Shownotes
This weeks episode features one of West Coast Catholic's marketing team members Sydney. She shares the evolution from her Protestant upbringing to embracing Catholicism. We dive into her journey from being anti-Catholic and spending hours debating Catholics, to her skeptic intrigue of the Catholic faith, all her personal research, the grace God gave her to come to the true faith. Sydney shares her newfound love for Catholic practices like adoration and the Rosary while offering insights for those considering a similar spiritual conversion.
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Follow Along:
Transcripts
Hey, I'm your host, Mari Wagner, and you're listening to the ever
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:be podcast where faith meets lifestyle.
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:I'm so excited you're here, whether you're
a new listener or a longtime follower,
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:I know there's something here for you.
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:Pull up a chair and listen in for
insightful real life conversations
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:and actionable steps on how to claim
the full life God created you for.
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:If you're a woman desiring to live
a Christ centered life in today's
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:modern world, then this is for you.
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:Welcome to Ever Be.
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:mari---sydney_3_05-03-2024_140354:
Hey everyone, welcome back.
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:Happy Wednesday.
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:I love that these episodes drop every
Wednesday, middle of the week, because
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:it's like a little pick me up, I hope,
for you for your middle of the week.
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:Maybe a little dose of
inspiration and motivation as
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:you try and finish out the week.
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:This episode is going to be really good.
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:I think it's going to be really beautiful.
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:I have my friends sitting here.
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:Sydney on the podcast today, Sydney
is a dear friend and she is a teammate
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:of ours on West coast Catholic.
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:She is on our marketing team.
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:And just as a woman, she
is amazing and inspiring.
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:So I know that you are going to
learn so much from her today.
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:Thanks.
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:I'm excited to be here.
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:So Sydney, welcome to Everbe.
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:Thank you.
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:Why don't you introduce yourself so
our listeners can get to know you more.
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:Okay.
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:So my name is Sydney Tanner.
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:I grew up in Minnesota.
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:I'm the oldest of three girls.
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:So me and And then my two younger sisters.
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:So it was a really fun
household growing up.
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:I went to Colorado state.
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:So love Colorado, love
skiing, all the things.
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:And then now I live in
Dallas, Texas with my husband.
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:Um, and I, like Mari said, work on
the West coast Catholic marketing
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:team, which has been a dream.
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:And then I also own
Darling and Divine Jewelry.
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:What's, what's darling and divine?
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:Great question.
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:So darling and divine
is my jewelry company.
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:Our goal is to help emulate
women's natural God given
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:beauty through jewelry pieces.
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:I love that.
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:Um, so not jewelry pieces
that take away, but add.
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:to our natural, God given, womb created
beauty, our tagline is uniquely
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:designed like you, because each woman
is uniquely designed, and each of
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:our pieces are uniquely designed.
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:We have Catholic pieces, as well
as just your everyday classic
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:pieces, all hypoallergenic, all
non tarnish, and yeah, it's been a
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:dream staples that every woman needs.
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:Yes.
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:Every woman needs, every
woman needs to accessorize.
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:Yeah, absolutely.
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:Well, thank you for introducing yourself.
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:Uh, today's going to be so good.
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:We are going to be talking about your
story, your conversion story, and I feel
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:like stories like these are always so
inspiring and motivating for all people.
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:Like whether it's somebody, um, navigating
conversion or asking questions about
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:the faith As well as to people who are
cradle Catholics like me, we were just
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:talking about this before the episode
started, but we were like, wow, like
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:when you meet a person who converted,
you're always like, what is your story?
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:Like, how did you get here?
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:And like being a Catholic myself, it's
like, I was just raised in the faith.
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:You know, I've come to
love it and know it more.
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:The more that I've gotten older
and like actually took time to take
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:it as my own and to research and
to learn what the teachings are.
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:Yeah.
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:But , a lot of the times you notice
that the people that are converts are
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:the ones that have like that knowledge
and that passion and that faith.
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:Um, so it's so inspiring and I'm
excited to have you share today.
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:Thank you.
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:Yeah.
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:I was telling Marie before that
when you are, you decide you're
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:going to become Catholic, you're
converting into the faith.
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:People look at you like you are
like some golden bunny, like
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:you are like the golden prize.
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:Like.
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:Like their jaw drops and they're
like, tell me why, why, why would
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:you become Catholic, you know?
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:Um, and so, yeah, it's a blessing.
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:So I guess to understand my conversion
story and many, you have to go to
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:how you were raised in the before.
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:Um, so I was lucky to be raised Christian.
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:I was baptized Lutheran.
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:We'd go to church.
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:Like it was just like the normal Minnesota
family, I would say that was Christian.
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:In high school I started longing for
a deeper relationship with Jesus.
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:And so I, went to Hosanna, which
was a non denominational, like mega
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:church in the suburbs of Minnesota.
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:I went to a small group there and that was
good, but I wasn't like super invested.
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:I would say it was like,
Oh, it felt good to go.
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:And then I decided to go to Colorado state
for college and I was in young life there.
