from a very Catholic family I had a close friendship with during college who sent me with a wonderful priest to talk to, difference was night and day, and from feeling pressured and conned, I felt at peace. Time later I met another priest who is my friend to this day, with him I did my first Communion and set me on the path to later on obtain Confirmation, his sermons and advice is awesome. Oh and during one of his masses when I was telling God I felt very lonely, a friend walked in to the Church, the same friend who's mom had advised me to speak to the other wonderful priest and it was immensely nice to have her with me during those stressful times for me...guess who I've been married for 10 happy years now? :)
2) During Easter 2023, where a very similar point to the one addressed in this video was brought up (He's died for you so you can be saved) I should have felt totally at peace, I logically knew I should...and yet I didn't. Since the pandemic rolled in my mental health has taken multiple tolls and it wasn't until this Easter when I finally accepted I had at the very least an anxiety disorder. Days later on a doctor account I follow on social media she shared some great psychologists and psychiatrists, one of whom has given me the medicines I didn't know I needed to feel myself again. To boot with less anxiety, I don't need to pick up unhealthy, sinful, habits to manage it. God made me seek treatment for generalized anxiety disorder and depression and there's nothing you can tell me that will sway me from that :)
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing Fr. Casey. What a great example of the Holy Spirit.
I was saved by Jesus. An angel came to me and put me into a sleep, and when I came to, I was in a temple. There was a man there with an intense gaze. He called me by my name. When I saw him, I knew immediately it was Jesus and I prostrated in front of him. He went on to tell me a lot of things. All my sins started to appear in front of me, but then he said, “I forgive you”, and I slowly faded back into my body. It was amazing. Ever since then I’ve been on a journey to not just know the truth, but understand WHY it’s the truth. I learned a lot in the process. I started out as a cradle Catholic in name only to now a fully practicing Catholic.
Thank you for this message, Father Casey!! I really needed to hear this today!
Coincidentally, a man asked me this question at work today on account of the crucifix pin on my hat. Without wanting to get into an in-depth theological discussion with a random customer, I just asked "well, what else would He be up to?" and that seemed to be a satisfactory answer for the both of us.
So happy for you that you found community and genuine love in the Christian community. It does my heart good to know that you have built that feeling of love and acceptance into this very unique online community that has helped me personally in my walk with Christ.
Fantastic! Thank you, Fr Casey. We need more of this type of video from you as you bring so much clarity to your topics.
Your best service to us all yet. Thank you.
Thank you for this word and being so transparent! You are such a blessing to the Catholics and an ambassador to our Protestant brothers and sisters.
For what purpose?
God is always calling His children.
Thank you for this very personal testimony. It was very touching. I can’t recall one specific moment, but several small moments all throughout my life.
Thank you Father, I really needed to hear this right now! God bless you and keep you. May His shine upon you. And be gracious to you 🙏❤️🙌
I was 7; the Sunday after my First Holy Communion. The Saturday before, I went to a convenience store with a girl friend; she (with the Devil's help) convinced me I woulfn't get caught stealing a piece if bubblegum. I didn't
However, Sunday morning I woke, wracked with guilt and shame and POSITUVE I was going to Hell since I'd committed a sin, on purpose. I tried to pretend I was sick (no way could I receive communion and everyone would know ). My mom didn't buy it and finally got me to confess why I didn't want to go to church.
We went to the store on Monday, I confessed what I'd done and paid for the gum. Did I get punished? Nope. My mom decided I'd punished myself enough and learned a valuable lesson.
This is when I physically, emotionally and spiritually knew salvation. Years later, my mom confessed she could hardly keep a straight face during my confession. 😂
Good video. Baptism is our objective salvation, but a conversion experience often can be our subjective salvation. It is a personal relationship with Christ.
I've been a fan of your videos for a long time. I appreciate you sharing your testimony and bolstering the faith of those who'll hear it. God bless you and I pray many seeking answers will find this video.
Beautiful, reflective and inspiring episodes of the Chosen. Thank you for the message and powerful testimony
Thank you for sharing, lots of good points!
My main hesitation to saying "I'm saved" as a Catholic isn't that I think Jesus doesn't love me or that I'll live a life away from him in the future, but I don't want to minimize the importance of mass and the sacraments. Maybe I'm wrong to see it that way, but I don't want to make it sound like we can live however we want and salvation is guaranteed.
I'd say you're wrong to see it that way. I think it's wrong when people think they have to earn their salvation. We do good works and worship and do other things to please God and because it's in our spirit to want to do them. Not to earn salvation, or think we have to do things over and over to know we are saved.
