So much of social media is a cesspool of the utter dregs of human behavior, but sometimes you stumble on something really heartwarming and uplifting.
That was the case when I came across a really beautiful and inspiring Reddit thread recently.
A Reddit user posted,
A couple months back, I made this post explaining I was an atheist looking into Catholicism. Well, I guess it worked. I know this isn’t important or anything, but I don’t have many Catholic friends and since some of you guys genuinely helped me in my last post, I wanted to share. I’ll talk to a priest tomorrow and seek confession. Deo gratias!
His original post about beginning to explore Catholicism is inspiring all on its own. People gave him so much great advice. It’s well worth reading their helpful suggestions and explanations.
But it’s the more recent Reddit thread, the one that began when he announced his conversion, is the one that will really warm your heart and restore your faith in humanity.
The responses were inspiring. He received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from the Catholic Reddit community.
“Welcome home, friend!” one user replied.
“Welcome! Now where-ever you go, anywhere in the world, you have a Catholic family!” another said.
“As one who was received into the Church at the most recent Easter vigil … WELCOME HOME!”
On and on it went, dozens of comments joyfully welcoming home this beloved child of God.
“Welcome brother”
“Welcome home!!! We have been waiting for you!!!”
He received offers to help: “Good luck on your journey. You can message me whenever you want ;)”
And he even inspired other readers: “As another ex-atheist who’s really been considering becoming a (non-lapsed) Catholic, thank you for sharing your story!”
Not going to lie, I teared up reading the responses. What a witness to the joy of belonging to the family of God!
This is the best of social media, when it makes possible these moments of joy, solidarity, and even authentic conversion. More of this, we hope and pray!
And today we celebrate...