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:, and things just didn't
really pan out there.
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:I was approached by Sarah, who
was on staff with Stumo, which
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:is a really big, Greek life.
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:Student athlete, Christian ministry,
not Catholic, very not Catholic.
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:Um, and it was for Greek
life and student athletes.
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:So like very lost groups.
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:And I was a Gamma Phi
Beta at Colorado State.
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:And I loved Stumo.
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:Like Stumo was amazing.
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:Those were my people
and I was so invested.
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:I did their summer program every
summer, nine week discipleship
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:school, we went and did beach
evangelizations, like walking up to
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:strangers, sharing the gospel with them.
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:Wow.
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:, and so I was like, So unfair for Jesus,
like loved my relationship with Jesus.
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:Would read scripture every
day, prayer every day.
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:You grew up Lutheran and was
your relationship with Jesus
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:developed as you were growing up?
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:Or was it like in college through this
Jumo group that you were like really
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:on fire and really close with the Lord?
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:I would say for sure college.
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:Going to Colorado state.
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:I didn't pick it for spiritual reasons.
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:You know, like people will go
to like Steubenville because
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:they're like, Oh, I'm Catholic.
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:I want to like deepen my Catholic faith.
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:Um, but I just chose Colorado state.
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:Cause I was like, I love skiing.
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:I love Colorado.
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:Like it's away from Minnesota.
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:And Stumo really formed me.
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:Like, I am so grateful.
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:I had a friend ask, do you regret any of
your college years, forming through Sumo?
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:And I was like, Oh my gosh, no, I am so
thankful for Sumo and the way it formed
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:me and my passion to share the faith.
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:It's not really a pro Catholic community.
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:It is like, this is what we teach.
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:It's very non denominational,
. Um, which is great.
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:Um, but because of that, me
and my friends would go
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:debate the sisters on campus.
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:There'd be sisters in the plaza and like,
we'd walk up to them and talk to them.
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:And then like, there'd be Ram Catholic
students and we'd go and be like, you
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:worship idols or you're a worshiper
of Mary, like all these things, right.
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:And um, Little did I know,
a year and a half after
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:graduating, I'd be Catholic, so.
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:And we have our little
Mary statue right here.
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:Little Mary statue, yes.
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:Wow.
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:So when you're saying Stumos, Not pro
catholic would you say like you grew
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:up in this not grew up But like you
were formed in this environment in
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:college Was it anti catholic were they
speaking out like against the church?
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:Like did you have preconceived
notions about the church?
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:Yeah, I think growing up a lot of people
around me had negative experiences with
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:Catholicism And so that planted that seed
and all these lies and When you have all
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:these misconceptions, it's a lot easier
to feed the fire of those misconceptions
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:than to pull back the layers of your
heart and realize how much pride there
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:is in that and like the humility you need
to step into understanding Catholicism.
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:And so I would say it was just
easier to defend the Protestant
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:faith than to be like, wait, what?
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:Why do they think this , where
are they getting this from?
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:Easier to just defend what you know,
rather than like dive into what you're
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:debating to try and understand it.
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:So often, I mean, like in
debates, in any, in any topic.
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:The person is so passionate about their
stance and so defensive that they don't
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:even give a second thought to what
the other person's saying, you know?
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:And so that's definitely how it was.
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:So what were the initial beginnings of
your interest in the Catholic church?
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:You know, you didn't really grow up with
any like Catholic community around you.
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:What sparked that interest?
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:I just started dating a guy And In our
conversations before we had like made it
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:official we were dating He told me like
he was like super devout Christian like
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:he also was on nominational and I was
like, oh my gosh Like I've met my husband.
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:Yeah, like I right away
was like this man is holy.
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:This man is gonna push me We're
very aligned in our hobbies
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:and the things we care about.
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:And, I even remember coming home
and my dad was like, I've never
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:seen you this happy before.
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:And that was a big testament to like,
okay, I think that Sam is the one for me.
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:Mm-Hmm.
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:. Um, however, two weeks into a stating,
he sent me a super long voice memo
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:and was like, um, I can't deny
what the Lord's doing in my life.
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:I'm becoming Catholic.
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:I've been discerning this for three years.
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:And like I, if that means
that we have to break up.
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:Like I will not not make this decision.
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:Like I am becoming Catholic.
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:Wow.
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:Wow.
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:He texted you this two weeks into dating
and you hadn't come up in conversation.
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:No.
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:Wow.
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:He, he like thought he even thought
of like not becoming Catholic because
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:he was like, I like really like
Sydney, but he was like, I have to
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:be obedient to the Lord in this.
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:Yeah.
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:And so I hear this voice memo, it was
eight minutes long and I'm bawling.
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:Okay.
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:I am like, they're deceiving you.
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:The lies, like they're idol
worshipers, all this stuff.
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:Um, I was like, they don't
even know what heaven is.
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:Like they, you know, works all this stuff.
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:And you're probably also like emotional
because you're like, I really like this.