@@julienielsen3746 I'm more so referencing the influence of secular culture. Main stream media, smartphones, movies, etc. If we slack at going to mass and see no point in confession, we are much more pre-disposed towards a compromised moral compass. Living a life gradually less as Christ asks us. Not because we earn heaven, but to live a moral life is an important way to love our Lord.
I'm fully convinced many don't care about being saved, and care more more about some activity the church could do, so while the video is hitting the right notes, I just feel most don't care anymore.
Vow!!! That was beautiful.
Thank you so much Father for this guidance on how to answer that question.
Thanks Father Casey!!! Amen 🙏 and Alleluia 🙏 and Maranatha 🙏 ♥️
❤️
As a former Protestant pastor, evangelist, and apologist...this is just really, really anointed.
Thanks
Thank you, Father, for making these videos. They mean so much to me. This one hits home with the same personality. I grew up lonely too.
"Have you FOUND Jesus?" I never knew he was "lost" Then I say, come with me, let me take you to him - and we go to a Perpetual Adoration Chapel.
The Roman catholic must be in subjection to the pope to be saved:
“We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.” (Pope Boniface VIII, the Bull Unam Sanctam, 1302.)
You must also keep the commandments, receive the sacraments and believe in the Marian dogmas.
Vatican 2: actually buddy, let us clarify that more.
Indeed.
@@generalyousif3640 its pretty straightforward what Boniface wrote and meant.
@@Justas399
Well, mabye you need to learn how Catholic tradition works?
You can’t take one non falliable statement from a pope in the past and compared it to future councils.
Pope Francis added Coptic Orthodox to sainthood, because they were martyered in Egypt.
That’s an infallible act, also CCC 838 says hi, unless you are a sedes.
@@generalyousif3640 Do you have an official-infallible list of all the traditions of your church? If so, where can I find this list?
Wonderful testimony Fr.Casey.
Thank you so much for this video.💕 We love to see those questions finally answered! 🙏
Thank you, Fr Casey. This is powerful!
So happy to see the growing number of subscribers of this channel. I can recall a few years ago when I subscribed to this channel, there were a little over 90k subscribers, now there are more than 300k.
God bless Father, I pray that this channel will continue to grow, teach and inspire more people
This is a wonderful explanation! Thank you! I am going to share this with my high school theology class later in the semester.
I needed to hear this today. Thank you.
So, so good Fr. Casey. Thanks for the video... as a guy who has lead youth retreats with that same bonfire moment, I know how powerful the simple expression can be. I got a little misty eyed as you shared your story. Just beautiful!
What a wonderful sharing of your life. It's hard to imagine your loneliness when I see your outgoing personality and the joyfulness in your eyes. "Are you saved" is definitely a weird question for us. I don't remember a time I didn't believe in God, but there are definitely moments when I know He was there for me. Thank you so much for sharing.
For me, it was that moment when I realized Who He is, and committed to follow Him.
Fr. Casey, your story is a genuine mood. Thank you for sharing it; and, I hope that one day I may be able to reach as many souls as your ministry now does! Until then, I'll keep praying for our brothers and sisters who just go to the mass to go to the mass, not out of love but rather routine circumstance; that eventually they too can awaken the fire of the Holy Spirit in their hearts and realize the immense gift of Catholicism that they have had the grace to have been given from birth.
One of the best videos yet ever… thank you. Yes it happened at 18, then again during the worst part of my life- divorce. Then after the divorce and then every day !!! Thank you Jesus for your mercy!!❤❤❤
Thank you for sharing a bit of your story with us!!! It really is powerful to hear " stories" of faith !!!🙏🙏❤️🙏🙏 Please can I ask for prayers for Franciscans in Canada!!!🙏🙏🙏
Thank you for this and I am sharing this video with my wife, who is my best friend and to my brothers who kids are just saying there is nothing much to be Catholic when there are so many past scandals and so on. I know one day, my nephews and nieces will eventually return back to their faith. From Singapore 🇸🇬 with love and gratitude.
Wow! Thank you for that testimony! I was raised as a Southern Baptist but I can see that process in my life as well. :)
Thank you for sharing your testimony.
There is nothing better than having a personal relationship with our Lord! He is our everything! May our Lord richly bless you as you walk with Him, Father Casey!!✝️
father, thankyou for sharing your childhood experience, as someone who struggle with loneliness, i feel relatable. may God bless you
Wonderful talk, Fr. Casey!
Thank you so much for teaching the old and the young. no one teaches clearly as you do. mAY GOD ALWAYS BE WITH YOU.
Very happy to have found your channel brother. Your videos are touching and intriguing and I hope to watch often. Blessings to you