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:This guy's like, I thought this
was going to be my husband.
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:And it was like, you're two weeks in.
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:So you kind of have those butterflies
and you're like, Oh, I really like you.
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:But they don't shoot.
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:Like, this is a big deal.
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:Yeah.
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:Um, and I was just like, Catholic, like
I never envisioned my life going to mass.
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:Like what the heck?
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:And so I, he, he literally sent
me the voicemail and went to
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:bed, which was probably good.
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:Like, it was like, I needed
space to like process this
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:because I was emotionally unwell.
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:And so the next morning I was like, okay.
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:Like I couldn't sleep all night.
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:I was like, okay, give me a week.
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:Let me like really dive into
what I find about Catholicism.
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:And at the end of the week, I will let
you know, like if we're going to be
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:together and I can support you in this,
or if like this relationship needs to end.
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:Wow.
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:I just like want to commend you for that.
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:Like, that's like.
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:A new level of open mindedness to like,
given like the community that you were
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:in, how strong you were in your Protestant
faith and how you were like to fit,
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:like, like debating the Catholics, you
know, just to even have that moment.
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:I think that was probably the Holy Spirit
that gave you the grace to be like, okay,
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:I'm actually gonna do the research myself.
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:I'm going to see what this is all about
and yeah, see if I can support you.
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:So that's, that's beautiful.
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:Okay.
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:So then what happened?
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:Yeah.
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:So I think you made a really
good point about the Holy Spirit.
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:The Holy Spirit prompts
people's hearts, right.
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:To be open to it because
I, we're all prideful.
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:And so I didn't like, I don't know why
my heart was more open in the end to
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:receive Catholicism than like some of my
friends even like they'll ask questions
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:so I was like, give me a week.
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:So I'm like, where do I even start?
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:So I just make this huge list of my notes.
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:I mean like scrolling, scrolling,
scrolling list of questions.
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:Wow.
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:And I'm like, Why do
Catholics worship Mary?
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:Like why, like what, who are the saints?
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:Who are these people?
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:What is a nun?
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:Do they even exist?
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:Like, are they, like,
do they speak English?
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:Like, I'm like, who are they?
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:Like, who is a nun?
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:, why would you choose that lifestyle?
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:Like, that's crazy because
there's nothing like that.
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:And I'm like, why can't
priests get married?
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:Why can't they have a family?
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:That's so bizarre.
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:And so I started
researching and of course.
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:Lo and behold, Father
Mike pops up on YouTube.
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:That's every answer to every question.
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:And I will need to send this to Father
Mike so he can hear this shout out.
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:Yeah.
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:Oh, he would love it.
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:Um, but this whole week I
should preface Sam and I are
259
:not talking about Catholicism.
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:Okay.
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:I'm like doing my own independent
research at this point.
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:Yep.
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:And Father Mike is helping me like,
understand, understand, like he's
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:so He's been so blessed by the Lord
for his mission to explain things
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:to non Catholics or Catholics.
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:In a very simple, like, easy
to digest, yet attractive way.
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:Yes, yes.
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:So I was actually training for
half marathon at this point.
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:So I had many hours of
running during the week.
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:So I would just plug his
podcast on and just go.
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:And I was just like, I'd have a
question, boom, that topic would pop up.
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:Like he has everything, right.
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:Which is such a blessing to
those coming into the faith.
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:So then I was like, okay, Father
Mike's giving me a lot of peace here.
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:Although some of the answers are hard
to understand and hard for me to digest
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:because I've been thinking of Christ in
a certain view or the church in a certain
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:way, like I do get the Catholic viewpoint.
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:Okay.
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:But then I was like,
What is a nun, you know?
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:So they're abiding together like they
pop up and so I start listening to them
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:and I'm like wait like she was a d1 I
think like yeah, it's like sister Miriam.
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:Yeah, I was like wait She's so cool Like
these are normal people I remember I
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:was at the nail salon and I was like
had my ear pods in I was that girl
284
:and I was listening and I was like,
how, how is this, how can this be?
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:Like, how can she be normal and to none?
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:What the heck?
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:I was just like, I didn't know
this was a desire of people's
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:heart to be a sister, you know?
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:Wow.
290
:So in addition to, My research.
291
:I also was like I want
to speak to Catholics.
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:Okay, I need first hand witness first
hand witness, baby are you in the faith?
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:Are you devout?
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:So I go on ram Catholic nice, which
is which is like the Catholic version
295
:of stumo It's like the Newman.
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:It's the Newman Center at CSU yeah, cuz I
was like, well I don't know any Catholics.
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:So I didn't grow up with
any devout, devout Catholics.
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:So I was like, all right, well,
Instagram it is like, I love Instagram.
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:So I just DM a couple.
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:I DM this girl, Grace.
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:She never gets back to me.
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:I DM this girl, Kelly.
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:She responds overnight and was like,
let's FaceTime tomorrow morning.
304
:And I was like, Perfect.
305
:And so I come hot and heavy, ready to
basically pull her out of Catholicism.
306
:And was this girl a student
or was she a missionary?
307
:So she was a student, Colorado state.
308
:She was a Theta and she was
just like tagged in a photo, but
309
:she's a folks missionary at KU.
310
:Now she is.
311
:Yeah.
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:So she like amazing.
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:Yeah.
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:So she knew how to answer my questions
from like a baby, baby perspective.
315
:Yeah.
316
:Um, so Kelly and I FaceTime and she
was like, I think just like seeing
317
:like the Lord's story play out in
this week, but Kelly and I FaceTime
318
:that first day of my research period.
319
:And she lays out so beautifully
the church and answers my
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:questions with so much grace.
321
:And I was spicy.
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:Okay.
323
:Like I was like, Kelly, I don't
get this, you know, whatever.
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:And you know, come to find out she ends
up being one of my confirmation sponsors.
325
:Um, She's amazing.
326
:Later that week, I FaceTime with
Neil, who is Sam's spokesmissionary,
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:who is now in seminary.
328
:He is very wise.
329
:He has so much theology, like historical
background can help, give an answer
330
:that's to the tradition, the scripture
and the theology of the church, which
331
:I needed because I love history.
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:And so that was a big piece of
what pulled me into the church.
333
:At the end of the call was like,
okay, if you can support salmon,,
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:do you support salmonists?
335
:And I was like, yes, I do
support my boyfriend at the time.
336
:But it's not for me.
337
:It won't be for me.
338
:And I even remember calling my parents
and I was like, Sam's becoming Catholic.
339
:Uh, I support him in
it, but , don't worry.
340
:It won't be for me., I remember facetiming
Sam after the end of the week and I was
341
:like, okay, this is still really hard.
342
:There were so many tears shed that
week, but I can support you in this,
343
:but it's not going to be for me.
344
:Yeah.
345
:But clearly you did become Catholic.
346
:That's why we're here sharing your story.
347
:So what were the events or experiences
or like God moments that you had in like
348
:the years after that, or what you, it
sounds like it was a year and a half
349
:only, um, that led you to actually
make the decision to become Catholic?
350
:Yeah.
351
:So at the end of the
week, when I call Sam.
352
:He's like, you know, what,
what research did you do?
353
:Who did you like find?
354
:And I'm like, there's this
father, my guy, he's phenomenal.
355
:He's basically sounds like, you
know, your mega church pastor,
356
:but he's in like priest uniform.
357
:I'm like, it's not crazy.
358
:And Sam was like, no way.
359
:That's the priest at my school.
360
:So Sam played baseball at
university of Minnesota, Duluth,
361
:just like such a godsend.
362
:And I was like blown away.
363
:I was like, you know, this guy.
364
:You know, you're buddies with him.
365
:Uh, and he was like,
yeah, I'll introduce you.
366
:When you come up and I
was like, Oh my gosh.
367
:Like all of a sudden I'm
like, insert fangirl moment.
368
:As I'm sure everybody listening
is fangirling right now.
369
:Like, did we all know Sydney
was friends with Flo and Mike?
370
:No, we didn't.
371
:No, you do.
372
:He's so great.
373
:So I go to Duluth, Minnesota.
374
:We were doing long distance at the time.
375
:And so I'd go visit him and every time.
376
:We would go to RCIA because Sam was
in the process of becoming Catholic.
377
:And again, at this time, I'm just
trying to like humble my heart and
378
:be more open to the Catholic faith
and helping support him in this.
379
:Um, and so we'd go to RCIA.
380
:So I met father Mike and I
think something I appreciate is
381
:because I wasn't raised Catholic.
382
:I wasn't like obsessive.
383
:Yeah, it wasn't like a superstar moment.
384
:Yeah.
385
:Like a lot of.
386
:The students at Duluth
are like, Oh my gosh.
387
:Yeah.
388
:Yeah.
389
:Which they like humble themselves
out, you know, like they chill out.
390
:But I just was like, Oh, this guy's cool.
391
:You know, like, I don't know.
392
:You're like, I've been
listening to your podcast.
393
:Yeah.
394
:I was like, okay, cool.
395
:Like I'm stoked to meet you.
396
:Um, and so going through
RCA, I was just like, wow.
397
:You know, you don't realize the things
that are missing in your Protestant
398
:faith until you become Catholic, until
you start looking into Catholicism.
399
:What are some of those things
that you felt like, wow, like the
400
:Protestant faith is missing this?
401
:Well, I feel like there's so
many answers in Catholicism.
402
:Like the catechism has it all.
403
:It's just like locked and loaded.
404
:But I would say Mary's role,
understanding who Mary is, I would
405
:say, you, you never questioned
like, Oh, like anyone can become a
406
:pastor, but then it's like, How do
you know that they're qualified?
407
:Like they go to one, two years, two
years of like, uh, formation school and
408
:then they become, whereas like some, you
know, seminary six, like a long time.
409
:It's like seven years,
devoting their entire life.
410
:I would also say.
411
:The unity of marriage, the
deep, deep theology of marriage.
412
:Yeah.
413
:I think even now being married,
like chatting with my friends that
414
:just got married, like they all say
things and they're like, wait, what?
415
:You know, like every time you were
intimate with your husband, like
416
:you were renewing your wedding vows.
417
:Like you are becoming a saint.
418
:And it's a sacrament, it's a sacrament.
419
:I know like grace flows through that.
420
:And it's just so beautiful.
421
:I think the more I peel back the
onion, like the more I was like finding
422
:answers and wishing that the process of
faith had answers to, but they didn't
423
:ooh.
424
:So you were going to RCIA,
finding all these answers,
425
:loving what you were hearing.
426
:So yeah, I was going to RCIA and I
was like slowly like questioning my
427
:Protestant non denominational background.
428
:I just was becoming more
and more , okay, John Six.
429
:The Eucharist like that's wild and at
first I remember sitting in candlelight
430
:mass and looking at the Eucharist
and I texted Kelly and I was like
431
:Kelly am I supposed to be like seeing
anything special what's going on here?
432
:Like I just see like this gold
thing and even my first non
433
:nominational mind was like it's
an idol it's in this Gold thing.
434
:It's like a it's the golden
calf, you know, like I was like
435
:Idolization, but then I Was like,
wait, the Eucharist is so beautiful.
436
:It needs to be in like, in
a pure gold, like for sure.
437
:I mean, it's the Lord.
438
:Yeah.
439
:Like the Lord.
440
:And I, and he was , the Lord is so humble
to come in such a form as this, you
441
:know, a piece of bread, piece of bread.
442
:And the more I was hoping for
answers to be wrong, I kept seeing
443
:the truth in the Catholic church.
444
:So, do you feel like in this experience
of looking for answers, your attraction
445
:to the Catholic faith came from a place
of like, wow, this is so beautiful,
446
:I wish my Protestant faith had that?
447
:Or was it realizing like,
Oh, my Protestant faith
448
:teachings are actually wrong.
449
:I would say the first one, I wish
my faith had that, or like, you
450
:don't realize what you're missing
until you see what you're missing.
451
:And so adoration, there's no such thing
as adoration in a non nominational church.
452
:There's not an intimate chapel where
you can just cry out to the Lord.
453
:Yes, you can do that in any, any space
in your home, but it's not the same.
454
:. I remember also I'd be
sitting in candlelight mass.
455
:My mouth would start
watering during communion.
456
:And I like told grace.
457
:I was like, why?
458
:And is my mouth watering?
459
:Like I crave this like I
want to receive, you know?
460
:That is beautiful.
461
:Yeah, it is.
462
:That's literally grace.
463
:Yeah.
464
:And every time I walk up to communion
now I'm like, I'm so unworthy.
465
:Mm-Hmm.
466
:I can't believe I get to
partake in the greatest feast.
467
:Mm-Hmm.
468
:, you know?
469
:I remember one time I was at
Mass with Sam, Father Mike
470
:was, you know, doing his thing.
471
:And after Mass, I remember seeing
all these girls during communion
472
:going up and receiving, like,
these beautiful Catholic girls.
473
:And I started feeling, like, doubt,
you know, of like, will Sam, like,
474
:want to marry a Catholic girl?
475
:Like, will he have wished that
he married a Catholic girl?
476
:He's becoming Catholic.
477
:And so at this point, how long
have you guys been dating?
478
:Like, it's getting serious.
479
:It had been, like, eight years.
480
:Okay.
481
:Yeah.
482
:Yeah.
483
:Um, and we talked about like,
we believe dating is like a year
484
:for us and then get engaged.
485
:So it was like halfway through that
and serious conversations going
486
:really well, other than like the
hard conversations with Catholicism.
487
:And I should preface , he never
pushed me into Catholicism.
488
:He was so hands off.
489
:He was like, I made
this decision by myself.
490
:And , you will do the same.
491
:If this is for you, that's great.
492
:And , I'm here to , welcome you.
493
:Like if you make that decision,
but , there was no pressure
494
:on , you will make that decision.
495
:And so after mass, I'm, I asked
him, I was like, will you have
496
:wished you married a Catholic girl?
497
:And he was like.
498
:I hope one day you become
catholic and I was bawling.
499
:I was just Like i'm so torn I see the
beauty and the truth in the church but I
500
:also have this pride in me the worldly
view is like I can't like I can't I
501
:could I could never become catholic the
pride of like what the catholic church
502
:is perceived as And like you being
like oh I could never be that right.
503
:Like I would never want to be that.
504
:Oh yeah.
505
:And even in my first year of being
Catholic, like people would be
506
:like, where do you go to church?
507
:And I'd be like, um, so it's still
something like I worked through
508
:of like, I'm love Catholicism.
509
:I love the truth and beauty of the
Catholic faith, but there's still
510
:times like the world hates the
Catholic church and that's undeniable.
511
:And so.
512
:Sometimes it feels kooky because you're
like, why would I make that decision?
513
:Like anyone can welcome a non
denominational believer, but to
514
:say you're Catholic is very bold.
515
:It is.
516
:So after this conversation with Sam,
you're having a hard time because
517
:obviously his answer is saying, I
hope you one day will become Catholic.
518
:So he's not necessarily like saying
like, no, Sydney, like, of course I'm
519
:okay with you, you know, marrying an un
Catholic girl, but he's not also saying
520
:like, Yeah, no, I will, I'm going to
leave you to go for a Catholic girl,
521
:you know, but he's kind of just like,
I, like, I hope, I hope that this is
522
:you, you know, he's kind of insinuating
like, yeah, like I want my future
523
:wife to become Catholic, how did you
wrestle with that in the months to come?
524
:And like, what was that final push
where you said, yep, this is it.
525
:The rosary, like everyone go play, go
pray your West coast Catholic rosary.
526
:Yes.
527
:So I started praying the rosary.
528
:I was gifted one and whenever I drove
up to Duluth, um, cause I ended up
529
:moving back home to Minnesota cause
I, Sam and I were getting serious
530
:and I was like, okay, I want to
live at home to be closer to him.
531
:He'll be coming home from
school and then we'll be close.
532
:, so I would drive up to Duluth and I
would pray the rosary every single time.
533
:So I at least pray it once a
week, which I feel like it's
534
:pretty good for a non Catholic.
535
:Yeah.
536
:So every Friday I would pray it.
537
:Um, who taught you to pray the rosary?
538
:A folks missionary at Colorado
state, she sat me down.
539
:I was like, can we pray this?
540
:Like, I'm so intrigued.
541
:And at first it was like, so obscure.
542
:I was like, okay, why do we keep
repeating the same or same prayer
543
:and , I'm holding this object.
544
:, even a friend of mine the other
day, she was in my car and she's
545
:like, this feels so religious.
546
:Um, it is, but it's so beautiful.
547
:It's beautiful.
548
:And.
549
:Just through, I feel like the prayer of
the rosary, like all my anxieties were
550
:flushed out and just so much peace came.
551
:And I remember it was always, what is it?
552
:The sorrowful mysteries.
553
:And so I would just cry.
554
:Cause you're driving up on the weekends.
555
:I'm driving up on the weekends.
556
:Oh my gosh.
557
:That's every Friday.
558
:And I would just fall on Fridays in my
car because I was just like, never have
559
:I sat and meditated on those leading
stages up to Jesus's death so frequently
560
:and so heavy in a place of peace.
561
:That is so beautiful.
562
:How did you become open
minded enough to do that?
563
:Because I think it's one thing
to be learning about the church
564
:and feelings of like, wow, that's
so beautiful and desiring that.
565
:But I know Mary is one of the biggest
obstacles for Protestants and the
566
:idea that or the misconception
that Catholics worship Mary.
567
:So how did you kind of , I guess
skirt around that and be like,
568
:okay, I don't worship Mary, but,
I'm going to pray the rosary, which
569
:is asking for Mary's intercession.
570
:Right.
571
:And it is, and the, the big
misconception about the rosary is
572
:that people think that it is a prayer
that worships Mary when really it
573
:is asking for Mary's intercession
and meditating on the life of Jesus.
574
:Like you're saying the whole
prayer is literally meditating
575
:on the life of Jesus in scripture
through like the eyes of Mary.
576
:Right.
577
:Um, so how did you become open to that?
578
:Was it just like, you were like, well,
I guess this is the next step or.
579
:I don't know.
580
:I never really had a hold up with Mary.
581
:It was weird.
582
:So many converting into the church,
that's their biggest thing.
583
:Yeah.
584
:But to me, , once I
understood intercession.
585
:I was like, Oh, this is beautiful.
586
:Just clicked.
587
:Yes.
588
:It clicked.
589
:Mary wasn't a big holdup, even
though she is for so many people.
590
:I think things that were a holdup
for me was like, um, like the
591
:monstrance, idolization, like saints
were pretty confusing to me, but then
592
:I was also like, that's beautiful.
593
:They've lived really Christ centered
lives and , now we get to view their
594
:lives as the primary example of how
to live out the Christian faith well.
595
:And so.
596
:I don't know, I was blessed that Mary
wasn't like a huge hold up for me.
597
:That's beautiful.
598
:So you were praying the rosary on Fridays.
599
:And I just think my heart like
slowly got transformed and it got
600
:to a point where I came up for Sam's
confirmation and he became Catholic
601
:and I was like, this is so beautiful.
602
:And I kind of knew, This is me, next year.
603
:And, making that decision was really hard.
604
:, I was kind of , one foot in.
605
:One foot out.
606
:I was like, wait.
607
:It got to a point where , I
want to go to confession.
608
:I want , someone to , hear my
sins and , let that load off.
609
:But I couldn't, you know, and so I
think being in the Duluth Newman center,
610
:being around really devout, holy, holy
Catholics, I was open to a whole new
611
:level of Christianity and like striving
for excellence that I hadn't seen before.
612
:And so after Sam got confirmed.
613
:Shortly after I actually was applying for
a job at a Catholic publishing company
614
:and I had to write a letter to them.
615
:And so I wrote my testimony and in
it, I was like, and I'm becoming
616
:Catholic and I sent it to Sam and he
just was like, Oh my gosh, no way.
617
:I'm going to cry.
618
:He was probably so excited.
619
:So I sent it to Sam.
620
:I sent it to Grace and Kelly, who ended
up being my confirmation sponsors, , they
621
:were just like, Oh my gosh, like, I can't
believe, You're committing to this.
622
:This is so beautiful.
623
:Praise God.
624
:So it's so beautiful to, to
stand by someone and see the
625
:process start to finish.
626
:It's, so inspiring, like for the one who
is Catholic to see how the Lord works.
627
:And I think what gets me so
emotional about stories like this,
628
:or seeing friends convert is you
just see the love of the Lord.
629
:And it just reminds me
of the good shepherd.
630
:And it's just like, The Lord is
relentless in going after every
631
:single one of his children.
632
:And you were like super closed off to it
at first, but he was like, nah, like I
633
:want you with me and I'm not giving up.
634
:And he gave you all the
grace along the way.
635
:That is so beautiful.
636
:So what were the reactions of your
friends and your family members?
637
:Throughout the process of discernment
and then when you actually chose like
638
:i'm gonna become catholic What were
what were those relationships like
639
:and what were those reactions like?
640
:So when sam said he was becoming
catholic a lot of my friend group from
641
:college like my bestie girls were like
You Uh, you need to break up with him.
642
:Like, it's not even the, like, if and
or but, like, you should end it with him
643
:because he doesn't actually love Jesus.
644
:And I was just So heartbroken by that.
645
:I also had friends that were like,
I'm gonna be honest I don't know
646
:much about Catholicism, but I will be
here for prayer, you know like I will
647
:pray with you through this process
648
:It's really hard to hear from your best
friends that you've like grown You So much
649
:within college that they don't support
you, you know, like one of them even told
650
:me like, I don't support your marriage.
651
:Like if y'all get married
and like, that's hard.
652
:That's so hard.
653
:Did any of them, did you, did you
lose friendships through this?
654
:Did any of them like turn away and not
lose, but like people would say things
655
:and you're like, that were hurtful.
656
:Yeah.
657
:And people do still say things where
I am like, what do you mean by that?
658
:You know, um, because it's not true,
you know, like, don't tell me what
659
:the Catholic church is because I know
the Catholic church and you do the
660
:research, you go to RCIA for a year,
then let me know what you think.
661
:Right.
662
:Like I had someone say like, the
Catholic church believes in multiple
663
:heavens and all these things.
664
:And I was like, yo, that's Mormonism.
665
:That's not Catholic.
666
:I know the Catholic church, trust me.
667
:Like, I would not believe in that.
668
:And so, yes, I had a lot of
friends that were not supportive.
669
:And some of them came around, but I
still think they're like very hesitant.
670
:And then as far as family, no one
, implicitly said anything, but no one in
671
:my family is Catholic and no one really
supports Catholicism, I would say.
672
:And so I think that was hard because
they saw it as like very extreme.
673
:Like, why would you become Catholic?
674
:You know?
675
:Yeah.
676
:Cause I know that I've had , Friends
who grew up Protestant, became
677
:Catholic, told their parents, and
their parents like broke down crying.
678
:And it was like the worst news
that they could have ever heard.
679
:Was for your family more of just like,
confusion, or was it just like, don't
680
:really get what you're doing now, but
that's fine, or was it like, Right.
681
:You are going down the wrong path.
682
:It wasn't like they were saying
I was going down the wrong path.
683
:It was more so just like, yeah, confusion.
684
:And then also, what does this
mean for our family in the future?
685
:Like, oh, it's Sunday.
686
:, we want to go to church, but
you're trying to go to mass?
687
:Like, how does that work?
688
:Oh, yeah.
689
:In the future, godparents
and baptism, that's different.
690
:Yeah.
691
:You know?
692
:Yeah.
693
:And so it's been really beautiful
though, seeing my family come like
694
:to be super supportive, I would say.
695
:Like, it's like, oh, of course we
go to mass on Sundays, you know?
696
:Do they go with you?
697
:No.
698
:Oh, . Oh, of course you
go to mass on Sundays.
699
:Yeah, of course.
700
:Sam and I go to Mass on Sundays.
701
:Um, like, it's not like I
have to hide it anymore.
702
:Yeah.
703
:And so, and like when we have
a kid like getting 'em baptized
704
:right away, like Yeah, I know.
705
:They'll be super excited about that.
706
:Um, that's beautiful.
707
:And so it's been really cool.
708
:To see.
709
:And then I think some people
just like, hush, hush.
710
:Don't say anything, which is fine.
711
:Like, but I want to
talk about Catholicism.
712
:Like, I want to be like, ask me questions.
713
:You know, you're like, I want
everybody to be Catholic.
714
:So now that you are Catholic,
you've been Catholic for like
715
:a year, a year and a half.
716
:Just over a year.
717
:That's amazing.
718
:Still a baby Catholic.
719
:Now that you've embraced your
faith fully, what parts of
720
:Catholicism do you love the most?
721
:Do you feel like resonate
with you the most?
722
:I would say adoration because
Yes, you have deep prayer time
723
:and like worship, but you don't
have anything like adoration.
724
:So I love adoration I would also say like
The battle of like praying the Rosary,
725
:like it's the flesh verse, like, you
know, like prayer, like sometimes I'll
726
:be like, Oh, I don't want to pray the
Rosary or , I don't want to , spend time,
727
:meditating on these prayers say, but then
once I do, the graces are so abundant.
728
:So real.
729
:And so I would say I love the
meditation and then I love the
730
:quietness of the Catholic faith.
731
:What do you mean by that
by like the quietness?
732
:I think a lot of non
denominational churches it's
733
:about what can I get out of it?
734
:The lights the camera the action like,
you know smoke confetti cannons like
735
:everything like a whole production It's
a whole production which can be fun.
736
:And I think like our other teammates
Sarah said it well that's camp when
737
:we're worshiping the Lord, we should
be in so much reverence and a beauty
738
:of the fear of the Lord, you know,
sitting there in awe and silence and just
739
:thanking the Lord for what he's done.
740
:Cause it's not about us.
741
:Like, it's not about what I can get out
of mass because you're not going, you're
742
:not going to get out anything out of mass.
743
:If like, that's the mindset
you're going into it with.
744
:And so.
745
:I would say , Just the simplicity
and like it's just not about us.
746
:Yeah, and that's the beauty.
747
:No, I love that I think you know, we all
experience this at some point or another
748
:when we really dive into prayer But the
Lord works through the silence so much
749
:and when we finally are able to step away
from our lives Quiet the noise of the
750
:whole world and just be with the Lord.
751
:That's where you find like clarity
and peace and understanding.
752
:And like you said, like
worship is good and beautiful.
753
:And these non churches have beautiful,
beautiful bands and song and worship
754
:that I think like has even helped my
prayer life, but there's a time and place
755
:for that, and then there's a time and
place for worship and father going back
756
:to father Mike, actually, he has his
big talk of like, uh, What's it called?
757
:Like do you, how to, how to pray
the mass or something like that.
758
:And he always talks about
how worship is sacrifice.
759
:And so mass, the reason it's worship is
because the sacrifice of the lamb, on the
760
:altar, it's not supposed to be a party.
761
:Like that's another, that's another
time and place, but mass prayer,
762
:it's, it's silence, it's sacrifice.
763
:It's reverence.
764
:Yeah.
765
:And I would say a huge thing.
766
:That changed my outlook on Catholicism
in the mass was the hour that'll change
767
:your life YouTube video by Father Mike.
768
:It was a Sikh talk back in the day
It was like I think a million views
769
:or so Yeah, it's huge but Kelly sent
me that and I was sitting there and
770
:I was just like awestruck because
I was like Oh my gosh, like it all
771
:lines up like it all makes sense.
772
:I want to be intimate with Christ You
know and like I want to receive And
773
:so, yeah, that's really beautiful.
774
:Thank you for sharing
your story so openly.
775
:So honestly, I love hearing
all the little details.
776
:So many that I haven't heard before.
777
:Maybe there are people who are listening,
who were in the same boat as you, maybe
778
:there's people who are interested or maybe
just like curious or intrigued about the
779
:Catholic faith , or intimidated or scared.
780
:What would be your advice
to people who are exploring
781
:converting to the Catholic faith?
782
:I would say, pray for a humble heart.
783
:That is step number one, because the
Lord cannot do anything through pride.
784
:Humility prayer and action,
like be humble, pray through the
785
:process and then take action.
786
:You're going to have to make a decision.
787
:You have to be bold and step into that.
788
:And it's going to feel
so scary for most people.
789
:But I think like just trusting in
the Lord, it's such a great test,
790
:trust in the Lord, like he's got you.
791
:So beautiful.
792
:Sydney, if people want to hear more
of you or find you on socials or the
793
:internet, where can they find you?
794
:You can shop Darling and
divine@darlinganddivine.co.
795
:And then on Instagram,
it's Darling divine.co.
796
:And then my personal
Instagram is Sydnee period.
797
:Tanner.
798
:Amazing.
799
:What do you talk about
on Sydney period tanner?
800
:Well, I love working out.
801
:So she is your faith fitness bestie.
802
:Okay.
803
:So basically like anything
of how to honor the body.
804
:Well, yeah.
805
:Like through fitness, food, spirituality,
all the things like well roundedness.
806
:That's so beautiful.
807
:Thank you, Sydney.
808
:This was such a good combo.
809
:Yes.
810
:Thanks guys.
